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Posted: 05/31/08
08:03 PM
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The Starstruck Report
Hello friends and welcome to another edition of the Starstruck Report. We had plenty of good action on May 30th and the weather cooperated nicely. It truly was a very comfortable night to watch a race. This week, we didn't have any real controversy and thankfully, I won't be giving out any bad sport awards this week. However, I do have a good sport award I will address in the commentary part of this column. Modifieds had one of the best car counts in a long time. Would love to see that series grow. Let's go to the action.
Modifieds 1: Thomas Stinson (4) turned the fastest lap in qualifying and due to the 7 car invert, Eddie Moore (98) would start this race on the pole. Lap 1, Mike Tomlin (73) took the lead for the first lap. Billy Morris (55) took the lead on lap 5. The first caution came late lap 5 as we had a pile up in turn 4. Quite a few cars but I could see that Eddie Moore (98) and David Kendall (34) were involved. A couple other cars were tied up in that one too. Billy Morris was a little wiggly on the restart but held on. Lap 18, Jim Grady Jr (74) was in the pits and smoking pretty bad. Lap 21, Mike Tomlin (73) was off the pace and retired his car for the rest of the evening. He would not return to run the second race. The race stayed green for a bit till about lap 33, where Ryan Boggs (50) hit very hard in the middle of turns 1 and 2. Lap 38, biggest hit of the night, Chris Johnson (36) hit very hard in turn 3 and the whole passenger side of the car was damaged and wheels crooked. The Johnson crew would work very hard to get that car ready for the next race. Some in the stands believed that Thomas Stinson (4) wrecked C. Johnson (36), however, the evidence goes the other way. There was no damage at all to Stinson's (4) car since there was no contact. I had this confirmed by two sources in the pits. That is why Stinson (4) wasn't sent to the back. David Kendall (34) would spin on the restart. At lap 43, Brooks Lawson (22) spun in turn 3. Ryan Boggs (50) had a flat tire. The race stayed green and Billy Morris (55) took the checkered flag. Here is the official finishing results.
1. Billy Morris (55) 2. Thomas Stinson (4) 3. Chris Hoylman (42) 4. Michael Johnson (38) 5. Kyle Wood (19) 6. Brooks Lawson (22) 7. Ryan Boggs (50)
8. David Kendall (34) 9. Stacey Wilbourne (23) 10. Chris Johnson (36) 11. Mike Tomlin (73) 12. JIm Grady Jr (74) 13. Eddie Moore (98)
Grand Stock: This race was the cleanest of the night with no cautions. Therefore, the lack of details. Randy Adams (53) driving for Michael Moore started the race on the pole. Pops Lipford (43) won a heat race to start on the outside pole. The green flag dropped and Adams (53) would lead the first lap. Lap 2, Bill Nixon (49) was blackflagged for a fender hanging. Pops Lipford (43) thought he was blackflagged so he started going backwards. Lap 7, Todd Ruggles (40) was off the pace and got the car out of the way before the caution could be called. Randy Adams would go on to take the checkered flag in a 30 lap shootout that stayed green the whole time. As always, the Grand Stock division had a great car count. Here is the official finishing order. 1. Randy Adams (53) 2. Jamie Neely (77) 3. Daniel Shelton (77) 4. Donnie Newman (69) 5. Chris Hott (01) 6. Brian Mislivy (03) 7. Joey Bryant (2) 8. Donnie Johnson (26) 9. Justin Brown (55) 10. Mike Cole (63) 11. Pops Lipford (43) 12. Bill Nixon (49) 13. Cory Willoughby (7) 14. Todd Ruggles (40) 15. B K Wilson (82) 16. Woody Ellington (90)
