Other Sprints
Feb 15 2012
Tony Stewart Wins All Star Sprint Night 2 At Screven Motor Speedway
by John Gibson on February 13, 2012
We can all remember how much it meant to Tony Stewart when he won his first ever World of Outlaws Sprint Car series feature at Ohsweken Speedway. Stewart is already at it again in 2012, he picked up his first win of 2012 in a sprint car as he won on the final night of the 2nd Annual Winter Freeze when he bested the drivers in the UNOH All Star Sprint Series.
In a very cold night, when every driver would be searching for grip on the bottom of the track. Stewart would be the first to try the outside with less than 10 laps to go and running in 5th. The move would pay off as he would pass Jason Sides coming to the white flag to steal the victory away from Sides.
Sides would come home second after starting on the pole, and in third would be Kasey Kahne’s driver Cody Darrah. Night 1 winner Daryn Pittman would finish 10th.
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 12.829; 2. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.847; 3. 4D-Cody Darrah, 12.902; 4. 14-Tony Stewart, 12.945; 5. 24-Terry McCarl, 12.956; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer, 12.967; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.975; 8. 54-Cap Henry, 13.014; 9. 9-Joey Saldana, 13.017; 10. 77-Aaron Ott, 13.032; 11. 89G-David Gravel, 13.037; 12. 27-Pittman Daryn, 13.054; 13. 39-Greg Hodnett, 13.062; 14. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.064; 15. 3-Pete Miller III, 13.099; 16. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.114; 17. M1-Mark Smith, 13.144; 18. 4-Danny Smith, 13.167; 19. 5-Jac Haudenschild, 13.236; 20. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr., 13.244; 21. 45-Paul McMahon, 13.322; 22. 2-Dale Blaney, 13.327; 23. O7-Mark Coldren, 14.045; 24. 6W-Brad Wickham, 14.273; 25. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner, 14.418; 26. 33-Danny Lasoski, NT
Heat 1 – Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39-Greg Hodnett[2] ; 2. 87-Alan Krimes[1] ; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4] ; 4. 5-Jac Haudenschild[7] ; 5. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[6] ; 6. 77-Aaron Ott[3] ; 7. 14-Tony Stewart[5] ; 8. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner[9] ; 9. 2-Dale Blaney[8]
Heat 2 – All Pro Heads (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[2] ; 2. M1-Mark Smith[1] ; 3. 89G-David Gravel[3] ; 4. 7S-Jason Sides[6] ; 5. 24-Terry McCarl[5] ; 6. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[7] ; 7. O7-Mark Coldren[8] ; 8. 54-Cap Henry[4]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuels (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 2. 3-Pete Miller III[2] ; 3. 9-Joey Saldana[4] ; 4. 27-Pittman Daryn[3] ; 5. 4D-Cody Darrah[6] ; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer[5] ; 7. 45-Paul McMahon[7] ; 8. 6W-Brad Wickham[8]
Dash – Outerwears Performance Products (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 7S-Jason Sides[3] ; 2. 14-Tony Stewart[2] ; 3. 24-Terry McCarl[1] ; 4. 51-Fred Rahmer[6] ; 5. 4D-Cody Darrah[5] ; 6. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[4]
A-Main – University of Northwestern Ohio (30 Laps)
1. 14-Tony Stewart[2]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides[1]; 3. 4D-Cody Darrah[5]; 4. 24-Terry McCarl[3]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana[9]; 6. 2-Dale Blaney[22]; 7. 89G-David Gravel[11]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 9. 83-Tim Shaffer[14]; 10. 27-Daryn Pittman[12]; 11. 4-Danny Smith[18]; 12. 87-Alan Krimes[16]; 13. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[6]; 14. 54-Cap Henry[8]; 15. O7-Mark Coldren[21]; 16. 3-Pete Miller III[15]; 17. 51-Fred Rahmer[4]; 18. 77-Aaron Ott[10]; 19. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[20]; 20. 39-Greg Hodnett[13]; 21. 5-Jac Haudenschild[19]; 22. M1-Mark Smith[17]; 23. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner[23]
Hard Charger: 2-Dale Blaney[+16]
Tony Stewart Wins All Star Sprint Night 2 At Screven Motor Speedway
by John Gibson on February 13, 2012
We can all remember how much it meant to Tony Stewart when he won his first ever World of Outlaws Sprint Car series feature at Ohsweken Speedway. Stewart is already at it again in 2012, he picked up his first win of 2012 in a sprint car as he won on the final night of the 2nd Annual Winter Freeze when he bested the drivers in the UNOH All Star Sprint Series.
In a very cold night, when every driver would be searching for grip on the bottom of the track. Stewart would be the first to try the outside with less than 10 laps to go and running in 5th. The move would pay off as he would pass Jason Sides coming to the white flag to steal the victory away from Sides.
Sides would come home second after starting on the pole, and in third would be Kasey Kahne’s driver Cody Darrah. Night 1 winner Daryn Pittman would finish 10th.
