|
Daggett, Sherman & Babcock Score At Eldora
ROSSBURG, OH (June 16) -- Late race heroics proved to be the key to success Saturday night at Eldora Speedway, as Dustin Daggett (NRA Sprint Invaders), Todd Sherman (UMP Modifieds and Jeff Babcock (Advance Auto Parts Stocks) rallied to victory lane in night number two of the University of Northwestern Ohio Buckeye Double Play.
Points earned Friday night at Limaland Motorsports Park were combined with those earned Saturday at Eldora to determine the respective Buckeye Double Play champions.
Tim Allison’s victory Friday night at Limaland, combined with Eldora’s runner-up to Daggett clinched him the NRA (National Racing Alliance) Sprint Invader title, while Sherman’s victory, coupled with a fourth the night before, assured him the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modified crown. Babock earned the Stock Car championship based on Eldora’s win and a third at Limaland.
When Saturday’s NRA main event took the grid and Tim Allison was shown as the polesitter, the veteran railbirds figured the real race would be for runner-up and beyond. Among the all-time leading feature winners at Eldora, Allison is always a threat.
As expected, when the green flag dropped, he was out in front and flying, leaving the balance of the 20-car field to do battle.
Immediately behind him were Mike Dussell and Daggett in their own battle, while Darren Long and Tim Norman waged a contest of their own, as well. Long disposed of Norman by the second tour of the one-half mile clay oval, but had quite a bit of distance to make-up to gain upon the front trio.
The fast paced race was slowed on lap 5 as Ron Blair came to a stop on the front stretch, yet on the restart, Allison again began to blow away from the field. However, Dussell discovered a new groove during the caution period and used that to his advantage to reel in Allison. He slid under him coming off of turn two on lap 12 and pulled into the lead; a lead he was to hold for two laps before Jared Horstman stopped on the track to draw yet another caution flag period.
On the restart, Allison used one of his patented moves to re-inherit the lead which looked to be lasting. Daggett had other thoughts, and with four laps to go, shot past Dussell for the runner-up spot. While time appeared to be against him, Daggett was determined and with each of the closing laps, inched closer and closer.
As the white flag appeared, Daggett made a last ditch effort by diving into turn one, and made it stick, as a surprised Allison slid to the high side. Daggett powered to the victory, with Allison and Dussell in pursuit. Long and Phil Gressman completed the top five, but directly behind them, Luke Hall earned his sixth place finish the hard way, as he blew a tire and barrell rolled his Sprinter across the finish line. Some six flips later, Hall was resting alongside the front stretch concrete wall. Although the car was severely damaged, Hall escaped injury.
Sherman’s victory almost didn’t happen. After leading the first 16 laps from his front row starting position, a yellow flag on the last lap, bunched up the field, with veterans Jerry Bowersock and Scott Orr glue to his bumper.. Unraveled, Sherman stuck to his groove high on the cushion and maintained his composure long enough to capture Eldora victory number two on the season.
Orr was the star of the late race. After starting 10th on the grid, he back-pedaled a few laps, to run as low as 14th, but as the race wore on, he kept searching for a groove that would fit his driving style. With six laps to go, he found it and began passing cars at will. He got up to third with two laps to go and pass Bowersock on the last restart, but ran out of time ti dispose of Sherman.
Following Sherman, Orr and Bowersock across the line were Steve Shute and Justin Matson.
As has been the case of late, the Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars provided plenty of close-knit competition. Mike Dirksen shot into the early lead, while directly behind him Barney Craig, Bob Burch and Babock were eyeing him up. Dirksen failed to bobble, as the remaining trio battled it out in their pursuit of him. Babcock made the first move, by getting past Burch on lap two. He then waged a friendly war with Craig; often going side by side for the entire distance of the oval. He finally crept into the runner-up slot on lap five and two laps later, did a sling-shot under Dirksen in turn two to take to the lead he was to hold to the finish.
Following them across the line were Craig, Nick Rosselit and Tony Anderson.
