East Lincoln Speedway Results 6-26-2010
Whether it was the full moon, the hot weather, or slick racetrack, the races at East Lincoln Speedway this Saturday Night were definitely not lacking any excitement or drama. The last race of June provided fans with a mix of drivers looking to continue their 2010 dominance paired with some very hungry drivers still looking to pick up that first win of the year. Fans were treated to great racing throughout all six divisions.
Dominance was the theme of the Stock Four feature as outside pole-sitter Lee Oiler led every lap en route to his second straight victory. Jeff Crump battled Logan Sparks for 2nd early on, but a caution for the #80 car of Jackie Moss bunched up the field 6 laps into the race. Jeff Crump and Logan Sparks picked things up right where they left off, battling side by side for the second position. Crump got loose in turn four and made contact with Sparks. Sparks was able to maintain the second position while Crump wasn’t so lucky as he lost several positions due to the incident. Things sorted their way out and the race stayed green. The close racing for second allowed Oiler to open up a significant lead on the field. Oiler went on to win in a dominating fashion, far different from last week’s photo finish. Three cars had a shot at the second position going into turn three, but coming out of turn four and across the finish line, it was Hank Kiefer in second, Adam Vandiver in third, Logan Sparks in fourth, and rounding out the top five was Calen Holden in fifth.
The checkered flag for the stock fours meant it was time to drop the green flag on East Lincoln Speedway’s fastest division, the Micro Sprints. The race was missing a familiar face as Terry Peters, who had won four races in a row was off racing in Ohio. Ten cars lined up for the start of the micro sprint feature. Robert Clements looked to the high side coming out of turn two, but was unable to get around pole sitter Justin Lineman. Clements’ loss of momentum caused a bit of an accordion effect throughout the field, but cooler heads prevailed and the race stayed green. Kyle Wilson brought out the first and only caution of the night as he spun in the entrance to turn four. Lineman held on to his lead and went on to take the checkered flag. His visit to Stanley Tools Victory Lane marked his first win of the season at East Lincoln Speedway and his first win in racing in over two years. Robert Clements went on to finish second. Points leader Darren Hasty came across the line third. Brian Roseman and Coby Adams finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The open wheel modifieds made their return to East Lincoln for the third feature race of the evening as 12 cars lined up to take the green flag. Kyle Strickler in the #4 car started on the outside pole and looked to take the lead early on. Polesitter Taylor Cook bounced into Strickler on the entrance to turn two, taking away Strickler’s run. The contact up front stacked up the field, but drivers were able to sort themselves out. Things stayed calm as the drivers made their way down the backstretch, but Bucky Gregory’s spin in turn four collected the #47 of Tim Sigmon to bring out the first caution of the evening. Due to the #4 of Strickler crossing the start/finish line before the yellow flag came out, he restarted in the first position. An Everette Dunlap spin brought out the second caution of the evening, but the single car incident allowed the race to quickly return to green. On the restart Dunlap and Gregory made contact to bring out the yellow once again. A short period of green flag racing was ended as Ryan Ayers had a run going into turn one and was fighting to move into the top five. Ayers was inside the #5 car of Shawn Martin as the two cars got together. The result was a multi car incident involving Ayers, Martin, Gregory, Danny Bohn and Shawn Martin. The incident sent two strong cars to the pit area as Bucky Gregory and Ryan Ayers both pulled their machines trackside. Danny Bohn would restart in the sixth position, but put on a great show as he raced side by side and passed several cars en route to a second place finish. Strickler went on to win the event in a car he announced was for sale. Perhaps Saturday’s dominating run will lead him to reconsider. Derrick Ramey edged out Taylor Cook at the line to finish third and the #2m car of Shawn Martin survived a physical race to finish fifth.
Three Hundred dollars was on the line as the 2nd Annual Super Stock Four Shootout got underway. The race also marked the return of fan favorite, Gary “Peshi” Fiormante, who had missed the past several weeks of racing due to illness. Last week’s winner Josh Cook started on the pole but slid high in turn two, which provided the opportunity for the #15 of Brad Williams to gain the inside position. Williams held the inside position down the backstretch and through turns three and four as he was able to move in front of Cook for the lead. Several laps later, the #1H of points leader Jennings Herman got loose in turn on and contact from the #88 of Randy Powell sent him around. Due to the spin, Herman was sent to the back of the field. However, Powell was also sent to the rear of the field as he was penalized for rough driving. This set up an interesting scenario as the two drivers currently running first and second in the points standings, were running 10th and 11th on the racetrack. In first corner under green, Herman spun in front of Powell and caused Powell to spin as well. It is debatable of whether or not Herman was aiming to make contact with Powell. Regardless of whether the incident was intentional or just an honest mistake, the damage was enough to end Powell’s day. Herman put on a show driving from the rear of the field to the second position. After several cautions, the race came down to a green-white-checkered finish. Racing hard for the second position with Swain Morris and Peshi Fiormante, Herman slid up the track and went on to cross the line fifth. However, his fifth place finish would ultimately be disallowed due to his car being ruled illegal as the result of a protest. Brad Williams flew under the radar of the drama-filled race, but he could care less as he was able to visit victory lane at East Lincoln for the first time this season. Morris and Fiormante, who battled all race long, went on to finish second and third respectively. Jason Sitterly was scored in the fourth position and due to the disqualification of Herman; Darryl Roark inherited the final spot in the top five.
