HEAGY
TAKES 50-LAP MODIFIED FEATURE
by Walter
Johnston
A very abbreviated report this week, due to
computer problems. Hope to work that out soon.
The Modifieds ran their second double point
event of the season, and put on a terrific show, as #33 Ken
Heagy jumped out into an early lead, and held of repeated
challenges from JR Bertuccio, who gave a good showing in his
first time ride using John Fortin's back-up car, renumbered 4
for tonight. An early race tangle eliminated contender #12 Dan
Jivanelli, after he and #84 John Fortin came together entering
turn 3. When racing resumed, #4 JR Bertuccio passed #3 John
Denniston for 2nd, and chased Ken Heagy lap after lap, but
Heagy held him off. On lap 24, another tangle involving 4 cars
blocked the track just as the leaders were coming, but all
were able to get by as the yellow flew. After a long clean-up,
Heagy again held the lead, as #5 Mike Curtis, #6 Tom Rogers
Jr., and #4 J.R. Bertuccio put pressure on each other,
allowing Ken Heagy to easily win the race.
The Late Models had early leader #23 Kevin
Metzger holding off al challenges until mid-race, when #39
Roger Oxee, who had started mid-field, got by Kevin one lap
after a restart on lap 12. Another quick yellow at lap
15, but Roger Oxee held his lead, as Metzger would now have to
battle Glenn Tyler in the #28, while Oxee set sail away from
them. #10 Scott Kulesa moved into 3rd, with #28 Tyler slipping
back to 4th at the finish. Roger Oxee, who's mother passed
away earlier this week, dedicated the win to her in a short
Victory Lane interview.
The Chargers ran a great race, green to
checker, with #37 James Becht gaining his first ever Charger
victory from his pole starting position. He was followed at
the line by Ron Hlatky in the #44, Robin Vollmoeller in the
#2, who fought through heavy traffic to gain 3rd, and Brad Van
Houten in the #10 rounded out the top 4.
The Blunderbusts had an unusual start to their
feature, as track officials, a bit angry about how long it
took the field just to get on the track, dropped the original
line-up in favor of starting them in the order they came onto
the track in. Bill Wegmann in the #79 jumped into the lead at
the drop of the green, and held off all challengers to take
down the win. The highlight of the race was the battle in the
closing laps between Scott Maliszewski in the #22 and Ron
Langdon in the #90. Langdon tried high and low for the last
two laps, getting by Maliszewski by inches as they crossed the
finish line.
The Super Pro Trucks saw a multl-yellow flag race,
and many changes for position throughout. Hank Hallock in the
#10 grabbed the early lead, with Frank Dumicich Jr. in the #42
in 2nd. 3rd place Dave Koenig in the #97 got past
Dumicich Jr. for 2nd on lap 5, while the #66 of Mike Albasini
moved into 3rd, passing the fading Dumicich Jr. The yellow
flew again on lap #16 for debris in turn 2. With the field
closed up on the restart, Koenig battled Albasini for the lead
as #1 Lou Maestri moved into 3rd after #98x Dave Brigati and
#34 Brian Sescila tangled, with Sescila spinning into the
infield as Brigati checked up. Koenig held the lead as
Albasini and Maestri battled side by side, with Albasini
holding on for 2nd and Maestri 3rd.
The Figure 8's had a good sized field of 17
cars on hand, despite Tom Kraft sitting out on a one week
suspension. It turned out to be a disastrous night for the
division, as yellow fever struck numerous times, resulting in
the race being shortened to 16 laps by time. There was a very
scary wreck at the X, as #10 George Sprague and #28 Roger
Maynor were battling for the lead, #45 Rick Swanson,
approaching from the opposite direction, didn't slow as Maynor
and Sprague swerved to avoid him, with Sprague getting
through, but Maynor and Swanson ending up hitting the wall on
the front stretch. Both had almost stopped before contact with
the wall, so Maynor was actually able to pull away, but 1 lap
later, another wreck occurred, and officials called the race
because the time limit had run out, declaring George Sprague a
winner for the 3rd time this season.
The 8 cylinder Enduro saw a crowded field take
the green, but attrition quickly reduced the field. By lap 30,
there were about 24 cars already in the infield, and by lap
50, about 28 cars were left running. After the dust cleared
Enduro veteran Walter Stroud would be declared winner.
