|
|
IT'S
TIME TO RACE!!
|
|
|
|
Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Opener Falls to Mars
|
Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound,WI captured the 2004 season opening Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series sanctioned event at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa (Gibsonton),FL Tuesday pocketing $5,000 for the second night of the "28th Annual Winternationals".
Starting from the pole position in the 40 lap main event the driver of the Stacker 2/Heeg Well Drilling/Deppe Enterprises No. 28M Jimmy Mars Racing MasterSbilt Race Cars/Pro Power Racing/Chevrolet Monte Carlo led all the way for his second straight victory in the "Winternationals".
Mars also captured Monday's Northern Xtreme DirtCar Series opener at the semi-banked 1/3rd mile speedway.
Earl Pearson Jr. rode home second nearly six car lengths behind Mars with Don O'Neal third, Billy Drake fourth and Donnie Moran fifth. Completing the top ten finishers were Davey Johnson in sixth with Dennis Franklin seventh then Garrett Durrett, Brian Birkhofer and John Mason.
"The car was so much better tonight", stated the very happy Mars. "Last night the car was just so tight that it was a handful. We worked on loosening it up a bit for tonight and we hit on it. The car was just simply awesome tonight. I have to thank my brother Chris and the rest of the guys on the crew. They really have worked hard to get ready for the 'Winternationals' and down here as well. I have to thank Stacker 2, Heeg Well Drilling, Deppe Enterprises and T.L Sinz Plumbing for all their support. The Goodyear tires have worked so well for us. I'm really excited with our start to the season and hope we can keep it going."
Mars and Pearson Jr. brought the 24 car starting field to the green flag with Mars winning the drag race into turn one to grab the lead. With one lap in the books Mars held a two car advantage over third starting Moran, Pearson Jr., Durrett and seventh starting Kyle Berck. Moran stayed with Mars for lap 2 but on lap 3 Pearson Jr. took advantage of a slight bobble by Moran to grab the runner-up spot. Before lap 4 could be recorded Vince Muzzin lost control of his mount exiting turn four and spun to a stop bringing out the caution flag.
Mars again got the advantage on Pearson Jr. and the rest of the field on the restart jumping out to a healthy margin. Lap 6 saw Steve Shaver explode past Durrett for fifth and Berck for fourth and immediately move in on Moran. Contact in turn one between the two sent both cars spinning and collected several other cars in the melee. All but Shaver and Jayme Zidar were able to rejoin the race after heading pitside to repair damages.
Once the race restarted Mars again showed his dominance pulling away from his pursuers. But, the battle behind Mars for position was incredible. By lap 13 Mars was lapping the backmarkers in the field with Pearson Jr. still second with Berck now third ahead of O'Neal and Drake.
At the halfway mark Mars enjoyed a seven car advantage over Pearson Jr. with O'Neal now third and putting pressure on Pearson Jr. Drake ran fourth with Moran back up to fifth followed by Durrett in sixth with Birkhofer seventh then Franklin, Johnson and Mason.
Moran worked his way past Drake for fourth on lap 21 using the outside groove of the ultra-quick clay track. Moran began to pressure O'Neal for the third spot racing side by side with O'Neal for several laps until Moran slipped a bit exiting turn two on on lap 30 allowing Drake to work his way back into fourth.
The final 10 laps saw Mars enter heavy lapped traffic allowing Pearson Jr. to close to within three car lengths of the leader. Mars quickly worked his way through the slower traffic while Pearson Jr. now had his hands full giving Mars the opportunity to stretch his lead once again. Once clear of the traffic the laps had run out for Pearson Jr. to do anything with Mars.
The $24,000 purse event attracted 60 drivers to EBRP with Brian Birkhofer earning the RINGERS GLOVES "Fast Time Award" during time trials circling the speedway in 14.903 seconds. Grabbing heat race wins were Birkhofer, Pearson Jr., Duke Whiseant, Mars, Durrett and Moran. The "B" Main events fell to Johnson and Matt Miller with the YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash falling to Mars and the Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry dash fell to Shane Clanton.
The Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series will sanction night No. 4 of the "28th Annual Winternationals" Thursday night with a 50 lap - $7,000 to win feature event. For more information phone East Bay Raceway Park at 813-677-7223, toll free at 877-457-5611 or visit the EBRP website located at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Race Report For 2-3-04 Round No. 1-2004 Season-"28th Annual Winternationals" East Bay Raceway Park-Tampa (Gibsonton),FL-1/3rd Mile Oval $24,000 Purse-$5,000 To Win-40 Lap Feature Event
Showing Finish Pos.,Start Pos.,Car #,Driver,Laps Completed,Reason Out (if any) and Purse Money Won
1. (1) #28M Jimmy Mars 40 Running $5,100 2. (2) # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. 40 Running $3,100 3. (10) #71 Don O'Neal 40 Running $2,000 4. (8) # 9 Billy Drake (R) 40 Running $1,500 5. (3) #99 Donnie Moran 40 Running $1,100 6. (19) #19J Davey Johnson 40 Running $900 7. (13) #2F Dennis Franklin (R) 40 Running $850 8. (5) #58 Garrett Durrett (R) 40 Running $900 9. (4) #15B Brian Birkhofer 40 Running $850 10. (21) #72 John Mason 40 Running $700 11. (7) #14 Kyle Berck 40 Running $650 12. (15) #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. (R) 40 Running $600 13. (20) # 7 Matt Miller 40 Running $550 14. (18) #T31 Shane Tankersley 39 Running $500 15. (14) #55 Jeep Van Wormer 39 Running $500 16. (6) #A1 Duke Whiseant (R) 39 Running $600 17. (23) #70 Jeff Smith 39 Running $500 18. (17) #1x1 Sonny Conley 38 Running $500 19. (16) #32 Roger Crouse 37 Running $500 20. (11) #79 Vince Muzzin 37 Running $500 21. (24) #53 Ray Cook 13 Mechanical $500 22. (22) #1K John Anderson 8 Mechanical $500 23. (9) # 0 Steve Shaver 5 Accident $500 24. (12) #9Z Jayme Zidar 5 Accident $500
Time Of Race: 28 Mins. Yellow Flags: Two: Laps 3, 5 Red Flags: None Lap Leaders: One: Mars 1-40 GEMINI AUTO CARE CENTERS "Hard Charger of the Race": Johnson LUCAS OIL "Rookie of the Race": Drake Provisional Starters: Smith, Cook Car Count: 60 RINGERS GLOVES "Fast Time Award": Birkhofer 14.903 secs. Heat Race Winners: Birkhofer, Pearson Jr., Duke Whiseant, Mars, Durrett, Moran "B" Main Winners: Johnson, Miller YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash Winner: Mars Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry Dash Winner: Clanton
SUMMARY - RINGERS GLOVES Time Trials
1. #15B Brian Birkhofer Musactine,IA Double Eagle Racing Apparel MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 14.903 NT - 14.903 2. # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Lucas Oil-Dunn Benson Ford Rocket/Larry Wallace/Taurus 15.331 14.984 - 14.984 3. #A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana,AR A1 Auto Salvage Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.194 15.825 - 15.194 4. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI Stacker 2-Heeg Well Drilling MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 15.298 NT - 15.298 5. #58 Garrett Durrett (R) Simsboro,LA Garret Racing-Pro Power Racing Warrior/Pro Power/Taurus 15.321 15.635 - 15.321 6. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH QPI Tools Dirt Ripper MasterSbilt/SMS/Monte Carlo 15.544 15.334 - 15.334 7. #14 Kyle Berck Marquette,NE Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing Rocket/Wegner/Taurus 15.335 15.400 - 15.335 8. #55 Jeep Van Wormer (R) Pinconning,MI Bayline Fire Protection Warrior/Cornett/Taurus 15.594 15.342 - 15.342 9. