ATTICA, OH (May 22, 2011)- VLR_JW rediscovered some early season magic this week at Attica Raceway Park by winning his third race of the year after holding off a late race charge from last weeks winner WFO_JJ.

You can call JW Mr. Moneymaker after he won his third money race of the year, earning $140.00 for his efforts on the season. This win may have been even tougher to get than his $100 payday in the season opener and his $20 victory at Brownstown.

"We had a good car but everyone was so close. I knew in qualifying when there was like twenty guys within a tenth of each other that it was going to be a close one," said VLR_JW who was visibly tired in victory lane. "I will say this was definitely the toughest win I've ever got.

"Four of us battled all race long and didn't give an inch and then WFO_JJ made a run on the last lap and so I'm lucky to even be in victory lane."

JW, of West Point, MS., started third but quickly worked his way by outside pole sitter WFO_JJ at the start to set his sights on pole-sitter VLR_Shock. The top four stayed nose-to-tail for much of the race but JW was able to get by and get the victory at the end.

Despite VLR_JW, WFO_JJ, VLR_Shock, and VLR_18 battling for much of the race, the drivers still set a blistering pace in the 60-lap event, with JW coming out on top by just .007 seconds over WFO_JJ.

"I gave it all I had," said JJ, who was looking to become the second repeat winner this season. "Our car was wicked fast but we spent too much time battling with guys instead of making passes. JW did a good job of holding me off at the end and I couldn't do much more than I did."

VLR_Shock, 22, settled for third place in his NOS Energy Toyota  after racing from the pole to lead the first forty laps before he and JW got together up front. Sixth-starter and point leader VLR_18 of Brookfield, WI., finished fourth after sustaining damage while going for the lead and falling back a little ways in the finish. VLR_Superman started ninth and charged up to a fifth place finish and earned the hard charger award.

VLR_JW's pass on VLR_Shock was the key to his victory, but it lent some controversy after the race between the teammates when Shock felt he was unjustifiably knocked from the lead.

"I didn't think I got him from my view, but I don't care anyway," said JW after the race. "He can cry all he wants but I was just taking out the trash like my mama taught me. He was just delaying the inevitable because he was holding up the whole damn field.

"If I had it to do over again I probably would have hit him earlier that way JJ couldn't have caught me and I could have won easier. I don't care if he thinks he's Mr. DTR2 or not."

WFO_JJ crossed the line second and explained his view of the incident.

"I just saw them two racing hard and it looked like JW might have forced him off the track just a little but I was just worried about hitting my marks," said JJ, who is currently the hottest driver in the game according to WFO_ICE. "I was just driving my guts out trying to get a win for this #10 car. I'm trying to get good finishes so some sponsors will notice us and give us some stickers for the side of this beast for the rest of the season.

"I gave JW a heck of a run there at the end but he beat me to the line, so we'll try again next week."

VLR_Shock ran his fingers through his hair as the cameras spotlight was on him after the race while he discussed his third place finish that he felt could have been something more.

"That's two weeks in a row that JW's got into me, at least from my viewpoint," said VLR_Shock, who sits third in points just five out of the lead. "I was going to go over there and beat him up after the race but VLR_McGee held me back.

"If he didn't hold me back it would have been bad."

VLR_18 was driving under JW to take the lead when suddenly his car died and he fell back to seventh before rebounded to fourth.

"Every damn time," said VLR_18 of his luck the past three races. "I don't know how the hell I'm still leading the points after all this BS. I'm winning next week, write it down. Guaranteed.

"If I win this championship it will be the hardest one I've ever got."

VLR_JW's win moved him into a tie with VLR_Shock for third in the point standings with only three races to go. With the new points format at VLR the standings are tighter than ever as Mr. 4-champs-in-a-row VLR_18 leads VLR_Superman by just four points, with Shock and JW sitting 5 out of the lead.

Veteran VLR_McGee of Spartanburg, SC. drove his #53 Chevrolet home to a strong sixth place finish. WFO_ICE of Tahlequah, OK started eighth and finished one spot higher in seventh, followed by ever-improving Minnesota rookie IFRT_Jim in eighth. Sparta, MI's BLS_42 came home in ninth, with WFO_Ranger making his second straight VLR A Main.

VLR_18 was the fastest of the 22 drivers to take time trials as he rocketed around the 1/3 mile oval in just 11.52 seconds to claim his third fast time of 2011.

Heat winners were VLR_Shock, WFO_JJ, and VLR_JW. The B-Mains were captured by IFRT_Jim and WFO_ICE.

The VLR tour heads west next week for the "Short Track Shootout" 50 at Highland Speedway in Illinois. VLR_Shock was the winner here last year and will look to do so again to cut into the small lead VLR_18 has in points with just three races to go. However, it will be anybodys race as the top drivers in the game will come to do battle on this 1/4 mile flat track.

VLR race results from Attica 2009: