| WMRA News |
|
Olson Wins At Stateline By Loren Doolittle An open thanks goes to Dolan Lannan, who provided a needed extra set of eyes and who greatly enhanced the accuracy of this race recap. The day begin with the usual walking of the track by several of the drivers, then out onto the track for late afternoon hot laps, testing, and set up adjustments. Nick Seidelman was allowed onto the track early to put his rebuilt motor to the test. A few anxious moments and it fired to life. Returning to his pit stall his crew went into final checks for the racing ahead. Kenny Wood claimed the only incident of hot laps when he decided a detached steering wheel perhaps wasn’t the best thing. He was towed back to his pit stall where finding the parts he needed, he was able to reattach his steering wheel for the upcoming evening of racing. Qualification saw no mishaps with only one abbreviated run, that being Mark Torres in the 45 car making only one timed lap as he ran out of sequence to the qualifying order he had drawn. Ben Petter, in the 58 car, current and still track record holder of 12.710 set fast time with a 12.766. Followed by 2) Spence Catrell #8, 12.853, 3) Scott Walker #34, 12.916, 4) Brian Olson #71, 12.925, 5) Rick Moss #50, 12.929 6) Evan Margeson #11, 12.974, 7) Dallas Melby #9, 12.981 8) Rob Lindsey #23, 12.983, 9) Matt Stone #10, 13.016, 10) Brea Lopez #25, 13.107 11) Kenny Ferris #28, 13.121, 12) Steve Spoor #23i, 13.121 13) Stuart Birkinbine #02, 13.142, 14) Skeeter Flake #17, 13.181 15) Kenny Wood #93, 13.267 16) Tony Seidelman #44, 13.332, 17) Todd Lolkus #92, 13.383 18) Tony Villelli #36, 13.502, 19) Ken Muth #14, 13.526 20) Nick Seidelman #4, 13.720 21) Dave Hoene #24, 13.744, 22) Mark Torres #45, 13.988 23) Alan Norton #69, 14.054 The A dash had the four fastest qualifiers inverted for the four lap sprint. Pole was Rick Moss in the #50, with Brian Olson #71 first row outside. Inside row two was Scott Walker in the #34, and outside of Scott in row two was fast time qualifier Ben Petter in the #58. At the green and exiting turn two all four fell into a line of Rick Moss, Brian Olson, Scott Walker, and Ben Petter. On lap two Ben Petter slipped under a very wide Scott Walker going into turn one. The rather large bluish smoke emitting from Walker’s exhaust pipe led to a wise exit by Walker to the pits to assure no permanent damage had occurred. It hadn’t, and Walker would run both his heat and the main. Rick Moss led wire to wire, while Ben Petter on the 4th and final lap made a strong move on Brian Olson going down the back stretch and into and through turns 3 and 4. Brian held a half car length advantage as the two hit the finish line. Order of finish, Rick Moss #50 1st, Brian Olson #71 2nd, Ben Petter #58 3rd and Scott Walker #34 4th (dnf). Heat One saw musical chairs for laps one through five before settling into a catch me if you can affair. Eight cars contested the eight lap heat. Alan Norton #69 had pole, with Mark Torres in the #45 outside of Norton. Row 2 was Dave Hoene #24 inside and Nick Seidelman #4 outside. Row Three inside Ken Muth #14, Tony Villelli #36 outside, while row four was Tony Seidelman #44 inside and Rookie Todd Lolkus #92 on the outside starting in his first ever midget race. The green flag saw the competitors scatter into and out of turn 1 and 2, with Mark Torres emerging with the lead, a spot he would hold for all laps. D. Hoene, A. Norton and N. Seidelman found themselves being shuffled back as Tony Villeli, went from sixth to second, and Todd Lolkus found nothing but an open lane to drive through moving from eighth to third as they crossed the line for lap 2. Lap 2 saw Ken Muth move forward a spot overtaking Alan Norton, while Nick Seidelman retired to the pits with a struggling engine. Lap 3 M. Torres was showing the way followed by T. Villelli holding down the number 2 spot, while T. Lolkus yielded third to T. Seidelman, with K. Muth 5th, A. Norton 6th and D. Hoene 7th. Lap four saw K. Muth take over fourth from T. Lolkus, while on lap five T. Seidelman powered by T. Villeli for second. The start of lap six saw a running