Ucar: This race also featured a great car count and for the most part was very clean and green. Damon Fender (13) would start this race on the pole and would lead the first lap. Lap 1, Chris Farmer (52) spun around turn 1 but no caution was called. Lap 7, The caution came out for Steve Thomas (7) when he spun in turn 4. Lap 8 would see Chris Farmer (52) retire and I think he was the only DNF in this race. Lap 10, Charlie Simmons (2) and Mike Chapman (18) almost went spinning. Lap 11, business truly picked up when Renna Marchetti IV (01)took the lead going three wide with Damon Fender (13) and Lindsey Bryant (81). Marchetti (01) would hold on to take the checkered flag holding off a strong challenge from Lindsay Bryant (81). Here is the official finishing order. 1. Renna Marchetti IV (01) 2. Lindsay Bryant (81) 3. Daniel Thomas (99) 4. Lauren Edgerton (24) 5. Mike Shiftlett (12) 6. Frank Silva (91) 7. Damon Fender (13) 8. Jody Young (5) 9. Mike Chapman (18) 10. Michael Hall (9) 11. Billy Enroughty (90) 12. Charlie Simmons (2) 13. Joshua Thomas (72) 14. Corey Lawrence (6) 15. Steve Thomas (7) 16. Rodney Martin (21) 17. David Gonce (09) 18. Butch Mixell (22) 19. Jordan Bell (11) 20. Chris Farmer (52)
Modifieds 2: Chris Johnson's (36) team worked very hard to repair heavy damage from the first race and he made it out to race the second race. Mike Tomlin (73) was the only driver who didn't return to race the second race. Due to the invert of the finishing order, Ryan Boggs (50) would start this race on the pole and lead the first lap. Boggs looked strong in this race and would lead the first 12. Lap 5, David Kendall (34) was blackflagged for a fluid leak and wasn't allowed back in the race. The first caution came out on lap 11 when Jim Grady Jr (74) spun in turn 2. This was a very short caution. Lap 13, Thomas Stinson (4) moved in to take the lead. Lap 16, Chris Johnson (36) and Mike Johnson (38) mad some contact around turn 3. Lap 25, Jim Grady Jr (74) brings his car in the pits. Lap 27 brought out a caution for debris in turn 3. Lap 35, Chris Johnson (36) spins in turn 1 after some contact with Brooks Lawson (22). Stacey Wilbourne (23) would retire from the race during this caution. Stinson (4) would continue to lead the last 15 green flag laps and took the win. Here is the official finishing order. 1. Thomas Stinson (4) 2. Billy Morris (55) 3. Chris Hoylman (42) 4. Ryan Boggs (50) 5. Kyle Wood (19) 6. Michael Johnson (38) 7. Brooks Lawson (22) 8. Chris Johnson (36) 9. Eddie Moore (98) 10. Stacey Wilbourne (23) 11. Jim Grady Jr (74) 12. David Kendall (34)
Street Stock: This race also featured a very strong car count. Keep in mind, in this division, caution laps do count. Josh Roberts (46) would start the race on the pole. He would lead the first lap and lost the lead to Ricky Statler (92) on the second lap. Lap 3, the first caution came out and we had a four car pile up that included James Smith (28), Kevin Brown (53) and Nicholas Hemesath (81). The restart came on lap 7. Lap 12, James Groome (31) took the lead but would lose the lead to Mike Ganoe (82) who was really charging up the field on the next lap. Lap 14, we had a near spin with Tim Timblis (72) and he saved very well. Lap 22, we had contact between James Groome (31) and Bobby Corbitt (58) around turn 3 which brought out the caution. The race restarted on lap 36 and Josh Roberts (46) stalled before pit road, leading the race back under caution at lap 27. Lap 41, Ricky Statler (92) spun but no caution. Lap 47, Chris Bryant (6) had contact with another car, which couldn't continue. No caution was called. Mike Ganoe went on to win his 3rd race this year. Here is the official finishing order.
1. Mike Ganoe (82) 2. Kevin Lee (35) 3. Brian Smith (06) 4. Timothy Timblis (72) 5. Kevin Brown (53) 6. Alex Ayers (96) 7. Don Crate (1) 8. Michael Sutphin (25) 9. John Foster (73) 10. Melvin Brown (63) 11. Wayne Groome (08) 12. Larry Lamb (71) 13. Nicholas Hemesath (81) 14. Travis Nicely (911) 15. Robbie Groome (79) 16. Jeff Arnett (3) 14. James Groome (31) 18. O K Wilson (82) 19. Ricky Statler (92) 20. Patrick Shenuk (74) 21. Josh Roberts (46) 22. Tim Smith (09) 23. James Smith (28) 24. Dale Gravitt (80) 25. Chris Bryant (6) 26. Bobby Corbitt (59) 27. Herbert LaRue (26) 28. Mike Harris (30) 29. Sean Cook (66) 30. B K Wilson (2) 31. Justin Dunkum (13) 32. Dustin Carino (42) 33. Brad Diggs (95) 34. Zack Martin (11) 35. Ethan Ayers (69)
Now let's go to the race analysis and weekly awards.
