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Tri-State Outlook
by Duane Hancock
Last minute changes, the radio broadcast didn't
need me, found me heading to Gas City's I-69 Speedway
for my first visit in 07. Now, Indiana is on the same
time as Ohio, its pedal to the metal to make it there
for hot laps, if I leave work early, or by 1st race
time, if I stay at work the entire day. Gas City is
always a good bet on race night. The track is usually
in good shape and pretty racy. Last Friday was leg 1
for the KISS(King of Indiana Sprint Series) season.
39 non-wing sprints were on hand. The heats are
lined-up by a pill draw. The top 4 in the heat goes to
the A, 5-7 to the B, and the rest are put in a C Main.
Gas City always seems to have a strong field but with
USAC off, it was stronger yet. The 4 heats were great
racing. There is just something about seeing non-wing
cars on a short track, 3 and 4 wide, side by side,
pulling wheelies, and just flat out on the edge racing
that excites you. I am not saying it was the best
racing I have ever seen anywhere but it was good
racing. Plus, I am not saying I haven't seen winged
cars race 3 and 4 wide on the edge. It was just good
on the edge racing. The heats ran off with just 2 spin
outs and a collision between Matt Goodnight and Kyle
Robbins. Mat Neely, Damion Gardner, Jeff Bland Jr.,
and Chris Windom took the heat wins. After sprint and
mods heats were finished, the track crew reworked the
track. Water and a little bit of a tractor drag got
the track ready for the mains. After a trio of spins
in the C Main, rookie Steve Ott took the win. Ott has
been a Gas City regular in the stock classes and now
has moved to a 410 non-wing sprint. The B Main was 12
laps and took the top 4 to the A. With names like
Cottle, Jones, Darland, and Schuernberg in the B, it
was going to be a good one. Shane Cottle took
advantage of his outside row 1 starting spot and took
the lead. A great battle was going on behind him for
the transfer spots. Cottle was in command but a torrid
battle was on for the 4th spot. 3 cars were making a
strong bid for 4th when Hunter Schuernberg clipped
Jimmy Light and flipped hard in turn 4. Hunter was OK
but done for the night. After it was all said and
done, Cottle took the B over Dave Darland, Levi Jones,
and Dustin Morgan. Jones and Morgan were running as
teammates out of the Jeff Walker stable. Another shot
of water and a bit of dragging and the track was ready
for the 30 lap A Main. Mat Neely and John Paynter
made-up row 1. Neely gets the jump on the green but,
the yellow flys for a Cottle spin. Restart, Neely gets
the lead again. Neely looks pretty strong but the race
is just getting started. At the halfway mark, Neely is
working traffic but Gardner is on his tail and Jon
Stanbrough is moving to the front after starting 7th.
Neely and Damion battle. Lap 18, Gardner takes the
lead. Neely never really fades much but, Stanbrough is
coming to the front. Jon is on Damion's tail tank but
can't get past. Jon is high, DG moves high, Jon is
low, DG moves low, making a strong stand that the
winner will earn it tonight. Lap 22, DG and Stanbrough
split lapped traffic off 2, just when AJ Anderson gets
clipped, spinning inches from the leaders. Bland Jr.,
Morgan, and other were also involved. A close call for
the lead pack. This puts Gardner and Stanbrough nose
to tail. Stanbrough has been the hottest driver in
Indiana the last half of 06 and is off to a good 07,
so we all know what is about to happen. Gardner is a
strong west coast racer and gives Jon all he can
handle on the restart. DG once again makes the perfect
moves to block Stanbrough's pass. Lap 24, Stanbrough
gets past and its curtains for the rest of the boys.
It was a great race for the lead until the last 6
laps. Once Jon took the lead, he jetted. The 06 KISS
champion took race 1 of 07 over Gardner, Shane
Hollingsworth, with a late charge towards the front,
Brady Short, and Neely. It was a great night of racing
from Gas City.
This coming up weekend, I will once again be on the
mic for BAS Broadcasting from the Eldora Speedway.
This will be BAS 1st ever broadcast from Eldora and I
am switching from pit reporter to color guy in the
booth. Hope everyone has an excellent week and race
weekend. Be sure to get to the track, its money well
spent. With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner,
Indiana is a hot bed for sprints and midgets starting
Tuesday the 22nd.
UPCOMING:
Saturday:
All Stars Eldora, USAC Sprints Terre Haute IN, MSA
Lorain CO OH
Tuesday 22nd: USAC Sprints North Vernon IN
Wednesday 23rd USAC Sprints Anderson IN
Thursday 24th Jack Hewitt Classic Kokomo IN
Hopefully I will get something wrote before Kokomo
next week.
As always, please feel free to contact me, good, bad,
or indifferent I like to hear it all. |
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