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. (R) Ona,WV Grover Motorsports-Engines,Inc. Rocket/Grove/Taurus 17.123 15.348 - 15.348 10. #70 Jeff Smith Dallas,NC Die Cast Digest-West Haven Speed Rocket/Gaerte/Monte Carlo 15.446 15.357 - 15.357 11. #79 Vince Muzzin Jensen Beach,FL Muzzin Bros. Rocket/RaceTek/Grand Prix 15.640 15.375 - 15.375 12. #C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Craft/Monte Carlo 15.412 15.652 - 15.412 13. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA Reliable Painting MasterSbilt/Malcuit/Grand Prix 15.677 15.454 - 15.454 14. #25 Shane Clanton (R) Locust Grove,AR RSD Enterprises-SAE Parts Rocket/Custom/Monte Carlo 15.810 15.459 - 15.459 15. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH JBR Graphics-Fred's Fantastic Fuels MasterSbilt/Craiger/Grand Prix 15.499 16.407 - 15.499 16. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH McCullough Motorsports Rocket/Russell Baker/Grand Prix 17.616 15.594 - 15.594 17. #1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV Conley Enterprises Lazer G2/Emery/Monte Carlo 15.600 NT - 15.600 18. #9Z Jayme Zidar Greenfield,WI American Foundation Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 16.009 15.612 - 15.612 19. #07 Kelly Boen Henderson,CO Road Runner Fabrication Rocket/Dickens/Grand Prix 16.265 15.621 - 15.621 20. # 9 Billy Drake (R) Bloomington,IL MasterSbilt Race Cars MasterSbilt/Gaerte/Grand Prix 15.622 NT - 15.622 21. # 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV Richard Construction-Bland Motorsports Rocket/Malcuit/Monte Carlo 15.638 15.640 - 15.640 22. #32D Darren Miller (R) Chadwick,IL Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket/Pro Power/Taurus 16.236 15.664 - 15.664 23. #70C Jeff Choquette (R) West Palm Beach,FL Ron Arrowood Rocket/Progressive/Grand Prix 15.972 15.682 - 15.682 24. #1N Casey Noonan Sylvania,OH Noonan's Perfomance Machining Rocket/Performance/Grand Prix 15.774 15.735 - 15.735 25. # 5 Michael England Glasgow,KY Youngs-Hiseville Feed MasterSbilt/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 16.033 15.786 - 15.786 26. #69 Terry Eaglin Versailles,IN Helena Chemicals Co. Rocket/Gaerte/Intrepid R/T 16.010 15.824 - 15.824 27. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH Bert Transmission Rayburn.Malcuit/Monte Carlo 16.211 15.848 - 15.848 28. #32 Roger Crouse Plant City,FL Coastal Trucking Rocket/Race Tek/Grand Prix 16.517 15.850 - 15.850 29. #53T Lee Thomason Marion,IL Thomason Transportation Rayburn/Cummins/Monte Carlo 15.870 16.733 - 15.870 30. #T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton,GA Hicks Speciality Welding Rocket/Race Tek/Grand Prix 16.138 15.956 - 15.956 31. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC Dodge-Bill Elliott Racing MasterSbilt/Gaerte/Intrepid R/T 16.294 15.980 - 15.980 32. #56 Rohn Moon Greenwood,IN Creonix Rayburn/Moon Power/Monte Carlo 15.997 16.002 - 15.997 33. #33 Chris Hackett Erie,PA Speciality Products-SECO Carboloy Rocket/Tony Barker/Monte Carlo 16.015 16.755 - 16.015 34. #71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN AL Auto Salvage-Living Room Center Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 16.460 16.025 - 16.025 35. #95 Steve Mathis Plant City,FL Astin Strawberry Exchange Warrior/Acme/Grand Prix 16.316 16.068 - 16.068 36. