Twenty-four of the Best Open Wheel Modifieds in the State showed up Saturday, at USA International Speedway, to compete in a 75 lap feature event. The Modifieds were sharing the track with the Hot-Rods of the Hooters Pro- Cup series, and the fans all were treated to a great show and some excellent racing.
Due to time constraints, the Modifieds were limited to one practice session before Qualifying, but that didn’t seem to be a hindrance, as some very quick times were posted by the open wheel stars. Jimmy Britts posted the quickest time of 21.508 seconds, with an average speed of 125.53 mph. However, after tech inspection, the fast time was disallowed because of a rule infraction. This made Dwayne Dempsey, in the pole position.
A-TEX Transmissions entry the #1 qualifier, with a time of 21.511 seconds, and speed of 125.52 mph. Second fastest was Lee Collins, in the Lin-Lee Racing entry, followed by Rob Partelo and Robbie Cooper. After the top qualifiers had cleared tech inspection, the draw for inversion was held, and Dempsey pulled a 2, swapping the pole position for the outside pole.
After a great Hooters Cup race, and all the celebrations were done, the Modifieds rolled onto the speedway for their turn to do battle. The field lined up with Collins and Dempsey on the front row, followed by Partelo, Cooper, Wayne Jefferson, “Hoot” Flynn, Alan McCafferty, Red Vann, Brad May, and Jerry Lee Yarbrough filling out the top ten spots.
The Green flag waved, and Collins powered to the lead, with Dempsey right on his bumper. As the field completed the first lap, Alan Bruns, in the 4b, got loose off turn 4, and slid into the inside retaining wall. The sliding race car also collected Patrick Menninga, with Gary Southard and several other cars making light contact.
After the track was cleared, the field lined up to take the green once again, with Collins leading the way, followed by Dempsey, Partelo, Cooper, Flynn, Jefferson, McCafferty, Vann, Yarbrough, and May in the front ten positions. The race restarted, and the racers all were working hard to advance thru the field. Lap 9 saw caution on the speedway, and then the field was red flagged, as the cars of Yarbrough and Corey Freed made contact, with Freed becoming airborne, and hitting the wall hard in turn 3. The Safety team was on scene quickly, and after extracting Freed from the damaged racer, transported the driver to a local hospital to be checked for possible neck injuries.
The field once again lined up for the green with Collins, Dempsey, Partelo, Cooper, Flynn, Jefferson, McCafferty, Vann, Jerry Symons, and Jimmy Britts holding the top ten positions.
A brief caution was called on lap 18 as the Beef O’Brady’s entry of Jeremy Gerstner made contact with the wall, and was forced to retire for the evening.
The race went green again, and Jefferson began to make serious moves toward the front of the field. Jefferson got by Cooper for fourth, and was working on Partelo for third when things got real exciting on the back straight. The 56 car of Dave Barber Jr. lost an engine, and quickly dove to the bottom of the racing surface. At the same time as the leaders came by, Collins apparently ran over some debris and cut down a tire, doing a 360 degree spin in the middle of the back straight, without touching a wall or another car, and continued on without stopping. Collins made it to the pit area for a quick tire change, and rejoined the field at the rear, still on the lead lap.
The field lined up for the green again, with Dempsey now in front, followed by Partelo, Jefferson, Cooper, and Flynn. The race restarted with Dempsey running hard to hold the lead, and Jefferson making a big charge for the front. Another brief caution on lap 44 for the cars of Flynn and Britts allowed the field to bunch up, and once again the race was on. Jefferson was working hard to find a way by the Suncoast Plastering entry of Rob Partelo, with Rob Cooper right behind them in the Flagship RV entry, waiting for them to slip. Lap 56 saw Jerry Symons spin off turn 4, and take a mud bath in the infield grass, bringing out the caution once again. With the running order of the top 5 still the same, the green flag waved once more, and Jefferson went to work on Partelo, looking for an opening. Jefferson finally got by Partelo, set chase for Dempsey and the lead. Dempsey was fighting to maintain the lead, with the hard charging Jefferson giving no rest to the leader. Just as Jefferson made his move, and appeared to take the lead, the caution lights started flashing for a stalled car on the back straight.
The field went green again on lap 65, with Jefferson finally able to drive by Dempsey on lap 67. Dempsey filled the mirror of Jeffersons’ HTI Heat Treating machine, but Jefferson had plenty to hang on for the win. Partelo held on for third, followed by Cooper and McCafferty.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - PRO MOD 75 USA INTERNATIONAL
1. 1 Wayne Jefferson 2. 88 Dwayne Dempsey 3. 93 Rob Partello 4. 98 Robbie Cooper 5. 32M Alan McCafferty 6. 57 Jim Flynn 7. 32 Red Vann 8. 77 John Gerstner 9. 00 Brad May 10. 39 Gary Southard 11. 13 Kevin Terry 12. 89 Lee Collins 13. 8 Chris Escott R 14. 9 Jimmy Britts 15. 16 Patrick Mennenga R 16. 66 Jerry Symons 17. 2 Micky Kempgens R 18. 56 Dave Barber R 19. 06 Greg Nordstrom 20. 70 Jeremy Gerstner 21. 98w Jerry Lee Yarbrough 22. 12 Corey Freed R 23. 4b Alan Bruns
