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Dixon blasts to victory lane at Eldora.
ROSSBURG, OH (August 9) – For many drivers, Saturday’s invasion of the FASTRAK Late Model Series at Eldora Speedway marked their first-ever view of the infamous one-half mile clay oval, but Ed Dixon had toured the course many times in the past during the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Nationals. That proved to be beneficial as the veteran chauffeur withstood a late race challenge from Steve Barnett to capture the GM Performance 40 and the accompanying $5,000 top prize.
For the Moser UMP Modifieds, it was a busy night, as a July 8 make-up feature kicked off the evening, with Kent Robinson coming on strong in the late stages to capture his initial Eldora victory; while Brian Ruhlman stormed back to triumph in the second main event of the night. Mike Dirksen completed victory lane honors with his Advance Auto Parts Stock Car feature win.
Twenty-four of the FASTRAK machines took the initial green flag in their National points meet; however a first lap crash involving Dillan White and Jay Christian slowed the early pace. A subsequent restart crash involving Matt Long and John Llewellyn result in some extra-curricular activity that found both drivers disqualified from the event.
After that, things began to settle down a bit, but none of the commotion seemed to phase Dixon. After taking the lead at the green flag, he maintained his own pace and let the balance of the field duke it out amongst themselves.
Royce Bray loomed his Dixon’s shadows for much of the early going, with David Watts in the hunt as well. Behind them, the battle for fourth was being waged by Brad Hall, Jerry Bowersock and Barnett, with the trio swapping positions lap by lap.
A multitude of caution flags found Lee Cooper soon entering the fray, as Bowersock began to slip back a bit. With ten laps to go in the 20-mile chase, Dixon was holding off Bray and Cooper, as Barnett and Bowersock entertained the crowd with their ambitious drives.
Barnett, winner of last season’s unsanctioned Crate Late Model race at Eldora, was determined to defend his crown in the in the late stages of the contest, poured on the steam. He finally shot be Bray on a lap 26 restart, but time was against him, as he had to settle for second, by inches, to Dixon. Bray hung on for third, with Cooper in fourth and Dan Wanta moving up to fifth at the finish.
Gary Richard led much of the early going in the make-up Moser Modified feature, before yielding the lead to Robinson three laps shy of the checkered flag. Robinson had been trying for three years to notch an Eldora win; thus the resulting victory lane appearance was emotional. Richard hung on for second, with Ruhlman coming home third, Todd Sanders fourth and Josh Morton fifth.
The second feature was a different story, as Ruhlman simply checked out on the field. Behind him at the onset of the 17-lap affair were Doug Adkins, Scott Orr and Robinson, but none of them had anything for Ruhlman. Hot off his win earlier, Robinson tried diligently to reel in the leader, but couldn’t muster the ingredients and had to settle for runner-up honors, while Adkins turned in a steady run to finish third. Jerry Bowersock, doing double duty on the night, charged to fourth at the finish, with John Henry completing the top five.
Things just didn’t go right for the Advance Auto Parts Stockers.
Numerous yellow and red flags, for varying reasons, ran the event well past its established time limit, and with only 10 of the scheduled 15 laps completed at the expiration of time, Mike Dirksen was in the right place – the lead. The former divisional champion was credited with the win, while defending champion Jeff Babcock was a late race charge fall short and had to settle for runner-up. John Brooks, Shawn Phillippi and Adam Schaeff completed the top five.
