| Race: Points Race #03 Date: 4-18-2004 Location: Richmond, Va. Track: 360 West Shopping Center Temperature: 94°F |
| Points race number three was much different from the two preceding events in that it was actually warm..... very warm! The high reached 94! Cloud cover was minimal and the asphalt hot. Track temps pegged out around 105 degrees. Track setup was modified to a much more technical layout that previously used that required very careful concentration to avoid getting hung up on the tight turns. The turns were setup purposely to avoid cracks in the asphalt that had weeped water (due to a high water table from heavy rainfall) onto the track in the previous events. As a result the track ended up with various radius and spaced turns that kept drivers off rhythm. Overdriving any turn would significantly affect lap times and challenge the most experienced drivers. As qualifying started, most drivers quickly learned that the fast way around was steady & gingerly. Due to the nature of the layout tire wear was tremendously reduced and most everyone realized that a neutral car was the ticket to fast laps. In 1/8th scale, Mark Poore took TQ honors with a 23 lap effort in 5:10.03. Nitro Touring Pro saw Alex Cassarla clock in with 21 laps @ 5:03.38 while Nitro touring sport awarded Ashley Stringer the TQ spot with his 17 laps in 5:13.47. Electric Touring presented Wayne Goodwin with the fast time of 11 laps on a 4:04.52 and Monster truck was headed by Tommy Ingram with a 11 lap effort on a 5:06.09 time.
Ralph Phillips made a first lap move on the 1/8th scale pole sitter Mark Poore in the second turn and never looked back. At least not until just before the first fuel stop. Mark fell some three seconds back of Ralph but made all but a few tenths up before the first pit stop. After the stops were complete Mark found himself just out front of Ralph and started to methodically pull away. Mike Bowman made a bold attempt to run down the front two, but miss-judged a turn and had to retire early. Ken Harris overcame some early troubles and finished third behind race winner Mark & second place Ralph. Last races Electric Touring winner, Corrine Medlin, tried hard to defend her title agaisnt a hard driving Wayne Goodwin but came up a little short. Win the final lap was taken, the finish was Wayne, Corrine, & Angie Ingram. During Nitro truck Tommy Ingram continued his strangle hold on first place by setting a blistering 23 lap pace to finish in front of Earl Ingram, Wayne Goodwin, & Victor Boger. When Nitro Touring Sport took to the tarmac, Paul Knab & Ashley Stringer thrilled the spectators with great driving skills and fearless manuvers. For a full 15 minutes they went at it. I have to hand it to them, dem boys can drive. Justin Chenault earned a well deserved 3rd as Andre Baskin, Phil Langhorne, & Lamont Dunson finished in that order. In Nitro Touring Pro, Mike McDaniels launched past Alex Cassarla and steadily pulled away to finish up with a six lap lead. Kevin Randolph and Jamie Donati put on a driving clinic for the the rest of the field to finish 3rd and fourth. Mike Bowman & Tommy Chenault rounded out the field.
points race on May 2. Hope to see ya there! ---Mark Poore |