Holding off a cast of fellow Modified legends, Richie Evans picked up his eighth Modified victory at Martinsville Speedway in the 1981 Azalea 150.
It was the first Modified race at Martinsville since the Dogwood 500 a month prior, when Evans rode the catchfence to the win over Geoff Bodine.
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Modified stars were scattered throughout the field that day. In the race that day was Evans, in the midst of his fourth straight NASCAR Modified championship season and fifth overall. Jerry Cook joined Evans, along with Ray Hendrick, Maynard Troyer, brothers Geoff and Brett Bodine, Ron Bouchard and George Kent. Neil Bonnett was also in the lineup of 30 cars that started the race.
Geoff Bodine started on the pole and led 117 of the race’s 150 laps, but his right-rear tire went soft and both Evans and Bouchard began pressuring him. With 33 laps to go, Evans took the lead, Several laps later, Geoff Bodine spun in turn three as his tire continued to lose air, effectively taking him out of contention for the win. Bodine would end up settling for sixth.
The race came down to a duel between Evans and Bouchard, driving the No. 3 “Ole Blue” Modified. Bouchard, however, was never able to mount a strong charge on Evans. The final caution came out with four laps to go when Brett Bodine spun, also in turn three. The race ended under yellow, with Evans rolling to the win.
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