Joe Buford won the feature race and clinched the Late Model championship at Fairgrounds Speedway on Tuesday, the same night his father, Flookie, was inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame. ”Daddy going into the Hall of Fame made it a special night,” Joe said. ”Me winning the race and the championship made it extra special.” Buford earlier broke Waltrip’s record of 55 career victories in Fairgrounds Late Model races. His fourth championship ties Coo Coo Marlin for most titles in the track’s 44-year history. ”I plan on coming back next season and running a few races,” Buford said. ”Darrell and I have each won a race here for 10 straight years, and I told him I’d like win one next year and break that record, too.” Buford does not plan to run the full schedule and compete for a fifth championship, however. Instead, he hopes to land a ride in at least some Busch Series races.(Tennessean)(8-29-2002)
