WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 04/24/04

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[ANCHOR=Myranda]

Coming up on News 7,
A high speed chase in Lynchburg ends in one of the most unlikeliest places.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
And Virginia Tech's Bioinformatics Institute opens the doors to a new facility, and possibly new opportunities.
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[Sports-Head]

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Tonight in sports, the Hokies wrap up spring practice, and former Hokie
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[VO-NAT]

DeAngelo Hall is picked 8th overall by the Falcons in today's NFL Draft.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

Highs ranged from the upper 70's to low 80's across the region this afternoon. A passing front will mean cooler temperatures and even some storms to end out your weekend. The full forecast is coming up. [Video-Open]
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[IN Q=Not only are we]
((BRUNO SOBRAL: NOT ONLY ARE WE PROBABLY ALREADY THE LARGEST BIOINFORMATICS INSTITUTION IN THE WORLD, BUT OUR ONGOING GOAL IS TO BE THE BEST.))
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[OUT Q=to be the best]
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Virginia Tech dedicates a key- stone on the path to becoming a top- thirty research institution.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

[Bio-Institute]

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Scientist at Virginia Tech's Bio-informatics Instutute have been conducting cutting- edge research for years. Today a building worthy of their work was dedicated, and as Jennifer Wishon reports, the research that goes on inside the facility could save your life.
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[SUPER=01-Bruno Sobral/Bioinformatics Institute Executive Director; 1:45]
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[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Blacksburg.]
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((THEY'RE STRICT ANAEROBES SO THEY HAVE TO BE GROWN IN A SEALED ENVIRONMENT.))
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Dr. Mukhopadhyay (MUK-HO-PAD-HI) and his staff are studying ways to use existing organisms to increase the production of methane gas in coal beds.
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((WE LIKE TO SEE OUR HYDROGEN SENSORS SOMEWHERE ABOVE A READING OF LIKE 2.5.))
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Their work is being funded by the Department of Energy and a private company out of Texas. Just one of the many projects from agriculture to zoology taking place every day at Virginia Tech's Bio- Informatics Institute.
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((ONE, TWO, THREE. CUT. APPLAUSE.))
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Saturday the university dedicated the institute's new 59- thousand square foot building. Phase one of a state- of- the art facility housing scientist who's research has a national audience.
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[IN Q=The department of]
((RICK BOUCHER: THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, NIH, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ALL SEE GREAT VALUE IN THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE JUST WITHIN THE SHORT TIME THIS INSTITUTE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE. IT'S NOW RECEIVING SUPPORT AND CONTRACTS FROM ALL THREE OF THOSE ENTITIES AS IT SEEKS TO FORM A PATHOGEN PORTAL THAT WILL GIVE US A FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE IN THE EFFORT TO FIGHT AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE.))
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Since it's creation three years ago, the Institute has secured a contract base of nearly 40- million dollars from the National Science Foundation and agencies like the Department of Agriculture.
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[IN Q=But half of the research]
((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: BUT HALF OF THE RESEARCH MONEY IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE TOBACCO COMMISSION. THE HOPE IS RESEARCH AT THE INSTITUTE WILL HELP SPAWN NEW BUSINESSES LIKE THESE AT THE CORPORATE RESEARCH CENTER IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA - TWO AREAS HIT HARD BY THE DEMISE OF THE TABACCO INDUSTRY.))
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((BRUNO SOBRAL: MANY OF OUR RESEARCH GRANTS ALSO INVOLVE EITHER OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT VIRGINIA TECH OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST CORPORATE SPINOUT WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ONE OF OUR FACULTY MEMBERS AND A FACULTY MEMBER FROM THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.))
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Sobral says it's the team oriented vision shared by institute faculty like Dr. Mukhopadhyay (MUK-HO-PAD-HI) that will keep the grant money pouring in and secure Virginia Tech's place as a top- 30 research institution. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Blacksburg.))
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=]
Phase two of the building is expected to open in the fall.

[Tech-Arena]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences also has a new facility to brag about.
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((NAT SOUND OF SHEEP.))
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[VO-NAT]
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The college dedicated it's new 3-million dollar livestock teaching arena today. The centerpiece of the facility is a 31-thousand-square-foot indoor arena that can seat up to 800 people. The arena will be used as a teaching facility and for inter-collegiate animal competitions. Dean Sharon Quisenberry says students had outgrown the old arena, which was constructed in the 1950's. Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is consistently ranked among the top ten institutions in agricultural research. State livestock and poultry industries generate nearly 2- billion dollars per year.
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[Jeffries]

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Jurors in the murder trial of Mark Jeffries were not able to reach a unanimous decision despite deliberating well into the night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday]
The jurors got the case early Friday afternoon and around 9-p-m., reported they were deadlocked. The judge told them to keep trying, but after several more hours, they were still not able to reach a verdict. The jury went back to the judge after midnight and he declared a mistrial. A date for another trial will be set sometime next week. Jeffries is accused of the November murder of William Rodriguez.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[ENG#=V10]

