RADFORD - One aspect of longer Late Model Stock Car races that may be overlooked is that the more laps you have to run, the harder it is to stay in first place for extended periods.

Denny Hamlin had plenty enough car to stay out front for all 200 laps of Saturday night's Curtis Turner Memorial sponsored by Collision Plus at Motor Mile Speedway. Hamlin, a Chesterfield County driver who has done the bulk of his Late Model driving at South Boston this season, scorched the .416-mile oval with a 16.320-second qualifying lap that landed him on the pole. Challengers came and went, but nobody could get past the black No.99 car.

Second went to Jason Mitcham and third to Kelly Kingery. Hamlin will celebrate briefly before preparing to step into the Joe Gibbs Craftsman Truck for a race Thursday in Richmond. Hamlin, who finished 10th in his last truck outing, has two more races in that class as well as a couple more Busch races before the seasons end. Plans are for Hamlin to run a full Busch schedule next year.

Meanwhile, he's been burning up the Late Models. This makes his 11th Late Model victory this year, which sounds pretty good until it's considered that he won 25 a year ago.

After the ride he had Saturday, he had little to be melancholy about, though.

"The car was just about perfect all night," he said. "We were a little tight at first, but the longer we raced, the better the car got."

Mitcham liked the longer race after spending last year on the United Auto Racing Association tour in which all the races were 150-lappers.

"I had to learn patience again tonight," he said. "Last couple of times out, I've lost my patience a little bit. Tonight, with the 200 laps, I knew I couldn't win it all at once."

In other races:

Pending a postrace inspection, Hank Turman collected the biggest paycheck of the season in the Limited Sportsmen. Turman claimed the $600 winner's purse, along with $1000 for collecting $500 bounties on Derrick Lancaster and Mike Looney.

Clay Highberger won the Late Model Trucks again. Matt Taylor was second and Tony Rogers third.

The most mighty of the Mini cars was piloted by Mike Brooks. Runner-up went to Chad Conner, who finished just ahead of Kevin Kenley.

Pure Stocks was won by Tracy Moore, followed closely by father Doug Moore along with Josh Caldwell.

The Mini Cups went to Mitchell Saville, who beat his father Dennis Saville. Mark Cheek was third.