order of M. Torres, T. Seidelman, T. Villeli, K. Muth, T. Lolkus, A. Norton, and D. Hoene. This would remain the running order for laps 7 and 8 with M. Torres capturing the heat one win with an approximated 15 car length lead over the field. Final heat one standings: #45 Mark Torres 1st, #44 Tony Seidelman 2nd, #36 Tony Villeli 3rd, #14 Ken Muth 4th, #92 Todd Lolkus 5th, #69 Alan Norton 6th, and #24 Dave Hoene 7th. Moves of note: Rookie Todd Lolkus went from eighth to third and slowly yielded to the two veterans Nick Seidelman and Ken Muth to finish 5th, while Nick Seidelman sliced from 7th to 4th on the opening lap, and than steadily gained ground to finish a strong 2nd. If Heat one was musical chairs, Heat two someone forgot the music, as it was fundamentally a follow me affair, with really only attrition providing any real movement. #93 Kenny Wood had pole, #17 Skeeter flake outside. Row 2 inside #02 Stuart Birkinbine with #23i Steve Spoor outside. Row 3 inside #28 Kenny Ferris with #25 Brea Lopez outside. Row 4 #10 Matt Stone with #23 Rob Lindsey outside. On the one to go lap the 23i car, Steve Spoor fell out of line, went wide and headed for the pits with what appeared to be suspension problems and did not start the heat. With the drop of the green Kenny Wood took the lead with Stuart Birkinbine tucking in behind Wood. Entering turn one Skeeter Flake pinched down onto S. Birkinbine, contact was made and S. Flake got loose., with Kenny Ferris driving under S. Flake. Matt Stone, Brea Lopez and Rob Lindsey all had to check up to avoid the fish tailing Skeeter Flake. Gathering it up S. Flake drove hard down the backstretch and cleared Kenny Ferris on the outside. Exiting turn four Kenny Ferris abruptly slowed and retired to the pits, and the evening with a dropped valve. At the end of lap 2 the running order was Kenny Wood, Stuart Birkinbine, Skeeter Flake, Matt Stone, Rob Lindsey and Brea Lopez. This running order remained for all remaining laps, with Matt Stone applying pressure to Skeeter Flake several times but just not able to get alongside enough to make the pass. On one such effort by Matt Stone Rob Lindsey tucked in tight waiting his opportunity, however, Skeet Flake held just enough speed to close the momentary opening. And that was that. Finishing order: #93, Kenny wood 1st, #02 Stuart Birkinbine 2nd, #17 Skeeter Flake 3rd, #10 Matt Stone 4th, #23 Rob Lindsey 5th, and #25 Brea Lopez 6th, #28 Kenny Ferris 7th with a dnf, and #23i Steve Spoor not scored with a dns. Heat 2 note: Brea Lopez returned to her pit stall, climbed out, and looked at her Grand Dad and crew chief Dan Press and in complete frustration said – “Its just not right, and the worst part is, I don’t know what to tell you that’s wrong.” Dan Press replied, “okay”, and than proceeded to throw everything at the #25 car but a kitchen sink. Before sending Brea out for the main Dan simply told her – “Forget how crappy we’ve been running, and who knows what kind of car you’ll have, just drive it and see what happens.” Mean while, Rob Lindsey came out of the heat race sitting on perhaps the best set-up he has had all year long on the 23 car. He looked towards the main with high hopes. Heat 3. A surgically clean heat of quick laps and drivers not endangering their equipment. They lined up with Dallas Melby in the 9 car on pole, Evan Margeson in the 11 outside row 1, row 2 inside was Spence Catrell in the 8, with Rick Moss in the 50 outside. Brian Olson in the 71 had the inside row 3 with Scott walker in the 34 outside. Row 4 was Ben Petter in the 58 as seven cars took the green. Dallas Melby and Evan Margeson assured quick laps as Evan Margeson let Dallas Melby know, make a mistake and you’ll be running behind me. To Evan’s credit, he fully tested the repairs to the 11 car, which for all intents and purposes looked hopelessly bent and broken coming off the Friday night mishap at Meridian. The cars ran in starting order of 9, 11, 8, 50, 71, 34 and 58. Rick Moss got by Spence Catrell on lap 3, and on lap four Rick Moss passed Evan for P2 while Scott Walker retired to the pits still not happy with the