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Elkin, NC - 10/16/08
by: Doug Rose, Sales and Marketing SpeedSTRTM
[email protected]
Tobias outduels SpeedSTRTM field in "Simpson Southern Showdown"
Richie "Toby" Tobias Jr. battles from last on the STR field to conquer the "Simpson Southern Showdown" at the Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC just outside of Charlotte. The track surface at Friendship Speedway was impeccable and led to a fan standing, exciting, STR event. The SpeedSTR's ran high, low, 3 abreast, and slide jobs were of a premium as Tobias took the Ray Evernham 98 to victory lane.
The evenings events began with a 10 lap Simpson Shootout to line up the feature event. The Shootout saw yet another Slingshot by Tobias graduate showing his skills in the STR series. Kyle Hieber of Langhorne, PA who recently captured both the 2008 Weikel Select and Weikel Tour Championships was behind the wheel of the Bucks County International number 6 for just the second time on dirt this season and was extremely impressive. Hieber dominated the entire Simpson Shootout after taking the lead by driving around the outside of the 2008 Weikel Racewear SpeedSTRTM Series runner-up and recently crowned pavement champion, Willy Evernham of Mooresville, NC. Evernham would finish second followed by Nick Pecko the 2008 Weikel Racewear SpeedSTRTM series champion.
The A-Main would line up, heads up from qualifying. Hieber would bring the field to the green and would comfortably lead the first 13 laps as the caution flew for a tangle between the second and third place cars of Evernham and Billy VanInwegen Jr. of Sparrow Bush, NY. The restart would see Tobias rocket from third past Pecko of Vandling, PA to alongside of Hieber. Hieber would get loose as Tobias claimed his line and unfortunately get turned around bringing the caution back out and relegating Hieber's impressive night of domination to the rear.
Pecko would now restart as the leader in his #42 NEP Wireless/Cube Auto Supply NAPA SpeedSTR. Tobias who had picked his way through the field in Ray Evernham's #98 would restart second but would waste no time sliding up in front of Pecko for the number one spot and would not look back. Third position saw the USA1 of Steve Hicks who had been in a fierce battle all race long with Doug Rose of Temple, PA. Rose pulled slider after slider on Hicks, but Hicks did a masterful job countering every move he would make to secure third. While this was going on Danny Bohn of Freehold, NJ, a pavement specialist from Wall stadium, was working the high side behind the Hicks/Rose battle and would pull alongside a number of times making the exciting action three wide. The fans were ecstatic with the wheel to wheel action the STR's provided on the high banked, red clay surface. When the Showdown finally settled Tobias would come home with the victory followed by Pecko, Hicks, Rose and VanInwegen would fight back to secure a top five on the last lap.
Simpson Showdown Notes:
The Slingshot by Tobias graduates continued to be very impressive in the STR series. Hieber picked up his first qualifying race win and led the majority of the feature event. Pecko won the 2008 Weikel Racewear SpeedSTR series championship with three feature victories. Paul Lotier Jr. won at Selinsgrove Speedway. VanInwegen and Hicks both won heat races and were on the podium many times with multiple seconds and third place feature finishes.
Veteran Pavement Modified star Eddie Bohn, of Freehold, NJ, is the crew chief on the Evernham 98, 19, and 9. Bohn and Ray Evernham did an excellent job tuning the 98 STR in during Wednesday evenings practice session. R. Evernham would not be in the 98 for Thursday night's competition due to a prior commitment. Rich Tobias was selected as the driver for the racing action during the "Simpson Southern Showdown".
Kenny Francis, crew chief for Kasey Kahne's #9 Sprint Cup car was behind the wheel of Erin Crocker's #19. Francis who is more familiar with the pavement surface was fast both nights. Francis ran most of the A-Main around the top five, but would come home with a solid seventh place finish. After the event Francis rushed to Martinsville for Friday qualifying, but unfortunately would rained out.
Chet Tobias of Simpson Performance Products was on hand at Friendship Speedway and provided Simpson helmet bags to the Heat winner and the top 3 of the A-Main.
Simpson Shootout: Kyle Hieber (Bucks County International 6, Langhorne, PA),
Weikel Racewear Feature Results:
1. Rich Tobias (Evernham 98, Hershey, PA), 2. Nick Pecko (NEP/Napa 42, Vandling, PA), 3. Steve Hicks (Hicks Motorsports USA1, Doylestown, PA), 4. Doug Rose (Amrose Motorsports 95, Temple, PA), 5. Billy VanInwegen Jr. (Future Racing 23, Sparrow Bush, NY), 6. Willy Evernham (Evernham 9, Mooresville, NC), 7.Kenny Francis (Crocker 18, Charlotte, NC), 8. Danny Bohn (Tobias 17, Freehold, NJ), 9. Kyle Hieber (Bucks County International 6, Langhorne, PA), 10. Paul Lotier Jr. (Lotier 7L, Lebanon, PA),
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