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr., 12.829; 2. 7S-Jason Sides, 12.847; 3. 4D-Cody Darrah, 12.902; 4. 14-Tony Stewart, 12.945; 5. 24-Terry McCarl, 12.956; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer, 12.967; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 12.975; 8. 54-Cap Henry, 13.014; 9. 9-Joey Saldana, 13.017; 10. 77-Aaron Ott, 13.032; 11. 89G-David Gravel, 13.037; 12. 27-Pittman Daryn, 13.054; 13. 39-Greg Hodnett, 13.062; 14. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.064; 15. 3-Pete Miller III, 13.099; 16. 87-Alan Krimes, 13.114; 17. M1-Mark Smith, 13.144; 18. 4-Danny Smith, 13.167; 19. 5-Jac Haudenschild, 13.236; 20. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr., 13.244; 21. 45-Paul McMahon, 13.322; 22. 2-Dale Blaney, 13.327; 23. O7-Mark Coldren, 14.045; 24. 6W-Brad Wickham, 14.273; 25. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner, 14.418; 26. 33-Danny Lasoski, NT
Heat 1 – Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39-Greg Hodnett[2] ; 2. 87-Alan Krimes[1] ; 3. 1S-Logan Schuchart[4] ; 4. 5-Jac Haudenschild[7] ; 5. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[6] ; 6. 77-Aaron Ott[3] ; 7. 14-Tony Stewart[5] ; 8. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner[9] ; 9. 2-Dale Blaney[8]
Heat 2 – All Pro Heads (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[2] ; 2. M1-Mark Smith[1] ; 3. 89G-David Gravel[3] ; 4. 7S-Jason Sides[6] ; 5. 24-Terry McCarl[5] ; 6. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[7] ; 7. O7-Mark Coldren[8] ; 8. 54-Cap Henry[4]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuels (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 2. 3-Pete Miller III[2] ; 3. 9-Joey Saldana[4] ; 4. 27-Pittman Daryn[3] ; 5. 4D-Cody Darrah[6] ; 6. 51-Fred Rahmer[5] ; 7. 45-Paul McMahon[7] ; 8. 6W-Brad Wickham[8]
Dash – Outerwears Performance Products (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 7S-Jason Sides[3] ; 2. 14-Tony Stewart[2] ; 3. 24-Terry McCarl[1] ; 4. 51-Fred Rahmer[6] ; 5. 4D-Cody Darrah[5] ; 6. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[4]
A-Main – University of Northwestern Ohio (30 Laps)
1. 14-Tony Stewart[2]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides[1]; 3. 4D-Cody Darrah[5]; 4. 24-Terry McCarl[3]; 5. 9-Joey Saldana[9]; 6. 2-Dale Blaney[22]; 7. 89G-David Gravel[11]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]; 9. 83-Tim Shaffer[14]; 10. 27-Daryn Pittman[12]; 11. 4-Danny Smith[18]; 12. 87-Alan Krimes[16]; 13. 1-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[6]; 14. 54-Cap Henry[8]; 15. O7-Mark Coldren[21]; 16. 3-Pete Miller III[15]; 17. 51-Fred Rahmer[4]; 18. 77-Aaron Ott[10]; 19. 94-Jack Sodeman Jr.[20]; 20. 39-Greg Hodnett[13]; 21. 5-Jac Haudenschild[19]; 22. M1-Mark Smith[17]; 23. O7T-T.J. Winegrdner[23]
Hard Charger: 2-Dale Blaney[+16]
Jan 31 2012
Midwest Open Wheel Association 410 Winged sprints 2012 schedule
Per Midwest Open Wheel Association Facebook page - M.O.W.A. to race in Indiana. Press release later
Series Website - www.midwestopenwheel.com
Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/midwestopenwheel
by Nathan Stephens Hobart, Indiana
2012 Schedule
(SCHEDULE TO CHANGE WITH OUT NOTICE)
Saturday, March 31st - Car Show at Weebles Bar and Grill in Springield, IL
Friday, April 20th - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL
Friday, May 4th - Fayette County Speedway - Brownstown, IL
Saturday, May 5th - Jacksonville Speedway - Jacksonville, IL
Friday, May 11th - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL
Friday, May 25th - Lee County Speedway - Donnellson, IL
Saturday, May 26th - TBD
Sunday, May 27th - 34 Raceway - West Burlington, IA
Friday, June 8th - Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL
Saturday, June 9th - TBD
Friday, June 15th - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL
Friday, June 29th - Jacksonville Speedway - Jacksonville, IL
Saturday, Jue 30th - Spoon River Speedway - Canton, IL
Sunday, July 1st - Qunicy Raceways - Quincy, IL
Tuesday, July 3rd - 34 Raceway - West Burlington, IA
Friday, July 6th - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL
Saturday, July 7th - TBD
Wednesday, July 11th - Lee County Speedway - Donnellson, IA
Wednesday, July 25th - Highland Speedway - Highland, IL
Saturday, July 28th - Macon Speedway - Macon, IL
Friday, August 31st - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL
Saturday, September 15th - Spoon River Speedway - Canton, IL
Friday, September 21st - Jacksonville Speedway - Jacksonville, IL
Saturday, September 22nd - 34 Raceway - West Burlington, IA
THE HOOSIER TIRE MIDWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES 2012 SCHEDULE
by ebutcher
Haubstadt, IN - January 29, 2012. The 2012 schedule being released
by the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series will offer competitors
and fans thirteen diverse events. This will be the twelfth season
for the series. A wide range of purses will offer top prizes of
$2,000 (2), $2,500 (2), $3,000 (3), $4,000 (1), $5,000 (3), and
$10,000 (2).
The season opener will be held at the Lawrenceburg Speedway on
Saturday May 5th. This is a must-do event for drivers posturing to
make a run for the series title. Brady Short is the MSCS defending
champion. The feature that night will pay $2,000 to win.
The season will continue with a co-sanctioned event for MSCS and USAC
on May 12th at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN. This will be the
third time in history that the two sanctioning groups have raced
together on the swift high banked ¼ mile facility.
MSCS will also be visiting several other Indiana tracks. The series
will make a special weeknight appearance at the half mile Terre Haute
Action Track. MSCS will share the spotlight on a racing bill
headlined with a special NASCAR Night promotion. This race is set
for Tuesday evening June 19th, just two days after the series makes a
Father?s Day Sunday evening appearance at Tri-State Speedway. Both
will be great family night opportunities to attend the races!
The series is set for an encore performance at Lincoln Park Speedway
in Putnamville after last year?s successful return to the facility.
The date for the MSCS Return II Putnamville is August 18. The top
prize is $3,000. The strong contingency of regular sprint drivers
that frequent the track always present formidable opposition for the
series.
The Fall Clash at Bloomington Speedway in Bloomington, IN, on Friday
September 14th will kick off the only weekend this season in which the
series has back to back races scheduled. The $5,000 to win that night
and the $10,000 to win the Haubstadt Hustler the next night will
provide the biggest single MSCS racing weekend of the season. The
Haubstadt Hustler will be a co-sanctioned MSCS-USAC event again in
2012.
The MSCS drivers will join the United States Auto Club drivers again
on Sept. 29th for the City of Lawrenceburg Fall Nationals and a
chance to win another $10,000 prize.
Holiday weekend events at which MSCS will be racing include the May
27th and September 2nd dates at Tri-State Speedway. MSCS will join
and welcome the KISS competitors to Haubstadt on Memorial Day
Weekend. The Labor Day Weekend Challenge at Haubstadt will pay
$3,000 to the winner. Both are Sunday night events! Tri-State
Speedway will also present MSCS racing on Saturday night June 30th
with the Summer Blast set to take the green prior to the Fourth of
July midweek holiday.
The Hoosier Sprint Nationals at Haubstadt will be held on Saturday
night August 4th.
This will be the eighth version and it will pay $5,000 to win again this season.
The enduring event continues in its role as the high mark on each
seasons MSCS schedule and is the threshold to the larger purses for races
that close out the season.
The season will then end on October 6th with the Harvest Cup at
Tri-State Speedway. This will be the second year for the event
designed to wrap up the season and provide an opportunity to present
the MSCS Championship Trophy and Rookie of the Year Award to the
recipients with fans, race teams, and sponsors present. The feature
for the season finale pays $4,000 to win.
Jan 30 2012
Golden State King of the West Series
Tim Kaeding and Dennis Roth announced last night that they will be back next season to defend their King of the West Sprint Car Series title! Great news for all of the California fans!
