ASA: Clanton Rekindles Season With 32nd Annual Winchester 400 Win

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 23, 2001

Georgian Outlasts Mike Cope for Third Season Win

WINCHESTER, Ind. (September 23, 2001) – In a race similar to many of the previous 31 showdowns, the Winchester 400 came down to just the final laps, as Joey Clanton held off three-time Winchester 400 winner Mike Cope in a dramatic showdown to take his thir d win of the 2001 season. For Clanton, racing with Cope was the perfect thing to turn around his season, as the two have had several run-ins over the season, including in ASA’s last event at Memphis Motorsprots Park.

“Mike (Cope) really knows how to get around this place,” said Clanton, who now has four career ASA wins and moved himself into third in the points. “I knew I couldn’t lift or he would be around me. You really have to stay focused on getting around the mi ddle of the corners.”

Clanton took the lead on lap 332 when pole sitter David Stremme, who dominated much of the race, missed a shift coming to the green flag. Clanton held onto the point until late in the race, when Cope closed within one car length. Cope made several attempts to get by Clanton late in the race, but to no avail.

“We did some rubbing toward the end,” said Clanton. “I knew he wouldn’t have wrecked me toward the end. To win at Winchester is really special. It is one of the toughest short track races there is.”

Cope, who was involved in several incidents during the afternoon, led the most laps, but ended up with his second career runner up finish, his first coming in Nashville earlier this season.

“I was waiting for him to slip,” said Cope. “He did once, but I wasn’t in a position to take it from him. We had our share of stuff in the past, but it was nice to race him clean for the win.” The race was a typical Winchester 400, as the afternoon took its tool on the field. One of the pre-race favorites, Mike Miller, was taken out of the event in a first lap accident that also involved Indianapolis’ Tim Taylor. Only three cars, including third -place Mike Garvey, finished on the lead lap, and only 17 of the 32 starts were running at the end.

National Championship points leader Johnny Sauter had a bad afternoon, as he was involved in a accident early and finished 12th, 19 laps off the pace. With that finish, we was not able to lock up the championship and will head to the season finale still lo oking to wrap up his first ASA National Championship. Sauter is now 108 points ahead of St. Amant.

ASA closes the 2001 season on Saturday, September 29th with the tirerace.com 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont (IN). Activities begin on Friday, September 28th, with ASA practice starting at noon and qualifications at 5 p.m. Race day events begi n with spectator gates opening at 3 p.m., followed by the on-track autograph session at 5. The tirerack.com 200 will take the green flag at 7 p.m. (local) and will be telecast live on TNN Sports.

WINCHESTER, IN – The finish of Sunday’s American Speed Association ACDelco Series $210,860 Winchester 400 at the half-mile Winchester Speedway. Listed is finishing and starting position (in parenthesis) driver, make of car, laps completed and reason out, i f any.

1)(10) Joey Clanton, Chevrolet, 400, 73.255 mph
2)(5) Mike Cope, Chevrolet, 400
3)(2) Mike Garvey, Chevrolet, 400
4)(9) Gary St. Amant, Chevrolet, 399
5)(18) Butch Miller, Chevrolet, 398
6)(15) Russ Tuttle, Pontiac, 397
7)(11) Brian Ross, Pontiac, 396
8)(21) Greg Stewart, Pontiac, 395
9)(25) Jerry Cook, Ford, 392
10)(1) David Stremme, Ford, 387
11)(29) Jack Gritter, Pontiac, 382
12)(8) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 381
13)(27) J.C. Beattie Jr., Chevrolet, 377
14)(28) Johnny Spaw, Chevrolet, 356
15)(16) Tristan Dupuis, Chevrolet, 335, accident
16)(20) Francesco Gaudesi, Chevrolet, 333
17)(22) Dave Sensiba, Pontiac, 271, accident
18)(13) Bobby Bowsher, Chevrolet, 264, axle
19)(23) Greg Williams, Chevrolet, 256
20)(4) Kevin Cywinski, Chevrolet, 213, handling
21)(7) Ricky Bryant, Pontiac, 211
22)(3) Robbie Pyle, Chevrolet, 203, handling
23)(31) Mark Cole, Pontiac, 201, overheating
24)(12) Wayne Anderson, Pontiac, 173, handling
25)(26) Mark Pluer, Pontiac, 168, accident
26)(14) Tim Taylor, Chevrolet, 160, accident
27)(24) Mike Eddy, Chevrolet, 115, rear end
28)(17) Chris Wimmer, Chevrolet, 21, accident
29)(19) Chad Wood, Chevrolet, 21, accident
30)(30) John Silverthorne, Chevrolet, 20, accident
31)(32) Jerry Wood, Chevrolet, 3, handling
32)(6) Mike Miller, Pontiac, 6, accident

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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