4/19/2014
Kears Speed Shop
Nathan Skaggs wins Chillicothe
Talk about first impressions! The Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association opened up its 2014 season in a huge way at Brad McCown's Atomic Speedway Saturday night as three cars crossed the finish line side-by-side-by-side with defending series champion Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio bringing home the popular win over veterans Todd Kane (2nd) and Randy Hannagan in third. Jimmy Lennox, Maysville, Kentucky won a simiarly contested battle in the Advanced Services AMRA Octane Modifieds and the $1,000 paycheck, while Steve Nobile, Wellston, Ohio won the $400 C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods and Dean Boyd, Williamsburg, Ohio grabbed the $500 Super Street Stock win. Every race including most of the heat races went right down to the wire, many times bringing the large, enthusiastic crown to its feet.
Four classes and great racing was finished before 10:30 p.m. Next week is Food Drive Night to restock the local foodbanks. Fans can bring three cans of food or non-perishable items to get $2 off the price of admission for a full blown Sprint Car, Late Model, Modified, Street Stock quadruple-header, all for one low price. Additionally, fans can see the third in a series of Enduro races, the Dreadland Haunted Hills 50.
Just a couple months ago it appeared Nathan Skaggs would watch the 2014 sprint car season. February 24, 2014 at the Arenacross in Reno Nevada, Skaggs, who is a multi-time Motocross champion, was involved in a horrible accident that resulted in him getting hospitalized for a good deal of time. He sustained 10 broken ribs, a punctured and collapsed lung and a broken collar bone among other injures that required 40 screws to lace him back together. Still in pain last week, he climbed back into the sprint car for a second place finish.
Car owner Harold Beasley said, "Last week he ran out of air, literally," referring to Skaggs' healing lung. "Tonight he left no excuse." Ironically, Skaggs left rear tire also 'ran out of air' as he entered victory lane. He cut victory that close!
"We made some changes to the car this week," said Skaggs, grimacing and still visually in pain. "I knew we had a run for the money the last few laps, but our car went just about anywhere I put it. I was just hoping I could hold on." Last week, Skaggs GF! Chassis/Griff's Engines #2 finished second after a 16th to second run behind crafty veteran Danny Smith. Saturday, Skaggs and Smith again battled it out "Battle Royale" style with several side by side racing laps. On lap ten Skaggs took the lead, but was hard-pressed to shake Smith, a persistent Todd Kane, Jimmy Stinson, and San Jose, California driver Randy Hannagan. Smith came together with a lapped car on lap 14 and came to a halt in turn four.
That left a tight battle for the front runners. For a time Skaggs had some breathing room as Stinson and Kane sparred for second. Hannagan pulled the Neumeister 11N into the frey passing Andre Layfield for fourth and Stinson for third, then zooming by Kane for second. Hannagan reeled in Skaggs with Kane becoming 'somewhat of an after-thought'. Hannagan and Skaggs rubbed wheels a couple of times in some ultra-tight racing that saw Skaggs masterfully hit the right holes at the right times. Hannagan wasn't to be denied and edged ahead in turn two of the 23rd lap, but Skaggs pulled him down the backchute.
Skaggs worked the traffic to his liking on the white flag lap with Hannigan boring it high in turns one and two, only to have Todd Kane climb back into the mix. Hannigan went high, Skaggs to the middle, and Todd Kane to the bottom coming off the last turn to the checkered flag with Skaggs narrowly ahead, and Kane by a wheel over Hannigan a the start-finish line. The crowd was abuzz for nearly ten minutes after the checkered waved in awe of the great race they had witnessed.
Twenty cars started and twenty cars finished with just one caution in the 25-lap gem. Rounding out the top ten were Nathan Skaggs, Todd Kane, Randy Hannigan, Andre Layfield, Jimmy Stinson, Josh Davis, Danny Smith, Ronnie Blair, Dave Dickson, and Adam Strausser. Layfield had a good run into the top five, while Josh Davis and Ronnie Blair were in the mix all night long. Danny Smith recovered to finish seventh from the tail. Hard chargers were Dave Dickson, Hannagan, Skaggs, and Aaron Higgins each picking up five positions during the feature on perhaps the raciest track of the young year.
