By Reese Fant Contrubuting Writer / Greenville News
June 28th2008

Two years ago this week, Marty Ward's father, Maurice, suffered a fatal heart attack at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. It devastated Ward, who had to take time off from racing to recover from the loss.

Saturday night, after powering his Orange Ford to victory and padding his track championship points lead in the process, Ward dedicated the victory to his dad.

“I came last year and won a race in his memory, but I didn't win it quite the right way,” Ward said. “Tonight I came back and won the right way to honor my father.”

In addition to leading the track points, he's high in State and National points, but he's not focused on the standings.

“The best way to not worry about points is to win races,” Ward said.

He won't comment, just smile, when reminded that another track championship would put him in even more elite company in the racing world. Only one driver, Donnie Bishop, has won more than four, and a win this year would put Ward just one more track title closer to Bishop.

“We are just letting each race stand on its own,” Ward said.

David Roberts took second, with Anthony Anders third, John Lewis Hightower fourth and Kenneth Headen fifth.

Chris Chastain took the victory in the Sportsman main, staying in front of Tim Lollis. Chastain went into the race 10 points ahead of Lollis, and now sits 12 ahead. Jamie Altop was third, with Bob Root fourth, Chris Francis fifth, and Robert Horton sixth.

Scott Mann went into the Charger main event trailing Les Mahaffey by four points, and with his victory, coupled with Mahaffey in second, is now only two behind in the standings.

In the first Renegade race, Percy Proctor came up from his fifth starting position to grab the victory, and Jeremy Drummond, who had started on the front row, took second.

Charlie Trammell used his front row starting spot to his advantage, holding on for the entire second Renegade race.