David Dowling Sr. Takes Checkered over Tim Dowling
Speedway officials opened the gates Saturday night at Putnam County Speedway’s 2007 season opener. With perfect weather that gave way to a cool, brisk wind at sundown, die hard race fans hunkered down and bundled up to cheer for their favorite racers.
Racers did not disappoint as an action packed show with few cautions totally entertained the fans. Late Models hit the field first with Clyde Herron in the lead and Ryan Mitchell in hot pursuit. Mitchell overcame Herron and shot off into the stratosphere as Herron and David Crews battled it out for the right to chase Mitchell. Crews passed Herron but Herron didn’t give up his position easily as he placed hard challenges on Crews.
Fans gasped as Herron got loose on lap 10. Quickly recovering, Herron gained ground on Crews as the laps ticked down. After passing Crews, Herron set his sights on Mitchell but Mitchell had too good of a lead despite Herron’s attempts to close the distance. Mitchell took the checkered over Herron, Crews, Bug Rose, and John Trammell.
Casey Feaster had the ride to beat in the Box Stock division as he followed Mitchell’s pattern and quickly gained a good lead over the field. The battle to watch broke out between Rodney Alexander and Jack Miller as Miller placed heated challenges on Alexander’s second place position. It appeared Miller would overcome Alexander as both racers flew side by side before Alexander pulled out away from Miller. After a caution for debris on the track, Miller once again challenged Alexander. Alexander held Miller off as Feaster took the win over Alexander, Miller, Ken DeVane, and Stephen Katz.
Art Souther took the lead at the green flag drop in the Mini Stocks as Jamie Farris moved up into position to challenge Souther. David Ham held Farris off until Ham experienced some issues with his ride. Souther held Farris off and despite multiple attempts by the rookie racer to unseat Souther, Souther took the checkered over Farris and Dalton Strehle.
Street Stocks put on a show as Ricky Land quickly took the lead over Rena Hurley. Tim Dowling and Kevin Mills overcame Richard Adams and with Hurley, flew three wide on the front stretch and turns 1 and 2 before Mills pulled out on the back stretch. Hurley fell out of contention as Dowling and Mills set up a battle that would last through most of the race. Fans were totally entertained as Dowling overcame Mills and Marc Kinley moved into position to challenge Mills. Despite charges from Kinley, Mills passed Dowling and set his sights on Land. Closing the distance, Mills put heated challenges on Land and tried to pass Land on the outside. Land held his position as Mills changed his tactics on the next lap and moved inside of Land to run side by side with the race leader before losing his drive shaft out of turn 2. The restart saw Land in the lead and Kinley using the outside groove to challenge Dowling for second. Dowling held his line as Land took the win over Dowling, Kinley, Adams, and Lisa O’Connor.
Doing double duty, Tim Dowling took the green flag lead in an exciting Hobby Stock feature with Ron Frank in hot pursuit. Dowling and Frank dueled for the lead as David Dowling Sr. moved through the field and picked his targets off one by one. By lap 8, Dowling Sr. was challenging Frank for the second position as Frank continued to place heated challenges on the race leader.
After contact between Dowling and Frank in turn 4, Dowling held on to his lead and Dowling Sr. passed Frank. Dowling Sr. used the backstretch to take the lead before a caution placed him back behind Dowling. The restart saw Dowling Sr. once again challenging the race leader and taking the lead before another caution set the field up for a white flag shootout. The green flag flew and ducking low in attempt to regain his lead, Dowling moved inside of Dowling Sr. on turn 4 for the race move of the night. Dowling Sr. took the checkered a half car length over Dowling with Frank, David Dowling Jr., and Ken Durham rounding out the top five.
DAVID DOWLING SR.
Jamie Carter took the lead in the modified feature and was untouchable for the rest of the race. Jason Lowe and Kyle Owen battled for the second position as Mike Tripp proved his prowess in the hobby stocks would parlay into his modified ride. By lap 9, the field was spread out and Carter took the win over Lowe, Tripp, Owen, and Eddie Rosier.
Racing resumes next Saturday at 7pm with the regular divisions and a Street Stock 40 feature event. For more information, visit the speedway’s website at www.putnamcountyspeedway.com or call 386-649-5372.
