Also victorious in the first full evening of 2008 competition were Victor May in Super Stock Four-Cylinder, Gary Dillon in Pure Stock Four-Cylinder, Jerry Williams in Pure Stock V-8, Britches Liles in Thunder and Lightning and Austin Holcombe in Cadet (drivers ages 11-15).

The evening opened with the presentation of trophies for Best Appearing Cars, which were judged the previous week.

Saluted were James Batten in Late Model, Liles in Thunder and Lightning, Glenn Bottoms in Super Stock Four-Cylinder, James Manning in Pure Stock Four-Cylinder, Jamie Meredith in Pure Stock V-8 and Austin Holcombe in Cadet.

Seventeen cars lined up for the Late Model bash, the main event on the 3/8-mile clay surface.

Sykes, in his No. 11 Chevy Impala, benefited from the excellent restart to wrest the lead from Louisburg's Damon Kotke on the 12th lap. Kotke, in a Pontiac GTO, had resorted to the same maneuver to overtake early race leader Batten.

Sykes and Kotke were trailed at the stripe, respectively, by Dustin Mitchell, Rocky Mount's Batten and veteran Earl Arnold.

In time trials, Mitchell's Chevrolet established a track record with a time of 15.77 seconds for a circuit of the oval.

Middlesex's Jason Horne, in a Mustang, maneuvered to a runner-up finish, holding off Wake Forest's Andy Ross. Saratoga's Wayne Potter finished fourth, followed by Bailey's Bill Winstead.

Liles again dominated the Thunder and Lightning division in his No. L2 Camaro.

The battle was for second place, which was claimed by the Camaro of Rocky Mount's Alan Worrells on the 19th of 25 laps. Zebulon's Chris Ray wound up third. Bailey's Skeeter Liles recovered from an early spin to finish fourth. Rocky Mount's Wade Ferrell rounded out the top five.

The Pure Stock V-8 chase proved the evening's most exciting with Snow Hill's Jerry Williams fending off constant challenges to prevail in his No. 44 Olds Cutlass.

Battleboro's Michael Lamm, in a Camaro, claimed second place with five laps remaining -- and stayed there. With James Meredith's car being ruled too light, Stantonsburg's Gary Whitley moved to third. Battleboro's Phillip Lamm, in his debut, salvaged fourth, with Nevin Twiddy fifth in a borrowed Impala.

Wilson's Gary Dillon steered his No. 82 Toyota to the Pure Stock Four-Cylinder checkered flag. Dillon moved into the lead when Junior Johnson's Pinto spun on the backstretch.

Elm City's Michael Webb claimed second in a Mustang, with Jimmy Holcombe third, Louisburg's Johnson fourth and Wendell's Carlton Toney fifth.

Elm City's Austin Holcombe, in the Cadet feature, gunned his No. 8 Mustang from the rear to notch his first 2008 victory.

Wilson's Joshua Bryant, the early leader, settled for second after his Nissan developed handling problems. Wilson's Stillman Heath took third.

This Saturday night's card will be topped by the first of four 2008 appearances by the Virginia Sprint Series winged cars.

Features are also scheduled in the Thunder and Lightning, Super Stock Four-Cylinder, Pure Stock V-8, Pure Stock Four-Cylinder and Cadet divisions.

An open practice is planned for Thursday evening from 7 until 9, with the gates opening at 6.