A pair of "eight's" led the start of the Advanced Services AMRA mod main with defending race winner, Dave Fireball Pinkerton zooming into the lead. Pinkerton took to the high groove over the 'other' eight of Jimmy Lennex. Lennex was fast and straight on the bottom and by lap three had challened Pinkerton for the lead. Josh Scott fought for second as Dave McWilliams, the week one winner, began a charge from fourth.
Lennex challenged Pinkerton over the first eight laps then swapped the lead with him over the next four circuits. Pinkerton ran hard upon a lapped car upon turn thre entry of the 14th round and Lennex dove under him, closing the door and grabbing the lead. Again the two battle in reverse order until a couple laps later McWilliams made it a three wide battle off turn four. McWilliams took second and Scott climbed back into the mix to battle for third.
At the finish four cars huddle under a blanket to the finish line with Lennex bringing home the win in his Bad Fast Chassis. Lennex said, "Yeah, I knew the eight and McWilliams were right there somewhere. It was a good, competitive race. The car hooked up good along the bottom and I just kept it down there trying to find some moisture."
Rounding out the top ten were Lennex, Dave McWilliams, Josh Scott, Fireball Pinkerton, Rick Hensley, Rob Stambaugh, Brandon Oliver, Eric Arledge, Donnie Miller, and Jeff Surber.
In the C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods Steve Nobile took the lead on the sixth circuit, then held off the challenges of Jay Helton and Harley Martin to bring home the win. Thanks to Dan Spires Auto Body and Detail adding $100 to the Sport Mod Winner and Nobile's $400 payday. Nobile and Martin had a race-long battle as Jay Helton got back into the groove with what would prove to be a third place finish. Mike Brust and Greg Litteral battled hard most of the race for solid top five finishes.
Nobile, Jay Helton, Harley Martin, Mike Brust, Greg Litteral, Dustin Appling, Robert Lunsford, David Lunsford, Jimmy Corley. Behind Nobile were Helton who finally nipped Harley Martin, Mike Brust, Greg Litteral, Dustin Appling, Robert Lunsford, David Lunsford, and Jimmy Corley.
Justin Poling burst into the early lead as Dean Boyd and Adam Jones fought for second. Tommy Mossbarger grappled back into the hunt as Boyd blitzed high with Poling midhigh in the turns. A lap 8 pass by Body saw the two leaders rub some paint in exciting door-to-door action. At the finish it was a strong win by Boyd over Justin Poling, Tommy Mossbarger, Adam Jones, Tim Cutler, Dave Landman, Larry Highland, Brian McQuay, Mike Drake, and Keith Elliott.
Pine Tree Towing 410 Sprint Cars (29)
Fast Time: Mark Imler 12:943
Heat One: Jimmy Stinson, Adam Strausser, Mark Imler, Brandy Bower, Aaron Higgins, Kevin Roberts, Jr., Jess Stiger, Nate Reeser
Heat Two: Nathan Skaggs, Randy Hannigan, Josh Davis, Dave Dickson Trey Gustin, Jordan Harble, David Smith
Heat Three: Danny Smith, Andre Layfield,Mitchell Harble, Jason Dollick, Wes McGlumphey, Brian Benson, Dean Kester
Heat Four: Todd Kane, Ryan Broughton, Ronnie Blair, Sam Ashworth, Jess McCreary, Rick Fraley, Nick Roberts
B-Main: Aaron Higgins,Trey Gustin, Wes McGlumphy, Brian Benson, Jess McCreary, Kevin Roberts, Brian Benson, Jordan Harble, Rick Fraley, Nick Roberts, David Smith, Jess Stiger, Nate Reeser
A-Main:Nathan Skaggs, Todd Kane, Randy Hannigan, Andre Layfield, Jimmy Stinson, Josh Davis, Danny Smith, Ronnie Blair, Dave Dickson, Adam Strausser, Brandy Bower, Aaron Higgins, Ryan Broughton, Sam Ashworth, Trey Gustin, Mitch Harble, Jason Dolick, Mark Imler, Wes McGlumphy, Brian Benson
Submitted By: ANN TUSING
