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Tri State Outlook
column by Duane Hancock
You got to love it when you are in mid to late
October and still seeing sprint car races in our
region. Plus, having tracks go out on a limb to
schedule them. Last weekend, Kokomo Speedway held
their 1st annual Kokomo Klash. Originally slated as a
Friday and Saturday night show, mother nature moved to
a Saturday night, Sunday afternoon show. This was
billed as the 1st annual and plans are to make it an
annual year-end closer in this region.
40 non-wing sprints were on hand Saturday night.
the cars group qualified and ran hot laps at the same
time. I really like this idea. I know of an Ohio track
looking at that concept. It seems to save the track
and some time in the program. Plus, fans seem to like
it a little better than just 1 car on the track.
Granted, you have to run more groups, only 5 to 6 cars
a session, so there is enough room to make it fair for
everyone to get a good lap or 2. Cole Whitt set quick
time at a 12.700. 2007;s non-wing super star, Jon
Stanbrough took a tumble a few laps into his session
and timed in 23rd quick.
The weather was pretty decent temp wise but very
windy. The track was going away fast. It was very fast
to start but, wind is by far a track worse villain.
Plus, a packed house of cars was on hand.
The sprints will run 5 heats, top 3 going to the 25
lap A Main. As usual, the action was tight at Kokomo.
I really like this place and wish it was about 40
miles or so closer to my house for their Sunday
programs. The heats had some good racing, close
battles, and a bunch of crashed cars. Shane Cottle,
Kent Christian, Stanbrough, Daron Clayton, and Whitt
took the heat wins. Only one heat race winner came
from the front row, that was Stanbrough, go figure.
Kyle Conway, Patrick Haynes, and Brett Burdette all
flipped in their heat race. 6 other were involved in
incidents. Haynes was taken to the hospital but later
returned a little sore.
There was 2 sprint car B Mains with the large field
of cars on hand. The Kokomo track crew worked did some
major track prep before the B's. The track had turned
slick and rough in spots. Therefore, they took some
time to rework the track. I would rather see them
attempt to fix the track, anytime, than just keep
rolling forward with the program. Ron Dennis and Dave
Darland took the B Main wins. Stephanie Tuttle took a
hard tumble into the turn 4 fence during the 2nd B. 6
others cars were involved in B Mains incidents as
well.
Ron Dennis and Shane Cottle make-up the front row
for the 25 lap A Main. After the other classes ran
their B's, the track slicked off quickly and was
becoming very huggy-pole for the sprint cars. Shane
Cottle takes the lead at the start. Lap 1, Josh
Spencer spins. Lap 2, Kenny Biro spins. Lap 3, Ron
Dennis spins. 3 laps and spins, not a good start to
the A. Cottle still leads on the next restart. Running
as about as low as you can get, Cottle is leading the
pack as Neil Shepherd is closing, trying to get lower
than Shane for a pass. All but like 1 car are huggin
the infield tires. Lap 12, Russ Gamester gets some
serious air time off 2 and takes a tumble. Russ is OK
and bows to the crowd. Restart, Robert Ballou tumbles
in turn 3. Cottle is still leading but, Brady Short
has found a little something in the mid part of the
track. Plus, Dave Darland is moving towards the leader
as well. Short takes the lead to complete lap 15.
Before lap 16 can get in the books, Jon Stanbrough
clips an infield tire exiting turn 4 with a broken
front end. Jon was running 7th, up from 18th. Trust
me, we all knew because that seemed to be the ONLY car
the announcer knew that was on the track the entire
night. Don't me wrong, Jon has had a super year but do
we really need a minute to minute update on him all
night when there are 39 other cars pit side. Yes, I
know super stars get more media than the others but,
really there can be too much too. If I was the only
one thinking, well than maybe it was me but, several
people around me was making similar comments. Anyways,
the last 10 laps Darland was trying to run Short down.
Short made his move at the right time and cruised to
the win. Darland, Cottle, Jeff Bland, and Neil
Shepherd rounded out the top 5. All in all not a bad
race. Very huggy-pole racing. The pack upfront was
pretty tight all night with Short pulling away the
last 5 laps. A long night with several crashed cars.
I really liked the idea of the Kokomo Klash and
hope it does stay an annual thing. This was their 1st
year and you have to give them credit for running a
race late October in Indiana. Hopefully, they will
learn a few things for next year. Please don't run
your 4 biggest classes in 1 night. I like watching
lates and mods but, if you are running 4 classes a
night, break the big classes up a little. When your 4
top classes are ran on 1 night, its just too many
races to keep most people interested the entire night.
Plus, way too many races to try and end the program at
a decent time for most people.
Stephanie Tuttle had to be the hard luck award
winning of the night. She had an excellent run a going
in her heat, not backing down a bit from the likes of
Robert Ballou, Casey Shuman, and others. She was on
the hammer and had a transfer spot until a late race 3
car battle turned bad and they all waded up at the
flag stand. Then, in the 2nd B, she is fighting
towards a transfer spot and jumps a right rear,
slamming the fence in turn 4. I have only got to see
her run 2 times now but, for her 1st year as a 410
racer and just turning 18, she was looking pretty
strong.
As the season winds down, its off to the Fremont OH
Speedway Swap Meet this Saturday. Then off to The Dirt
Track at Lowe's next weekend.
As always, any questions, comments, or other,
please feel free to contact me.
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