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ASA ACDelco Challenge Series Miller 300: Report and Results

2 September 1997

St Paul, MN - Tony Raines had the dominant car, but thanks to quick work in the pits by the Ken Schrader Racing team, Scott Hansen was able to cross the finish line first for his first victory in over a year on the American Speed Association, ACDelco Challenge Series, Miller 300 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Speedway. The win netted Hansen $11,880 and allowed him to creep closer to Gary St Amant and Kevin Cywinski in the points battle.

"This win really feels good," Hansen said afterwards surrounded by his daughters. "I didn't think this victory would ever come. This is the hardest racetrack in the world. The car can be real good and then real bad. On that last caution, Turner spun in front of me and I flat spotted the left front tire. The car developed a bad vibration and we just wore out the tire. I knew Tony (Raines) was coming, but that long caution helped."

Hansen took the Ken Schrader Racing Chevrolet into the lead for the first time on lap 3 as he passed polesitter Mike Eddy in the GM Goodwrench Service/HRE Pontiac. Eddy retook the point on lap 14 and continued to pace the field until lap 79 when the first round of pit stops occurred.

Following the pit stops, ASA and NASCAR Veteran Dick Trickle was on the point in the Miller Lite/Arctic Cat Ford. Second was Pat Schauer Rookie of the Year contender Steve Carlson in the Clean Burn/Trop Artic Pontiac and Raines in the Arctic Cat/Motorsports of Rice Lake Ford who had started shot-gun on the field following difficulties in practice and qualifying.

Trickle held the lead until Raines completed his rear-to-front run by sweeping low out of turn two on lap 87 and taking the lead. For the next 79 laps of the 95 lap green flag segment, Raines left the field in his wake as he drove away, lapping cars as he went. By the time the yellow flag waved again, only Hansen remained on the lead lap with the flying Raines.

Stellar pit work by Hansen's crew got him out of the pits in first place with Raines chasing him and Joe Nott in the Valvoline/Alan Nott Honda-Toyota/Raabe Ford and points leader Kevin Cywinski in the Tecumseh Pontiac next in line. Hansen held the lead until lap 172 when Raines was able to get back by and assume the the point again. Then on lap 192 Turner spun on the back straight and the yellow came out for the fifth time in the race.

Once again Hansen beat Raines out of the pits with Paul Paine in the Davis Frost Paints/Cemstone Pontiac in third, Cywinski fourth and Nott fifth. Now it was Hansen's turn to pull away from the field as he extended his lead over the next 70 laps while St Amant moved up to third followed by Carlson and Nott.

The final caution came out for another Turner spin on lap 272, but none of the leaders elected to pit. The caution period was extended when a member of Harold Fair's crew was struck by another car on pit road.

Due to the extended caution the finish of the race would turn into a 12 lap shootout with Hansen in the lead. Hansen was able to put some daylight between himself and Raines on the restart, but Raines was soon closing back in. Raines closed up on Hansen, but the checkered flag came out before he was able to make the pass. The margin of victory was a scant .199 seconds with Carlson coming home third. Nott was able to hang on for fourth and Bob Senneker brought the Lane Automotive/JR Automation/ Mr Gasket Ford home in fifth.

The WYNN'S WYNNING Move went to Joe Nott for finishing in fourth after starting the race in 16th place. Nott also had replaced Crew Chief Chris Bradley during the week.

Points leader Cywinski was able to extend his margin over St Amant by finishing in sixth while St Amant was 11th. Carlson also extended his rookie points lead over Sauter who finished in 15th.

The ACDelco Challenge Series now moves on to I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO for the World Cup 300 on September 13.