Still ahead on the newscast, a prominent Roanoke attorney loses his liscense again...
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[VO-NAT]
and also, a high speed chase that starts in Lynchburg ends miles away with a suspect crashing into a church.
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[1st-Wx]
[L'burg-Ax]

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An alleged drunk driver led police in Lynchburg and Bedford County on a high speed chase this morning before crashing into a church.
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[VO-NAT]
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The chase began around two when Lynchburg police say they attempted to pull over a driver they believed to be intoxicated. The suspect led police to Bedford, where he eventually drove into a nursery area at the Bedford Church of God.
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[IN Q=if it had been sunday;]
((REV. JOHN IVINS/BEDFORD CHURCH OF GOD IF IT HAD BEEN SUNDAY MORNING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CHILDREN INSIDE AND TWO ADULTS. I JUST THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN THE ROOM AND NO ONE GOT HURT HERE. I'M SORRY HE GOT HURT.))
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[VO-NAT]
Police laid down tack strips, flattening the tires on the suspect's car. He continued to drive on the rims of his wheels, maintaining speeds near 70 miles per hour. Police say he never tried to swerve before hitting the church. Reverend Ivins (Eye-Vins) says tomorrow's services will not be affected.
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[Fatal-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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A Roanoke man was killed early this morning after being run over by a car.
It happened just before FOUR on the Orange Avenue exit ramp off Interstate-581. Police say 40-year-old Anthony Barksdale was apparently lying in the center of the ramp, when 73-year-old William Laytor of Roanoke accidentally ran over him.
Rescue crews took Barksdale to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he later died.
Police believe Barksdale may have been intoxicated, but are waiting for test results to come back.
No charges have been filed.

[Garrison]

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A prominent Roanoke attorney has been disbarred for a second time.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Yesterday, the state bar disbarred Sam Garrison.
In a news release, Garrison admitted he kited more than six-thousand dollars in checks around Christmas 2000.
Garrison said his income had steadily declined after he defended men charged with soliciting sex in Roanoke's Wasena Park and said he needed the money to pay bills.
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[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=HOLD]

Garrison paid back the six-thousand dollars and was never criminally charged by state or federal prosecutors for the check kiting scheme.
But the Justice Department referred the matter to the state bar, which started its own investigation.
In the news release, Garrison says the sanction imposed by the bar was excessively harsh and disproportionate to the harm done.
Garrison was disbarred once before and had his license reinstated in 1993.

[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]
Still to come on the newscast, we'll wrap up the action in the N-F-L draft, including where a duo of Hokies will be playing next year...
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[VO-NAT]
and also, it's not habitat, but hundreds of volunteers show their humanity by fixing up almost two dozen homes.
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[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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NASCAR is good for business in Southside, and an area union is still fighting for a better contract. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
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(( [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=503-00 1:52:27]

Unionized DanChem employees have been on strike for nearly four months, but are no closer to reaching an agreement with the company. About 70- members of the "United Food and Commercial Workers Union" went on strike January first. That after they say the company offered an unreasonable contract- including an increase in health- care premiums that would nearly double the amount under the old contract.
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[IN Q=A lot of people think]
((EDWARD HUNT: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WE'RE OUT HERE BECAUSE OF MONEY AND WE'RE GREEDY AND WE'RE MAKING GOOD MONEY, BUT HEALTHCARE IS A BIG THING. YOU GO FROM 41 DOLLARS TO 138 DOLLARS YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.)) [RUNS14]
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Employees are also concerned about a three- year freeze of hourly wages. Both sides say they're willing to negotiate and are working with a federal negotiator, but no movement has been made. A neighborhood group formed to oppose an upscale shopping center in Roanoke County is now fiercely divided. Kahn Development wants to build near Route 419 and Keagy Road, but opposition has made it hard to get permission. Now, it is proposing to build further down 419, away from Keagy Road. But, some residents say that will only shift the problem to another part of the community. 90 thousand people came to Martinsville for the race this past weekend, and more than ever, the visitors, and the dollars they spend, are very important. The population of Martinsville multiplies about six times over -- and everything race fans buy helps a struggling local economy get back in the black.
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((ANNE ATKINS/RED BIRCH COUNTRY MARKET: IT STARTED GETTING BUSY ON TUESDAY. EACH DAY JUST KEEPS INCLINING MORE AND THE BIGGEST DAY IS OF COURSE RACE DAY. LAUGHTER.)) [RUN8]
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Outside the Red Birch, parking spots sold for 20- dollars a pop - including spaces in front of gas pumps. And across the street campers rented spaces in front of a grocery store. For News 7, I'm Donald Graham and that's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))

