---

TRACKS: Bland wins mini-sprint feature; Bruce scores win in Super Stocks at Bloomington

17 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

(Bloomington, Ind.)--As Friday night's AMSA Mini-Sprint feature unfolded, it looked like we might be able to photocopy one of the results sheet from a previous Mini Sprint show as Tom Busch of Bedford, Ind. seem destined to win his third feature of the season at Bloomington Speedway. But, on the 14th circuit, Larry Bland of Coal City, Ind. got past Busch to take the lead and held it until the checkered flags waved.

AMSA MINI SPRINTS - LARRY BLAND FINDS VICTORY LANE

When the green flag waved on the first lap of the Mini Sprint featrure, Ronnie Brettnacher had the lead; but, he wasn't to hold it for long. Tom Busch, the winner of the two Mini Sprint features held at Bloomington Speedway this season, took over the point on the second circuit. The feature race was interrupted by a red flag on the fifth circuit when Steve Noel got on his lid. Noel was uninjured; but his evening was over.

Busch held onto the lead; and seemed destined to score his Bloomington Speedway feature win of the season. However, on the 14th circuit, Larry Bland slipped past him to take the lead.

The feature race was interrupted by a red flag on the fifth circuit when Steve Noel got on his lid. Noel was uninjured; but his evening was over.

Action stopped for the final time on lap 18 when David Waltman and Kenny Collins to together and brought out the yellow flag. This allowed Busch to close up on Bland and make a final charge for the win. However, Bland would not be denied; and he held on to take his first feature win of the season at Bloomington Speedway.

Bland held the lead to score the feature win. Busch held on to finish second trailed by Ronnie Brettnacher, Mike Kertscher, Curt Trainer, Kenny Haynes, David Eichenberger, Eric Edwards, Kevin Rice, and Mark Newman.

TIRE & WHEEL SERVICE SUPER STOCKS

Points leader Lee Hobbs got his night off to a great start when he drew the pole postion for the first heat race. It was rumored that he would, again, try to win the Ed Evans Antique Auto & Race Car Museum Gambler's Choice challenge if he got the opportunity. Hobbs then went on to win his heat race and the Reed & Sons Construction Dash for Cash.

When the Tire & Wheel Center Super Stock feature began, Hobbs jumped into the lead and held it until the ninth circuit when ill fortune struck him and removed him from competition. The only good thing for Hobbs was that about all he had to do was make it to the track Friday to sew up his points championship.

Greg Kendall took the point when Hobbs retired from competition. Kendall, who has run strong all year and was second in the points, only managed to hold the point for a couple of circuits before Perry Bruce found his way past the wily Kendall. Bruce led the final 15 circuits to score the feature win. Greg O'Nell passed Kendall for second on the 16th lap to earn the chance to challenge Bruce himself. But, he too was unable to get past the big, white machine of Bruce. O'Neill held on for second trailed by Kendall, Terry Arthur, Chris Hillman, Brad Cummings, Brady Short, Steven Hunt, Mel Bigham, and Steve Hollars.

Lee Hobbs, Terry Arthur, Perry Bruce, and Greg Kendall won the heat races; and Hobbs took the Reed & Son Construction dash. Steven Hunt prevailed in the Tom Cherry Muffle Shops "B" Main.

O'NEAL WOOD PRODUCTS OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

This week the pits were full of O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modifieds. Everybody was getting one last practice race in for the 5th Annual Indiana Super Stock and Open Wheel Modified Nationals.

Kerry Norris who has won several features this season at Bloomington Speedway came in with high hopes of winning the Ed Evan's Antique Auto & Race Car Museum Gambler's Choice challenge. But, unfortunately for Norris, he never made it to the dash to earn a spot. He finished sixth and well out of the dash. Norris would have to wait until next week to try again to earn his win a shot at the Gambler's Choice.

The O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modified feature began with Gary Trammell and Curtis Knieriem on the front row (a pair of 4's). They led the field until lap four when a major shunt in the fourth turn eliminated Tony Jarvis, Stacy Tretter, and Troy Jarvis.

When the race resumed, Trammell held the lead to the checkers. Knieriem held on to finish second followed by Tim Prince who was impressive in his charge from his ninth place starting position to finish third trailed by Ray Humphrey who was really impressive in his drive from 17th place starting position to finish fourth.

