---

Tracks: Norris gets fourth win; Hobbs, Woods, Short also win at Bloomington

30 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

TIRE & WHEEL CENTER SUPER STOCKS

Going into tonight's racing program Lee Hobbs or Mitchell held a 24 point lead in the Bloomington Speedway points race. After tonight's racing action, his points lead will be increased. Hobbs won his heat, prevailed in the Reed & Sons Construction Dash for Cash, and led all 25 laps of the feature. However, Greg Kendall, currently second in the points race, held Hobbs' gains to a minimum. He finished second to Hobbs in the heat race and chased him all the way through the feature. As Hobbs would get into lapped traffic, Kendall would close the gap; but, as Kendall reached lapped traffic, the Hobbs lead would grow again. Kendall held on for second trailed by Brad Cummings, Jeremy Hines, and Trent Niflis. The "hard charger" award would have to go to Greg O'Neill. He started 17th and finished sixth. Jeremy Hines also mounted a strong charge to the front - he started 14th and finished fourth.

The other heats were won by Danny Harris and Gerald Todd; and Greg O'Neill prevailed in a rare appearance in the Tom Cherry Muffler Shop "B" Feature. With only three more nights of Tire & Wheel Center Super Stock racing left this season time is running out for any meaningful charge in the points race.

O'NEAL WOOD PRODUCTS OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

While Kerry Norris of Columbus is not in the top ten in O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modified points, it would probably be fair to say that he has dominated the class this season. Tonight's win was Norris' fourth of the season. However, as the race began, it looked as if Norris might have to settle for a second place finish in the feature event. Don O'Neal of Martinsville, in only the second race for his beautiful yellow modified, beat out Kerry in the heat race and won the Blackwell Trucking Dash for Cash by a wide margin to earn the pole position in the feature event.

As the O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modified feature began O'Neal grabbed the lead and seemed likely to hold it until the checkered flag fell. However, Norris is not an easy driver to conquer; and he has no "quit" in him. On lap seven, Norris slipped past Levi Godsey to take second place. He then set sail for O'Neal; however, O'Neal's car seemed to be handling just a little better. However, on lap 16, sparks flew from under the O'Neal mount; and he slowed to a stop on the front stretch. A $7 U joint had broken; and dashed O'Neal chances for victory. Norris took the lead and was never seriously challenged.

From victory lane, Norris commented, "Don was running very well. I think that his car was a little looser than mine. My car was a little tight. I don't know whether I could have caught him or not."

Lee Hobbs came home with a second place finish followed by John DeMoss, Godsey, and Troy Jarvis in a very strong performance. Richie Lex was also impressive in coming from the back of the pack to finish sixth.

O'Neal, Godsey, and Gary Trammell won the heat races while Adam Sasser took the Don Bush Moving & Storage "B" Feature. The "B" probably held more talent than any modified "B" held this season. Adam Sasser, Lex, Roy Bruce, Jr., Donnie Parson, Ryan Blevins, and Matt Boknecht all found themselves in the "B".

BOMBERS

In a rare appearance at Bloomington Speedway, the Bombers put on a good show for the fans. In the feature event Larry Harris took the lead when the green flag fell and held it until lap 13 when Bubba Woods slipped past Harris for the lead. Woods held the lead for the final eight circuits to score the win. Harris held on for second trailed by Jim Ruddick, Matt Bex, and Troy Clark. Harris won the Prince Excavating Dash for Cash.

Harris, Ruddick, and Chris Hillman took the heat races while Kent Wagner prevailed in the "B" Feature.

EXTRA BUCKS FOR WINNERS

Jim Nunn, father of our flagman Rusty Nunn, generously donated $150 - $50 to each feature winner in honor of his three grandchildren. Thanks, Jim.

O'NEAL WOOD PRODUCTS OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED OWNERS AND MECHANICS RACE

The Owners and Mechanics race usually is something of a comedy; however, this time some real racers slipped into the action. Don Short came home with the win.

NEXT AT BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY

The next event at Bloomington Speedway will be held on August 11 and will feature Pennzoil Cup Sprint Cars, O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modifieds, and Tire & Wheel Center Super Stocks.

