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Posted: 05/09/10
05:31 PM
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The Starstruck Report
Hello friends and welcome once again to another edition of the Starstruck Report. On this weekend, we truly had great weather to watch a race. The crowd was about average sized. Sadly, this week, the races had to be called for safety. So, keep your ticket stubs and you will be admitted next Friday May 14. In some ways, this week was a bit of a nightmare as you will see in the action.
Late Model Sportsman (50 laps): Chris Dodson (0) ran the fastest lap and was able to keep the pole on the redraw. Lap 4, Jason Pittman (51) spun in turn 4. Lap 11, Raymond Pittman (50) and Mike Kersey (7) brought out the caution in turn 2. Kersey (7) was in the pits for sheet metal. Lap 16, the caution came out again with Jeff Oakley (15) in turn 4. David Mooney (25), Jeff Oakley (15) and Brandon Hendrick (39) had pit stops during this caution. The race resumed and Mike Solaimani (12) was blackflagged for jumping the restart. Lap 23, caution came out when Tony Culley (59) spun in turn 2. Solaimani (12) would receive the lucky dog in this caution. Lap 32, Chris Johnson (41) turned in turn 4. The race resumed and the next lap, 33, had Raymond Pittman (50) spin in turn 4. Jason Pittman (51) and Raymond Pittman (50) both had pit stops during this caution. Lap 45, David Mooney (25) stalled around turn 2. From this point, the race got out of control. Lap 47, Lin O'Neil (1) spins Jeff Oakley (15) in the backstretch. Jason Pittman (51) would be the lucky dog for this caution. However, there was a bad restart and Mike Solaimani (12) spun in turn 3. Chris Johnson (41) parked during this caution. The decision was made to park Lin O'Neill (1). During the argument, Jeff Oakley (15) parks behind him. All could have been well if Oakley just drove away at that point but instead, ran his nose in the back of O'Neill's car. As you would expect, this drew tempers from the pits with crews running right at the wall. The officials were ordered to get away from the action and let them get arrested at this point. Both men continued to hit each other and the race was called officially at lap 47. Dodson (0) claimed the checkered flag in this melee shortened race. Here is the official finishing order. 1. (0) Chris Dodson 2. (99) Chris Hopkins 3. (43) Eddie Johnson 4. (02) Greg Fernandez 5. (98)John Eversole 6. (18) Brad Davis 7. (6) Shannon Marano 8. (39) Brandon Hendrick 9. (59) A. J. Winstead 10. (4) Adam Resnick 11. (12) Michael Solaimani 12. (41) Chris Johnson 13. (25) David Mooney 14. (50) Raymond Pittman III 15. (51) Jason Pittman 16. (71) Steve Zuskin 17. (7)Mike Kersey 18. (11) Timmy Langford 19. (95) Shayne Lockhart 20. (15) Jeff Oakley 21. (1) Lin O'Neill
Street Stock (50 laps): After getting order restored, the track had the Street stock division line up for their race. Jason Beck (41) started the race on the pole. Lap 2, Justin Dunkum (13) took the lead. Lap 3, caution came out when Bo Tuck (39) stalled in turn 4. Lap 7, we had the first double file restart for this division this year. Lap 9, in one of the worst wrecks I have ever seen, James Loving (31) started spinning in the front stretch. The James Groome (31) car hits O K Wilson (32) and goes a little airborne, hitting an electical pole in the front stretch. Brian Smith (06) ran and had his hood right under the Groome's (31) back wheels. Both men did get out of their cars okay. It looked like there would be a lengthy clean up but after inspection, there was serious damage to some of the fencing in the pit area and a speaker was hanging half way down. Due to safety concerns, the night was called. There was no official winner of this race. Check the May 7th video highlights at www.southsidespeedway.com and forward around to the 3:03 mark to see this wreck. This was unbelievable.
Now let's get to the weekly awards.
Performance of the week: Chris Dodson (0 LMS) gets the automatic nod. He won the race by leading flag to flag and no other races were completed.
Tough luck award (LMS): Since Jeff Oakley (15) had multiple spins, it would be easy to go with him. However, his behavior warrants another award I will be giving below. However, the fans were the real losers in this one due to Oakley's (15) and O'Neill (1)'s behavior caused the race to be called by race officials for being out of control. I know some of you may expect me to say this was the wrong call, but I can't. Check the video highlights at Southsidespeedway.com and see for yourself. While it didn't have the whole incident on the highlights, there was enough to see it was out of control.
Tough luck Street Stock: James Groome (31)'s car going on the boiler plate and hitting the electric pole gets the nod this week. Both him and Brian Smith (06) were lucky to get out of their car without any injuries.
Bad sport award: I hate having to give these out but it's matters like this that are well deserved. Jeff Oakley (15) and Lin O'Neill (1) both get one. The bottom line, Oakley could have driven away and been fine especially since O'Neill was going to be parked. On one had, I can blame Oakley (15) for starting it by getting the nose in the car. However, O'Neill (1) had to go hit back and turn this into a personal demolition derby. The fans lost because the race was called early. Plus, if you look at the footage,they almost hit some people with their actions including track officials. For the record, both men should be suspended. Yes, I know tempers flair in racing but everything about this matter was beyond racing. I have noticed that some other divisions have a matter that looks like it may blow up like this. It is my position that the track should suspend both drivers and send a message that this type of behavior that puts everyone in danger won't be tolerated. Maybe, it will make some of the driver think before taking such action if there is a possibility they won't race for a little while.
Are you kidding me file: I was on the road this week and took in the action at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. C E Falk (40) won that race by leading flag to flag. The most amazing fact in this race, there were no cautions at all.
Looking ahead: Next week, the modifieds have twin 50's. The rest of the event includes races with Grand Stock (50 laps), Ucar (25 laps) and the Champ Karts (20 laps). Grand Stock and Ucar will both have double file restarts.
That's all for now. See you at the races.
*Larry Starstruck*
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