Todd Gilpin finished fifth ahead of John DeMoss, Brian Campbell, Lee Hobbs, Adam Sasser, and J.D. Francis.

In preliminary action, Paul Bumgardner, Curtis Knieriem, Gary Trammell, and Richie Lex took the heat race while Ray Humphrey took the Don Bush Moving and Storage "B" Main. Curtis Knieriem prevailed in the Blackwell Trucking Dash for Cash.

NEXT AT BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY

Bloomington Speedway will end its season with the 5th Annual Indiana Super Stock and UMP Modified Nationals in memory of Pat Burch. Each feature will pay $1250 (with proper decals) and $100 to start. It is likely that every O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modified and Tire and Wheel Center Super Stock in the area will unload for this special show. This kind of prize money is unusual for these racers; and it is almost unheard of for a race on track as well prepared as Bloomington Speedway

The heavy track that can almost always be found at Bloomington Speedway will not be damaged by qualifications - there will be none. Their will be plenty of racing though. Don't be surprised to see six or seven heat races for each class. This will almost certainly make a "C" main necessary in each class. However, all of these races won't necessarily make the show go long. The fact that we are running only these two classes and aren't qualifying should keep the show moving. Also, these cars all have self starters and can be lined up in the chute prior to taking to the track.

This will also be the last chance for anyone to win the Ed Evans Antique Auto and Race Car Museum Gamber's Choice Challenge. It will be interesting to see if anyone accepts the challenge. The factors against accepting the challenge are powerful. The large purse will make starting up front very attractive as will be the high quality of the starting fields in each class. These guys will not be easy to pass.

The factors for accepting the challenge are also strong - there are 1505 of them. The 1500 additional dollars that the win will pay and the extra five laps that the driver has to get to the front. Will anyone accept the challenge? We'll see. One driver, Kerry Norris, has said that he plans to accept the challenge if he gets the chance. The modifieds get first chance next week. Norris like the sound of $2750.

Also on September 22nd, we will present the awards for the O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modifieds and Tire and Wheel Center Super Stock points races.

RESULTS:

AMSA MINI SPRINT CARS

Heat 1: 1. Kevin Rice 2. Kenny Collins 3. Boyd Wolff 4. Larry Bland 5. Eric Edwards. 6. Steven Batchfield 7. Alex Bohanen 8. Jeff Scott 9. David Gibson

Heat 2: Ronnie Brettnacher. 2. Tom Busch 3. David Waltman 4. Kurt Trainer 5. Mike Kertsher 6. Steve Noel 7. Mark Newman 8. Jeremy Miracle 9. Brandon Watson 10. Mark Bush

Heat 3: 1. Kenny Haynes 2. Scott Williams 3. Patrick Haynes 4. Josh Walker 5. Eddie Lake 6. Terry Ahern 7. Chris Isenhower 8. Cody Alsman

B Main: 1. Mark Newman 2. Tim Ewers 3. Brandon Watson 4. David Eichenberger 5. Cody Alsman 6. Jeff Scott 7. Mark Bush 8. Alex Bourbanet 9. David Gibson 10. Chris Isenhower 11. Jeremy Miracle

AMSA Mini-Sprint Feature: 1. Larry Bland 2. Tom Busch 3. Ronnie Brettnacher 4. Mike Kertsher 5. Kurt Trainer 6. Kenny Haynes 7. David Eichenberger 8. Eric Edwards 9. Kevin Rice 10. Mark Newman 11. Tim Ewers 12. Boyd Wolff 13. Steven Batchfield 14. Terry Ahern 15. Jeff Scott 16. David Waltman 17. Kenny Collins 18. Scott Williams 19. Cody Alsman 20. Eddie Lake

O'NEAL WOOD PRODUCTS OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

Heat 1: 1. Paul Bumgardner 2. Todd Gilpin 3. John DeMoss 4. Troy Jarvis 5. Clint DeMoss 6. Matt Tiller 7. Brad Brown 8. Warren Hopkins 9. Roy Ritter 10. Tim Wright

