Race: Points Race #14
Date: 11-13-2005
Location: Richmond, Va.
Track: 360 West Shopping Center
Temperature: 75°F

Another beautiful day was on hand for the last of the 2005 Points series races. Several drivers had already sealed up their classes but most of the positions from second on down were still up for grabs. Club members attempted to arrive early in an effort to get the most racing in for the amount of daylight a November day brings. Track setup began with the usual layout (see below) being constructed and registration was held as well as voting for 2006 club officers. Once that was complete practice was started. Once that was completed the qualifying order was posted and qualifying began.

Track Layout

Qualifying: In the 1/8th Scale Class kyosho driver, Vincent Jackson, topped the list with a good run of 21 laps on a 5:05. John Laster once again headed up the Electric Touring Class with a 17 laps on a 5:10. Next Joe Harler headed the Nitro Truck Field with a 13 lap run on a 5:00. Lamont Dunson showed some strength in Nitro Touring Sport turning in a 18 lap run at 5:13. Vincent Jackson also headed the 1/10 Nitro Touring Pro field with a 20 lap run at 5:05. Rounding out qualifying was Nitro Monster Truck who saw Cleveland Bey take top honors with 11 laps at 5:05.

1/8th B-Main: In this last desperate attempt to make the A-Main via bump up a wild main ensued. B-main front starter Ken Harris had his hands full of Stan Medlin, Aaron Bartlett, and Terrance Brown. These four battled from the start in close quarters. Behind them Tim Aberg and late starting Carlton Coleman struggled to keep up. Ken seemed to have everything in hand for the first five minutes but was overtaken by Stan after the first round of fuel stops. Terrance meanwhile was starting to get his lap times down and became very consistent over the course of the race. Soon he passed Stan who would find himself battling to stay in front of a hard charging Aaron. At races end Terrance would emerge victor followed by Stan, Aaron, Tim, Ken, and Carlton.

1/10th Touring Pro B: Next the Nitro Touring Pro B-main guys would battle for the bump up. Only four of the seven drivers would start this event. David Basl, Stan Medlin, and Robert DeVelbis did not start. At the horn Tony Carthon, Nelly Cruz, and Terrance Brown were on the starting line. Missing was driver Kody Lyons who was having mechanical issues and would join the race almost a minute late. Nelly quickly made a move around Tony and headed off into the distance. Terrance attempted to make a pass on Tony next but found a corner full of trouble and would spend the next three minutes in the pits. As this race wound down the drivers were pretty much separated and finished Nelly, Tony, Kody, and Terrance.

1/8th A-Main: Pole sitter Vincent Jackson found himself with a mirror full of Sean Tabor in the opening minutes of this race. Sean was matching Jacksons lap times early and appeared to be closing. John Laster who was turning much more consistent lap times but couldn't match the acceleration of the front two found himself fighting to keep a hard charging Kevin Randolph and Terrance Brown behind him. Behind them Mark Poore, who's engine had been going south since the first qualifier found himself losing ground to the front runners. Mike Bowman's new Serpent 960 looked impressive in qualifying but never had a chance to shine, as receiver pack wiring broke and sent his car hurdling into the barriers right where a cinder block was sitting. Day over! Sean called it a day as well at the thirteen minute mark after mechanical difficulties. Back up front Vincent settled into a groove during the closing minutes and headed off to victory. John claimed second, Kevin third, Mark fourth, Terrance fifth, Sean sixth, and Mike seventh.

1/10th Electric: John Laster once again dominated this main from start to finish. The only time the field was close was on the starting grid. Joe Harler attempted to make it interesting but couldn't match the pace. Behind them Angie & Tommy Ingram tried to double team Tony Carthon but fell behind after just a minute. The best race on the track was Tommy & Angie as both cars seemed closely matched. At the finish line John got his tenth win of the year followed by Joe in second,, Tony in third, Tommy in fourth, and Angie in fifth. Justin Kerzanet did not start.

Nitro Truck: Much the way John Laster had his way in Electric, Joe Harler had his way in the Nitro Truck Class. Joe never trailed in this event and won convincingly. Tommy Ingram meanwhile ran good lap times but couldn't match the speed of Joe relegating him to second. Tommys father Earl Ingram also had a solid run but was forced to the pits before the first fuel stop and wound up third. Victor Boger closed out the field in fourth with six laps running just the first two and half minutes.

1/10th Touring Sport: This race had the emphasis on it as many positions had not been decided yet. While Aaron Bartlett had only to enter the event to win, Lamont Dunson and Craig Jones were racing for points. Craig would win this battle as Pole sitter Lamont had mechanical difficulties early on and had to park it for good at the seven and a half minute mark. Paul Knab had visions of victory in mind and ran like a man possessed. Behind him, Carlton Coleman, Joe Harler, and Josh Wallace tried hard to spoil the front runners chances by making them earn every pass. At races end Craig secured the win and secured himself the second place in the points for the year. Paul Knab tried hard but came up a little short in an attempt to get the best of Craig. Paul finished second. Carlton was rewarded with third for his efforts and Joe found himself in fourth for his. Fifth place belonged to Aaron while Josh and Lamont rounded out the field. Johnny Whitman and Cleveland Bey did not start.

1/10th Touring Pro A: The Touring Pro Class had a full field and was one of the more exciting mains to watch. Pole sitter Vincent Jackson was trying to pull off a double after winning the 1/8th scale class but found himself with a lot of competition in the form of John Laster, Feb Caronongan, Mike Keely and Johnny Pritchett. The pressure was lifted a little when John Pritchett dropped out with a broke car. Mike meanwhile pressured Jackson at every turn and kept the pressure on through the whole event. Tim Aberg showing his racy side ran well but couldn't match the front runners pace. Nelly Cruz who had bumped up from the B was having an exceptional run as well. Paul Rush and Jack Honeycutt had early troubles and found themselves in the garage before the ten minute mark. Back up front Mike made the move around Vincent and set out to spoil his day as he never trailed again. John once again was running consistent laps but could match the horsepower of the front runners. Once the race time expired and the laps were counted Mike would emerge the winner with Vincent in second, John in third, Nelly in fourth, Feb in fifth, Chris Whitney in sixth, Tim in seventh, Jack eighth, Paul ninth, and Johnny in tenth.

Nitro Monster Truck: Last up, Monster Nitro Trucks. Cleveland Bey was the only entry in this class and thus won by merely being the TQ.

Remember, there will be one more non-points event on November 27, 2005
This race is subject to cancellation if weather conditions aren't favorable.
Those conditions are 50 degrees or warmer and sunny. Make sure and check
the web site Saturday 11-26-2005 for the last minute info.
Web site should be updated after 2PM with the final decision at that time.

Hope to see you there. Until then,
---Mark Poore


Copyright © 2005 V.O.R.R.A. (Virginia On Road Racing Association)