|
Roach dominates modifieds on opening racing night
By Cheryl Licklider Staff Writer
Woodward’s Mike Roach clearly dominated in modifieds as he drove his Boomer Well Service-sponsored Kraft car to the winner’s circle in the first point night of the season at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night.
“We came in here with the advantage of already racing 12 times this season,’’ said Roach. “The car was tight during hot laps so we made some adjustments and just held onto it. It was great to see three Kraft cars finish up front.’’
Roach burst off the pole and showed the way in the race. A caution flag waved before the 24-car field could complete a lap.
Roach sped away when the race went green and set up a 5-car lead in single lap. In spite of four late race cautions, Roach made his way to the checkered flag uncontested.
Troy Gemmill captured second, followed by Darren Hacker, Bud Longpine and Joe Adams.
Randy Miller was in the right place at the right time as he put his Buck’s Body Shop-sponsored WilRub limited modified in the winner’s circle for the first time in his racing career.
“The car drove great tonight,’’ said Miller. “This is the best handling race car I’ve ever drove.’’
Nick Shenberger powered off the outside pole and took command of the 20-lap feature. A yellow flag waved the second time around and put Frank Graven on Shenberger’s bumper.
Graven took control of the track with a daring low challenge in lap six, but spun in lap 14 in turn four. Miller raced onto the point with Shenberger in hot pursuit. Miller held a strong line to the finish. Shenberger settled for second with Michael Shenberger, Scott Parli and Graven rounding out the top five.
Mark Smith pulled out all the stops as he put his Platinum Motorsports sponsored-WilRub chassis in the street stock winner’s circle.
“The car worked great,’’ said Smith. “I couldn’t have asked for a better car.’’
Dustin “Hollywood’’ Allen accelerated off the pole and headed up the caution-riddled race. But all that effort was for naught as A.J. Brochu spun to a stop in turn four on the first lap.
Allen led the restart with Smith in hot pursuit. Smith found the fast way around and sped into a commanding lead. A second caution waved in lap three for debris on the track.
Smith resumed the point when the track went green, but a third yellow flag put his teammate Kenny Morris on his bumper and the race was on. The duo raced away from the field locked in a heated battle.
Smith held onto the lead through two additional cautions. Morris came to a rest on the front straight with a flat in lap 16 and put the race back under caution.
Smith battled away on the restart and never was seriously challenged on his route to victory lane. Brochu made an amazing recovery and raced to second, followed by Jay Arnold, Phil Pearson and J.D. Choate.
Lance “The Wild Child’ Sessions won the factory stock aboard his Dirt Performance/Tow Mater Wrecker Service-sponsored ride.
“The crew worked real hard on the car over the winter and they couldn’t have had it handling any better,’’ said Sessions.
Sessions exploded off the pole and showed the way in the caution-riddled race. A yellow flag waved in lap four when Dustin Choate came to a rest on the track. Sessions sped away when the track went green and had a straight-away advantage in a single lap.
Despite two additional cautions, Sessions never was challenged again. Walter O’Dell posted second with Ryan Siegmann, Joe Orozco and Damon Seiger trailing at the line.
Michael Meeks, the pure stock winner, was disqualified in a post-race tech inspection for refusing to tear down his car. Duane Head inherited the win, trailed by David Dunkin, Michael Smith, Tommy Bohnstedt and Kyle Vibbard.
James Goldman, who originally was fourth, was disqualified in the post-race inspection
Heat winners in modified were Gemmill, Roach and Adams. Street stock heat wins went to Smith and Brochu. Michael Schenberger and Tony Sessions were heat winners in limited modified.
Choate and Sessions captured the heat wins in factory stock. Johnny Rauschenberg and Michael Smith won in mini and pure stock respectively.
Track promoter Lonnie Colville canceled the mini stock race when only four cars showed up. He said unless 10 cars were at the next card at 7 p.m. Saturday, the division would not be included in subsequent cards.
Casey McClaskey won the modified B feature.
Stevie Slater cell (405-436-2088)
www.reddirtracing.weebly.com
Sportmod #00
Red Dirt Racing
|
