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Short Track Roundup (9/3/97)

3 September 1997

Mobile, AL - Labor Day weekend is always a busy one on the short tracks and this was no exception. There was plenty of action for everyone and our look back at the week's action is sure to have plenty that you missed, so ..here we go!

Beginning with the asphalt Late models the All Pro cars visited beautiful Lanier Raceway in Georgia where Derek Gilchrist took the win over Hal Goodson and Ron Young. *** The Busch North tour wrapped up their short track schedule at Scarborough, ME with Dave Dion dominating the event. Mike Stefanik and Jerry Marquis were the next two. *** The ASA cars were at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and Scott Hansen took the victory ahead of Tony Raines and Steve Carlson. *** The Northwest Tour was at Tri City Speedway in West Richland, WA and Kelly Tanner took the checkers first with Greg Biffle second and third going to Kelly Lewis *** Joe Shear took both wins in the ARTGO double header in Bolivar and Lebanon, MO. Steve Carlson took over the points lead with a second in the first race. *** Johnny Brazier took the Southern All Star Series win at Montgomery, AL as he tries to defend his Championship. *** David Starr took the TIDA win at Sooner International in Altus, OK, but Jay Watson wrapped up the Championship. Of course when the top runners all quit the series, the task is a little easier. *** In Big Ten Series action at Concord Speedway, NC Bobby Nowling got the win with Daniel Johnson and Phil Elvis in trail. *** In the Labor Day Classic in Barre, VT Pete Fecteau got the win. *** The Texaco/Halvoline series has scheduled a race in Canaan, NH for September 6th. *** Rookie contender Tim Sauter was let go by Leo Motorsports and competed in the ASA race in a Gerry Gunderman T-Bird as he looks for a new ride. *** The Florida Pro Series made its annual trek to Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City, FL and Lee Faulk was the winner. David Russell and Jeff Williams rounded out the top three. *** The Goodies Dash cars went to Summerville and Brian Sockwell won his third in a row with Robert Huffman second and third going to Charles Powell III.

On to the open wheelers. The World of Outlaws are out west and began the week at South Oregon where Sammy Swindell was the winner over Randy Tiner and Stevie Smith. Next it was on to Calistoga, CA and in the opener the winner was again Swindell, his 5th straight win. Mark Kinser was second and Jac Haudenschild third. The next night Sammy won his sixth with Stevie Smith second and Danny Lasoski third. In the finale Sammy again got the win, his seventh straight, with Smith again second and Steve Kinser got the third spot. Swindell's winning streak is the longest since Steve Kinser ran off 12 in a row in 1987. *** The Frigidaire All Stars were on the other side of the country as they began the week in Pennsylvania at Grandview Speedway with Donnie Kreitz Jr beating Billy Pauch and Jesse Wentz. Next up was Lernersville where Tyler Walker finished ahead of Jamie Smith and Dale Blaney. Two races at Sharon Speedway, OH were next, Joey Saldana took the first with Jeff Shepherd and Kenny Jacobs making up the first three. Next night saw Tyler Walker lead Jeff Shepherd and Todd Shaffer to the line. The week ended in Attica, OH where Terry McCarl got the win with Mark Keegan second and Kenny Jacobs third. *** The Budweiser ASCS New Mexico State Championships saw Chris Ikard win the opener at South New Mexico Speedway while Ricky Hood took the win the next night. *** The USAC Silver Crown cars were on the DuQuoin, IL mile and Russ Gamester made a last lap pass of Dave Darland to take the win. The versatile Tony Stewart was third. *** NAMARS midgets were at Spartan Speedway, MI and hometown boy Jim Hettinger was the winner. *** The Empire Super Sprints held three races north of the border with Mike Woodring taking the wins at Brockville, ONT and Autodrome Drummond in Quebec while Bobby Parrow won at Autodrome Granby. That's a wrap on the open wheels.

It was a really busy week for the dirt Late Models as they ran from coast to coast. The biggest payday was at Atomic Speedway near Knoxville, TN where the $20,000 winner's check went to Billy Moyer as the Hav-A-Tampa brigade came to town. Bill Frye was second and Jack Boggs took home third. *** The STARS series held two races, in Shinnston, WV Tim Hitt was the winner at I-79 Speedway ahead of Chuck Harper and Mike Benedum and at the legendary Pennsboro Speedway, WV, Rod Conley was the winner with Bart Hartman and Keith Berner the next two. *** Davey Johnson took the preliminary race at I-79 *** Southern All Stars held two races, at Cleveland, TN it was Jamie Perry with the win and at Duck River Speedway Dale McDowell continued his mastery of the Wheel, TN track with his fifth win in six SAS events. *** In Williamette, OR the biggest purse on the west coast, $3000 went to Bob Jeffery in the T&G Trucking Dash for Cash. Frank Sossie was second and Jerry York third. *** SUPR went to Bayou Speedway in Minden, LA where Jeff Chandler was the winner. Then at Boothill Speedway in Shreveport, LA Ronnie Poche took the checkers first. *** The NASCAR Busch All Stars went to Sunset Speedway, IA and Joe Kosiski led his brother Ed and Steve Boley to the line. At Davenport, IA, Ray Guss Jr was the winner with Danny Eckridge second and Steve Kosiski third. At Adams County, IA it was all Kosiski's as Ed beat Steve and Joe. Who said racing's not a family sport! *** The National Late Model Sportsman series were in Dublin, GA and Gene Maine won his fourth of the season with Dennis Smith and Wiley McDaniel trailing him home. *** The World 50 at Paducah, KY was won by Randy Sellars. *** Mitch Johnson took the win in the Silver 1000 at Proctor , MN *** ALMS action at Oakshade, OH had Glen Bradley in Victory lane and at Eldora, OH John Lawhorn was the winner. *** In Mississippi State Championship racing at Whynot Speedway in Meridian, MS Johnny Stokes was the winner, while at Jackson, MS, Mike Boland took the win and his third straight title. *** Rick Aukland continued his high stakes wins with another $10,000 in the Ohio River Classic at Portsmouth, OH *** Alan Vaughn took the MLRA win at Joplin 66, MO *** Donnie Barnhart won the Outlaw Fall nationals at West Plains, MO. *** In UMP races Billy Drake won the Prarie Classic at Fairbury, IL and Roger Long won at Tri-State, IL. *** Terry Phillips was the victor at Monett, MO in the Kitts 4 State Dirt Track Championships. *** Al Purkey won the NCRA event at Salina, KS and Gary Gorby took the win at Belleville, KS. *** Randle Chupp won the $5,000 at Smokey Mountain Raceway, TN *** Lance Matthees took $4,000 from Rice Lake, WI *** Roy Deese Jr won the MACS race at Bedford, PA. *** Wrapping up the dirt cars, Billy Thomas was the winner as the ARCA cars were at the DuQuoin (IL) Mile. Mark Gibson was second and Bob Strait third.

Whew! That wraps up a busy week of action around the short tracks. If you want some good family entertainment at a good price visit your local track soon, there is some great racing going on there. Until next week, Have a Ball. Ya'll!

John Kaiser -- The Autochannel