There was lots of excitement on tap for the WCS fans this past Saturday, since there were double features for the modifieds and late models. Although their were 20 modifieds in the pits , only eleven of them qualified to run the remainder 14 laps of the rain-out race. Larry Kugel passed McKinney on the start and never looked back. There was very little passing or excitement as everyone finished with in a spot or two from where they started. Two cautions came out for Stiffler as it was obvious he was struggling with his setup. At the end it was Kugel the victor, followed by: McKinney,Taft, Stiffler, Batkins, Hubbard, Miller, Howe, M.Hess, Mullinex, Dean.
In the next event, the Hess boys and Carl McKinney took the heat wins. The feature saw the 1K of Kenny Riddle from Parkersburg W.Va. chasing Dave Hess Jr. the entire event. It was a spectacular chase but Riddle came up short at the end. Some felt that it was a one grove track, and there was little movement and change in the top 10 positions. The Hess boys, Kugel, and Taft run the top 5 Positions most of the 20 laps, till Stiffler showed up from the tail and finished behind Kugal at the checker. After Hess Jr., it was, Riddle, Hess, Kugel, Stiffler, Taft, Howe, Johnson, Lyles,Holbrook.
I would like to use the rest of this article to honor a young, talented racer that will be leaving this area this week. It has been my privilege from the first time Brian Taft walked into our shop , to call him a friend. The first time he got into a car about 2 1/2 years ago was pretty scary since he was barely 18, and I have to admit, he kept us busy making spare part for a while. But every week, there was improvement, and he never complained, always apologetic to every driver he cut off, just a first class racer. Last year he decided he was going to go race with best of the best by enlisting in the AMRA Road Warrior Tour points battle. He raced very little on the local tracks but every time he did stop in on a free night, you could see an amazing difference. His control, style, and confidence, built until it was the other drivers coming over and apologizing to him. He finished 16th in the RWT points, and showed amazing improvement. He went to Florida in January to race, and a couple other big events during the spring, but as I have sat and watched him race these last few weeks at WCS , I been proud and amazed all at once. He had a 3rd and a 6th finish for those two features and just showed all the signs of a mature racer in this class. Unfortunately as I mentioned, this week after graduation he and his family will be moving out of the area. He will graduate from the University of Northwestern Thursday, with a degree in High Performance Motorsports. He will be moving directly to North Carolina to work on the thick of the motorsports industry. Since his parents are moving to Florida Friday, there will be few occasions to see Brian in this area much in the future. I have watched Brian grow through his teens and I best just say say " we are really going to miss you," so I do not embarrass him. Brian, you know we are so proud of you and your accomplishments in racing, now gods speed as you continue to work at your dreams in the motorsports industry.
That's all folks for this week.....
I couldn't wait to get to the track Saturday, in the quiet town of Orrville, Ohio. It was a beautiful day , and inspite of the early start the track held together till the rain's came later in the evening. The car count for the new class was around 15 I believe, but all agree that was mostly due to opening night in the AMRA Road Warrior Tour series down at K -C Raceway in Alma, Ohio. I will be eager to see the increased car count this week with it being an off week for the RWT. After hot laps, they got right down to qualifing , and Jay Howe in the # 26 car came out the victor of that event with a 20.044 fast time. They two heats were divided between with local track drivers , Carl McKinney, and Mike Hess taking the first heat, and AMRA veterns , Larry Kugal and Danny Dean taking the second. Other locals Brian Taft and Scott Stiffler split their luck , with Brian running exceptionally well, and Stiffler fighting continuous mechanicle difficulties all evening. By the time the green flag dropped for the modifieds the track had already been delayed and run in due to the rain. Turns 3 & 4 were getting pretty choppy, and falling apart inspite of all effort, and that along with the storm that followed on lap 6 brought an end to the nights events. I called the track this morning and they will go back to the order that you crossed the line on in lap 6 to set the starting grid for the l4 remaining laps to be run first this saturday. The first three rows will hold, Carl McKinney, Danny Dean, Larry Kugal, Brian Taft, Gary Hubbard, and Scott Stiffler who charged from the back (since he did not finish his heat.) I believe that Jay Howe, who set the fast time, and Mike Hess will follow in row 4 but I am not sure. The people I talked to could only confirm the top three rows. At any rate, the show should continue with the same excitement it had to end on last week.