John Kaiser -- The Autochannel

Minnesota State Fair S/W - Provisional results for the 
ASA ACDelco Challenge Series, 
Miller 300:
          
Ps.Ql.No.  Driver , Car                                          Laps 
-- -- ---- ----------------------------------------------------- -----
 1  3  52  Scott Hansen    AFCO Racing Products             PONT 300       
 2 34   9  Tony Raines     Arctic Cat/Motorsports Rice Lake FORD 300     
 3  4  87  Steve Carlson(R)Baker Enterprises/Clean Burn     PONT 300       
 4 16  48  Joe Nott        Valvoline/Allan Nott Toyota/RaabeFORD 299       
 5  2  84  Bob Senneker    Lane Auto/JR Automation/Mr GasketFORD 299       
 6  9   1  Kevin Cywinski  Tecumseh/LaFavre Racing          PONT 299       
 7  7  55  Bobby Gill      Leo M/S/Wehr/Racing Adventures   PONT 299       
 8 21   6  Dave Sensiba    Engineered Polymer/W MI Auto AuctPONT 299       
 9 13   2  Butch Miller    Gillund Enterprises/Justice Bros PONT 299       
10 20  51  Brandon Sperling Sperling Motorsports            CHEV 299       
11  5   7  Gary St Amant   Wynn's/W Michigan Chevy Dealers  CHEV 299       
12 24  79  Mike Cofer (R)  Black & Decker Versa Pack        PONT 298       
13  1  88  Mike Eddy       GM Goodwrench Service/HRE        PONT 297       
14 18   5  Steve Holzhausen Structural Transport            FORD 296       
15 33  60  Tim Sauter (R)  Wehrs/G&G Trucking/Schwister     FORD 296       
16 17  47  Paul Paine      Paine Racing                     PONT 296       
17 23  32  Ted Smokstad    Corp. Auto/SMS Parts             PONT 295       
18 22   8  Mike Garvey     AFCO Racing Products             PONT 295       
19 12  81  Harold Fair     Car Quest/ACDelco/Victor Reinz   PONT 294       
20 10  18  Mike Miller     South East Air Service           PONT 294       
21 28  11  Doug Mayr(R)    No Touch Car Care/Aqua Splash    CHEV 293       
22 15  33  Brad Loney      Bunsaver/Hunter's Spec/Flexsteel PONT 293       
23 26  58  Billy Turner    Sanifill/Central Fiber           PONT 289       
24 19  07  Jack Landis     Adirondak/Lyndaker/Maisto/N.YoderFORD 289       
25 31  64  Ricky Bilderback Bilderback Auto Parts           PONT 289       
26 27  93  Alec Pinsonneault Build-A-Mold/Trimplas/Moldplas PONT 286       
27 32  19  Justin Diercks  Diercks LTD/Dr A. Diercks/TC Fab FORD 286       
28 25   0  Tom Jones       Jones Motorsports                PONT 283       
29 11  21  Kevin Nuttleman Citgo/Midwest Fuels/Dutch Mill   PONT 269       
30  6  23  Rick Beebe      St Louis Gear/Royal Machine      PONT 248       
31 30  95  Chuck Hemmingston Rodeway Inn                    PONT 156       
32  8  99  Dick Trickle    Miller Lite/Arctic Cat           FORD  99       
33 29  92  Carroll Adamy   Dorothy Lynch Home Style Salad DrCHEV  76       
34 14  72  Junior Hanley   Skillman Motorsports             PONT   6       
  
     
(R)= Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie Candidate
     
Time of Race      : 2 hrs 12 min
Average Speed     : 68.18 mph
Margin of Victory : .199 secs
Lap Leaders       : Eddy, Hansen, Trickle, Raines
Cautions          : 6 for 42 laps
Track Length      :  0.5000 Miles

Provisional Driver points standings following the ASA ACDelco Challenge
Series Miller 300 at Minnesota State Fairgrounds Speedway.

1. Kevin Cywinski               2604
2. Gary St Amant                2380
3. Scott Hansen                 2311
4. Rick Beebe                   2211
5. Dave Sensiba                 2192
6. Steve Carlson                2186
7. Mike Miller                  2081
8. Bob Senneker                 2033
9. Tim Sauter                   2024
10. Harold Fair                 1982