Nobody Asked Me But

Nobody Asked Me But

By Brad Vores August 23, 2007

Nobody asked me but….

Slidejobs stink!

Follow the leader racing during a night time race is boring. Just ask Mark Smith.

Sure would have been nice to see Alan Krimes win the Jack Gunn Memorial on Friday but was good to see Mark Smith get the win as well. I am sure he caught Krimes by total surprise with that final lap pass after leading the entire way.

Why does it seem racing programs get stretched out longer and longer each week?

Greg Hodnett has been struggling ever since enjoying a brilliant PA Speedweek. A new car has just not worked but he probably would have won at Lincoln Saturday night after starting 12th but his chance was taken away on lap 13.

It was good to see Brian Leppo get a win for his first year car owners Floyd and Joyce Swope in the World of Outlaws event at Williams Grove Speedway.

Per above, get well wishes to Joyce Swope as she recovers from heart surgery.

This season sure has flown by. Next weekend the Fair races begin at Port Royal and that’s a sign of the end of racing and summer.

Speaking of Port Royal, sounds like Craig Keel ran one heck of a race. Even though the track press release didn’t mention it, numerous people have tuned in to say what an awesome pass Keel made on Mark Smith just after Smith had taken the lead from him.

Look for Lucas Wolfe and the Allebach Racing team to have sponsorship from Rick’s Auto Body for 2008. Rick Kaylor will be supplying a couple motors to the team for use in the 410 Sprint.

And it’s good to hear that Kaylor will continue to field the No. 13K 360 Sprint for Wolfe again in 2008 with a select race schedule that should begin in Florida in late January.

I think the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Sprint car title at Williams Grove Speedway should go to the team and not split between driver and owner.

Slidejobs stink!

I told you last week to look for changes among the URC contingent and some already happened. Don’t be surprised to see some more changes for 2008.

It’s very unfortunate that Blane Heimbach broke his leg last week at Williams Grove. Heimbach was headed for another 358 championship at Selinsgrove but that won’t happen now. Get Well Wishes go out to Blane as he will be out of commission for quite a while with his extensive leg injury.

It was nice to have Randy Baughman in the pits at Lincoln Saturday night but unfortunately, he was also injured during the heat races. Baughman sustained a broken back in a crash that saw Jeff Busby flip for the second straight week. Get Well wishes to Baughman as well.

It’s hard to believe Fred Rahmer was shut out of victory lane at Williams Grove since May of last year until last Friday night. He still tops the track’s all time win list and is right in the thick of the points battle for this season.

Hopefully Darren Eash will continue to field a sprint car for brother Cris again in 2008. Eash is fifth in points at Lincoln this year but has not won yet.

It’s good to see that Williams Grove will continue the Saturday Night Series again next season. While many do not like racing at the Grove, it’s nice they have a home track. Hopefully the Sportsman will continue to thrive in the future.

It appears 16-year-old Tyler Hershey could win the 358 late model title at Williams Grove this year. I believe he will become the youngest track champion in the history of the famous speedway.

Lincoln sure has a dandy of a 358 late model track championship battle brewing with one race remaining on Sept 8. The top five drivers are separated by a total of 25 points and the top nine drivers are only separated by 90 total points.

Fred Rahmer is close to locking up his 10th career Lincoln 410 Sprint car championship. With good finishes in this week’s Twin 20s, Rahmer will clinch the title.

I wonder if the Sidewinder 1000cc Sprints will take off next year? Everyone had high hopes for the division this season but car counts have been right around 10-12 most weeks. Hopefully the division will gain momentum over the off season.

Keith Kauffman has to finish at least 12 spots ahead of Kevin Nouse on Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway to win his 13th career 410 Sprint car championship at the track. He can still get the job done at age 57 and shows no signs of slowing down.

Are tire rules and top wing changes really going to help the overall cost of owning a sprint car? I don’t think so.

Don’t forget to make plans for Knoxville 2008. The 48th annual SuperClean Nationals will be held August 6-9.

We are hearing rumblings about the future of Selinsgrove Speedway again. Let’s hope someone steps up to the plate and makes sure the speedway is there for years to come.

It was great to see the fan support to the Dream Race Extreme at Port Royal three weeks ago. The car count was also great for the event. While the payoff on top is fantastic, maybe a more structured payoff back through for a future event would be even more welcome news for car owners/drivers.

And once again, Slidejobs stink!

WHATS HAPPENING
Williams Grove is back in action two times this weekend with a Friday nigth 410 Sprint program joined by the URC 360 Sprints. The Grove returns Saturday with the final Saturday Night Series show of the year with 358 late models, street stocks and 4-cylinders. There will be no Sportsman racing Saturday night.

Trail-Way is back Friday with 358 Sprints then host the Super Sportsman Tour on Saturday night.

It will be Central Maryland Pools Night at Lincoln on Saturday with Twin 20s for the 410 Sprints joined by the 358 Sprints and thundercars. It will be the final 7:30pm start of the season.

The final points races of the year will be held Saturday night at Port Royal for all the main divisions.

Selinsgrove Speedway returns Saturday with a regular Saturday night program and then Sunday will be a 410 Sprint and late model program at 7 p.m.

The 358 late models are once again the attraction Saturday at Susquehanna Speedway. The 410 Sprints return to SSP next Thursday, August 30 for the York County Nationals.

PIT STOPS
York Haven’s Jason Covert scored the biggest win of this career last Saturday night in the 28th annual USA 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway. Covert earned $10,000 for the win after taking the lead on lap 39 of the 50 lap event. Covert started seventh in the field and took the win over Mike Balzano, Booper Bare, Jim Bernheisel and Jamie Lathroum…

Grandview Speedway’s 5-25’s was rained out on Tuesday night. Don’t be surprised if the event is completely canceled. Grandview’s Thunder on the Hill returns on Saturday, October 20 with another 5-25’s event featuring URC Sprints, NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models, Legends and 600 Modifieds…

It doesn’t take folks at Knoxville Raceway long to begin planning for the next Nationals week. Officials for the Factory Value Parts World Challenge have already scheduled qualifier races for the 2008 Challenge, that is run on Friday night during the Nationals. Races in New Zealand and Australia in December and January have been lined up as qualifiers for the race…

Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz were winners on the World of Outlaws tour last weekend at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, AB Canada. The Outlaws head to Skagit Speedway in Washington this weekend…

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