Performace of the week: There truly was alot of great performances this week. However, I will go with Randy Adams (53) in the grand stock division. This division has tight competition and he lead a caution free race.
Tough Luck Modifieds: It would be easy to give his award to Mike Tomlin (73) for going off pace and not returning for the second race but I am going to look at this one from a big picture standpoint. Chris Johnson (36) took that hard hit in turn 3 which damaged the whole right side of his car and it was very loose in the second race. He came into the night tied with Thomas Stinson (4) for the points lead and has dropped to 3rd.
Tough Luck Grand Stock: I will have to give this one to Todd Ruggles (40) on what truly was a rough night for him. He came in 3rd in the points. He took a very hard hit in the heat race, they worked on the car and he ended up with a DNF. Ruggles has lost 3 spots inteh points as a result.
Tough Luck UCar: This was the easiest one to call. I will give it to Chris Farmer (52) who had the only DNF in that race.
Tough Luck Street Stock: Josh Roberts (46) started this race on the pole and dropped back, only to have his car stall later in the race before pit road on lap 27.
Sportsman Award: Fred Key (Grand Stock 18) gave a radiator to Todd Ruggles (40) so he could compete. Keep in mind, Ruggles (40) was third in points coming in and Key (18) was 5th. Sure, he may have lost alot of ground in the points race but that type of move truly does shout out good sportsmanship. Congradulations to Fred Key (18), my sportsmanship winner of the week.
Whispers in the pits: I have heard some uncomfirmed reports that teams in higher divisions want to get Mike Ganoe (Street Stock 82) in one of their cars. I will be keeping an eye on this situation but for the record right now, this is a rumor and unconfirmed. Cameron Patrick, former Legends champion, has been driving a modified at Langley in some races this year. Could it be possible we see him return to Southside Speedway in a new division since Legends no longer race there.
Future of the Starstruck Report: This column will continue as I have made for alot of growth in the last few years and posting in some big forums to get the word out on Southside Speedway. I am also working on a internet radio show for the Starstruck report that will feature most of the material covered here and driver guests in a wind tunnel format. I am still working out a timeslot with my server but will tell you when it comes about. I think this will truly be a big step and bring out the personality of the drivers more to the fans.
Story of the year so far: The Ucar division will be the story to watch from a historical standpoint this year. I don't think a rookie or a woman has won the points championship at Southside in any division. Currently, Lindsay Bryant (81)leads Renna Marchetti IV (01) by 100 points. Both have shown strong every week. The entire top 5 is separated by 340 points. As the year unfolds, we have two women and I believe two rookies in the running. So, will this be the year of the woman or the year of the rookie.
Looking ahead: There will be no racing at Southside Speedway next Friday June 6th. The action returns with 100 lap, not twin 50, Late Model Sportsman along with the Ucar division and Street Stock. The Late Model Sportsman division has Shane Lockhart (11) leading the points race by 160 points over Russ Ellis. Defending champion Chris Dodson (0) is in 3rd and Roy Hendrick (39) and Rob Jenkins (89) round out the top 5 in points. I am still waiting word on the condition of Rob Jenkin's car. The Ucar will continue to have what may be the biggest historical story of the year. In Street Stock, will Mike Ganoe (82) continue his dominance of this division.
Thank you again for taking time to read about the races with me. I want to thank the drivers and officials at Southside Speedway for the show they put on. Without them, there would be no Starstruck report since I wouldn't have a story to tell you. That's all for now, see you at the races.
*Larry Starstruck*
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Posted: 06/01/08
04:56 AM
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