way his car was. And that was the tale of Heat 3. Finishing order: #9 Dallas Melby 1st #50 Rick Moss 2nd, #11 Evan Margeson 3rd, #8 Spence Catrell 4th, #71 Brian Olson 5th, #58 Ben Petter 6th, and #34 Scott walker 7th with a dnf. The Main. When the web-cast of this race is posted, those that view it will go, “that was some very exciting racing.” However, in real life there are no edit cuts, fast forwards, or rewinds. Some very good racing was overshadowed by long delays, multiple cautions, late race confusions and finally, just a sense of relief that it was over. Of the twenty-three cars that timed in, only Ken Ferris in the #28 missed the call for the main due to a dropped valve in earlier competition. Here’s the line up with an inverted start to position twelve. First car is inside, second is outside. Row 1 - #23i Steve Spoor, #25 Brea Lopez, Row 2 - #10 Matt Stone, #23 Rob Lindsey, Row 3 - #9 Dallas Melby, #11 Evan Margeson, Row 4 - #8 Spence Catrell, #50 Rick Moss, Row 5 - #71 Brian Olson, #34 Scott Walker, Row 6 - #58 Ben Petter, # 02 Stuart Birkinbine Row 7 - #17 Skeet Flake, #93 Kenny Wood Row 8 - #44 Tony Seidelman, #36 Tony Villeli, Row 9 - #14 Ken Muth, #4 Nick Seidelman**, Row 10 - #24 Dave Hoene, #45 Mark Torres, Row 11 - #69 Alan Norton, #92 Todd Lolkus. Those asterisks next to Tony Seidelman, well, the gods of racing chose Tony Seidelman as their first intervention into the main. During push-offs, Tony Seidelmans’ engine, inexplicably dropped every last drop of oil in it between the center of turn’s 1 and 2, and all the way down the backstretch and into the entrance of turn four. Tony Seidelman found himself stranded, and became a did not start. It seemed endless laps of running went by before the clean up crew got the track ready. It was simply a lot of oil that had to be cleaned up. With the track now race ready, the WMRA combined with the Golden Wheels exhibition vintage racers to delight the crowd with a three wide salute, the WMRA on the outside rows, the vintage racers in the middle. Said one WMRA driver – “you really gained an appreciation of those vintage cars, being along side one with today’s wide bodied, low center of gravity car, the difference is obvious and amazing.” The fans roared their appreciation of the three wide salute, the vintage cars exited, and the one to go was given. Midgets have a unique sound, a high pitched scream, and its deafening when 21 drivers pick up the throttle coming out of turn four. Steve Spoor 23i made good his pole and exited turn two with the lead. Matt Stone 10 cleared for second, and Brea Lopez 25 cleared for third. Dallas Melby #9, Spence Catrell #8, and Rob Lindsey #23 demonstrated those Nascar boys have some serious company in three wide racing, as the three hurtled down the back stretch three wide. Spence wiggled, momentary contact with Rob Lindsey, sparks flying, Spence had to check up and it was Spoor 23i, Stone 10, Lopez 25, Lindsey 23, Gatrell 8, Olson 71, Melby 9 and the field as they hit the line for lap 2. Two wide was the order of the day as the entire field dragged raced the backstretch. Entering turn three Spence Gatrell in the 8 went in too fast under the 23, and made hard contact with Rob Lindsey. R. Lindsey later recalled, “I was hit a ton, and all I saw was the front right of a car sitting on my exhaust header. I pushed hard left, and when we released I was pushed up so high I nearly ran out of asphalt.” Rob was now freight trained as Gatrell 8, Olson 71, Melby 9, and Moss 50 all slung under the high riding Lindsey pushing Lindsey back to 7th. In the pack movement had also occurred as Ben Petter 58 advanced two spots, Scott Walker 34 one spot, and Moss gaining two. It was nose to tail as they hit the line for lap 3 with S. Spoor 23i showing the way, M. Stone, B. Lopez, S. Catrell, B. Olson and D. Melby applying the front pack pressure to the leader. Moss, Lindsey, Walker, Petter, and Birkinbine, veterans quietly now stalking the lead pack. After all, it was a thirty five lap main, right? Laps 3 and 4 saw Matt Stone in the 10 car putting serious pressure on Steve Spoor the leader. On