Columbus Speedway
Saturday, August 25, 2001
  By Larry Olson   

COLUMBUS MS.  Bill Frye went two for two at the Columbus Speedway, picking up Saturday's 50 Lap finale.  Frye made his way by Steve Russell on lap 15, picking the $4,000 top money.  Ed Rinehart Trucking and Terry King Motors sweetened the pot by $2,000, bringing Frye's nights total to $6,000 and $8,000 for the weekend.  Frye also expanded his point lead over defending champion Terry Phillips by 34 points.

  Frye held the pole, with Russell to his outside.  The pair went side by side for the first two laps, with Russell getting the credit for laps lead.  Russell was finally able to pull ahead of Frye on lap three.  Anthony Rushing, Steve Rushin and Jerry Buck fell in behind.

  Bill Frye was able to get back around Mike Bowers in turn four on lap 14, and then Frye dove under Russell, with the pair going side by side.  Frye was able to get by Russell for the lead in turn two, after the pair made contact.

  Gary Stolba caused the caution flag to wave on lap 16, as he got sideways on the frontstretch.  Steve Russell and Mike Bowers went side by side for second on the restart, with Russell getting the spot.  Frye was able to open a modest 5 carlength advantage by lap 20, and had eased out to a 10 carlength margin by lap 25.

  Frye was starting to see traffic by lap 30, and was working back markers by lap 35.  Frye was facing six slower cars by lap 40, and that allowed Steve Russell to close back in.  Russell was within 5 carlengths by lap 44.  Frye was able to clear traffic by lap 48, moving back to a 10 carlength lead, ending Russell's opportunity.

  Bill Frye came home with his seventh O'Reilly M.A.R.S. win of the year.  Steve Russell, Mike Bowers, Anthony Rushing, and Steve Rushin made up the top five.  Jeff Taylor, Leslie Essary, Raymond Merrill, David Brazeale, and Brad Looney rounded out the top ten.