Ronnie White sat on the pole as he unveiled a brand new racecar in the Limited Sportsman feature. Things got interesting in turn four of the first lap as the Jonathan Jennings’ front bumper found the right rear quarter panel of a loose Ronnie White car. The result led to White’s new car finding the inside wall. A familiar face would lead the field to the green flag as Brandon White took the lead. White was looking for his fifth consecutive win at East Lincoln in a season that has been nothing short of impressive. As Brandon White pulled out to a six car-length lead, Ronnie White was trying to move through the field. White made contact with Bruce Sutherland and brought out the second caution of the night. Later on, he would be tagged from behind by Blane Huffman and his brand new car would find the wall for the second time of the night. Huffman was penalized for rough driving and was sent to the rear of the field. While Ronnie White battled all the way back up to the fourth position, Brandon White had an impressive lead on the field. It looked as if he would easily go on to win his fifth race in a row and build on his points lead, but trouble found his #26 car as smoke began to come out of it. The problem slowed the car significantly and the second place car of Jennings was able to catch White. The two made contact coming out of turn four and White decided to pull his car into the pits and end his day. With Brandon White out of the race, Jonathan Jennings went on to win his first ever race at East Lincoln Speedway. Ronnie White and Keith Bowman ran door to door for the last several laps of the race, with White taking the second position on the final lap. Bowman would finish third. Tom Salony would finish fourth and Mike Benfield’s conservative strategy paid off as he was awarded with a fifth place finish. Brandon White’s troubles allowed defending champion Ronnie White to take over the points lead. Expect these two drivers to battle hard for the championship the rest of the year. Next week’s Limited Sportsman race should be just as exciting as it will pay $700 to the driver able to take home the checkered flag.
The Renegades would be the final division to race Saturday night and any fans that left early missed a spectacular show. Fourteen cars set out to beat, bang, and battle for the checkered flag. Polesitter Jason Mauney spun in turn one and brought out the first caution. Mauney took his car to the pits, but would rejoin the field in time for the start. Due to Mauney’s pit stop, Brian Toler inherited the lead and on his bumper was points leader Steve Newsome. Later on, the caution flag would fly as Brian Bates made hard contact with the front stretch wall. Bates went into the wall as a result of contact with Mark Woody. However, the incident started several cars ahead as Matt Arrowood had trouble on the restart and stacked up the field. Under the caution, Newsome took his car in to change a flat right rear tire. Bates and Woody would also take their vehicles in for service. Chris Stowe would restart in first, followed by Jamie Major in second and Brandon Atkinson in third. Major would look outside early and make some light contact with the right rear of Stowe. Both cars would continue to race door to door with Atkinson on their bumpers. Stowe would look to regain the lead on the restart after a caution for the mechanical troubles of Matt Arrowood. As Stowe tried to regain the lead, he found a bumper-full of Atkinson. It looked as if one of these three cars would win, as each looked very strong. However we would have cautions for spins by Brian Toler and Matt Arrowood. Meanwhile, Mark Woody had put himself in the mix and was battling Stowe for the lead. During a red flag for an incident in which Justin Mauney would find himself stuck on the inside wall, Atkinson would have to pit for mechanical issues. The restart would come with four laps to go with the cars of Chris Stowe and Mark Woody leading the field. Stowe and Woody made contact. But they were not alone as it appeared every car in the field was trading paint with someone. A chain reaction from the Stowe-Woody incident would bring out the caution and set up a green-white-checkered finish. Stowe had a flat tire from the incident and used his bumper to let Woody know how he felt about that under the yellow flag. With Stowe gone, Atkinson in the pits, and Major several cars back, Woody would go on to win the race. Tyler Hyatt finished second. Jamie Major, Brian Toler and Jason Boyd rounded out the top five in that order.
The full moon is gone and the night of racing is in the books. It was a day where the drivers’ emotions ran as high as the temperatures outside. Fortunately, these ladies and gentlemen have a week to cool off before they strap in and do it all again next Saturday night. Next Saturday’s race be the Third Annual Jeb Seagle Memorial Race and as an added bonus, the Limited Sportsman division will pay $700 to win.
East Lincoln Speedway Results, Top 5, June 26, 2010: Stock Four 1.) Lee Oiler, Mooresville 2.)Hank Kiefer, Albemarle 3.)Adam Vandiver, Stanley 4.)Logan Sparks, Statesville 5.)Calen Holden, Mount Holly Mini Sprints 1.)Justin Lineman, Linwood 2.)Robert Clements, Wertz, VA 3.)Darren Hasty, Indian Trail 4.)Brian Roseman, Hickory 5.) Coby Adams, Mooresville Open Wheel Modifieds 1.) Kyle Strickler, Mooresville 2.)Danny Bohn, Huntersville 3.) Derrick Ramey, Mooresville 4.) Taylor Cook, Stanley 5.) Shawn Martin, Charlotte Super Stock Four 1.) Brad Williams, Mount Holly 2.) Swain Morris, Mount Holly 3.) Gary Fiormanti, Maiden 4.) Jason Sitterly 5.)Darryl Roark, Iron Station Limited Sportsman 1.) Jonathan Jennings, Maiden 2.) Ronnie White, Charlotte 3.) Keith Bowman, McAdenville 4.) Tom Salony, Salisbury 5.) Michael Benfield, Denver Renegades 1.) Mark Woody, Dallas 2.) Tyler Hyatt, Stanley 3.) Jamie Major, Alexis 4.)Brian Toler, Stanley 5.) Jason Boyd, Harrisburg
