HAV-A-Tampa USA National 100: Report, Results, Standings
12 August 1997
NEW RICHMOND, WI - When Bill Frye got loose in turn four with just two laps left in the HAV-A-TAMPA Dirt Racing Series "USA National 100" at Cedar Lake Speedway, Rick Aukland of Fargo, ND was in the right spot to drop to the inside, make the pass and lead the way to the checkers for a $30,000 payday. This win was the second of the year in big-money races as he captured another $30,000 check earlier when he won the "Show Me 100"."Man, this is just awesome," Aukland said afterwards. "We outran the best in the business out there tonight and it means a lot for us to win here in front of this crowd."
At the start of the race, Rick Eckert grabbed the lead from the pole position and would hold it until lap 63 when Scott Bloomquist passed him. Bloomquist held the point until a left rear tire blew on lap 82 at which point Aukland assumed the lead. Having started eighth on the field, Aukland had spent the first half of the race moving into a position to challenge for the lead. With there now being less than 20 laps to go, Aukland led Frye, Wendell Wallace and Donnie Moran in a high speed chase for the finish.
Frye went to the high side of the 3/8 mile oval and soon tracked Aukland down, taking the lead on lap 92 and looking like a certain winner. But then as the cars exited turn four on lap 87 while working lapped traffic and Aukland was there to dive to the low side and take the lead. Moran, who had been forced to take a provisional starting spot and began the race in 23rd position followed Aukland through the hole left by Frye to nab the second spot. Frye was able to recover and finish the race in third with Eckert taking fourth and Wallace fifth.
The win was the second of his career for Aukland on the HAV-A-TAMPA series. By finishing in fifth place, while points leader Billy Moyer was suffering a blown engine and placing 21st, Wallace was able to close the points lead down to just 48 markers with three races left in the 1997 season. The HAV-A-TAMPA tour will now take two weeks off before racing resumes at Atomic Speedway in Knoxville, TN on August 29-30.
John Kaiser -- The Autochannel
RESULTS "USA NATIONAL 100" Pos Driver Hometown Laps Purse 1. Rick Aukland Fargo, ND 100 $31,100 2. Donnie Moran Dresden, OH 100 12,600 3. Bill Frye Greenbrier, AR 100 8,350 4. Rick Eckert York, PA 100 6,100 5. Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 100 5,750 6. Johnny Virden Russellville, AR 100 4,200 7. Clint Smith Griffin, GA 100 4,000 8. Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 100 3,100 9. Dale McDowell Rossville, GA 100 3,100 10. Jimmy Mars Elk Mound, WI 100 2,300 11. Freddy Smith Knoxville, TN 100 3,050 12. Skip Arp Georgetown, TN 99 2,600 13. Rick Egersdorf Lake Elmo, MN 99 2,100 14. Ray Cook Murphy, NC 99 2,400 15. Donnie Barnhart N Little Rock, AR 99 1,800 16. Johnny Johnson W Burlington, IA 99 1,700 17. Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL 99 1,600 18. Craig Scott Cannon Fall, MN 98 1,500 19. Pat Doar New Richmond, WI 98 1,500 20. Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 73 1,500 21. Billy Moyer Batesville, AR 61 2,100 22. Lance Mathees Winona, MN 42 1,500 23. Jim Curry Norman, IN 23 1,500 24. Lane Meyer West Union, IA 14 1,500 ISKY Racing Cams Fast Gun Award: Rick Aukland, 15.032 secs/89.808 mph HAV-A-TAMPA National Points standings 1. Billy Moyer 4431 2. Wendell Wallace 4383 3. Freddy Smith 4136 4. Donnie Moran 4017 5. Dale McDowell 3913 6. Clint Smith 3838 7. Skip Arp 3815 8. Marshall Green 3524 9. Ray Cook 3348 10.David Gibson 3297 11.Johnny Virden 3158 12.Bill Frye 2857 13.Mark Miner 2588 14.Earl Pearson Jr 2281 15.Ronnie Johnson 1810