lap 4 Moss got by Melby for sixth. Lap 5 and 6 were quick, however, every one seemed settled in for the race. Every one except Matt Stone, who was relentlessly pressuring Spoor for the lead. Coming off of turn four Matt Stone got a solid run down low and gained the inside position alongside of Spoor going into turn one at the start of lap seven. As the two entered turn one Spoor drifted down and Matt Stone ran up and over the front left of Spoor with his right front, sending Stone into a looping spin, and causing suspension damage to Spoor, who retired to the pits, his evening over. The first caution had struck, and for the first time in her young career, Brea Lopez found herself leading the main. Perhaps it was just inexperience at setting the field on caution laps, however, Brea Lopez was setting an unusually fast pace under caution. As she rounded turn 1, she found a tow truck dead center, and had to slam on the brakes, stalling her car. As a few more caution laps wound down Lopez was restarted, and it was determined her stall was not a foul and she moved through the field and was reinstated as the leader. Given the one to go, Lopez brought the field to the green with an orderly restart. Matt Stone now at the back of the field for having spun. Brea Lopez, started reeling off laps, with Spence Gatrell closely following, Brian Olson, Rick Moss, Rob Lindsey, Ben Petter, Dallas Melby, Scott Walker, Evan Margeson, Tony Seidelman, Kenny Wood, Ken Muth, Mark Torres, Skeet Flake, Tony Villeli, nose to tail, the only gap now being Todd Lolkus and Alan Norton. Behind Lopez, S. Gatrell was running a strong second, holding his line, while Brian Olson, Rick Moss and Rob Lindsey begin testing each other. It was more than Dallas Melby could take as he swung wide and began putting himself into the mix with two wide racing. Than the rookie Todd Lolkus spun in turn two, and the second caution struck. Matt Stone was no longer last, he had regained six spots. With Lolkus restarted and at the back of the line Brea Lopez brought the field to the line and just kept going. As the next set of laps reeled off you couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be her race. No one was catching her. But debris would, as the third caution flew for debris on the backstretch. This restart Spence Gatrell was more than ready, and as Lopez arched out of turn four Gatrell drove under Lopez and took the lead. Lopez dropped down behind Spence Gatrell, and post race said, “I simply swung too high on the restart, it was a mistake, and Spence took full advantage of it.” And advantage he did, as he began opening distance between himself and Lopez. For nine laps Spence showed the way, while behind Lopez, Olson, Moss and Lindsey kept testing each other with two wide racing. The fourth caution flew as Kenny wood looped it in turn two. At the restart, it was Spence Gatrell, Brea Lopez, Brian Olson, Rick Moss, Rob Lindsey, and Ben Petter making up the top six. The restart got serious for Olson and Moss, as going into turn one Brian Olson powered down low attempting to get under Lopez. He dropped the left front into the infield and suddenly it was a straight shot thru the infield and a wild ride back up onto the track, Olson, hard on the brakes and going wide, Moss didn’t hesitate and went under Olson. Olson stomped the throttle and Moss and Olson shot down the backstretch side by side, wheel to wheel, only to have to check up hard going into turn three, as Brea Lopez was already hard on the binders herself. In front of her, Spence Gatrell was turning circles in a haze of blue smoke that left the entire field basically blind. It looked liked a blown engine. It wasn’t. The oil filter had simply fallen off. A very dejected Gatrell climbed out of his car, sat on the track, his head in his hands, left to wonder what could have been. Caution five had struck, and Brea Lopez was back in first. Lopez took the field to the line and led the way. Brian Olson Second, Rick Moss third, Rob Lindsey fourth, Ben Petter fifth, with Scott walker on the outside of Petter as if they were glued together. The vets were