Saturday - August 9, 2008
GM PERFORMANCE PARTS 40
FASTRAK Late Models -49 cars
Heat 1: John Lewellen, Brandon Umberger, Jerry Bowersock, Justin Shaw, David Daughtery, Paul Parker, Tommy Krankel, Chris Hall, Will Shuffler, Dave Airgood, Jr., Tyler Dietz, Todd Casper, Javen Payne,
Heat 2: Matt Long, David Watts, David Smith, Justin Hirt, Shawn Rayfield, Dillan White, Tom Copeland, Tom Snyder, Richard Goode, Gary Yeager, Josh Collins, Kenny Pebbles,
Heat 3: Nick Lyons, Royce Bray, Lee Cooper, Tate Hughes, Donald Bradsher, Scott Britton, Jay Christian, Chad Pearson, Ashley Lancaster, Kevin Colston, Butch Lambert, Dennis Lunger
Heat 4: Ed Dixon, Brad Hall, Steve Barnett, Dan Wanta, R. J. Otto, Tim Mangum, Shane Cochran, Chris Cantrell, Clayton Turner, Kevin Roslen, Mike Jessup, Justin Kann
B-MAIN 1: Paul Parker, David Daughtery, Shawn Rayfield, Dillan White, Tom Copeland, Tommy Krankel, Will Shuffler, Kenny Peeples, Chris Hall, Tyler Dietz, Todd Casper, Dave Arigood, jr., Javen Payne, Tom Snyder, Richard Goode, Gary Yeager, Josh Collins
B-MAIN 2: Donald Bradsher, Scott Britton, Chris Cantrell, Jay Christian, Tim Mangum, Clayton Turner, Justin Kann, Kevin Roslen, Shane Cochran, Dennis Lunge, Chad Pearson, Ashley Lancaster, R. J. otto, Kevin Colston, Butch Lambert, Mike Jessup
GM PERFORMANCE 40
1)Ed Dixon 2)Steve Barnett 3)Royce Bray 4)Lee Cooper 5)Dan Wanta 6)Jerry Bowersock 7)Paul Parker 8)Brad Hall 9)Chris Cantrell 10)David Smith 11)David Daughtery 12)Shawn Rayfield 13)Brandon Umberger 14)Nick Lyons 15)David Watts 16)Jay Christian 17)Donald Bradsher 18)Justin Shaw 19)Dillan White 20)Scott Britton 21)Tate Hughes 22)Justin Hirt 23)John Llewellyn (DQ) 24)Matt Long (DQ)
Moser UMP Modifieds - 37 cars
make up feature from July 8
A-Main
1)Kent Robinson 2)Gary Richard 3)Brian Ruhlman 4)Todd Sanders 5)Josh Morton 6)Doug St. Meyers 7)David Smith 8)Tim Richardson 9)John Brooks 10)Mike Dirksen 11)Chad Rosenbeck 12)Mike Hohlbein 13)Scott Orr 14)Lenny Guyton 15)Eddie Shaner 16)Jon Henry 17)Jerry Bowersock 18)Davey Gantt 19)Mike Chrisman 20)Evan Taylor 21)Ron Perrine, Jr. 22)Matt Westfall
heat 1: Todd Sanders, Jon Henry, Kent Robinson, David Smith, Tim Brown, Evan Taylor, Shane Unger, David Treon, Jr., Jeff Sanders, Mike Chrisman
heat 2: Brian Ruhlman, Jeff Babcock, Lenny Guyton, Josh Greber, Nick Katterhenry, Anthony Davis, Chad Oberson
heat 3: Doug Adkins, Brad Heady, Eddie Shaner, Brent Hole, Warren Shingleton, Jonathan Taylor, Kenny George, Josh Morton, Chris Ullery
heat 4: Scott Orr, Gary Richard, Mike Dirksen, Jerry Bowersock, Bob Burch, Chad Rosenbeck, Tim Richardson, Mike Hohlbein, John Brooks
B-Main 1: Tim Brown, Chad Oberson, Nick Katterhenry, Shane Unger, Anthony Davis
B-Main 2: Bob Burch, Jonathan Taylor, John Brooks, Tim Richardson, Mike Hohlbein, Chad Rosenbeck, Kenny George, Warren Shingleton, Chris Ullery
A-Main 1)Brian Ruhlman 2)Kent Robinson 3)Doug Adkins 4)Jerry Bowersock 5)Jon Henry 6)Gary Richard 7)Todd Sanders 8)Mike Dirksen 9)John Brooks 10)Eddie Shaner 11)Lenny Guyton 12)Chad Oberson 13)Brad Heady 14)Jonathan Taylor 15)Tim Brown 16)Brent Hole 17)Nick Katterhenry 18)David Smith 19)Jeff Babcock 20)Scott Orr 21)Josh Greber 22)Bob Burch
Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars - 26 cars
heat 1: Jeff Babcock, Shawn Phillippi, Drew Meadows, Jamie Heiser, Rodney Lacey, Terry Klopfenstein, Joss Pitts, Doug Thieman
heat 2: Bob Burch, John Brooks, Adam Schaeff, Michael Barr, Jeremy Creech, Glenn Knick, Paul Pardo, Jon Runyon, Kevin Gossard
heat 3: Jason Kinney, Mike Dirksen, Barney Craig, Earnie Woodard, Chad Barr, Gabe Wombolt, Luke Timmerman, Anthony Goode
A-Main
1)Mike Dirksen 2)Jeff Babcock 3)John Brooks 4)Shawn Phillippi 5)Adam Schaeff 6)Kevin Gossard 7)Barney Craig 8)Chad Barr 9)Michael Barr 10)Glenn Knick 11)Drew Meadows 12)Rodney Lacey 13)Jon Runyon 14)Anthony Goode 15)John Phlipot, Jr. 16)Jamie Heiser 17)Earnie Woodard 18)Jason Kinney 19)Terry Klopfenstein 20)Jeremy Creech 21)Bob Burch 22)Paul Pardo 23)Gabe Wombolt 24)Joss Pitts 25)Luke Timmerman 26)Doug Thiemann (DNS)
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