Leaty Snares Top Ten Finish at Richmond; Team Ready for NHIS
Richmond, VA (6/28/02) - Jan Leaty, of Williamson, NY, piloted his Wayne Regional Orthopaedics/Parts Plus Pontiac to a top ten finish in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series Richmond Times-Dispatch 150 at Richmond International Raceway.

From his 21st starting position, Leaty steadily moved up through the field during the first half of the race. Just before the halfway point of the race, the caution flag flew for a mishap on the front stretch. Most of the leaders pitted as raindrops began to fall. Rolling the dice and anticipating a red flag because of the weather, the team elected not to pit and gain track position. As the rain intensified, the race was halted on lap 80, and Leaty was sitting in third if the race was called on account of the weather.

The team lost the gamble, as the race resumed nearly two hours later after the jet dryers were able to ready the racing surface. Leaty pitted for new tires as the race resumed under caution, and when the race went green, he again made a charge towards the front, finishing 9th. The race was caution free to the end.

"Overall, I am a little disappointed," said Leaty. "The car was better than a 9th place finish. We were hoping for a caution [to bunch the field] but that never happened."

Leaty and the rest of the Branich Motorsports team will travel to Loudon, NH, for the next stop on the NASCAR Featherlite tour. The New England 100 will be held on Friday, July 19, 2001, at New Hampshire International Speedway.

For more information about Leaty and the Branich Motorsports modified team, visit the team website at www.speedwayad.com/BranichMod.

Branich Motorsports
P.O. Box 897
Williamson, NY 14589
Call: 315-589-4444
E-Mail: FKae4@aol.com