The Track also confirmed that the AMRA president and group of officials will be on hand this week to over see the tech procedures and weekly AMRA paper work that will occure through the year. As with any new endeavor there are growing pains, with new classes and sanctions, there are adjustments to be made. I am sure the track is grateful for AMRA endevor to make this process and easy one for all involved.
In other AMRA news the " southside flyer" Kenny Johnson, took the win in the opening Road Warrior event . The hot shoe also won at Skyline Speedway the night before. I am going to attach the AMRA press release for this race at the end of my article, and I am sure you will enjoy reading Dustin Jarretts take on the events.
Well, I hope the weather will allow us to get our shows in this week-end, and until next week... you all take care!
official press release:
American Motor Racing Association
P.O. Box 7
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
(by Dustin Jarrett)
Kenny Johnson Wins AMRA Road Warrior Tour Season Opener at K-C Raceway!
(Alma, OH -- 4/17/04) A stellar field of 46 AMRA Modifieds signed into the
pits of Jim Nier's K-C Raceway Saturday night for the AMRA Road Warrior
Tour's season opening event. In a survival of the fittest, Mineral Wells,
WV's Kenny Johnson found himself on top of the mountain.
The field of 46 was trimmed to 24 for the "Eye Opener 30" as Doug Adkins and
Jess Hartman paced the field to the green flag. Two early cautions -- one
for Pat Gillian and one for Junior Nolan -- slowed the initail start of the
event. When the race officially began, Adkins jumped into the lead with
Hartman, Kenny Riddle, and Kenny Johnson in tow. Adkins slowed pulled
ahead from the others until lap 8 when Riddle slowed on the speedway with a
flat tire. With the one-lap courtesy rule in effect, Riddle's crew was able
to change the tire as he rejoined the field at the tail, handing the third
spot over to Johnson.
The restart saw Johnson look to the high side of Hartman in a bid for
second, but to no avail. Caution flags on laps 9 and 12, both for Vic
Vandergrift, would help keep Adkins within striking distance. When racing
resumed, Johnson shot by Hartman to grab the second spot and set his sights
on race leader Adkins. Behind the front three, Benny Hickel, Mike Long,
Chris Stotts, Rob Stambaugh, and a hard-charging Rick Hensley were jostling
for position.
The yellow flew again on lap 14 when Dave McWillliams lost an engine and
spun in his own oil. Greg Baumberger and Junior Nolan were among the
drivers caught up in the accident as both McWilliams and Baumberger went off
on the hook. During this caution period, race leader Doug Adkins fell
pitside with a flat, giving the point to Kenny Johnson.
The restart saw Johnson out front followed by Hartman, Hickel, and now
Hensley as the race leader wasted no time pulling ahead to a five car length
advantage. Hickel was able to get by Hartman and take 2nd before a pair of
lap 21 cautions slowed the pace. Under caution, Hensley dropped to the
infield, ending his charge to the front.
The restart featured Johnson and Hickel driving away from a fierce battle
for third as Hartman, Stambaugh, Long, Deck Defibaugh, and Kenny Riddle were
fighting for position and could have been covered with a blanket. Hartman's
flat tire on lap 28 would be the final yellow of the event and, despite a
two lap dash to the finish, no one could catch the "Southside Flyer". When
the checkered flag waved, Johnson's Liberty Truck Stop/K-Graphics/Eddy
Chiropractic Center/Gene's Trailer Sales sponsored #1 was the first to cross
the stripe. The win was Johnson's second in as many nights (as has was also
victorious in Friday night's AMRA Modified feature at Skyline Speedway).
Hickel held on for 2nd with Stambaugh 3rd, Deck Defibaugh 4th, and Riddle
5th.
