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| Hagan Survives Rain and Power Outage to take FIRST Classics Win at Bronson Speedway | bt Dave Westerman
It wasn't easy, but the Classic Auto Racing Series finally
got another race in the record books Saturday night at
Bronson Motor Speedway with defending Rookie of the Year
Al Hagan taking his first career CARS win made even
sweeter as Custom Drapery and Blinds of Clermont put up
extra money to the winner.
After four straight rainouts, things didn't look like they
were going to get much better as a late afternoon thunder-
storm hit the Bronson track and jsut didn't want to go
away. But Track Manager Tommy Dunsford opened the gates
just before 5 PM despite a steady drizzle and the wait
was on.
The precipitation finally stopped around 6:30, and the cars
hit the track for practice with racing getting under way
only about an hour late.
Before the Classics could run their heat races, an
electrical box failed and caught fire knocking off the
front straightaway lights and all power to the tower,
track offices and concession stands.
There was enough light however to run off three heat
races before it became too dark to safely run the show.
By that time, local power crews were already on the
scene and had things up and running in about fifteen
minutes.
Eddie Thornton had the pole for heat one but dropped
back quickly at the start with front suspension problems.
An early-race tangle sent Harvey Ewing's rear bumper
spinning through the air in turn one and Keith Roberts
to the pits with a flat tire. Thornton also pitted as
E.T. McGhee outran the fielde in his bright green '32
Ford sedan to win heat one.
Al Hagan came from his fourth starting spot to lead the
way in heat two to earn the pole for the 20-lap feature.
It was plain to see this was going to be a wild one as
the drivers hadn't seen any action since June 8th. As
the green flew, Hagan jumped out to a quick lead
followed by Bud Spencer (who had won the March race at
Bronson) and Ed Yates.
Caution flew on lap one for another bumper laying on the
track in turn four. As the caution came out, Ben Booth,
Frank Conrad, and E.B. Carr got tangled up in turn one.
Conrad continued but Booth and Carr were forced out.
Mike Albert also dropped out during the opening caution
with an oil leak.
As the green flew, it became obvious that Hagan had a
good handling car and it wasn't going to be easy getting
around him. Spencer and Yates were applying plenty of
pressure when the yellow came out for the second time on
lap six. Thornton, working his way up through the field
after his heat race problems, tangled with McGhee in turn
four. Track officials sent Thornton to the rear of the
field while McGhee was returned to his spot in the line-
up.
Just one lap later, Joey Strehle spun in turn four with
Jim Rahman and Patrick Sanders also having to spin to miss
him. Strehle, making his first start in the Classics, went
to the pits with a transmission problem.
On the restart, Spencer went around in turn three while
running second and retired to the pits with the left front
suspension dragging the ground.
The restart proved to be costly again when several cars
got jammed up on the backstretch. Although the green did
come out, Russ Antonucci and Harvey Ewing ended up in the
pits as the next caution flew on lap nine so George Hall
III's machine could be sent to the pits with a serious
oil or water leak.
Hagan was staying out in front of the mayhem but now had
to contend with the veterans Ed Yates and point leader
Jim Rahman who were knocking at the door.
The final caution came out on lap 13 when Keith
Roberts right rear tire exploded in turn one.
Hagan was up to the task over the final seven laps as he
easily held his line to take his first career Classic Auto
Racing Series win. "This has been a long time coming,"
said Hagan after the race was over. "The way our season has
gone so far, I was sure something would break or go wrong,
but it didn't" he said. Hagan was driving a '32 Ford
couple sponsored by Bryant Heating and Cooling.
Yates hold off Rahman for second while Conrad and Thornton
put on a crowd-pleasing show battling for fourth spot that
continued all the way back to pit road after the checker
fell.
Nineteen cars started and only eight finished the hard
fought 20-lapper with Patrick Sanders claiming the Door
Operating Systems Rookie of the Race award with his sixth
place run in his Pools of Jade -32 Ford coupe. McGhee
finished seventh while rookie Greg Helton drove a smart
race, stayed out of trouble, and took eighth. Roberts
and George Hall, Jr. were credited with ninth and tenth
places.
The Classics take two weeks off before returning to Ocala
Speedway to make up the date originally scheduled for
June 13th.
OFFICIAL FINISH - BRONSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY - 7/27/02
l) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
2) Ed Yates, Orlando #74
3) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
4) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #ll
5) Eddie Thornton, Orlando #4
6) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
7) E.T. McGhee, DeLand #l
8) Greg Helton, Orange City #3
9) Keith Roberts, Groveland #31 DMF-tire
10) George Hall, Jr. St. Petersburg, #32 DNF-engine
11) Russ Antonucci, Jacksonville #46 DNF-radiator
12) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 DNF-tire
13) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 DNF-oil leak
14) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #6 DNF-suspension
15) Joey Strehle, DeLand #42 DNF-trans
16) Ben Booth, DeLand #12 DNF-crash
17) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 DNF-crash
18) Mike Albert, Winter Springs #24 DNF-oil leak
19) Randy Grief, Paducah, KY #71 DNF-brakes
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