Nov 1 2011
SHORT BECOMES SEVENTH DIFFERENT MSCS CHAMPION
by ebutcher
Haubstadt, IN - October, 2011. Brady Short of Bedford, IN, was
awarded the trophy for winning the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car
Series Championship following the final MSCS event of the season at
Tri-State Speedway on October 8th. Short had built up a commanding
points lead during the season permitting him the opportunity to lock
up the series championship at Lawrenceburg with one race still
remaining on the schedule.
The final tally, which included the season bonus of 40 points for
100% attendance at MSCS events, gave Short a substantial margin of
168 points over his closest rival. This became the largest margin of
victory since Mitch Wissmiller?s dominating season performance back
in 2002. In all 102 drivers earned points during the season.
One key to Short?s success was his ability to move up and earn a
transfer spot into the feature early in the program. The Bedford
Blaster won 6 qualifying heat races in just 11 opportunities. He
made every feature during the season without having to run in a B.
He took full advantage of the availability and addition of passing
points to the MSCS race format this season. Short earned the most
passing points in the heats three times and made it into the top six
that redraw for top feature starting spots seven times.
The Short Racing Team is owned by Don Short of Bedford, IN. He
received the MSCS Championship Car Owner?s Trophy on October 8th.
The sponsors for the car are Indiana Stoneworks, Athenia Mason
Supply, Simpson, ButlerBuilt, AFCO by Benic, and Maxim. The red and
black number 36 sprint car was powered by a 410 Spec Engine.
Chris ?Critter? Malone of Speedway, IN, took the runner-up honors in
this season?s title chase. The 2011 effort was his best yet in MSCS
competition. Malone used two consecutive third place feature
finishes at Tri-State Speedway early in the season to put himself in
a position to challenge for a top spot in the standings. Critter
campaigned hard in the Seven LLC owned DRC Chassis powered by a 410
Chevy from Speedway Engine Development.
Chase Briscoe moved up through the points standings during the season
to finish in third place. The youthful Mitchell, IN, driver was
twelfth in points last season. This was only Briscoe?s second full
season to compete with MSCS. The Briscoe Racing Eagle used in
competition was powered by a 410 Foxco engine.
Braylon Fitzpatrick of W. Terre Haute, IN, finished fourth in the
standings which earned him enough points to also take the MSCS Rookie
of the Year honors. Fitzpatrick received his Rookie of the Year
Award during post race and post season activities following the Oct.
8th Harvest Cup. John Fitzpatrick owns the Spike sprint car he
drives and the team is sponsored by First Financial Bank and Indy
Race Parts.
Chase Stockon of Sullivan, IN, finished fifth in points this year.
For Stockon it was his fifth appearance in the Top Five during his
nine seasons in MSCS competition. Stockon was second last season!
He has also finished third, fourth, and now fifth in points twice.
He drove the XXXII Racing DRC with a 410 Chevy engine built by
Claxton. His sponsors this season were First Financial Bank,
Superior Tank & Trailer Company, and Bell Farms.
Drivers placing 6th through 10th in the points were Dakota Jackson,
Kyle Cummins, Robert Ballou, Jon Stanbrough, and Blake Fitzpatrick.
Jackson was a fourth new face to join the Top Ten. Kyle Cummins and
Blake Fitzpatrick are both former champions. Ballou and Stanbrough
have both been in the Top Ten with MSCS at the conclusion of two
previous seasons.
In placing 11th and 12th in the final MSCS Standings Casey Riggs and
Levi Jones assumed the final two spots on the list of 12 drivers
having provisional starting spots available for 2012. Riggs and Jones
join Brady Short and Jon Stanbrough in winning 2 MSCS features each
during the season. Chase Stockon, Casey Shuman, and Hunter
Schuerenberg won a feature each during the season.
Officials of the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series have set the
week of November 7th as the 2011 MSCS Awards Week. Drivers in line
for points checks, top 5 plaques, or season contingency awards can
expect to receive those at that time. The series is sponsored by
Hoosier Tire Midwest whose support makes a driver point fund
possible. The TOP TWELVE in points are listed at the conclusion of
this article. The points of all the drivers active with MSCS this
season and other information about the series can be found at
www.mscssprints.com.
HOOSIER TIRE
MIDWEST SPRINT CAR SERIES
2011 Points Standings
Includes Points for all Events
plus Season Bonus Points
1 36 Brady Short 718
2 7 Critter Malone 550
3 5 Chase Briscoe 537
4 3 Braylon Fitzpatrick 502
5 32 Chase Stockon 483
6 3x Dakota Jackson 460
7 3c Kyle Cummins 413
8 81 Robert Ballou 395
9 53 Jon Stanbrough 385
10 10f Blake Fitzpatrick 377
11 37 Casey Riggs 373
12 20/57 Levi Jones 328
Oct 11 2011
SPRINT CARS RETURN TO ACTION THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT ARIZONA SPEEDWAY
After three unforgettable races at the new Speedway the non-winged Sprint
Cars of the Wild West Open Comp series return to town this Saturday night
October 15th. After 3 seperate winners in as many races we look to see if we
will add a new name to that winners list or crown the first 2 time winner at
the new speedway. With cooler temps than we have saw at past races it
promises to be an exciting night of Non-Winged Sprint Car action at the
Arizona Speedway / ET Motopark.
Cost of admission to this Premier Event will be $15 adults, $12 Seniors, $6
kids and kids 6 and under are free. For more information please visit
www.ETMotopark.com or call 480-926-6688.
Event Schedule:
4:00pm Pits Open
6:00Pm Drivers Meeting
6:00Pm Spectator Gates Open
6:30Pm Wheel Pack & Hot Laps
7:30Pm Racing Begins
Also Remember this Friday Night will be the Final Friday night Sand Drag
and Mud Bogs Event of the season. Gates open at 6:00pm Friday with runs
beginning at 7:00pm.
MX Practice Schedule for this week:
Wednesday: 5:30pm-10:00pm National Track Only
Saturday: 8:00am-1:00pm National Track and 65/85 tracks open
Sunday: 8:00am-1:00pm National Track, SX Track and 65/85 tracks open
Oct 10 2011
STANBROUGH TAKES MSCS HARVEST CUP
Haubstadt, IN - October 8, 2011. Jon Stanbrough came up with the
winning effort Saturday night to take the MSCS Harvest Cup at
Tri-State Speedway. The Brownsburg, IN, sprint car driver led from
the 25th lap on after a duel with Brady Short in which the two
swapped the lead in some intense moments as they battled into and out
of the turns on the speedway. Stanbrough then withstood threats from
Kyle Cummins and Blake Fitzpatrick to make it a three car race for
the lead. Cummins took his cause all the way up to and against the
wall looking for more speed. A restart with 3 laps to go provided
new incentive. Stanbrough refused to give up any ground and he took
the $4,000 first prize. Cummins finished second and Fitzpatrick
third.