RESULTS:

Tire & Wheel Center Street Stocks

Feature: 1. Lee Hobbs 2. Greg Kendall 3. Brad Cummings 4. Jeremy Hines 5. Trent Niflis 6. Greg O'Neill 7. Steven Hunt 8. Danny Harris 9. Michael Purtlebaugh 10. Gerald Todd 11. Perry Bruce 12. Jeff Trinkle 13. Ryan Thomas 14. Kevin Fleenor 15. Diane Grubb 16. Windel Payne 17. Brady Short 18. Mel Bigham 19. Barry Gerkin

Heat Race 1: 1. Lee Hobbs 2. Greg Kendall 3. Jeff Tinkle 4. Mel Bigham 5. Steven Hunt 6. Aaron Southern 7. Geoff Strange 8. Windel Payne 9. Andrew Davis 10. Chester Bohannon

Heat Race 2: 1. Danny Harris 2. Brady Short 3. Michael Purtlebaugh 4. Chris Hillman 5. Ryan Thomas 6. Terry Arthur 7. Bill Brown 8. Diane Grubb 9. Bob Griffitts

Heat Race 3: 1. Gerald Todd 2. Brad Cummings 3. Trent Niflis 4. Jeremy Hines 5. Perry Bruce 6. Kevin Fleenor 7. Greg O'Neill 8. Barry Gerkin 9. Steve Hollars

Reed & Son Construction Dash: 1. Lee Hobbs 2. Gerald Todd 3. Danny Harris

Tom Cherry Muffler "B" Feature: 1. Greg O'Neill 2. Kevin Fleenor 3. Barry Gerkin 4. Aaron Southern 5. Windel Payne 6. Diane Grubb 7. Geoff Strange 8. Bob Griffitts 9. Andrew Davis 10. Bill Brown 11. Terry Arthur

O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modifieds

Feature: 1. Kerry Norris 2. Lee Hobbs 3. John DeMoss 4. Levi Godsey 5. Troy Jarvis 6. Richie Lex 7. Daryl Herbert 8. Brian Campbell 9. Rodney Harris, Jr. 10. Clint DeMoss 11. Brian Yeatman 12. Roy Bruce, Jr. 13. Adam Sasser 14. Ray Humphrey 15. Donnie Parson 16. Tim Prince 17. Don O'Neal 18. Eddie Kindred 19. Gary Trammell 20. Warren Hopkins

Heat Race 1: 1. Don O'Neal 2. Kerry Norris 3. Eddie Kindred 4. Rodney Harris, Jr. 5. Warren Hopkins 6. Richie Lex 7. Rob Roethemeier 8. Brad Brown 9. Matt Jacobs 10. Brian Logue 11. Matt Boknecht

Heat Race 2: 1. Levi Godsey 2. Tim Prince 3. Troy Jarvis 4. Daryl Herbert 5. Brian Yeatman 6. Adam Sasser 7. Clint DeMoss 8. Ryan Blevins 9. Mike Tuell 10. Tommy Welin 11. Tony Jarvis

Heat Race 3: 1. Gary Trammell 2. John DeMoss 3. Lee Hobbs 4. Brian Campbell 5. Ray Humphrey 6. Karl Roethemeier 7. Roy Bruce, Jr. 8. Donnie Parson 9. Mike Phillips 10. Justin Hillenburg

Blackwell Trucking Dash: 1. Don O'Neal 2. Levi Godsey 3. Gary Trammell

Don Bush Moving & Storage "B" Feature: 1. Adam Sasser 2. Richie Lex 3. Roy Bruce, Jr. 4. Clint DeMoss 5. Donnie Parson 6. Karl Roethemeier 7. Mike Phillips 8. Mike Tuell 9. Justin Hillenburg 10. Brad Brown 11. Brian Logue 12. Ryan Blevins 13. Rob Roethemeier 14. Tony Jarvis 15. Tommy Welin 16. Matt Boknecht

Bombers

Feature: 1. Bubba Woods 2. Larry Harris 3. Jim Ruddick 4. Matt Bex 5. Troy Clark 6. Chris Hillman 7. Glenn Woods 8. Mike Moody 9. Paul Owens 10. Jason Trader 11. Mickey Hines 12. Faron 13. Johnny Ray 14. Red White 15. Andrew Davis 16. Ray Godsey, Jr. 17. Kent Wagner 18. Josh Holt 19. Steve Dayhuff

Heat Race 1: 1. Larry Harris 2. Ray Godsey, Jr. 3. Bubba Woods 4. Glenn Woods 5. Jason Trader 6. Kent Wagner 7. Darrin Dayhuff 8. Chris Cox 9. Dave Eagan

Heat Race 2: 1. Jim Ruddick 2. Mike Moody 3. Red White 4. Paul Owens 5. Johnny Ray 6. Faron 7. Steve Dayhuff 8. Mark Smith

Heat Race 3: 1. Chris Hillman 2. Andrew Davis 3. Matt Bex 4. Troy Clark 5. Mickey Hines 6. Josh Holt 7. Clarence Butler 8. Matt Hamilton 9. David Burkett

Prince Excavating Dash: 1. Larry Harris 2. Jim Ruddick 3. Chris Hillman

"B" Feature: 1. Kent Wagner 2. Faron 3. Josh Holt 4. Steve Dayhuff 5. Mark Smith 6. Matt Hamilton 7. Dave Eagan 8. Chris Cox 9. David Burkett

Text provided by Tim McKinney

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.