South Bend, In. One of the biggest racing weeks of the year is now history. The opening race was the Summer Sizzler at the New Paris Speedway. Perfect weather brought out 42 cars from 3 States, and a pretty decent crowd. Out of that crowd was drivers and digitaries including Billy Rumbaugh, George Lane, Gary Howe, Roger Burton, Carl Smith, Jon Huston, Lisa McFadden, Jerry Ryman, Rex Wert, Cory Pressler, Nick Pressler, Margie Miller, Gary Town, Lou Stremme, Lori Brown, Rick Slusher, Fred Sibley, Randy Huffman, Frank Lile, Ryne Balsley, Jeff Daughtery, Mark Blessing, Andrew Hayn, Loren Hayn, Frankie Higgins, Kevin Stewart, Mike Shewchuk, Shane Sanders, and Jason Shepard. Of the "regular" fans, I chatted with some from Kentwood, Mi., a couple out of Fort Wayne, 3 guys from Morris, Ill., M-40 fans, and another group from Angola.
Entry distribution had 10 out of the top 15 in New Paris Late Models. Ty Hayes, Donny Klotz, Tim Taylor, Travis Slabaugh, Craig Cassel, Ed Paul, Kenny Whitman, Bobby Stremme, Tim Holmes, and Kevin Koscher. Plymouth cars were Steve Stacy, Rich Boal, Micheal Thayer, Ronnie Maynard, Brian and Scott Ross, with Bobby Blount in the Adam Terry #4. Angola cars were Craig Everidge, Greg and Jeff Parr, Scott Hantz, Jack Landis, and Brett Jack. Kalmazoo had but two cars in Andy Bozell and Trent Hellenga. M-40 had Jeff Ganus, Doug True, and Ron Coburn." Bounce arounders" as I call them were J.R. and Tyler Roahrig, John Long, Corey Ryman, Buddy Head, Justin Matson, and John DeLarye. Bill Klotz was out for his second time, and Robert Smith ,I believe, was his first time out in 2008.
Qualifying was a premium, as the the top 20 were locked in the feature. Quick time was DeLarye with a 13.62, with Brian Ross next with a 13.70. 20th was Ty Hayes with a 13.99. In fact, only .15 seconds was between qualifiers 13th {13.91}, to 28th {14.06}. The verdict on these tires are mixed. Some liked the closer times, others saw the cars slide around, and felt that passing was going to be very tough. Some of the drivers said the tires were maxed out after 25 laps. The tires themselves were from Hoosier, that had them for a Southern race deal. Many teams had bought two sets, one on Wednesday, and another on race day, and found the going very tough. As an added surprise, at the Driver's Meeting, Donny Klotz annouced that the restarts would consist of double file restarts. This would be a boost to the fans, as this would bunch the field up, plus make drivers work in a hurry at the green.
The B-main seemed more like a regular A main with 14 local cars running against 6 out of towners. Curtis Holt took the lead on lap 1, and led the remaining 49 laps to the win. The inversion was 16, which played into Curtis Holt's favor. Second was Tim Holmes, Steve Stacy from the back, Jeff Parr, Craig Everidge, Scott Ross, Charlie Whitman, Micheal Thayer, Kevin Koscher, Justin Matson, Scott Hamilton, and Mike Garver, who has a real nice paint job on the #7.
The A main had Ed Paul on the pole, with Travis Slabaugh alongside. Paul took the lead, and the yellow was out on lap 2, as Brett Jack got into Slabaugh spinning him out. A lap later, Corey Ryman heads to the pits after signifigant contact. And a lap later, John Long has a flat, and has to pit. At lap 25, it was Paul, Bobby Blount, Ganus, Bozell, Landis, Hantz, and Brian Ross. Minor yellows throughout, but the biggest turn of events, took place on lap 69. First, it was DeLarye in the wall. The next restart was another yellow, as Scott Hantz spun. Then another wreck at the green, with Bobby Stremme knocked out. Bozell pits, and goes to the tail. Still lap 69, anothwer wreck with DeLarye, both Roahrigs, Ross and Hantz. And then Ed Paul, heads to the pits. To the green, Blount is leading, but the battery dies, giving him a DNF.
The race starts up again, with Ganus leading. Ganus is cruising. But a caution on lap 96, bunches the cars one more time. Ganus has a fast restart, and wins the $20K first prize. Jeff was going to use the Slaton 55 for the race, but after getting tires, felt that the 5 car with the smaller motor would be better. And boy was he right. Brian Ross holds onto second, with DeLarye a great third place, after several incidents, and having a banged up body. Forth was Landis, Donny Klotz was 5th, over Ed Paul, Hellenga, Doug True, Hantz, Kenny Whitman, and Craig Cassel, the only cars to finish.
To those restarts, perhaps if it was done again, have the lead car alone, and have 2nd and 3rd side by side. The restarts on this race were very, very, quick. The second place guy always seemed to be a couple, few, car lengths behind almost every time.
Race two was the International- UAW Night, at the Baer Field Speedway. I have had the books at the show the last 5 years, and this year, I was back again. Tom Isch and Jimmy Stovall again, had a plethora of displays behind the grandstands. I had the photo books, there was a TV Remote, Radio Remote, over 30 International Trucks on display, a car show with about 40 show cars, a couple Corvettes, USA Modified display, about 10 Racing Karts set up, UAW Apparrel for sale, and an Elephant Ear booth. The show had the CRA Sportsman, USA Modifieds, MISS/SUPERPRO SERIES, and the Baer Field Mini and Street Stocks. 23 Sportsman, 18 Street Stocks, 20 Mini Stocks, including Ryne Balsley, Eric Frazier in his #69, Steve Christman was in the Black #67 that runs Plymouth, and veteran, Dick Soule. 31 Modifieds, and 22 Super Pros, swelled the pits. The place was packed, as even the hillside, out of turn 4, had alot of folks sitting in the grass.
