| Race: Points Race #01 Date: 4-3-2005 Location: Richmond, Va. Track: 360 West Shopping Center Temperature: 60°F & Very Windy |
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Well, Points Race #1 is in the books after a very blustery day. Club members who were still struggling with the time change arrived early this April Morning. Most were wearing heavy coats....at least I was! The weather man was right for a change when he predicted cool temps. Members delayed putting up the track due to light turnout. They weren't sure if anyone was coming or just overslept. Stan Medlin went ahead and did his duty of retrieving the track trailer for setup and those there preceded to start setup. If you haven't already, and it wouldn't hurt to again, please pass on a big Thanks to Stan. He's usually the first member at the track and the last one to finish up as the track is stored at his work site which he unhooks & covers mostly by himself after everyone has been long gone. ![]()
Qualifying:
Qualifying started with 1/8th scale and even with the longer racing configuration, most drivers were turning lap times within 1/2 of a second of their performance at Spring Warm-Up event.
1/10th Electric: John Laster proved he still has this class under control with another strong performance following his TQ. Joe Harler and Preston Pollard tried feverously to run him down but had to settle for second and third in that order as John finished some two laps ahead when time expired. Wayne Goodwin and Spencer Atkinson did not start! Nitro Monster Truck: When Monster trucks took to the track all bets were on TQ, Stan Medlin, but when the green flag waved Earl Ingram showed some muscle. Stan attempted to run him down but mechanical problems saw him park his truck at the 5 minute mark. Tommy and Earl battled the whole race long to finish very close to each other. As the main wound down, Earl prevailed over a hard driving Tommy Ingram and early retiree, Stan Medlin. Nitro Truck: This class saw only two of the five qualifiers start the event as Victor Boger, Spencer Atkinson, and David Basl chose not to compete. Joe Harler showed TQ Kevin Randolph the fast way around the track and finished up by putting Kevin down two laps before races end! 1/8th Pro B-Main: Ken Harris looked to run away with this race but second place starter Kevin Randolph had other ideas! Kevin shadowed Ken patiently as if wearing him down and just before the first fuel stop Ken turned in short and got hung up. Kevin graciously took over the lead and never trailed again! Harris made a strong attempt to run down Randolph but was unable to close the distance in the time remaining! Behind them John Pritchett and David Basl had their own battle going on some 5 laps back. When the dust settled Kevin took the win with Ken, David, John, and Stan Medlin (forced to retire with a steering servo problems) in that order. 1/8th Pro A-Main: Polesitter Hank Giancaterino showed they way from almost the outset. He led most of the event falling behind only twice, once in the first 2 laps and again for a short time following his first fuel stop. After that he never looked back on the way to his first 1/8th Scale win at the VORRA site. Congratulations Hank!
1/10th Touring Sport B-Main: This main also had a light turnout as 3 of the 6 drivers did not start. At the horn Justin Jacobson, Rickie Chavis, and Jamie Donati started to burn up the asphalt and laid down some good fast laps. Rickie had a little mishap around the scoring bridge allowing Jamie to move to the front. Justin trying just as hard slipped in a few corners as his racer appeared to be on the loose side. When the final tone blew Jamie came away with the victory Rickie finished second and Justin rounded out the field. 1/10th Touring Sport A-Main: From the start this appear to be a great race with cars breaking off in packs. Up front Aaron Bartlett, and Craig Jones broke away early to form the first pack while Chris Whitney, Gregg Phelps, and Sandra Long formed the second pack. Behind them Joe Harler and Travis Johnson started having toubles early on while the front pack got away. Pole Sitter, Paul Knab, had difficulties early and started some 3 minutes late. Joe was the first to retire just before the first fuel stop. Four minutes later third place qualifier Craig was forced from the event as well. Chris' car started coming in while other drivers cars fell off allowing him to quickly move to the front. Aaron tried to keep pace but couldn't hang on and fell back some two laps. Five laps behind him was Greg who had a nice cushion between him and the battle that was shaping up behind him involving Sandra and Paul as he blazed the track trying to make up for lost time. When all the cars passed under the bridge for the last time the finishing order was Chris, Aaron, Greg, Paul, Sandra, Travis, Craig, and Joe. 1/10th Touring Pro B-Main: At the start of this race Stan Medlin and Gerry Evans broke away cleanly from the cars of David Basl & Jamie Donati. It shaped up to be another two battle race as Stan and Gerry ran nose to tail for many laps before Stans tires started going away allowing Gerry some well deserved breathing room. Behind them David and Jamie diced for position until late in the event when mechanical gremlins forced Jamie to retire to the pits. When the laps were counted Gerry was victorious with Stan, David, Jamie and Josh Lancaster who did not start closing out the race. 1/10th Touring Pro A-Main: This event had all the makings of a great race. Pole sitter Mike Bowman along with always fast, Eric Jones and John Laster looked to be the hands on favorites and they did not disappoint. Thses guy went at it hard from the lifting of the flag. They swapped position early and often before running into back markers disrupting their lines. Ryse Robinson, Johnny Pritchett , and Jack Honeycuttall had problems at different times during the event causing them lost time in the pits. When the last car passed under the scoring bridge Eric would take the checkered flag with a hard running John in second, Mike in third, Ryse in fourth, Johnny in fifth, and Jack would round out the field.
This will be the next race and we hope to see you there. Until then, ---Mark Poore |