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE THT Designs Rocket/Hatfield/Grand Prix 16.077 18.574 - 16.077 37. #2F Dennis Franklin (R) Gaffney,SC Hamricks of Gaffney Rayburn/Cornett/Taurus 16.203 16.128 - 16.128 38. #21D Dan Stone Thompson,PA NEP Telephone Lazer G2/Rhodes/Monte Carlo 16.131 16.179 - 16.131 39. #33P Al Purkey Coffeyville,KS Larry Shaw Race Cars Shaw/Hatfield/Grand Prix 17.527 16.149 - 16.149 40. #30 Mark Voight Alhambra,IL Bilstein Shocks-Rhyne Engines Rocket/Rhyne/Taurus 16.251 18.345 - 16.251 41. #69S Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL Helena Chemicals Co. Rocket/Draime/Grand Prix 16.354 17.141 - 16.354 42. #1DJ D.J. Miller Wooster,OH Bariod Drilling Fluids Rocket/Eicholtz/Monte Carlo 17.283 16.378 - 16.378 43. #83 Joe Morris Galatia,IL Morris Excavating Rocket/Runyon/Grand Prix 16.974 16.400 - 16.400 44. #34J John Whitney Cincinnati,OH Estes Racing Engines-S&B Cattle Co. Swartz/Estes/Monte Carlo 16.909 16.483 - 16.483 45. #48 Tim Lance Mapleton,IL Digital Copy Rayburn/Pro Power/Taurus 18.001 16.543 - 16.543 46. #17 Steve Radich Tunnelton,WV Dirttracks.com Lazer G2/Campbell/Monte Carlo 17.344 16.649 - 16.649 47. #7M Bryan Millican Cleveland,TX Star Homes-Lonestar Furniture Rocket/Monte Carlo 16.697 16.751 - 16.697 48. #99B Jim Curry Norman,IN Blackwell Trucking and Limestone Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 16.803 16.874 - 16.803 49. #50S Steve Morgan Orangeville,IL Countryside Furniture Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 17.001 16.803 - 16.803 50. # 3 Mike Collins Council Bluffs,IA D&D Construction MasterSbilt/Charlie's/Grand Prix 17.695 16.840 - 16.840 51. #12M Raymond Merrill Salisaw,OK Duralite Racing Wheels GRT/Kuntz/Grand Prix 17.153 16.877 - 16.877 52. # 2 Anthony White Clinton,TN Stone Plus GRT/Vic Hill/Monte Carlo 16.928 18.033 - 16.928 53. #57M Mark Haase Tampa,FL Mark 1 Racing Rayburn/Jimmy Dodge/Monte Carlo 17.405 17.019 - 17.019 54. #63 Rod Patterson Lansing,MI Herman's Direct-Reflexite Rocket/Dowker/Monte Carlo 17.150 17.470 - 17.150 55. #00 Richard Smith Science Hill,KY Donnie Smith Auto Sales Swartz/Cropper/Grand Prix 19.011 17.203 - 17.203 56. #10 Pete Parker Kaukauna,WI Potowatami BingoCasino Lodge Reliable/Travis Kern/Grand Prix 17.243 17.494 - 17.243 57. #7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC Johnny B's Carwash MasterSbilt/Malcuit/Taurus 18.471 18.816 - 18.471 58. #29 Jerry Fifield Cross Junction,VA Cornerstone Building & Renovation MasterSbilt/Hershey/Grand Prix 18.932 NT - 18.932 59. #74 Russ Adams Princeville,IL Digital Copy Rayburn/Pro Power/Monte Carlo 21.047 19.449 - 19.449 60. #64 Sean Cosgrove Catharpin,VA Drywall Systems Rocket/Hershey/Grand Prix NT NT - NT
Heat # 1 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Birkhofer,Berck,Franklin,Cook,Boen,Johnson,Morgan,R. Smith,England,Morris-NS Heat # 2 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Pearson Jr.,Drake,Van Wormer,Clanton,Eaglin,Stone,Collins, Whitney,Moon,Parker-NS Heat # 3 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Whiseant,Shaver,Carrier Jr.,Cunningham,Mason,Merrill, Purkey,Lance,Lucas,Hackett Heat # 4 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Mars,O'Neal,Crouse,M. Miller,White,Fifield,Radich,J. Smith,D. Miller,Voight Heat # 5 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Durrett,Muzzin,Conley,Thomason,Choquette,Sheltra,Millican, Mathis,Ward,Haase-NS Heat # 6 (10 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Moran,Zidar,Tankersley,Anderson,Casebolt,D.J. Miller,Cosgrove,Curry,Patterson,Noonan YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash (6 Laps-Finish