--30--
BUCKEYE DOUBLE PLAY - June 16, 2007
NRA Sprint Invaders - 27 cars
Fast Time: Darren Long - 14.393 seconds
Heat 1: Luke Hall, Cory Seeling, Tim Norman, Darren Long, Tim Allison, Scott Carter, Joe Bares, Kirk Jeffries, Rick Baughan,
Heat 2: Dustin Daggett, Phil Gressman, Jared Horstman, J. R. Stewart, Steve Erwin, Aaron Shaffer, Randy Fusi, Gary Fast, Mike Miller
Heat 3: Mike Brecht, Kent Wolters, Butch Schroeder, Mike Dussell, Ben Rutan, Ron Blair, Dennis Yoakam, Nick Muhlheim, Dave Miller
B-Main: Gary Fast, Mike Miller, Ron Blair, Scott Carter, Joe Bares, Rick Baughan, Dennis Yoakam, Nick Muhlheim, Kirk Jeffries, Aaron Shaffer, Randy Fusi, Dave Miller
20-lap A-Main:
1)Dustin Daggett 2)Tim Allison 3)Mike Dussell 4)Darren Long 5)Phil Gressman 6)Luke Hall 7)Mike Brecht 8)Kent Wolters 9)Tim Norman 10)Ben Rutan 11)J. R. Stewart 12)Mike Miller 13)Cory Seeling 14)Steve Erwin 15)Gary Fast 16)Joe Bares 17)Scott Carter 18)Jared Hortsman 19)Ron Blair 20)Butch Schroeder
Modifieds - 33 cars
Heat 1: Mike Dirksen, Jerry Bowersock, Lenny Guyton, Bob Burch, Mike Chrisman, Mark Kowarsch, Shane O’Connor, Brad McLeod
Heat 2: Todd Sherman, Casey Luedeke, Scott Orr, Steve Shute, Todd Sanders, Bob Lanter, Doug Hewitt, Jr., Shane Unger
Heat 3: Justin Matson, Rob Trent, Jack Waldfogel, Mike Roediger, Steve Brown, Davey Gantt, Tom Treon,
Heat 4: Bill Lewis, Tony Anderson, Gary Richard, Warren Shingleton, Shaun Smith, John Brooks, Nick Rosselit, David Treon, Jr., Josh Scott
B-Main 1: Mike Chrisman, Bob Lanter, Mark Kowarsch, Brad McLeod, Todd Sanders, Shane Unger, Shane O’Connor
B-Main 2: Davey Gantt, Shaun Smith, David Treon, Jr., Steve Brown
17-lap A-Main:
1)Todd Sherman 2)Scott Orr 3)Jerry Bowersock 4)Steve Shute 5)Justin Matson 6)Mike Dirksen 7)Shaun Smith 8)Casey Luedeke 9)Warren Shingleton 10)Lenny Guyton 11)Mike Roediger 12)Bob Lanter 13)Mike Chrisman 14)Mark Kowarsch 15)Jack Waldfogel 16)Davey Gantt 17)David Treon, Jr. 18)Bob Burch 19)Tony Anderson 20)Rob Trent 21)Bill Lewis 22)Gary Richard
Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars - 45 cars
Heat 1: Paul Smith, Brad Conover, Jerry Butler, Tim Bowen, David Holl0n, Gabe Wombolt, Adam Schaeff, Carl Hill, Josh Greber, Ryan Sutter, Jason Kinney
Heat 2: Kevin Gossard, Nick Rosselit, Bob Burch, John Phlipot, Jr., Tim Rostorfer, Gene Smith, Doug Thiemann, Paul Wagner, Josh Morton, Luke Timmerman, Don Everman
Heat 3: Tony Anderson, Jeff Babcock, Mike Dirksen, Chad Barr, Shawn Phillippi, Glenn Knick, Matt Phlipot, Frank Watkins, Brad Jessup, Jan Launder, Earnie Woodard
Heat 4: Doug Matheny, Barney Craig, Eddie Shaner, John Brooks, Shawn Wildermuth, Rodney Lacey, Mike Barr, Terry Klopfenstein, Jamie Heiser, Andy Goode, Brandy Shultz
B-Main 1: David Hollon, Tim Rostorfer, Gabe Wombolt, Ryan Sutter, Doug Thiemann, Adam Schaeff, Carl Hill, Josh Greber, Luke Timmerman, Paul Wagner, Jason Kinney, Gene Smith
B-Main 2: Shawn Phillippi, Glenn Knick, Brad Jessup, Matt Phlipot, Rodney Lacey, Andy Goode, Jamie Heiser, Brandy Shultz, Frank Watkins, Bob Lanter, Mike Barr, Earnie Woodard
15-lap A-Main:
1)Jeff Babcock 2)Mike Dirksen 3)Barney Craig 4)Nick Rosselit 5)Tony Anderson 6)Doug Matheny 7)Brad Conover 8)John Phlipot, Jr., 9)John Brooks 10)Kevin Gossard 11)David Hollon, 12)Shawn Phillippi 13)Chad Barr 14)Glenn Knick 15)Gabe Wombolt 16)Brad Jessup 17)Ed Shaner 18)Jerry Butler 19)Tim Rostorfer 20)Bob Burch 21)Tim Bowen 22)Paul Smith
DOUBLE PLAY FINAL POINTS:
NRA Sprints UMP Modifieds Stock Cars
1. Tim Allison 3 1. Todd Sherman 4 1. Jeff Babcock 3
2. Dustin Daggett 6 2. Jerry Bowersock 8 2. Tony Anderosn 6
3. Mike Dussell 7 3. Casey Luedeke 18 Barney Craig 6
4. Luke Hall 8 4. Scott Orr 22 4. Nick Rosselit 8
5. Mike Brecht 10 Mike Roediger 22 5. Brad Conover 13
6. Phil Gressman 12 6. Lenny Guyton 23 6. Kevin Gossard 15
Darren Long 12 7. Tony Anderson 27 7. John Brooks 17
8. Kent Wolters 14 8. Gary Richard 39 8. David Hollon 26
9. J. R. Stewart 20 9. Tim Bowen 28
10.Mike Miller 23 Tim Rostorfer 28
Tim Norman 23 Eddie Shaner 28
|
|