The victory was Stanbroughs second of the season with MSCS and his
18th feature win in MSCS competition. He was piloting the Fox
Brothers sprinter. Our car was really good. I could have run
harder! The veteran had every reason to feel confident. I have
been in situations before where a yellow came out with a few laps to
go and you just cannot worry about it, but do what you are supposed
to do. It worked out tonight.
Wes McIntyre and Jonathan Hendrick worked their way up to earn top
five finishes. Hendrick earned the Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard
Charger of the Race in a charge from 18th on the starting grid to
fifth. The feat and two previous Keizer Charger Awards this year
combined to earn him the MSCS Hard Charger of the Year Award.
Robert Ballou switched cars for the final MSCS race of the season and
took the Tate -Roberts Racing entry to a sixth place finish. Braylon
Fitzpatrick borrowed an engine to compete in the event and finished
seventh. Joshua Clemons turned his first MSCS encounter of the
season into an eighth place finish. MSCS regulars Chase Stockon and
Chase Briscoe were ninth and tenth at the finish. Adam Nigg finished
eleventh thus receiving the Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award for the race.
The feature was run in fleeting segments as the result of recurrent
yellow or red flags. Braylon Fitzpatrick was able to have a cut rear
tire replaced and continue during the first caution. Adam Niggs
crew replaced a flat front tire in the work area during another
caution. Two laps later a spin in turn two brought out the yellow
again. Then Brady Short was involved in an incident on the
backstretch which brought out a yellow on lap 30. A red flag flew
with 37 laps completed when Dakota Jacksons car rolled in turn four.
Jackson also had his car catch fire during the first heat.
The three heat races were won by Kyle Cummins, Critter Malone, and
Brady Short. Short earned the most passing points. The redraw for
the top six in passing points put Short & Stanbrough on the front row
for the feature.
Brady Short and car owner Don Short received their 2011 MSCS
Championship trophies in a post race presentation. Braylon
Fitzpatrick likewise received the MSCS Rookie of the Year Award. As
an interesting note Braylon won the B Main earlier in the evening in
a battle with last years MSCS Rookie of the Year Jonathan Hendrick.
The MSCS Harvest Cup concluded the season for the Hoosier Tire
Midwest Sprint Car Series. It was also the last race at Tri-State
Speedway this season. MSCS would like to acknowledge its sponsors.
They include Hoosier Tire Midwest, AFCO, Hinchman Indy Racing
Uniforms, Wilwood, Hilborn Fuel Injection, Keizer Aluminum Wheels,
Race Bumpers.Com, Rod End Supply, and Saldana Racing Products.
Coverage Provided as News and Information for MSCS
MODIFIED FEATURE CAPTURED BY KISSINGER
Haubstadt, IN - Oct. 8 Continued. Levi Kissinger of Mt. Vernon, IN,
won the UMP Open Wheel Modified feature to complete the remainder of
the racing program Saturday night. It was Kissingers second win at
Tri-State Speedway this season. He also won on opening night in
April.
Trent Young was second in the 25 lap event. He was looking for win
number two. Veteran Everett Bradham finished third. Twenty of the
35 cars assembled to race in the season finale made the feature
field. Brandon McDowell and Michael Fox rounded out the top five.
Illinois drivers Terry Messenger and Billy Lewis won the two B Mains.
Heat race victories went to Stephen Schnapf, Stan Beadles, Levi
Kissinger, and Dave Baldwin.
Kenny Schrader was among ten drivers making their first appearance at
the track for the season. Schraders modified sported a special pink
paint scheme in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and he made the
feature field easily with a runner-up heat race finish.
SUMMARY
MSCS HARVEST CUP, Tri-State Speedway
MSCS SPRINTS:
First Heat - 3c Kyle Cummins, 53 Jon Stanbrough, 38 Jeff Bland Jr.,
1c Kent Christian, 23 Brian Karraker, 3x Dakota Jackson,
4b Donny Brackett, 02 Nick Hale, 3mc Dave Mallady
Second Heat - 7 Critter Malone, 10F Blake Fitzpatrick, 5 Chase Briscoe,
21x Robert Ballou, 32 Chase Stockon, 71c Joshua Clemons,
3 Braylon Fitzpatrick, 68 Jonathan Hendrick
Third Heat - 36 Brady Short, 83 Wes McIntyre, 71 Damion Gardner,
25n Adam Nigg, 04 Josh Burton, 2x Chris Gentry,
37x Aric Gentry, 11c Daron Clayton
B Main - 3 Braylon Fitzpatrick, 68 Jonathan Hendrick, 3x Dakota Jackson,
4B Donny Brackett, 37x Aric Gentry, 02 Nick Hale,
3mc Dave Mallady, 2x Chris Gentry, 11c Daron Clayton DNS
Feature ( 40 Laps) - 53 Jon Stanbrough, 3c Kyle Cummins, 10F Blake
Fitzpatrick,83 Wes McIntyre, 68 Jonathan Hendrick,
21xRobert Ballou,3 Braylon Fitzpatrick, 71c Joshua Clemons,
71 Damion Gardner, 3x Dakota Jackson,36 Brady Short,
1c Kent Christian, 38 Jeff Bland Jr.
UMP OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS:
First Heat - 05 Stephen Schnapf
Second Heat - 84 Stan Beadles
Third Heat - 8 Levi Kissinger
Fourth Heat - 6B Dave Baldwin
Two B Main Winners - 16 Terry Messenger and 02 Billy Lewis
Feature (25 Laps) - 8 Levi Kissinger, 1h Trent Young, 2x Everett Bradham,
18 Brandon McDowell, 66 Michael Fox, 6B Dave Baldwin,
1 Larry Anderson, 16 Terry Messenger, 7Mark Lamont,
39s Robert Smith, 76B Charlie Belden, 02 Billy Lewis,
12 Ed Shamhart, 05 Stephen Schnapf, 84 Stan Beadles,
44 Scotty Oliver, 9 Ken Schrader, 03 Zach Dennis,
14 Willie Madison, 71x Dave Beck
Aug 11 2011
BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS RADICAL SATURDAY FORMAT CHANGE!
by Scott Daloisio
(Perris, CA, August 10, 2011) Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian has announced a radical change to the Saturday night portion of the 16th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals. Instead of C, B, and A main events, this year's final night will include qualifying, four heat races, two B mains and the championship A main event.
