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April 17, 2010 - Justin Johnson Doubles Up at South Boston
South Boston, VA --
After a disappointing trip to Motor Mile, Justin Johnson regained his swagger this week at South Boston Speedway, winning both ends of a Twin 75 lap event.
Johnson put down a solid qualifying run of a 15.565, only .019 behind pole-sitter Deac McCaskill, but would have to start on the outside of row 2, behind Stacy Puryear and Nick Smith. The early lead would go to Stacy Puryear, Deac McCaskill had handling issues early. After a multi-lap side-by-side battle with McCaskill, Johnson moved to second by lap 15, and set Puryear in his sights. Slowly, Johnson worked his way closer to Puryear, before a lap 55 caution put Johnson right to Puryear's bumper.
The lap 55 restart placed a lapped car between Johnson and third place McCaskill, giving Johnson all the room he needed to work past Stacy Puryear. A late caution would give Puryear one more chance at Johnson, but Johnson pulled away, winning the first of two races, ahead of Puryear, Lee Pulliam and Deac McCaskill.
A four-car invert based on the first race running order put Johnson back to fourth again, with McCaskill once again sitting on the pole. A loose Stacy Puryear would check up the outside line, moving Puryear and Justin Johnson back to fifth and sixth, respectively. After two early cautions, a 30-lap green flag gave Justin time to work, moving him from sixth up to second.
Late cautions dogged the #44 FDJ motorsports team, as Johnson reported an issue with the carb. It would take Johnson a couple of laps to get going, allowing McCaskill to pull ahead. A long run allowed Johnson the time he needed to get back past McCaskill, holding the Raleigh driver off late to capture the back end of the night's double-header. McCaskill finished second, just ahead of Nick Smith.
Next week it's right back to South Boston Speedway where Justin will continue to defend his 2009 track championship.
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