HAV-A-TAMPA Report and Results from Kentucky
21 July 1997
OLIVE HILL, KY - Ashland, KY driver Steve Francis used a daring pass of Joe Meadows in the late stages of the race to take his first HAV-A-TAMPA victory in the "Kentucky State Classic" at Carter County Speedway, Olive Hill, KY. Francis, who started on the front row of the field, picked up $10,000 for the win."It's great to finally get one of these wins" said Francis after the race. "This is a tough bunch of guys to race against, hopefully we can get our motor program right so we can run with HAV-A-TAMPA full time next year."
Meadows, who hails from Beckley, WV, almost pulled of what would have been a stunning upset as he led the 26 car field until late in the race. Francis dogged him the entire distance and was finally able to make the pass. Meadows suffered further indignity when jack Boggs was able to slip past him on the final lap to relegate him to third at the finish. Freddy Smith and Mark Miner rounded out the top five.
The race was severely affected by temperatures that rose past the century mark, and caused the track to dry out very quickly. The race had to be red flagged on lap 12 because the pall of dust raised by the cars was becoming a safety hazard. The cars pulled into the pits, the track was watered and run in and the race was continued. The race distance was reduced from the scheduled 100 laps to 51 because of the track condition.
The shortened race did not help points leader Billy Moyer, who lost an engine during heat races and was forced into his backup car. Moyer was forced to retire that car after just 11 laps with further mechanical woes.
John Kaiser -- The Autochannel
RESULTS "Kentucky State Classic" pos Driver Hometown Laps Money ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Steve Francis Ashland, KY 51 $10150 2. Jack Boggs Grayson, KY 51 6000 3. Joe Meadows Beckley, WV 51 3000 4. Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN 51 3650 5. Mark Miner Stockbridge, GA 51 2100 6. Clint Smith Griffin, GA 51 2450 7. Skip Arp Georgetown, TN 51 2250 8. Dale McDowell Rossville, GA 51 1900 9. Marshall Green Dalton, GA 51 1850 10. Randy Boggs Grayson, KY 51 1100 11. David Gibson Ash Flat, AR 51 1500 12. Jackie Boggs Grayson, KY 51 950 13. Shawn Halliday Ironton, OH 51 900 14. Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 51 1375 15. Kenny Compton Jr Beckley, WV 51 850 16. Eddie Carrier Jr Hazard, KY 51 825 17. Ray Cook Murphy, NC 50 1300 18. Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 44 1350 19. Paul Davis Paintsville, KY 44 700 20. Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL 44 700 21. Shane Yoder Toledo, OH 33 700 22. Brandon Kinzer Allen, KY 33 700 23. Thomas Ware Cynthiana, KY 33 700 24. Bill Bocook Wheelersburg, OH 33 700 25. Johnny Virden Russellville, AR 12 850 26. Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 11 1200 ISKY RACING CAMS Fast Gun Award: Billy Moyer 17.618 secs/72.629 mphUNION, KY - Skip Arp, of Georgetown, TN, used a daring move in traffic with just 9 laps remaining to claim the title of "Ironman" by just beating Bart Hartman to the line in the "Ironman 100" HAV-A-TAMPA race at Florence Speedway in Union, KY. Arp dogged Hartman for the last third of the race and when Hartman went high to find a way around lapped traffic, Arp went to the inside to make the pass that netted him his sixth career win on the cigar sponsored circuit and his first of 1997. Hartman challenged for the rest of the race, but was unable to regain the lost ground and had to settle for second.
"It worked out good for us," said the smiling Arp from Victory Lane. "If Bart would have been behind me there in traffic, he nay have done the same to me, but it worked for us and I felt like the bottom groove was the fast way around. It's just great to have our luck turn for us. I couldn't ask for a better bunch on this team. Mike at KMD Motorsports, my wife Janice and the whole crew. It's just really worked out good for us."
Polesitter Mark Miner led the 24 field to the green flag, but was shuffled out of line as Bob Pierce, Hartman and Arp thundered to the front on the opening lap. Pierce led the first 25 laps before Hartman was able to make the pass and take the point. Hartman held the lead for the next 66 laps while behind him a tremendous amount of slashing and dashing was going on as cars fought for position. Arp was able to get past Pierce and began hounding Hartman until the two cars approached lapped traffic. Hartman looked high for a way around the traffic and Arp seized the chance and went low. The two cars went across the line at the end of lap 90 in a dead heat with Arp taking the lead the next lap. Pierce closed in and began to challenge Hartman for second, but was unable to make the pass and settled for third. Rick Aukland and Wendell Wallace rounded out the top five.
"I took a chance trying to roll them on the outside and it just wouldn't work," Hartman said later. The lapped traffic just wasn't moving and I had to go somewhere and look around. I took a chance and Skip got under me. I was glad to see him win, but I'd much rather it had been me."
The second of two cautions came out when Jerry Rice and Donnie Moran were racing for position on lap 51 and Rice got loose and hit the outside wall. Rice, obviously angry with Moran, climbed from his car and threw a handful of dirt at the Dresden, OH driver as the field came by under caution and was disqualified for his actions. Arp picked up an additional $1,000 for winning in a GRT chassis. The bonus had rolled over for the past five weeks until Arp got the win.
John Kaiser -- The Autochannel
RESULTS "IRONMAN 100" pos Driver Hometown Laps Money ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Skip Arp Georgetown, TN 100 $16600 2. Bart Hartman Zanesville, OH 100 8500 3. Bob Pierce Danville, IL 100 5150 4. Rick Aukland Fargo, ND 100 3600 5. Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 100 3750 6. Jack Boggs Grayson, KY 100 2750 7. Johnny Virden Russelville, AR 100 2700 8. John Holt Independence, KY 100 2250 9. Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 100 2600 10. Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 100 2250 11. John Gill Mitchell, IN 100 1500 12. Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 100 1300 13. Clint Smith Griffin, GA 99 1700 14. Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN 99 1850 15. Dale McDowell Rossville, GA 99 1500 16. Ray Cook Murphy, NC 99 1475 17. John Mason Millersburg, OH 98 950 18. Shawn Toczek Griffith, IN 98 925 19. David Gibson Ash Flat, AR 98 1400 20. Scotty Earl Louisville, KY 97 900 21. Steve Barnett Franklin, IN 68 900 22. Mark Miner Stockbridge, GA 39 900 23. Marshall Green Dalton, GA 17 900 24. Jerry Rice Verona, KY 51 DQ ISKY RACIN CAMS Fast Gun Award: Mark Miner 16.639secs/108.18mph HAV-A-TAMPA Dirt Racing Series National Points standings after 22 of 32 events. Pos Driver Points ------------------------------- 1. Billy Moyer 3431 2. Wendell Wallace 3293 3. Freddy Smith 3173 4. Donnie Moran 3093 5. Dale McDowell 3007 6. Clint Smith 2957 7. Skip Arp 2882 8. Marshall Green 2711 9. David Gibson 2586 10. Ray Cook 2546 11. Johnny Virden 2305 12. Bill Frye 2039 13. Mark Miner 1881 14. Steve Russell 1743 15. Ronnie Johnson 1660 16. Earl Pearson Jr 1638 17. Gar Dickson 1403 18. Robbie Starnes 1262 19. Bob Pierce 1144 20. Rex Richey 1053
