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ASCS returns to short track Sat. nite
by Windy McDonald
JUNE 17, 2008 --- The wild finish to last week's Discount Tire American Sprint Car Series Hank Arnold Memorial took a different turn after the official finish order was printed. Jeremy Reagles was disqualified when his car was over the minimum weight limit of 1475 pounds including the driver.
The line up following some of the yellow and red flags caused the ASCS board to switch several positions. Jeremy Sherman was moved from sixth to ninth with Justin Fisher jumping from 11th to sixth and Jeff Henry going from 12th to eighth Behind Jeremy was still Seainn Hendricsen but he was tenth instead of eighth. Thomas Ogle dropped from ninth to 11th, Steve Tellas lost the same two positions and was credited with 12th. The rest of the field was unchanged except for the position they gained when the #44 was dq'd.
Charles Davis, Jr.'s crash as a result of Sherman running low on fuel and triggering the lap 28 restart cost him a total of 24 points. He was running second at the time and had Sherman taken the win, Davis would have lost only four points. With Sherman out of fuel Davis would have gained a about 18 points.
From all reports the fuel problem was due to cars not filling their tank. Rather they preferred to keep the car light and it bit them. Ron Shuman, the competition director considered letting them fuel after Nathan High and Sherman had their problems. However, that would not have been fair to those cars that did not gamble.
One car owner said that he finished in the top five because he put in extra fuel. He said that he still had 8-10 gallons. Davis told another owner that ran of fuel that he ran out once in a semi main and missed the feature. Since that time he said he gives up the extra weight and has a full tank when the main event is started.
The sprint cars return to the one third mile track Saturday night and garages all over town will be working late at night to get their cars ready after the carnage last week.
The mini sprints will also be making a return after Josh Castro took his third straight win. He won two races in Show Low before last weeks win. The Shipley brothers ran two-three behind Castro but failed to offer a serious challenge. Castro gave and indication of just how fast his car was when he won the third heat with times six seconds better than the other two heats.
Castro got off to a slow start this season but his current surge has propelled him to a third place tie in the chase for the championships. He is tied with Josh Shipley but they are ranked 285 points behind points leader Kiley Fellers and are 150 points behind Dennis Carrier who is ranked second.
The midgets are also on the card which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. The front gate opens at 6:00.
Friday night madness will be provided by the Barnett dirt modifieds, Southwest modlites and SCRA sport modifieds. Anthony Madrid is well on his way to a third dirt modified title. He has won four features this year and has a commanding lead in the current points standings. He could miss two races and even if Jason Noll, ranked second, won both races he would still be 15 points out front.
A rookie continues to dominate the sport modifieds with Garrett Funk having won all races except the season opener which was won by veteran driver Chris Rhein. Although winless Jim Herzner, Jr. is ranked second in points.
The Southwest modlites will be racing for only the third time this year at Manzy. John Priest won the first outing and Steve Moriarity proved to be best in the 29 car field on May 30.
Gates open at 6:00 with competitive racing slated for a 7:30 start.
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