[Rke-Rebuild]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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Rebuilding together, some volunteers made a big difference in Roanoke today.
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[VO-NAT]
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Nearly 400-volunteers from area churches and businesses came together to make repairs on 23- city homes. "Rebuilding Together" is an organization that helps elderly and disabled homeowners who are unable to do the work themselves.
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((ED MURRAY: WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THE VOLUNTEERS REAP MORE OF THE REWARDS THAN THE HOMEOWNERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING THIS YEAR IS THAT THREE OF THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WE HELPED LAST YEAR ARE OUT WORKING ON SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME THIS YEAR.))
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Volunteers did everything from carpentry to electrical work. Homeowner William Rakes says he never would have been able to repair his home without the help.
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((WILLIAM RAKES/HOMEOWNER: IT'S ONE HAND HELPING THE OTHER, WORKING TOGETHER. WE NEED MORE OF IT. THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS IS MORE OF IT.))
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"Rebuilding Together" is a not-for-profit organization formerly known as "Christmas in April."
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[Sports tease]

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Coming up, two Hokies go in the first round of the NFL Draft,
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[VO-NAT]

and the current Hokies tangle in the spring game bringing the spring practice session to an end in Blacksburg.
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[S-Draft]

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Eli Manning made it known this week that he didn't care to play for the San Diego Chargers. But that didn't stop the Bolts from taking Manning with the top overall pick in the NFL Draft.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/ESPN; :00]

Peyton's younger brother did the right thing in putting on a happy face and posing for the photo op with the Chargers jersey. But he was the property of San Diego for just about 45 minutes before the team pulled the trigger on a trade with the Giants, who had selected NC State's Phillip Rivers with the 4th pick. The two swapped places, and Manning couldn't be happier.
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[S-Board]

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[WIPE TO PINNACLE BOARD--TOP 5 PICKS]
After Manning, the Raiders selected Iowa offensive lineman Robert Gallery. Larry Fitzgerald was once a ballboy for the Vikings when Denny Green was head coach. Now the two are reunited in Arizona. We told you about Rivers to San Diego, and rounding out the top 5 selections, the Redskins went with Miami safety Sean Taylor.
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[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=travis]
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DeAngelo Hall was the first Virginia Tech Hokie taken in the draft. Hall will join Michael Vick in Atlanta.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/ESPN; :00]

The cornerback was the 8th overall selection this afternoon by the Dirty Birds. Hall had 69 tackles and an interception last year for the Hokies. He also returned three punts for touchdowns. The 5-10, 200 pounder nows he has plenty of work to do between now and training camp.
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[VO-NAT cont'd]

Tech running back Kevin Jones surprisingly lasted until late in the first round. Jones was expected to be one of the top backs taken, but Oregon State's Steven Jackson and Michigan's Chris Perry went before him, but the Detroit Lions picked K-J up with the 30th overall pick in the first round.

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Jones and Hall's former teammates locked horns in the Hokies spring game in Blacksburg a one sided affair won by the white team.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

A crowd close to 35 thousand packed Lane Stadium for the festivites.
Early on, Marcus Vick handed off to Justin Hamilton who found daylight for a 6 yard TD to make it 10-nothing white. Vick was 5 of 9 for 89 yards.
In the third quarter, David Clowney gets the pigskin on the end around and finds the endzone from a couple of yards out and it was 20 to nothing.
Late in the game Randall aired it out on the nice ball to Josh Hyman. The white won 20 to nothing. Frank Beamer is nowhere near satisified.
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[S-Backs]

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One player who didn't take part in today's spring game was Cedric Humes.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
The heir apparent to Kevin Jones broke his leg early in spring workouts and is now in a protective foot and on crutches. He says dealing with the adversity has taught him to never take anything for granted.
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[VO-NAT con't]
Humes bad break has opened the door for Justin Hamilton to slide back into the running back position. The former Clintwood high star says now that he's back he hopes to make his mark as a tailback.
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[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=travis]
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[TAPE#=SP-172 TC5139]
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[ENG#=1]

The first round of the NBA Playoffs rolled on this afternoon. Roanoke's George Lynch scored 9 points for the Hornets and
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA/TNT; :00]

Baron Davis tossed in 21 for New Orleans, while nursing a sprained ankle. The Hornets won game three over the Heat 77-71, but Miami still leads the series 2 games to 1.
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[S-MLB]

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The Red Sox early season mastery of the Yankees continued today in Beantown.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA/NESN; :00]

It all came down to the 12th inning when Mark Belhorn broke a 2-all tie by lifting a sac fly to Bernie Williams in centerfield. Manny Ramirez scored the winning run for the Bosox, 3-2 the final.
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[S-Busch]

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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his protege had their say in today's Aaron's 312 Busch race at Talladega.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Talladega, AL/Fox Sports; :00]

We pick it up with 3 laps to go when Bobby Hamilton, Jr. spun pole sitter Clint Bowyer triggering a multi car mess.
That allowed the race to finish under caution. Martin Truex, Jr. showed the way across the stripe with his boss,(------------) Dale, Jr. on his bumper. It's the second career Busch win for Truex who also won this season at Bristol.