getting serious now. As the field hurtled down the back stretch exiting turn four Olson drove under Lopez – and literally, the fans were standing, waving their arms, screaming at Olson to stop – in turn one, Rookie Todd Lolkus had flipped, and was on his side. Caution six, was a red flag stoppage. The field pulled up into turn three, and shut off their engines. Naturally, all eyes were on Todd Lolkus. And a huge sigh went through the crowd as Lolkus emerged waving to the crowd. What followed next had the fans smiling. Todd quickly inspected his car, and could be seen arguing with waving arms to the officials, put this baby on its wheels and lets go racing! But the officials would have no part of it, safety dictated and the ECMS crew escorted Lolkus and his car to the pits. Now came confusion, as that so many laps had been run under caution, the entire field was at jeopardy of running out of fuel should they attempt to complete the race on what little fuel they had left. Some one yelled it’s an open red, and the crews emerged with fuel in hand. The crews also went to work making adjustments. Bear this in mind for later. Refueled, the field reformed and started running their warm up laps. As this went on, the laps just kept increasing as the officials kept pointing at cars to go to the back. No one knew why. When the cars being pointed at did not respond, the black flag came out, and while the cars went around and around, Olson and Moss stopped under the black flag. Olson was released and immediately went back to his second spot. However, Moss, went to the back of the line. No one knew why. As the cars got the signal for one to go, the track announcer announced that Moss had been black flagged for having his car worked on during the red stoppage. Brea Lopez, again led the field to the wire on the restart. Brain Olson second, Rob Lindsey third, Scott Walker Fourth, Ben Petter fifth, Dallas Melby sixth. On the restart Lopez led through turn 1 and 2, and going into turn three left just enough room for Brian Olson to move under her and take over first down the front stretch. And this time, Olson did it above the white line with a text book pass. For four laps Olson led, while Lindsey in third and Walker in fourth were both slinging their cars sideways in the turns trying to get just that added bite to get past Lopez. Four laps, and the seventh caution of the night struck when Skeet Flake spun in turn two. (What’s up with this turn two anyways!) Restarted, Olson led Lopez, Lindsey, Walker, Petter, Melby, Stone, and Margeson to the line followed by the field. Into and out of turn 1 and 2, into and out of turn 3 and four, Walker and Lindsey split Lopez, Lindsey low, Walker high and, Skeet Flake had looped it again, in where else, turn two. As the cars checked up, Tony Villeli in the 36 had nowhere to go. He snapped the car hard left, the left front tie rod snapped, and he hooked his car onto the rear bumper bar of the 45 driven by Mark Torres. The two proceeded to slide down the front stretch in a shower of sparks. Caution eight had struck, and the bell did toll, as after one hour and ten minutes, eight cautions, one a red flag stoppage, the race was called. “Unofficial” top three – Brain Olson, Brea Lopez, Rob Lindsey. However, the evening was not yet over. Returning to the pits, Rick Moss, visibly upset, filed a protest over what he felt was an incorrect decision by the officials over having had work done on his car during the red flag stoppage. He petitioned he should not have been black flagged and penalized. As most if not all of the board members were still present, Rob Lindsey enacted an at the track board meeting to review the appeal. Fifty minutes later he delivered the board’s ruling. The officials had incorrectly interpreted the work rule under an open red stoppage. Rick Moss was reinstated to his third place position, the position he held at the time of the red flag. All competitors behind Moss now moved one finish spot back. At 12:07 pm, the race was declared final, with the following official results.
Final Results: Next up, Roseburg Oregon. See you there.
|