"Over the years fans have raved that the Thursday and Friday night portions of the Budweiser Oval Nationals have provided the best racing they have seen all season long," Kazarian said. "They have asked that we go to the same style format for Saturday night and we are going to do what they are asking for. The new Saturday format along the addition of the "Legends of Ascot Match Race" on Friday night should make this year's edition of the Oval Nationals the best one ever."
As in past years, the Thursday and Friday night portion of the Oval Nationals will include qualifying, five heat races and C, B and A main events. "The top eight drivers in points after the first two nights will be seeded directly into Saturday's 40-lap Oval Nationals championship feature," Kazarian stated. "Everybody else will have to qualify, runs heats and possibly the B main events on Saturday to get into the A main."
On Saturday, the top 32 qualifiers will contest four, ten-lap, eight car heat races. The top two finishers from each heat will go into the A main and the others will go into one of the two B main events. Cars qualifying 33rd and back will automatically go into one of the B mains. Each B main will be 12-laps and the top four finishers from each B will also make the main event.
"Fans have clamored for us to do this for quite some time," Kazarian stated. "The clawing and the scratching for the Saturday transfer spots is going to be incredible. Just like it has been on Thursday and Friday over the years. We are very excited and cannot wait for November to get here."
The Budweiser Oval Nationals, America's most prestigious traditional Sprint Car race, will take place on November 3rd, 4th and 5th and will be a full points paying event for the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car and the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series'. In addition, it attracts other top stars from around the nation.
In addition to the 410 Sprint Cars, the popular California Lightning Sprint Cars will also be in action on Friday and Saturday.
One of the favorites in this year's Oval Nationals. Three-time Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car champion Mike Spencer of Temecula, California.
photo by Doug Allen.
The official entry blank is available by clicking the following link: http://www.perrisautospeedway.com/forms/oval11form.html
Advance tickets for the 16th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals are available now by calling: 1 800 595-4849 or (951) 940-0134. You can also order tickets online at: http://pas.tix.com/Schedule.asp?OrganizationNumber=7
Tickets will also be available at The PAS souvenir stand at all races.
To keep up with all of the latest Perris Auto Speedway news, photos, gossip and receive special offers, sign up at The PAS Facebook site at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480
You can also keep up with the latest news and receive special offers from The PAS Twitter site: http://twitter.com/perrisautospdwy.
Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate sponsors for the 2011 season. Aaron's, Ahern Rentals, All Coast Construction, Amsoil, Ayers Hotel and Spa, Budweiser, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Comfort Inn, Comunidad Latina, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Frazee Paint, Hoosier Tires, JD Fields Lumber, K&N Engineering, P.I.P.E., Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Prolong Super Lubricants, Soboba Casino, Square H, Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Trench Shoring, US Foods, Valley Auto Salvage and Zanzabuku Sports Lounge.
For more information call The PAS at: (951) 940-0134.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds.
Video and DVD productions of all racing events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Jeff Kristensen’s Raceway Video. For more information on these productions you can call: (818) 618-9764 or visit the web site at: http://racewayvideo.com/
mailto:racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment
OVAL NATIONALS CHAMPIONS
1996 - Jimmy Sills
1997 - Rip Williams
1998 - Rodney Argo
1999 - Rickie Gaunt
2000 - Tony Jones
2001
2002 - Bud Kaeding
2003 - Cory Kruseman
2004 - Cory Kruseman
2005 - Dave Darland
2006 - Dave Darland
2007 - Bud Kaeding
2008 - Jesse Hockett
2009 - Damion Gardner
2010 - Chris Windom
“The Sixteenth Annual 2011 Budweiser Oval Nationals” November 3rd, 4th & 5th
PROGRAM FORMAT Thursday and Friday
Qualifying:
D Main:
C Main:
Heat Races:
All cars Qualifying in the top 40 will be in the heat races. There will be a total of five (5) heat races with eight (8) cars per heat race. Each heat race will be fully inverted. The top four in each heat race will transfer to the twenty-five (25) lap A Main event. The cars finishing 5th – 8th will go straight to the B Main. Each heat race will be ten (10) laps.
B Main:
A Main:
SATURDAY NIGHT’S FORMAT “The Elite Eight”:
The top eight (8) cars in points from Thursday and Friday are locked into Saturday Nights A Main.
Qualifying:
Heat Races:
B Mains
saturday’s A MAIN EVENT
Wild West Sprint Cars Return to Arizona spdwy
Also in the feature evening will be the return of the Total Seal Arizona
Mod Lites. Always bringing a full field of cars and some of the tightest
racing you will see at the speedway between Moriarty, Johhnys Roffings John
and Brenden Preist, Hayden Bender and many more Modlite stars we welcome
back the Total Seal AZ Mod Light Series this Saturday night.
Topping off the evening will be the always entertaining and competitive
Horne Ford Bomber Series. Watch as Skaggs, Neis, Hass and the furious wagon
race to the checkers in one of the best weekends of racing of the summer.
Gates open at 6:00pm with racing at 7:30pm. Tickets to premium event $15
adults, $12 seniors and military, $6 kids 11-15, kids 10 and under are
always free. For more information please log onto www.ETMotopark.com or call
480-926-6688.
May 3 2011
IPSCA FINDS ITS NICHE
by
Richard Golardi
Melbourne Florida
Contributor to OWR3
"Racing is life … everything before and after is just waiting."
These words were spoken by Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in the film "Le Mans".
Floridian pavement sprint car racers did not know if they would be racing … or just waiting. This was the cue for the Independent Pavement Sprint Car Alliance (IPSCA), formed when a void was created in the state by the lack of pavement sprint car races scheduled for 2011. The Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) had been the dominant player in the Florida, until 2011. The void was created when TBARA only confirmed 3 races for all of 2011, and also with the entrance of USAC into the Florida market, but with no races yet run. The new USAC Southeast Sprint Car Series had intended to launch in 2011, run by the organizers of the former Central Florida Wingless Sprint Car Association. The new USAC series appears to be troubled, with several events scheduled, and later canceled.
All photos by Richard Golardi
Enter Tony Carreno, the 49 year old site preparation company owner who is the main organizer of IPSCA.
At the most recent event in April at Citrus County Speedway.
Carreno himself chose to drive one of the cars, and eventually finished third in the feature.
The event was won by 17 year old Collin Cabre, taking his first sprint car feature win. Cabre will be competing in the Midwest in the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series once his high school semester is finished later this month. This night’s race, second of the year for the new series, had lots of caution periods, and some confusion with car placement during the cautions.
