07/27/2003

NEETS AT TIOGA WATERSPORTS PARK IS A "BARNBURNER"

  The weather has beaten down events at many speedways this season but it didn't hamper the NEETS drivers scheduled to race at Tioga Motorsports park on July 27th.

The rain started coming down after warm-ups causing promoter Chris Zacharias to re-schedule the event because of the forecasted all day rain. NEETS tour promoter Billy Bartley had offered to "dry" the track out for the R.o.C. Mods with his Pro-Enduro tour cars by running their 100 lap race first on the wet 1/2 mile. Chris was thinking about it but the rain had won out and kept coming down causing the cancellation. Bartley then suggested that they run in the rain after the pits clear out because there were fans wanting to see the NEETS cars run. He gave the OK and even wanted to guest flag it.

 The event started out the first 50 lap segment led to the green by the newly lettered and lighted NEETS pace truck. The #75 Howie Bott co-piloted by non other than the regular Tioga head flagger showed the way around the Tioga river followed closely by #43 Richard Petey, #1 Rich Johnson and the point leader 16x Ray Fitzgerald. The #75s guest passenger got a thrill when he tangled with Ray in turn 3 and did a few spins. The Pro cars were throwing "rooster tails" all the way down the straights doing 24 second laps on wet ground.

  There was also a "hamburger toss" bonus.....if Chris could get a hamburger in the cars window from the flag stand as they raced by...the driver received a $25 bonus. Chris managed to get only 2 direct hits in the whole race.

  The red flag came out on lap 50 sending the drivers to the pits to "wring out". After the break, the cars bunched up and again were restarted by the NEETS pace truck...this time with a suprise...the pace truck had a passenger in the back. On the backstretch (out of the fans view) the back doors swung open and gave the front row of drivers a view of Tioga's Dangerous Dan Winslow they will never forget.

  The green flew and once again Howie took command, but only for a little while succumbing to overheating problems. It was now down to the last 10 laps and a 3 car battle for the lead kept the fans on their feet. The #1 of Rich Johnson, #43 of Richard Petey and 16x Ray Fitgerald were 2 and 3 wide constantly changing positions. The checkered flew and the winner was decided by less than 6 inches. #443 Bill Blessing and #13 Jim Erdbrink rounded out the top 5.

   NEETS had a great time at Tioga...it is a great facility, with great fans and good people running it. We were invited back by Chris and gang and we will certainly oblige him. There is talk of a New Years day race for a 200 lapper.....we will see.

Sources:  NEETS PR
Posted:  August 1, 2003