ARCA Trucks: David Clay Takes Toledo ARCA Trucks
7 June 1999
By Don RadebaughPerfection in motorsports is most certainly hard to come by, but Carlisle, Ohio's David Clay pulled it off Friday night at Toledo Speedway when the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series made its first-ever appearance at the ultra-fast half mile high-banked oval.
Clay, aboard his own #33 HVAC Systems-M&M Precision S-10 Chevrolet, came out fast with a new truck track record of 17.629 seconds and then followed up with a heat race win before taking the top honors in the main event.
Clay, after starting 11th in the 35 lap feature, methodically maneuvered his way forward and snagged the top-spot away from Aaron Hulings late in the race when the Rockford, Michigan driver spun his Ford Ranger off the second corner while leading. "This is the greatest feeling ever," said Clay in victory lane. "Weve worked so hard to put our truck program together, and to have it come together so well really means a lot. We had so many obstacles trying to put all the pieces together but it sure paid off tonight. I love racing on this track, cant wait to come back and do it again." Jack Weethee, in the Weethee Builders Ford, finished a close second ahead of Troy Marciniak, Bob Mikolajczyk in the Target Expediting Ford and Jeff Speakman, who hustled his Pennzoil-Natl Auto Lube-Esslinger Ford from 12th to fifth in the final running order.
At the onset outside polesitter Tully Esterline edged his Spangler Candy Truck ahead of polesitter Marciniak until the caution flagged waved on lap two when Kendra Lake, Bill Withers, Robert Stoner and David Reeb tangled in turns one and two. There were no injuries and when racing resumed Esterline faded with tire trouble while Marciniak led through lap eight until John Witham took command. Witham held the point for 14 circuits but not without continual heat from Hulings, Mikolajczyk, Weethee and Clay who raced feverishly directly behind. However, Witham soon faded with driveline troubles handing the lead to Hulings who stretched his lead to 3 lengths while the spirited battle behind continued. Clay soon worked his way into second and began reeling in the leader when he noticed Hulings truck get loose off the second turn. Hulings, for a moment, appeared to have it saved until his machine spun completely around and down into the grass. From there, Clay fought off a hard charge from Weethee before stretching his advantage to 5 lengths at the final stripe.
Gregg Vasko finished sixth followed by Stoner who battled back from the lap 2 incident, Hulings, Robbin Slaughter and Esterline to complete the top ten.
Clay also won the Hoosier Racing Tire Pole Award and the Revenge Racing Bodies Pole-Win honors as well as the Ed and Company Hard Charger Award. Witham picked up the Cloyes Gears & Products Halfway Leader Award. Next event for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will be at Anderson Speedway Saturday night June 19.
Series Point Leaders: David Clay 510, Jack Weethee 455, John Witham 455, Gregg Vasko 450, Robin Slaughter 440, Bill Withers 435, Troy Marciniak 430, Aaron Hulings 420, Tully Esterline 405, Robert Stoner 395.
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