On the night of the event, I asked Tony Carreno for his assessment. "I think it’s actually going really well. We’ve got 18 cars here tonight." I asked if he was satisfied with 18 cars? "Absolutely. I know there was two more that had mechanical problems, and that would have given us 20. The promoters can see there’s people coming for these guys, and that will give us something to bargain with later on." I mentioned that Tony had given me the name of the series as ending with an "A" for Alliance, but others had been using the word Association. Did those using "association" have it wrong? "Yes sir, they did", he replied. Was there any meaning behind that, since TBARA already uses an "A" for association? "Well, we sat down and talked to some TBARA drivers a couple of weeks ago, and we were trying to find out what will make the whole sport work better," Carreno said. "Actually, their 2010 champion is here with us tonight, Shane Butler, and his father, Stan Butler, and he’s the President of the TBARA." Stan’s night ended early after on-track contact.
Above Shane Butler, and his father, Stan Butler Below
Shane Butler would later finish second in a night that saw intense racing between the cautions and confusion at Citrus County Speedway. Carreno told me that they hoped to schedule a couple more dates at the track, and also at Punta Gorda Speedway. The last visit to Punta Gorda resulted in a good crowd and good vibes all around, as the track owner even did some virtual high-fiving with the group, congratulating them in an internet message. With the future schedule probably only including these two tracks, IPSCA seems to have its niche, for now. But, would they consider expanding beyond these two tracks? "That’s up to the people at those other race tracks, if they want to have us. You know, we can sit down and work something out."
One thing that had already worked out was getting competitors from TBARA to race with the "new guys" when there was a long break in the TBARA schedule. After meeting with TBARA members, there was no formal agreement, other than to encourage competitors to race with IPSCA. "If we could get some of their guys to take their wings off, and come and support us, then we could increase the car count (for IPSCA events). We’ve all got to get together and band together. We can show these promoters that we can bring people to the race track," according to Carreno. Was it an expensive transition for the winged cars from TBARA to convert to a non-winged car? "I believe it was no cost at all. It would actually be less (cost to run) because the wings are really hard on the cars." So it’s just a matter of turning a few wrenches, take off the wing, and that’s it? "Yes sir. Then have at it," he replied.
I asked some competitors if IPSCA put together a schedule, even if just Citrus County Speedway and Punta Gorda, would you want to run with them? Wendy Mathis answered "I would want to – yeah, definitely." Wings or no wings? "No preference. If it’s a sprint car, I’m in it."
Mickey Kempgens, who won the first IPSCA event
Mickey Kempgens, who won the first IPSCA event, answered "oh yeah, absolutely. I love running non-wing. Hopefully we can work that out." Wings or no wings? "If it’s sprint car racing, it doesn’t matter to me. I love them both." Tony Carreno would be Mickey’s teammate that night, but Mickey would not finish well, unlike the IPSCA organizer.
Could IPSCA find success in a difficult market, with recession fears, and track owner alliances, and rising gas prices keeping fans at home? Tony Carreno remains positive. "We’ll see where it goes from here, man. Looking good so far, though. There are a lot of sprint cars around, and we want to get them out and get everybody on the same page, and have some races, you know? It will all work out in the end, hopefully." Perhaps with the right blend of a few "home tracks" that welcome them, and no rushed plans to expand quickly, the series can keep to the market niche that they have created, and wait for the right cards to be dealt to them that will signal the time to expand.
Apr 28 2011
Gene Burd making the move to Sprint Cars
"Keeping Track"
By
Dino Oberto
Contributer to OWR3
As a driver of micro sprints, 21-year old Gene Burd had a number of tracks to race at that are within a reasonable drive of his Wapwallopen home. He’s run at Greenwood Valley where he earned a kart title in 2004, Selinsgrove Raceway Park, Linda’s Speedway and a few others but his choice over the past two seasons was Hamlin Speedway near Scranton. It was a judgment call that paid off as he won the 2010 270cc championship aboard his family owned mount.
"That was a goal. I had started going to Hamlin the year before and we ran very well and consistent there and that helped make my decision to come back last year," said Burd.
"It was great to be able to win that title. I feel that Hamlin probably had the closest competition next to say Linda’s (Speedway) which I believe has the most competitive cars in 270 Micro Sprints in the Northeast.
"At the time we felt it was the best place to run in our area that we could afford to race at. Hamlin was pulling in at least 30 cars each week so you really had to work at making the show. You get a lot of cars from all over."
Burd raced to three feature wins and beat Nunzi Allegrucci who had won the previous two championships.
He had all intentions to return and defend his title and with two cars at the ready plus enough extras on hand the odds were in his favor to repeat.
But, in November an opportunity came around that he felt he couldn’t pass by. Growing up he had always attended the races at Selinsgrove and was a huge fan of multi-time track champ and neighbor Richie Jensen. Jensen was the king of late models and later switched to sprints.
"In 2001, Richie’s last year when he came back and ran a sprint car, I thought it was real neat to be in the pits with him and just watching him race," said Burd.
"I think he’s a great race car driver. When I was a kid it was my goal to be Richie Jensen. He inspired me."
So when the chance arose to buy a sprinter Burd made the leap of faith and is now preparing to make his debut with the class which he plans to do at Selinsgrove as well as Clinton County Raceway.
"It wasn’t until November that we made the switch to the sprint car. We had two micros ready to go with enough equipment to build two more," he explained.
"I’ll be 21 on May 14. I’m working 50-60 hours a week and someday I plan to have a house and family and in that point in time I know I won’t be able to have a sprint car anyway so I’m doing it while I can still afford it."
The task at hand has been preparing for action which he hopes to see relatively soon. He credits fellow sprint racer Nyles Berkes for his direction in a number of areas with the car. Jensen also has lent some useful advice.
"As words Richie Jensen once told me, ‘Everybody is going to tell you something and sometimes it may not be the truth but you have to listen to everything that say because they just might let something slip.’ He looked everything over and gave me a lot of spare parts too."
Although Burd has lined up some solid backers, Busted Grafix, Bob Smith Pool Water and Fuel Service, Crispin Valve, Hobbie Garage, Knorr Hauling, Overhead Door Company and SAF Chassis are his sponsors, he has been instilled with an amazing work ethic and family values taught to him by his father that really make his labor of love standout.
"Everything I’ve ever done in racing I owe all to my dad, especially last year. I’ve been very blessed and grateful. I wouldn’t be able to be doing any of this without him and the sponsors I have," said Burd.
"I’ve worked for everything. My dad has always taught me that if you want something you work to get it. I’m very committed. I never played high school sports. Instead I worked after school to pay for a race car. This is my hobby so I feel it’s my responsibility to pay for it."
Burd bought the car from Chris Shuttlesworth who ran with the 358 Sprint class at Williams Grove Speedway. His first time on track will be May 11 for a practice night at Selinsgrove.
In all likelihood though, his weekly efforts will see him race at the 1/3-mile Clinton County track.
"From what everyone has been telling me I may be in more scuffles at Clinton County but it won’t be as bad as Selinsgrove. You may be in fewer wrecks at that track but when you do hit its most likely going to be a bad one because of the speed," said Burd.
