|
| HINES TOPS NIGHT THREE OF SPEEDWORLD WINTERNATIONALS | by Dave Westerman
Following a less than stellar performance on night two, Tracy Hines' crew went to work and solved the problems and Hines didn't disappoint them by driving to victory as the NAMARS Midgets wrapped up night number three of the 2002 Winternationals at Orlando Speedworld.
Dave Steele, Gene Lee Gibson and Shane Hollingsworth topped the heat races while B.J. Manson outgunned Rory Price and Jimmy McCune in the semi-main.
The green had barely flown for the 30-lap feature when John Batts and Aaron Pierce locked horns in turn one, aborting the start. Batts was done for the night.
Shane Hollingsworth grabbed the early lead from his pole position and looked to have the car to beat as Gibson was holding off a freight train of cars for second.
Jason Leffler and Mike Roselli bumped together in turn two to bring out the caution on lap nine. Roselli tried to return but took his car to the infield while Leffler restarted but promptly pounded the frontstretch wall on the restart to slow the field again. Leffler was OK, but his Kunz chassis took a beating and went off on the hook.
Hollingsworth was still in control on the restart as only two green flag laps could be completed before Sondi Eden and Jimmy McCune tangled in turn two.
Hollingsworth still appeared to have the race in hand until a caution with three laps to go for a tangle involving B.J. Manson and David Thompson. That restart went by the wayside when Gibson and Steve Thinnes got together in turn three.
When the green flew, Hines was also flying. He passed Hollingsworth and pulled away by several car lengths at the checker. Hollingsworth held off Dave Steele for second for his best run of the series. For Steele, it was his third podium finish in three nights.
Matt Westfall passed his teammate Teddy Beach on the last lap to take fourth spot. Rounding out the top ten were Justin Overfelt, Aaron Pierce, Dave Baumgartner, Rex Norris III, and Gibson.
Sondi Eden drove her own car and won the special ladies challenge event over TBARA sprint car driver Wendy Mathis in Mel Kenyon's machine and local Mini-Stock driver Trisha Gray, who did an admirable job steering the John Batts/Sam Isenhower car.
The Classic Auto Racing Series machines made their first appearance during the Winternationals with Maryville, TN driver Larry Gibson dominating the race which was cut to 20 laps following a red flag that lasted nearly 45 minutes.
George Mooneyham, trying to work his way back to the front after being involved in an earlier altercation, got loose and ran over the front end of Harvey Ewing's car and slammed driver's side first into the turn four wall. Mooneyham was knocked out momentarily and was airlifted to Orlando Regional Healthcare where he was released three hours later with no apparent injuries.
Following Gibson to the Checker was fellow Tennessee driver Robbie Sands while local drivers Ed Yates and Jim Rahman followed. Fred McArthur of Maryville, TN was fifth. Gibson, Yates, and Gary Kelley won the heats.
Rick Sirmans topped the Mini-Stock feature following a great side-by-side battle with Waylon Flynn. Rick Tumey passed Flynn with two laps to go to claim runner-up honors followed by Flynn, Tim Clark, and Corbin Gibbs.
Holly, MI driver Rob Roney got out front early and halted Brian Gingras' win streak at two in the Dwarf Car feature. Gingras threaded his way from last on the starting grid to second, but was too far behind Roney to catch him before the checker fell. Rick Lundeen, Bob Quick, and Danny Nyhan rounded out the top five.
Easily the most entertaining race of the night was the Super Stock 15-lapper. Rich Clouser took his third win in as many nights, but it wasn't easy as he had to claw and fight for every position, getting around Dean McGlothin with three laps to go. McGlothin was looking for his first career win, but even if he had crossed the line first it would have all been for naught as both he and apparent second-place finisher Bobby Simcox were disqualified for weight infractions. The top five thus ended up being Clouser, Bill Loomis, Scott Tyler, Rob Watford, and Ted Head.
Weather permitting, night four gets the green flag at 7:30PM Friday evening.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
news@karnac.orgor send a letter to the editor!
|
