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Tri State Outlook.
by Duane Hancock
What do you get when you take 70 late models and 123 modifieds and put them in
one pit area? The Moser UMP Nationals at Eldora Speedway. I actually attended
this final day of this event a few years back, the day Earl retired. I had never
witnessed the entire event and decided it was about time to do so. To get more on
an in-site on the event, I hung with a late model friend of mine that just
happens to be part of the T3G gang. Knowing that I was in for an excellent
weekend of fun, I pack my beer drinking shoes and was ready to roll with the T3G
boys. I didn't know i needed my Crown Royal shoes as well, damn rookies. I must
say a fun time was had by all. From, tumble bunny jokes, to broken fingers, to
Josh's kilt, it was a weekend filled with memories that will last forever. They
welcomed me right into the group, even thou I was a tumble bunny fan.
A full card of racing was on tap. Friday seen all the qualifying for the 193 cars
on hand, 8 mod heats, and the late model race of champions. With several of the
best modified drivers from all round and 15 to 16 cars in a heat, with 2 making
the transfer to Saturday's A, the heat races for the mods were some great races.
Almost like 8 A Mains. Plenty of 2, 3, 4, and even an attempt of 5 wide racing.
Ben Adkins took a nasty tumble down the front stretch in the 1st mod heat. Mike
Harrison won heat 6 but, got caught up in a mess after the checkered that seen
him take a tumble. Dennis Erb took the late model Race of Champions.
Saturday another full card of racing. 6 late model heats, mod Race Of Champions,
4 mod B Main, 3 late model B Mains, a 25 lap mod A, and a 40 lap late model A
Main. The late heats were also some great racing. Starting 12 cars and only 3
heading to the A, the Eldora slide jobs were a plenty. A few bent fenders from
all the side by side action but really no major incidents in the heats. Talk
about wild racing, 26 to 28 cars in each mod B with 2 moving on. There was so
many guys trying to make moves, it was hard to watch all the battles. Same for
the lates, 3 B's and only a few move on. As the night passed along, the track was
slicking up, was very smooth, and the cushion was right on the wall, just like
the late model boys like it. Jon Henry started 6 and cruised to the modified Race
Of Champions win and its $1000 paycheck.
The mod A was 1st out of the gate. After a weird accident on Friday that seen
him flip after the heat, IL's Mike Harrison started outside row 1 of the A. When
the green dropped, Harrison never looked back. Mike was challenged many times
late in the races but held off all others and worked his magic in heavy lapped
traffic. Harrison took home the $3000 paycheck, just when he thought he weekend
was going to not be so well after Friday.
The 40 lap late model race turned into a showdown. Defending race champ, Dennis
Erb took the lead on lap 4 and was looking to run away and hide for an easy
$5000. Guess what? Just when he was starting to run away, Jeep Van Wormer and
Matt Miller found their groove in and out of traffic. Van Wormer started deep in
the field of 28 starters after transferring from one of the B Main. Miller
started near the front but was pacing himself for the end. Jeep had sparks a
flying many times, rim-riding, I think late model fans use the same term on that
as us tumble bunny fans, the track working up to 2nd. Miller started running high
too but a few car lengths lower, then mid track to make his way to the front. All
3 cars were within a few car lengths the final 5 circuits. Jeep coughed a little
with 2 to go, Miller got past for one last shot at Erb. Into 3 and 4, coming to
the checkered, Erb was just too strong as Miller falls a car length short behind
him. Jeep
got an excellent run off 4 but was 2 car lengths behind when the checkered waved.
A great time with some great racing. A good event that features plenty of racing.
Really one of the best bargains of the year at Eldora for a $5 admission on
Friday and a $20 bill price tag for Saturday's action. Well it will be back to
tumble bunnies for a few weeks, well an ACRA race in there as well, but then my
outdoor season will end with the lates and sprints at Lowe's
Be good, have fun,
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