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Barnett, Woodard and Orr Score Eldora.
ROSSBURG, OH (Aug. 4) -- With the concept of Crate Late Model racing announced as ‘putting racing back into the hands of the driver, and away from the wallet’, Steve Barnett certainly proved a point Saturday night at Eldora Speedway, with a convincing win. In other Eldora action, Earnie Woodard drove a flawless race, and capitalized in Jeff Babcock’s misfortune, to capture the J R Butler Memorial for Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars, while Scott Orr made it two in a row for the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modifieds.
Developed by General Motors as a cost saving motors, the Crate Late Model program uses factor sealed engines composed of over the counter parts. All engines are created equal and without expensive high performance components.
GM Performance Parts representative Bill Martin was on hand Saturday night and was pleased with the results of Eldora’s initial involvement with the program.
Barnett, who has ridden the roller coast of expensive Late Model racing, has been running the ‘Crate” engine much of this season, but it was his previous Eldora experience that gave him the edge Saturday night.
After taking the lead away from early front runners A. J. Watson and Nick Lyons, Barnett had little trouble displaying his talents and ease on the often intimidating high banks of Eldora.
In fact, Barnett appeared to be on a ‘Sunday drive’ as the balance of the field fought for the balance of the available positions. Attrition and numerous caution flags failed to delay Barnett from his mission.
As the checkered flag of victory flew high in the air, it was Barnett triumphing over Ted Nobbe, who, like Barnett, had competed for several years in Eldora Late Model action. Lyons, Bryan Burnhardt and Tim Burdell completed the top five.
The Butler family has been involved with Eldora racing for nearly 30 years and after J R’s untimely death a few seasons ago, the family crated a Memorial race in his honor and memory. That event was offered to Eldora this season, which was graciously accepted by the management.
In J R’s memory a stout field of entrants appeared and the action was again tremendous.
Jeff Babcock appeared to have a handle on the field and opened a wide margin right from the dropping of the green flag.
Behind him, Tim Rostorfer and Tim Bowen waged an early battle, while Bob Burch and Woodard were engaging in their own contest. As the field begin to enter lapped traffic by circuit number seven, things began to bunch up and John Brooks entered the fray as well.
Woodard made a strong move on lap eight and jumped to third, with another strong run the following lap to assume the runner-up position on lap nine.
With Babcock out and flying, Woodard sensed that may have ended his move to the front. However, heavy smoke appeared from under Babcock’s power plant as the white flag was shown and Woodard quickly moved in. Babcock’s power quickly faded and Wooded shot by down the back stretch, en route to his biggest Eldora victory to date.
Brooks crossed the line second, with Babock limping home third. Bowen and Burch completed the top five.
The luck of the draw found Scott Orr sitting on the outside of the front row as the green flag dropped for the 17-lap Modified finale.
With four track championships already under his belt, the pretty much gave the field an indication of what they were about to face, and Orr didn’t surprise or let them down.
Despite a wild first lap crash that took out fellow front row starter Todd Sherman, Orr never lost his composure and drove to a convincing victory over a rapidly improving Mike Dirksen, Brad McLeod, Mike Roediger and John Brooks, who like Dirksen, was doing double duty on the night.
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GM PERFORMANCE PARTS CRATE LATE MODELS - 16 cars
Fast Time (new track record) Brad Hall - 17.535
Heat 1: Brad Hall, Nick Lyons, Dillon White, Bryan Burnhardt, Mike Bechelli, Todd Kauffman, Chris Winters, John Watson
Heat 2: A. J. Watson, Steve Barnett, Tim Burdell, Ted Nobbe, Kevin Harden, Jim Moon, David Daugherty, Jeff Fields
25-lap A-Main:
1)Steve Barnett 2)Ted Nobbe 3)Nick Lyons 4)Bryan Burnhardt 5)Tim Burdell 6)David Daugherty 7)Dillon White 8)Mike Bechelli 9)Todd Kauffman 10)Jeff Fields 11)Jim Moon 12)Kevin Harden 13)Brad Hall 14)John Watson 15)Chris Winters 16)A. J. Watson
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS STOCK CARS - 40 cars
Heat 1: Tim Rostorfer, Earnie Woodard, Doug Thiemann, Gene Smith, Adam Schaeff, Jamie Heiser, Rodney Lacey, Carl Hill, Jerry Butler
Heat 2: Jeff Babcock, Mike Dirksen, Ryan Sutter, Shawn Phillippi, Kyle Brandewie, Frank Watkins, Kent Wolters, Perry Jones, Don Everman, Terry Klopfenstein
Heat 3: Tim Bowen, John Brooks, Doug Matheny, Barney Craig, Chad Barr, Brandy Schultz, Josh Greber, Jimmy Butler, Paul Wagner, David Hollon
Heat 4: Bob Burch, Tim Cornett, Ed Shaner, John Phlipot, Glenn Knick, Anthony Goode, Mike Barr, Jason Kinner, Gabe Wombolt, Matt Phlipot
B-Main 1: Jerry Butler, Kyle Brandewie, Adam Schaeff, Kent Wolters, Terry Klopfenstein, Jamie Heiser, Don Everman
B-Main 2: Chad Barr, Brandy Schultz, Matt Phlipot, Glenn Knick, Josh Greber, Jimmy Butler, Paul Wagner, Anthony Goode, Jason Kinney, Mike Barr, David Hollon, Gabe Wombolt
15-lap JR BUTLER MEMORIAL
1)Earnie Woodard 2)John Brooks 3)Jeff Babcock 4)Tim Bowen 5)Bob Burch 6)Mike Dirksen 7)Tim Rostorfer
8)Doug Matheny 9)Chad Barr 10)Shawn Phillippi 11)Adam Schaeff 12)Kyle Brandewie 13)Matt Phlipot 14)Tim Cornett 15)Gene Smith 16)Ryan Sutter 17)John Phlipot 18)Brandy Schultz 19)Barney Craig 20)Doug Thiemann 21)Ed Shaner 22)Jerry Butler
UMP MODIFIEDS - 29 CARS
Heat 1: Steve Shute, Mark Kowarsch, Brad McLeod, Tim Rayburn, Mike Dirksen, Mike Roediger, Scott Payton, David Treon, Jr, Bob Burch, Fireball Pinkerton
Heat 2: Scott Orr, Gary Richard, Bill Lewis, John Brooks, Josh Lolmaugh, Mike Chrisman, Jack Waldfogel, Shaun Smith, Jeremy Rayburn, Chad Begoon
Heat 3: Todd Sherman, Davey Gantt, Rob Williams, Justin Matson, Todd Sanders, Mike Hohlbein, Shane Unger, Tom Treon, Steve Brown
B-Main: Mike Roediger, Mike Hohlbein, Bob Burch, Fireball Pinkerton, Tom Treon, Scott Payton, Shane Unger, Jack Waldfogel, Steve Brown, Mike Chrisman, David Treon, Jr., Chad Begoon, Shaun Smith, Jeremy Rayburn
17-lap A-Main:
1)Scott Orr 2)Mike Dirksen 3)Brad McLeod 4)Mike Roediger 5)John Brooks 6)Mark Kowarsch 7)Bob Burch 8)Todd Sherman 9)Todd Sanders 10)Davey Gantt 11)Tim Rayburn 12)Mike Hohlbein 13)Shane Unger 14)Scott Payton 15)Tom Treon 16)Justin Matson 17)Josh Lolmaugh 18)Rob Williams 19)Bill Lewis 20)Gary Richard 21)Fireball Pinkerton
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