01/03/2004

GARRISON AND WALLIS TAKE DOWN FIRST BEATERS WITH HEATERS RACE
by Andy Owen

The temperature was about 45, the skies wanted to go blue, the sun attempted to pop out, but then, it all went out the window. The air was moist and thick with fog, it got misty and then it started to rain on and off, more on than off, “perfect racing conditions”… NOT.  The warm-ups previewed what kind of afternoon it would be… Slipping, sliding, not much whatsoever as far as traction goes. As if traction wasn’t a big enough problem, the biggest problem seemed to be visibility. After only a few laps, the front windshields on all the cars seemed to have a filthy dirty haze on them. The car’s that had  working windshield wipers had a huge advantage.

The 60 4-cylinder cars started off with a fast chaotic pace. The #19 of Verwys left rear wheel wasn’t spinning upon entering the track and had to head to the pits early. He did return and was super fast as was his brother in #26.They both would have to park due to frontal damages later on. The deal on the track was that someone would spin and then collect several cars as a result of the spin. The whole environment reminded me of the World of Outlaws. I couldn’t see the numbers on about 95% of the field. The cars were brown from front to back with mud and track muck. Many cars suffered frontal damages from hitting into spun cars. As if the track conditions weren’t bad enough, turn one was an obstacle course of at least six dead cars, it resembled a small junkyard of damaged cars. It seemed to be the most dangerous area on the track, leaving only two lanes available. At one point even the turn one pit entrance was blocked up with cars. When it was all over, the winner Dale Garrison, from Berwick, PA stated the track conditions were insane and felt like racing on grease. He felt it was key to be over cautious on the early going and then get crazy later on. He also mentioned he bought the car for $50 and that it was his first race ever.

The big boys with the 6-8 cylinders came out and the rain seemed to pick up a bit again. On the pole, in the # 1 was second place NEETS tour division, veteran driver, Rich Johnson. He was in what I felt was one of the prettiest cars out there. Johnson started with a very quick pace, and lapped the tail end of the field in only a few laps. Hot on his tail in the early laps was the 2/10ths (too tense) car of Odwazny. Odwazny seemed to drop off the pace later on with mechanical/or visual difficulties. The 2/10’s car later returned to the track with a hole in his front windshield directly in front of the driver area of the front windshield, possibly made on purpose for better sight (wasn’t a glass windshield).  Johnson later was hit in the rear causing a tire rub and exited the race. The #77 Rob “The Kid McCormick of Long Island pulled into the infield early, due to his car was Riverhead rule ready which requires NO windshield wipers. I mention this because it as very admirable of him. He mentioned he wouldn’t risk hurting others, or himself with little or no visibility. Many drivers had to pull into the infield just to have the front windshields wiped off. #161, Rick Haegele, was in a turn 3 spin amongst a pileup of several cars and was unfortunately hit square in the driver door. The car was hit very hard causing the roof to buckle with the driver door was an inch away from contacting the steering wheel. He continued to drive and several times pulled in the infield for unknown reasons only to return back to racing. He eventually pulled back in and waved over the emergency crew causing a red flag for approximately 20 minutes. The Butler Fire Department crew cut the chain off the passenger side door and removed him gingerly on a stretcher. The driver was awake, injuries unknown. His brother #61, Steve Haegale finished second, and was concerned about his brother’s injuries. The race continued on a fast pace with the Long Island’s #23x Eugene Malverty running strong with Malverty peering his head partially out the window to pick up a better view of what was ahead to finish fourth. Third place driver, Jim Honnaker came all the way from Honaken, Maryland. The winner was # 31 Gary Walls, from Ridley Township NJ. He initially was declared second place, but further review of lap cards reversed the results giving him the win.

Sources:  Andy Owen/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:  January 4, 2004