Determines First Three Rows Of Feature): Mars,Pearson Jr.,Moran,Birkhofer,Durrett,Whiseant Donn Goodson Farms Memorial Strawberry Dash (10 Laps For Randomly Drawn DNQ Drivers): Clanton,Cosgrove,Collins,Casebolt,R. Smith,Radich,Ward,Patterson,Morgan,Voight "B" Main # 1 (15 Laps-Top 2 Advance To Feature): Johnson,Mason,Boen,Stone,Purkey,Eaglin,Whitney, R. Smith,Moon,Hackett,Collins,Morris,Cunningham,Clanton,Merrill,Cook,Parker,Morgan,Lucas,Lance, England-NS "B" Main # 2 (15 Lap-Top 2 Advance To Feature): M. Miller,Anderson,Choquette,Casebolt,Mathis,D. Miller, Curry,Radich,Sheltra,Cosgrove,Patterson,Adams,Millican,D.J. Miller,Fifield,Voigt,Thomason,White,J. Smith- NS,Noonan-NS,Haase-NS
Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Point Standings after 2-3-04
1. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 186 2. # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL 175 3. #71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN 165 4. # 9 Billy Drake (R) Bloomington,IL 160 5. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 159 6. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 150 7. #2F Dennis Franklin (R) Gaffney,SC 146 8. #58 Garrett Durett (R) Simsboro,LA 144 9. #15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA 143 10. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 134 11. #14 Kyle Berck Marquette,NE 130 12. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. (R) Ona,WV 127 13. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 124 14. #T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton,GA 121 15. #55 Jeep Van Wormer (R) Pinconning,MI 118 16. #A1 Duke Whiseant (R) Texarkana,AR 116 17. #70 Jeff Smith Dallas,NC 113 18. #1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV 111 19. #32 Roger Crouse Plant City,FL 109 20. #79 Vince Muzzin Jensen Beach,FL 107 21. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC 105 22. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE 103 23. # 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 101 24. #9Z Jayme Zidar Greenfield,WI 99 25. #32D Darren Miller (R) Chadwick,IL 80 #07 Kelly Boen Henderson,CO 80 #21D Dan Stone Thompson,PA 80 #70C Jeff Choquette (R) West Palm Beach,FL 80 #C9 Steve Casebolt Richmond,IN 80 #25 Shane Clanton (R) Locust Grove,AR 80 #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 80 #56 Rohn Moon Greenwood,IN 80 # 3 Mike Collins Council Bluffs,IA 80 #1DJ D.J. Miller Wooster,OH 80 #10 Pete Parker Kaukauna,WI 80 #83 Joe Morris Galatia,IL 80 #33 Chris Hackett Erie,PA 80 # 2 Anthony White Clinton,TN 80 #12M Raymond Merrill Salisaw,OK 80 #33P Al Purkey Coffeyville,KS 80 #29 Jerry Fifield Cross Junction,VA 80 #48 Tim Lance Mapleton,IL 80 #1N Casey Noonan Sylvania,OH 80 #7M Bryan Millican Cleveland,TX 80 #53T Lee Thomason Marion,IL 80 #7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC 80 # 5 Michael England Glasgow,KY 80 #69 Terry Eaglin Versailles,IN 80 #95 Steve Mathis Plant City,FL 80 #30 Mark Voigt Alhambra,IL 80 #69S Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL 80 #34J John Whitney Cincinnati,OH 80 #17 Steve Radich Tunnelton,WV 80 #99B Jim Curry Norman,IN 80 #50S Steve Morgan Orangeville,IL 80 #57M Mark Haase Tampa,FL 80 #63 Rod Patterson Lansing,MI 80 #00 Richard Smith SCience Hill,KY 80 #74 Russ Adams Princeton,IL 80 #64 Sean Cosgrove Catharpin,VA 80
|
Have an opinion on this story? Post
a message on our Message Board!
news@karnac.org
or send a letter to the editor! |
|
|
|
