By: Ann Green/Contributing Writer

GPS PHOTOS by Jonathan Torres

On a Saturday night when he carried poignant memories of his late father with him around the track, Marty Ward took win No. 8 of the season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

Father's Day weekend is always hard on sons who've lost their dads. Ward, whose father died after sustaining a heart attack at GPS three years ago, was thinking of him as he raced to the win in the Late Model Stock division. Afterward, the Marietta driver saluted his dad in Victory Lane.

Ward, the defending champion, was making his charge for the points lead from the third spot in the standings, with 40 points separating him from leader Roger Powell as Saturday night's racing began. It's almost midway through the racing season, and recently, Ward has chipped away at the points lead.

In the main race lineup, Ward was No. 2 after qualifying and battled pole winner David Roberts through the first quarter of the 40-lap race. Then Ward eased away and was never challenged again, while Roberts nursed his car down pit road.

Kenneth Headen finished second, Anthony Anders was third, and Powell, the current points leader in Late Model Stock, was fourth.

In addition to his 2008 championship, Ward won back-to-back titles at GPS in 2002-03 and 1990-91.

Just one driver in the history of the GPS track championship, dating back to 1957, has won more than five titles. Donnie Bishop took home six, the first in 1981 and the last in 1994.

Marty Ward's fan club seems to grow each week. A good many of them set up shop above the backstretch near the concession stand. They propped up a big orange sign with the words Marty's House, their nickname for GPS due to Ward's domination at the track. Some wore No. 38 orange jerseys, and some plastered smaller orange signs with No. 38 and Ward's name on their vehicles.

Meanwhile, in the stands near the start/finish line, one fan waved a flag in support Michael Cherry, the rookie driver at GPS and Drive for Diversity competitor who was suspended by NASCAR until July 1 following an altercation after the Late Model Stock feature race on June 13. A member of Headen's crew, Pam Pace, received an indefinite suspension.

The Renegade main event on Saturday night featured a tough duel between Matt Hale and Eric Stokes. Stokes took the lead from Hale on lap 5, but a caution flag gave Hale a break and a second chance at the lead. The two put on a gutsy side-by-side battle, then Stokes took the lead for good on lap 8.

Stokes, with Papa Al painted above the door of his car, had a pre-Father's Day salute for the fans. He thanked his grandfather for letting him drive his car and his father for working on it, and during his Victory Lane celebration, Stokes invited anyone who needs a race car driver to give him call.

In the 12-lap Charger feature race, Ricky Stephens was the winner. The 15-lap Sportsman feature saw Randy Ballew, the points leader in his division, try a nail-biter of a downside pass to snatch the lead from C.M. Knight late in the race, then hang on for the victory.