TRACKS: Fireworks Highlight Holiday Weekend Show, Bloomington Pennzoil Cup Sprint Car Points Battle Tightens
29 June 1999
BLOOMINGTON, IN - Kenny Carmichael needed a big break if he is to catch Derek Scheffel in this year's Pennzoil Cup sprint car series at Bloomington Speedway. Other than Scheffel, Carmichael is the only driver to compete in every sprint car program, with and without a wing, at Bloomington this season. He may have received the break he needed last Friday night. The Columbus based Scheffel Racing team had problems with a new car, and weren't able to return to the track after hot laps. With a seventh place finish, his best so far this year at Bloomington, the Terre Haute veteran has closed within 4 points of last year's Pennzoil Cup champion.A number of drivers were able to close in on Scheffel Friday night. Feature race winner Justin Marvel, of Brownsburg, remains fourth in the points, but is now 41 points closer to the leader than he was.
Settling into his new ride in the Hannig Construction car, Eric Burns broke Bloomington's track record, set by "The Gas Man", Richard Griffin, during Indiana Sprint Week in 1997. With a third in Friday's main event, the Brazil, Indiana, driver is less than 50 points behind Scheffel and Carmichael. With back-to-back top five finishes, Vincennes' Jonathan Vennard has quickly climbed into a tie for eighth with veteran Dave Peperak and impressive Levi Jones.
Although Kerry Norris didn't have the results he hoped for last Friday, Matt Tiller and Richie Lex only gained a couple points on him. With his night ending early again last week, Ray Humphrey continues to slip in the standings. As Norris isn't committed to contending for points, Bloomington's UMP Modified division could turn into the closest battle for a track title this season.
With four feature race victories already this season in the Indiana Street Stock division, Lee Hobbs is having his best season ever. From a tie just a couple of races ago, Jerry Hepworth has slipped thirty points behind Hobbs. But a group of veteran street stock chauffeurs, including Don Bush Jr. and Perry Bruce of Bloomington, Bedford's Cory Brown, and Steven Hunt of Mooresville are making Hobbs earn every point.
With the traditional 4th of July fireworks spectacular headlining the holiday weekend program at Bloomington Speedway, Friday night's racing action focuses on the UMP Modifieds and Indiana Street Stocks. AMSA winged mini-sprints headline the card, but with the track points still wide open in these track divisions, the on-track battles will again be intense.
Bloomington Speedway Points
(Through June 25)
Pennzoil Cup Sprint Cars: 1. Derek Scheffel 375, 2. Kenny Carmichael 371, 3. Eric Burns 328, 4. Justin Marvel 307, 5. Lennie Waltz 268, 6. Chris LaFollette 261, 7 Jason Knoke 259, 8. Dave Peperak, Jonathan Vennard, Levi Jones 237 (tie)
UMP Modifieds:1. Kerry Norris 348, 2. Matt Tiller 336, 3. Richie Lex 332, 4. Ray Humphrey 314, 5. Jack Taylor 307, 6. Brian Campbell 277, 7. Levi Ray Godsey 274, 8. Charlie Phillips 263, 9. Troy Jarvis 238, 10. Terry Trammell 213 (Please note that these are Bloomington Speedway's track points and not UMP series points.)
Indiana Street Stocks: 1. Lee Hobbs 381, 2. Jerry Hepworth 351, 3. Don Bush Jr. 330, 4. Steve Hunt 328, 5. Cory Brown 325, 6. Perry Bruce 321, 7. Mel Bigham 302, 8. Steve Hollars 301, 9. Greg O'Neill 300, 10. Steve Hawkins 298
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