"Wild Bill" Kopka survived a wild Limited Late Model feature to take the checkers last Saturday night at Putnam County Speedway. Polesitter Rod Burton survived several opening lap incidents and grabbed the early lead. Burton held it until lap 5 when Joe Grubb rooted underneath to unseat Burton. The duo continued to wage war until finally tangling on lap 19. Burton was sent to the rear while Grubb was allowed to keep the lead. The damage to Grubb's car,however, was enough to slow him for the remainder of the race and Kopka easily overhauled him on lap 20. Kopka was never seriously challenged again and drove his R & R Industrial Sheet Metal #33 to his third straight victory. Marion Sizemore had his hands full holding off J. O. Nobles to take second. David Shugart was fourth and Grubb finished fifth despite getting involved in a last-lap tangle.
Twenty Pure Stocks answered the call for their feature. Mike Durham led the early laps until Grady Lundquist bested Durham on lap 8. Karen Moon and L. J. Klemons got early Christmas gifts as they locked bumpers and spun on lap 9. However, a backmarker spun just before the incident and brought out the yellow which allowed Moon and Klemons to retain their second and third positions. Moon got a run on Lundquist late in the race to take the lead only to lose it to a last-lap gasp by Klemons. Klemons took the victory and received another huge break as fluid and smoke poured out of his car immediately after crossing the line. Fortunately what appeared to be a blown engine was only a leak caused by a dropped lead weight. The remainder of the top 5 was Moon, Ken Durham, Floyd Martin Jr., and Lenny Hixson.
Marion Sizemore has been the dominant player in the Modified division and his full-straightaway win over Gary Gross reinforced this. Sizemore dodged an opening-lap tangle which damaged his Sizemore Auto Crushing #2 more cosmetically than functionally. Chris Hammond was third with Paul Sizemore and James Jeffers' J & J Tree Experts #92 following behind.
Chris Vogel made it two in a row in Street Stocks as he overcame a 16-car field. Vogel was challenged early by Mitch McCoy and Kenny Hall but, as was the case the previous week, Vogel wore down his challengers in the late laps and won handily. McCoy and Hall put on a tough, spirited battle for second with McCoy winning that skirmish. Tony Ross was fourth and Richard Adams finished fifth.
Hobby Stocks arrived twenty-two cars strong this evening; their best showing in 2001. Danny Miller's Mustang led the initial half of the race, then Ronnie Soltis passed him and led the half of the race that paid to notch another win. Soltis patiently worked from his 7th starting position to earn his victory. David Miller passed Danny Miller late in the race to take second. Mitch Wise survived a last-lap demolition derby to cross the line fourth while John Taylor survived several tangles to get paid for fifth.
In Mini Stocks the Honda Prelude of Mike Gibbs won over 21 other challengers. Gibbs solved the engine problems that had been plaguing him this season by borrowing an engine from a relative and has been strong since. David Howell posted a strong second in his VW while Marlon Durbin finished in the show position.
This Saturday night the Super Late Models ride into Putnam for 800+ horsepower racing excitement. All six regular divisions will race to support the Super Lates.