Heat 2: 1. Curtis Knieriem 2. Tony Jarvis 3. Brad Cummings 4. Ryan Blevins 5. Brent Payne 6. Kerry Norris 7. Lee Hobbs 8. Brian Campbell 9. Justin Hillenburg 10. Earl Plessinger 11. Karl Roethemeier

Heat 3: 1. Gary Trammell 2. Tim Prince 3. Adam Sasser 4. James Coil 5. Levi Ray Godsey 6. Roy Bruce, Jr. 7. Ray Humphrey 8. Terry Trammell

Heat 4: 1. Richie Lex 2. J.D. Francis 3. Stacy Tretter 4. Don Sholders 5. Tom Bixler 6. Tommy Welin 7. Davy Nelson 8. Keith Thomas 9. Charles VanNess

Blackwell Trucking Dash for Cash: 1. Curtis Knieriem 2. Gary Trammell 3. Paul Bumgardner 4. Richie Lex

Don Bush Moving & Storage "B" Main: 1. Ray Humphrey 2. Lee Hobbs 3. Kerry Norris 4. Brian Campbell 5. Tim Wright 6. Roy Bruce, Jr. 7. Brad Brown 8. Levi Ray Godsey 9 Roy Ritter 10. Davy Nelson 11. Keith Thomas 12. Clint DeMoss 13. Tommy Welin 14. Brent Payne 15. Tom Bixler, Jr. 16. Karl Roethemeier

O'Neal Wood Products Open Wheel Modified Feature: 1. Gary Trammell 2. Curtis Knieriem 3. Tim Prince 4. Ray Humphrey 5. Todd Gilpin 6. John DeMoss 7. Brian Campbell 8. Lee Hobbs 9. Adam Sasser 10. J.D. Francis 11. Paul Bumgardner 12. Ryan Blevins 13. James Coil 14. Brad Cummings 15. Richie Lex 16. Dan Shoulders 17. Tony Jarvis 18. Stacy Tretter 19. Troy Jarvis 20. Kerry Norris

TIRE & WHEEL CENTER SUPER STOCKS

Heat 1: 1. Lee Hobbs 2. Jack Frye 3. Rodney Harris, Jr. 4. Michael Vest 5. Steven Hunt 6. Trent Niflis 7. Brandon Short 8. Travis Todd 9. Bill Scudder 10. Bryan Freeman

Heat 2: 1. Terry Arthur 2. Chris Hillman 3. John Davis 4. Brady Short 5. Jason Hehman 6. David Wiggam 7. Tom Plotz 8. Bill Brown 9. David Koontz

Heat 3: 1. Perry Bruce 2. Michael Purtlebaugh 3. Greg O'Neill 4. Steve Hollars 5. Rex Cecil 6. Travis Shoulders 7. Douglas Stroud 8. Brad Cummings

Heat 4: 1. Greg Kendall 2. Diane Grubb 3. Buddy Frye 4. Gary Arthur 5. Mike Jones 6. Rick Hines 7. Mel Bigham 8. Bob Griffitts

Reed and Son Construction Dash for Cash: 1. Lee Hobbs 2. Greg Kendall 3. Perry Bruce 4. Terry Arthur

Tom Cherry Muffler Shops "B" Main: 1. Steven Hunt 2. Jason Hehman 3. Mel Bigham 4. Brad Cummings 5. David Wiggam 6. Tom Plotz 7. Travis Todd 8. David Koontz 9. Bill Scudder 10. Bill Brown 11. Douglas Stroud 12. Bryan Freeman 13. Brandon Short 14. Mike Jones 15. Trent Niflis 16. Rex Cecil 17. Danny Harris

Tire & Wheel Center Super Stock Feature: 1. Perry Bruce 2. Greg O'Neill 3. Greg Kendall 4. Terry Arthur 5. Chris Hillman 6. Brad Cummings 7. Brady Short 8. Steven Hunt 9. Mel Bigham 10. Steve Hollars 11. Jason Hehman 12. Gary Arthur 13. Michael Purtlebaugh 14. John Davis 15. Diane Grubb 16. Michael Vest 17. Lee Hobbs 18. Jack Frye 19. Buddy Frye 20. Rodney Harris, Jr.

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.