The next event scheduled for the AMRA Road Warrior Tour is Friday, May 14th
at the Elkins Speedway. For more information on the American Motor Racing
Association (AMRA), please visit our website at www.amramodified.com
AMRA MODIFIEDS Road Warrior Tour -- 46 cars
Fast Qualifier: Doug Adkins/15.893
Heat #1: Doug Adkins, Dave McWilliams, Rob Stambaugh, Greg Baumberger, Mark
Baylor
Heat #2: Jess Hartman, Mike Long, Pat Gillian, Ed Eschmann, Rick Walker
Heat #3: Kenny Johnson, Vic Vandergrift, Dave Defibaugh, Junior Nolan, John
Burdette
Heat #4: Kenny Riddle, Chris Stotts, Larry Holbrook, Rick Stifler, Todd
Robinson
Heat #5: Benny Hickel, Deck Defibaugh, Tim Brown, Ray Perkins, Rick Wolford
C-Main: Greg Schilling, Adam Colley, Mike Gross, Joe Cox, Bill Wiley
B-Main: Rick Hensley, Ed Eschmann, Greg Baumberger, Junior Nolan, Donnie
Stewart
Feature: (finish, start, car #, driver)
1. (3) 1J Kenny Johnson
2. (5) 3s Benny Hickel
3. (11) 67 Rob Stambaugh
4. (10) 77D Deck Defibaugh
5. (4) 1K Kenny Riddle
6. (7) 35 Mike Long
7. (1) 7 Doug Adkins
8. (13) 77 Dave Defibaugh
9. (2) 5 Jess Hartman
10. (23) 0 Mark Dickson
11. (16) 03 Rick Hensley
12. (20) 38 Donnie Stewart
13. (19) 13 Junior Nolan
14. (12) 00 Pat Gillian
15. (22) 1C Todd Robinson
16. (9) s8 Chris Stotts
17. (17) E1 Ed Eschmann
18. (18) T3 Greg Baumberger
19. (6) 18 Dave McWilliams
20. (15) 66 Tim Brown
21. (8) 5 Vic Vandergrift
22. (14) L19 Larry Holbrook
23. (24) RV1 John Burdette
24. (21) 12 Anthony Slusher
It was a brisk but sunny day as the haulers started unloading in the pits at Wayne County Speedway saturday morning. There was a small insurance charge for the drivers but other than that the pits and grandstands were open to the public free of charge. That was of course very exciting to a number of the younger fans that usally spend most of there race nights in the grandstands. My three girls were among the number of other lucky children that got to watch dad from the trailer door, tune and set their cars up and go practice.
The slight chilly breeze was soon forgotten as motors cracked and idled around the pits as they got ready to line up for their session of practice.The track was very nicely groomed and prepared, and although it slicked out during the afternoon , it never fell apart. Part of the reason opening night was cancelled and the practice was rescheduled was due to' working out the bugs' in their new transponder system. From talking to those working on the computer, all went well, and I think it is a great investment that benifits the track and driver.
The modified division was well represented. I don't have an exact car count, but there were probably at least 15 cars that came and went during the six hour practice session. Ernie Coffman told me at the end of practice, how impressed he was with the modified division, and was amazed that most of the modified drivers were only tuning 1/2 second slower times than the late models. The locals I recognized from the Youngstown area were Larry Kugal, Bootie Petsko, Ken Smith, Paul Phillips, and Scott Stiffler. Smith had some mechanical problems and was unable to turn any laps. The other locals were fast , although it was a practice day,and some were using up their old McCrearys during practice, I'm sure when they bolt their Hoosiers on for Saturday, they will still run up front. I recognized some of the car numbers from closer to the Ohio Valley but do not have names to go with them, Of Course home track favorite, Danny Dean showed up, and inspite of his age ,run perfect, smooth laps. I'm not exactly certain of his age, but I believe he is around 67. From what I observed, I would say this looks to be a great facility, fantastic track surface, and a tough modified division. I don't think you will see just a couple cars dominate the class, but a top 10 list of drivers that could win any night.
The weather is looking warm and sunny for the week-end , and hopefully it will stay that way for opening night this coming Saturday , April 17th. I got a few photos at the beginning of practice, but there were more that came in later that I was unable to get because of working on our car. Until next time...
Pictures from the pits