That doesn’t mean he’ll keep away from Selinsgrove all together. After all that is where he first got the bug to race and became a Jensen fan so it would mean a lot for him to run there.
"The person I always looked up to in my racing career was Richie Jensen. I plan to race the car on a weekly basis whether it is Clinton County, whether it is Selinsgrove or even both in one weekend," said Burd.
"I was originally looking at running for Rookie of the Year at Clinton County but for right now an attainable goal would be to run in the top 10 each week."
Apr 5 2011
A big opening night at MRP
Lots of cars and lots of carnage
By Kevin Triplett
Saturday April 2, 2011 marked the 43rd consecutive opening night for Marysville Raceway Park (MRP) after several weeks of rainouts. The day started with a car show in nearby Yuba City, with a nice turnout of clean shiny race cars, a great promotional idea that was well attended.
At race time, there were forty winged 360 CI sprint cars in the pits, the largest field since 1994.
The sprint cars were joined by 65 cars from the other four classes racing in the evening’s program making for a packed pit area. This writer continues to be amazed at cars that display no driver name, usually paired with a driver wearing a nameless racing suit. Racers take note: reporters and track announcers cannot help promote your racing program if we cannot tell who you are.
Among the night’s entries were defending track champion Korey Lovell, as well as past MRP sprint car champions Colby Wiesz, Mike Monahan, Brent Dothage and Jeremy Burt. The local entries were supplemented by cars for well-known Northern California second-generation drivers Andy Forsberg and Nick Green, and 2010 ASCS National Rookie of the Year Kyle Hirst, who is driving the Smitty Brothers Racing #14S sprint car for the 2011 season. Making the long tow from Oregon was Vern Wheeler, Jr. who drives a West Coast team car to ASCS star Tony Bruce Jr.
The 2011 season started out badly for local Live Oak, CA driver Mark Michelet, whose car pulled off the track during hot laps. Michelet evidently had broken a fuel line and the car erupted into flames in the pit area. The MRP track fire crew responded quickly, but Mark suffered burns on both his legs and hands. Mark was transported by ambulance to Rideout Memorial Hospital for further treatment, and as of this article being written, his condition is not known.
Track promoter Paul Hawes had responded to racer’s complaints of too heavy a racing surface by reducing the watering of the track during the week. It is hard to say whether it was the slick surface or early season driver adrenaline levels, but each of the four 12-lap heat races featured crashes on the opening lap; the first three heats involving flipping sprint cars. Heat race winners included Dennis Harvey, Dean Freitas, Kyle Hirst, and Vern Wheeler Jr.
The carnage continued in the two 12-lap “B” features as opening lap crashes in each eliminated multiple cars. Scott Hall dominated the first ‘B’ feature, while lady racer Reanna Kruger harassed eventual winner Korey Lovell throughout the second ‘B’.
When the 22-car starting field for the 20-lap winged sprint A-main took to the track it was past midnight, and the night had turned cold and blustery. Kyle Hirst started eighth but quickly blasted into the lead on lap 3 and was never challenged for the remaining 17 laps.
Kyle Hirst car Kevin Triplett photo
Finishing second behind Hirst was Ocean Speedway regular Nick Green, followed by former Placerville Speedway champion Billy Wallace, Colby Weisz, with hard-charging Herman Klein finishing fifth up from his 20th starting position. Klein had battled back from a flip in his heat race, which had destroyed his top wing.
In the wingless sprint division feature, 2010 MRP champion Terry Schank started seventh, and made contact with Ron LaPlant while dueling for the lead on the opening lap. The ensuing melee collected three cars, and officials placed Schank at the head of the field for the restart. Schank then dominated the feature, easily taking the checkers.
Terry Shank Kevin Triplett photo
After the race, Schank was assaulted in the pit area by persons unknown and was later transported to Rideout Memorial Hospital. The Yuba County Sherriff’s office is currently investigating the crime.
Mar 26 2011
TBARA STARTS A TROUBLED SEASON
by
Rich Golardi
Florida
contributor to OWR3
The first event of the 2011 season for the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association (TBARA) was the only scheduled race that would be anywhere near the Tampa Bay area. On a cool and comfortable night at New Smyrna Speedway, the sprint cars shared the bill with the USAR Pro Cup Series stock cars. That’s where the trouble started. Complaints that the Hoosier rubber on the sprint cars was making the track slick and unsafe pushed the TBARA heat races and main event until after the completion of the 250 lap stock car race. The main event did not get started until after midnight, but a larger than usual crowd, reminiscent of pre-recession days, stayed for the night’s best race. Shane Butler and Dave Steele were battling for the lead on the back stretch, after Steele had carved his way through the field, as he has a habit of doing during TBARA events. The two cars touched, and only Butler made it to the high banked turn 3, and then on to the feature win.
Earlier in the evening, while watching the stock cars from the stands, I asked Shane Butler what he intended to do with his year, with only 3 TBARA events scheduled for the defending TBARA champion. “Well, I have a go-kart,” he replied. “I feel kind of bummed-out, kind of disappointed. I want to do some kind of racing, even though we lost our sponsor this winter,” he added. Butler still wanted to head north in two months to compete in Anderson Speedway’s Little 500 on May 28. This event would then give him a total of 4 races for the year, far less than the 16 or 17 races he competed in last year. “I’m confident we can find a sponsor, and find a motor (for the Little 500),” said Butler. For Florida sprint car racing to have fallen into this state was a shame, I said. “It sure is,” said Butler, as we nodded in agreement.
What happened? Some were quick to blame the economy, and lack of sponsors needed to get race purses up to acceptable levels to satisfy car owners and track owners alike, and others blamed a recent alliance formed by Florida track owners. The purse at a typical TBARA event was around $8,400, I learned. Some recent non-wing sprint car events might have had purses of about $7,000, with $4,500 from organizers, and the rest from sponsors and others. The non-wing events that I am referring to were run by the new “Independent Pavement Sprint Car Alliance”, which seemed to have sprung from an event in February originally sanctioned by the new USAC Southeast Sprint Car Series. The event at Citrus County Speedway on February 5 had USAC sanctioning at first, then was cancelled, and then run with no sanctioning as an independent, non-wing sprint car race (it was eventually rained out and rescheduled for April 16). Would this new independent alliance of non-wing pavement races damage the new USAC Southeast Sprint Car Series, or even put it out of business? I asked Tony Carreno, a car owner, and organizer of the new series this question, but he did not directly answer this question. I will assume that he did not want to create a controversy, and wanted to avoid bad blood between the two series.