The books had alot of lookers including former racers Joe Tucker, Steve Wallace, and car owner of the Moose Myers #0, Jim Stovall. This was the first time I actually met with him and visited. A great mind on the cars years ago. He really liked the books. Also got to spend some time with Ed Fisher, who put on the Old Timer's event last Fall in Fort Wayne. It doesn't look like it is going to happen this year, as he has some other committments. Last year's deal drew 130 Old Timers. Thats really, really, good. If the show goes on, I'll let the word out, as those shows are always special, and you never know, that could be the last show for anyone.
I would have liked to see more races, but the books kept drawing fans and kids alike. After the 45 minute Firework display, I started packing up, and did see the last 40 laps of the Super Pro, and all of the Modified, Street, and Mini Features. The Super Pro had local stars Colin Toland and Doug True in the event. Jack Landis held the lead, and he ran the high line. Jason Dietsch moved up to challenge Landis for a good 15-18 laps, but could never pull ahead. Jason would spin out around lap 75. Landis led, but now it was Tommy Cook's turn, as he tried the low side. Lap after lap, some of the best racing I' ve seen at Fort Wayne since Brett Mann and Denny England did the same in Sprints many moons ago.
To the white flag, Landis would slow a touch, with Cook spinning. In all, close to 8 cars spun off the track. It was found, Landis blew his motor. This gave Cook the lead, and with the date, 8-8-08, number 8 would win, with Al Cook, in the #88, second. Kevin Todd was third, Angola star Derek Bischak was 4th. Toland was 7th, True 8th, Landis 14th, Dietsch 16th, and Joe Fadke from Illinois 18th. Joe drove a sharp #15 Late Model at Plymouth's show in Oct. last year.
The Modified main was won by Bud Perry, as he took the lead from Scott Coe, and won by over a quarter lap. Bud Adams was 3rd over Brian Nester, Brad Springer, Corey Setser, Damon Breedlove, Dan Frazier, Erik Shaffer, and Jeremy Wallen. John Long was 18th, and Travis Stepp was on hand, but did not transfer to the feature. It was good to see the voice of the USA Mods, Andy Jach. When he announces, you never know where he is a going. Usually not in the press box, whether that's his style, or perhaps they lock him out. Ha Ha. Even during a red flag in their heat race, I could tell he was in the stands. Well, a minute later, he is mentioning my name about the books, and what do you know, he's heading to the books. He had me talk about them for a few minutes, and he was off again, to announce the race. Good thing, I didn't have a bathroom run. Even during the feature, he was talking to the drivers during a red flag. He has alot of enthusiasm. Thanks again for the plugs, Andy.
It was announced that the Sept 20 show with the HOSS Sprints, now also has the USA Modifieds added to the card. The was added, since the M-40 show was cancelled. The invitation is there if we want to have an extra vintage car show. So vintage guys, give it some thought, and let me know. No emails, mean no interest, and I won't pursue it.
After getting home close to 3:30 A.M., and a 20 hour day, thank goodness the next show was Plymouth, and only a 30 mile drive. Just got to the track, and it started raining. It rained a bit longer, and the show was called. After around 25 minutes, the sun's back out again. It never fails. From what I saw, a good Late Model group including Randy Day, from Sutton's Bay, way up North, Charlie Whitman, Rick Hahn, Dave Reames, and a #57, ? Corey Woods. With enclosed trailers, hard to tell who else new was there. Regulars were Maynard, both Ross's, Thayer, Boal, Stacy, Shewchuk, Pressler, England, Sanders, and Franz. FWD's had several new cars, with about 20 in the pits. Not sure of the Raindate. Keep posted on the http://www.stockcarextreme site for info.
With the rainout, I headed to Carl Smith's place, and I finished typing the driver profiles. We should have the pictures up this week. At this point, there are close to 100 profiles on the site. Pretty good from not having any, about 2 months ago. Any driver that does not, or did not get a sheet, you can email us with the info, and we can add the stats to a line. We probably have a picture of you, so that's half the battle.
I watched the Knoxville, wops, commercial fest on Speed Channel Saturday night. It was 3 commercials, for every lap ran. I would have hated to be in the stands, and have that drag out like it did. Then it was a rush, when rain was 15 miles away. Then all they focused on was Lasoski. Meyers and Schatz were leading, but you thought it was Lasoski. They finally backed off at halfway. I like the stories and interviews as you can learn more about them, but the race was primary, but it did not seem that way. I guess that is why you tape events.
This week, the books are going to Kalamazoo, as the Vintage Cars have their annual show. This is the week before the clash, soooo, we might have a few extra Late Models, getting ready for the Kalamazoo Klash, that is next week. There is a car show in Dowagiac Saturday until 3, and a spot is only $12, so I might do that, pack up, and head to Kazoo. The car show will pay some of the gas to get to Kazoo, and back. Sunday, there is a cr show at Wilson Park, in Mishawaka. May do that as well. All if weather is good. Check the website, as we got new pictures to post, and you may see yourself. Take Care, Ron Verash