The USAC Southeast Sprint Car Series had already lost some scheduled races, and at least one key person. Their survival required that the racers who wanted to compete in non-wing pavement races in Florida look to them to schedule and organize events, which was not happening. The new Independent Pavement Sprint Car Alliance had already scheduled races at Citrus County Speedway, and Punta Gorda Speedway, which held a race with the independents on the prior Saturday. This event resulted in smiles all around, with organizer Carreno stating “I never saw a crowd that big (at Punta Gorda).” Kevin Williams, Punta Gorda Speedway owner, even posted a message thanking the group for “the very professional show.” He wrote that “the 20 teams in attendance were top notch. The racing was very competitive and the packed stands of fans were pleased. The PGS staff was amazed at how gracious and considerate the teams were throughout the weekend. We would also like to thank you for your cleanliness in the pit area as you guys cleaned up like you were not even there, that is great.”
But why form a new alliance for non-wing pavement sprint racers when USAC was attempting to do the same exact thing for 2011? Tony Carreno pointed to the February 5 event at Citrus County Speedway at the pivotal event. With the cancellation, “it left us with SpeedWeeks with no sprint car racing whatsoever,” remarked Carreno, with TBARA having no SpeedWeeks events. When I asked who made the first moves to organize the new series, Carreno credited Shane Miller, and also the rest of the owners and drivers, or “the independents”, as he called them. The Florida only series was intended to reduce costs, hopefully increase purses, and give “the independents” some more control. “It all boils down to that if we ran for the purses being offered, then that was the purse that we were going to be stuck with forever,” Carreno said, as his reason for starting the new series. He smiled broadly as he said “we got treated like kings down there at Punta Gorda Speedway.”
With far fewer pavement sprint car races scheduled for the rest of the year in Florida, what would the competitors do? Floridian Collin Cabre, a 17 year old sprint car driver, looking to make the move into stock cars, said that he still wanted to race winged sprint cars during the summer, so he would be heading up north to compete in some Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint car series races, in June and July, after competing in the Little 500 first in May. He also wanted to run the wingless sprint car races in Florida, with the independents. What’s next? Collin told me that he had just been offered a test in a USAR Pro Cup stock car, likely in North Carolina within the next few weeks. He then hoped to make the move into stock cars either this year or next year. It seemed like this was one young driver who may be making the right moves, and leaving Florida’s sprint car troubles in his rear view mirror.
Feb 15 2011
Ty Dillon motors to victory in ‘The Gator Championship’ at Volusia
BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 14, 2011 - Ty Dillon had seen his brother win in the 40th DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park. He had seen his Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer win, too. But on Monday night, they were chasing him to the checkered flag in The Gator Championship for DIRTcar UMP Modifieds.
Dillon, 18, jumped out to an early lead in the 30-lap showcase event and then fought off Ryan Gustin through lapped traffic before finally holding back Bowyer to win for the first time in his career at Volusia Speedway Park.
"This is really cool," said Dillon, one of Richard Childress' grandsons from Welcome, N.C. "I've been coming down here for a long time and I've watched my brother win a lot of races here as well as Clint Bowyer. To finally get my first win here, and have it on The Gator Championship night with an awesome trophy, just to be with these guys and have UNOH on the car, these students work so hard it's just cool to see."
Gustin, of Marshalltown, Iowa, gave Dillon everything he could handle. Dillon raced high and low to fight off Gustin for the first 25 laps before Dillon started to pull away. Dillon wound up leading all 30 laps in the $5,000-to-win event.
"It was real slick and the lapped traffic was really tough," Dillon said. "It was almost déjà vu to me. Last year I was leading with two to go and got passed in lapped traffic. I knew this year I wasn't going to let that happen again. Gustin rolled me on the outside, once I saw that I tried to take his line. I blocked that off and was still able to pass come cars."
Bowyer, of Emporia, Kan., and a NASCAR Chase to the Cup contender last season, was second with Gustin finishing third. Bowyer, a winner three times earlier in the DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH worked under Gustin in lapped traffic with two circuits remaining to get the position. A couple of drivers from Batesville, Ark., completed the top five with Peyton Taylor fourth and defending Gator Championship winner Jared Landers in fifth.
Tuesday night competition will wrap up the DIRTcar UMP Modified portion of the 40th DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH as the DIRTcar Late Models, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds round out the 12 day event.
DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio; DIRTcar UMP Modified 'The Gator Championship'; Volusia Speedway Park; Feb. 14, 2011
A-Main (30-Laps) - 1.Ty Dillon; 2. Clint Bowyer; 3. Ryan Gustin; 4. Peyton Taylor; 5. Jared Landers; 6. Austin Dillon; 7. Ken Schrader; 8. Carl McKinney; 9. Richie Tosh; 10. Nick Hoffman; 11. Jason Miller; 12. Mike Spatola; 13. Michael Long; 14. Bob Broking; 15. Corey Conley; 16. Bobby Kitchen; 17. Scotty Orr; 18. Stormy Scott; 19. Kyle Bronson; 20. Jeff Matthews; 21. Devin Gilpin; 22. Duane Dale; 23. Todd Sherman; 24. Ryan Gifford; 25. Andy Strait; 26. Kent Corbin; 27. Kenny Wallace; 28. Dave Hess Jr.; 29. Gary Cook Jr.
B-Main 1 - 1. Ken Schrader; 2. Corey Conley; 3. Stormy Scott; 4. Andy Strait; 5. Michael Long; 6. Todd Sherman; 7. Dave Wietholder; 8. Bobby Regot; 9. David McWilliams; 10. Brandon Smith; 11. Jeremy Kerzman; 12. Jason Beaulieu; 13. Lawrence Oconnor; 14. Larry Burkins; 15. Dave Jamison; 16. Justin Coulter; 17. Kelby Simmons.
B-Main 2 - 1. Scotty Orr; 2. Dave Hess Jr; 3. Mike Spatola; 4. Kyle Bronson; 5. Ryan Gifford; 6. Duane Dale; 7. Chad Kinder; 8. Nate Carruth; 9. Tony Anderson; 10. Dave Baldwin; 11. Terry Hull; 12. Weasel Rhodes; 13. Garrett Stewart; 14. Dale Murray; 15. Kent Corbin; 16. Justin Matson; 17. Terry Hansen; DNS. Chris Puskas.
B-Main 3 - 1. Austin Dillon; 2. Jason Miller; 3. Bob Broking; 4. Gary Cook Jr; 5. Jeff Matthews; 6. Dale Mathison; 7. Kody Weisner; 8. Kevin Davis; 9. Mark Grosvenor; 10. Bob Gierke; 11. Gavin Landers; 12. Jeff Thomas; 13. Brett Korves; 14. Keith Smith; 15. Gary Brooks; 16. Evan Taylor; 17. Devin Gilpin
