IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

August 8, 2004 FSCR CAMPBELL BLAZES TO VICTORY AT FIVE FLAGS Super Stock point’s leader Steve Campbell blazed to his first victory of the season Friday night at Five Flags Speedway but the blaze that most fans will remember is the one that enveloped Tim Thompson’s car after a grinding crash in the Bomber feature. Campbell was excited to grab the victory that has eluded him all year and everyone was pleased that both Thompson and Hank Mullen were not injured in their scary incident. It was Kid’s Night at the track and there were lots of happy youngsters after they had the chance to take to the high-banked ½ mile oval on their bicycles and were treated to a variety of amenities. The victory didn’t come easy for Campbell who made a daring move to take the lead on the second lap, passing both Blake Streetman and Steve Britt on the outside of turn four for the lead. He pulled away to a ten-car lead until a caution flag bunched up the pack again on lap 19. This put Streetman on Campbell’s rear bumper and he stayed there to the finish line applying heavy pressure for the final six circuits. In victory lane, the winner gave credit to his challenger saying, "I sure hated to see that caution but my hat’s off to Blake. He ran me clean all the way". Larry Perkins Jr. prevailed in a heated battle for third place, rubbing fenders with Britt and spinning across the finish line. In the nightcap Bomber feature, the "Crunch Bunch" really lived up to their name when Tim Thompson spun out of turn two onto the backstretch and was center-punched in the rear bumper by Hank Mullen who was slowing but got pushed into Thompson’s stalled mount. The impact ruptured Thompson’s fuel tank and within seconds a fire erupted. Both drivers were able to emerge from the inferno unscathed but not soon enough for the crowd. A large cheer went up when their condition was announced. Both cars were totaled. Thompson’s son Randy was also involved in a fracas when he and Stevie Mercer got together on the last lap while racing for second place after running side by side for the final five laps. Bo Resmondo led the entire way to win his third feature of the year and was followed by Joel Lesley Jr., and Perry Boin. Thompson and Mercer recovered to finish in the next two spots. A first-lap crash in the Super Stock feature left the division’s two leaders scrambling to salvage whatever points they could. Second-place James Ziniewicz spun going into the first corner and collected leader Earl Polk and Shanna Ard. Ziniewicz was able to soldier on in his wounded machine for a 9th-place finish while Polk only managed to complete a few laps before giving up with radiator damage. Jimmy Hardin won his second feature in a row ahead of Mike Austin and Billy Hoover who started the race at the tail of the field. Sammy McMullen was back in victory lane in the Modified class after a tight race with Tommy Aaron who was on the winner’s bumper at the stripe. The feature was shortened to a 15-lap helmet dash when only two cars were able to start the race. The dwindling car count in the Modified division is a concern to the track officials and rule changes are likely for next year making the class more affordable. Bike racing for the kids was the highlight of the evening for many with eighty youngsters competing in four divisions determined by their ages. In the mini class for children aged five and younger, the winner was Patrick Murphy who is the son of Super Stock driver Mike Murphy. In the 6 to 9 age group Mikey Jones was the winner while Thumper Grice outran the rest of the 10 to 12 year-olds. Matt Marchman was the fastest pedal-pushing teenager in his group. Super Late Model driver Eddie Mercer and his sponsor, Underwood Treatment Company donated trophies to all participants. Fellow racers Junior Niedecken and Scott Carlson also treated the young competitors. Niedecken provided ice cream and popcorn while Carlson gave out passes to Fast Eddies Fun Center. Mike and Nancy Dunn of Cabinet Warehouse set up a moonwalk so the kids could expend extra energy between races. The next event on Five Flags Speedway’s schedule is the Coors Light 100, which is the fourth of five Blizzard Series races. It will be held on 20th. For more information, go to www.fiveflagsspeedway.com or call the track office at 944-8400. AUGUST 6, 2004 RESULTS – FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY BOMBERS – Heat 1 – 1. Stevie Mercer 2. Scooter Frye 3. Tim McIntosh 4. Mike Kitchen 5. Richard Jensen Heat 2 – 1. Bo Resmondo 2. Joel Lesley Jr. 3. Keith Gay 4. Tim Thompson 5. David Barnett Heat 3 – 1. Randy Thompson 2. David Holland 3. Perry Boin 4. William Davis 5. Hank Mullen Feature (15 laps) – 1. Bo Resmondo 2. Joel Lesley Jr. 3. Perry Boin 4. Randy Thompson 5. Stevie Mercer 6. Mike Kitchen 7. David Holland 8. Tim McIntosh 9. Shannon Warren 10. Richard Jensen 11. Scooter Frye 12. William Davis 13. Keith Gay 14. Rickie Balkum Jr. 15. Ronnie Powell 16. Tim Thompson 17. David Barnett 18. Hank Mullen 19. Jason Johnson 20. Pete Kitchen SPECTATORS – Heat 1 – 1. James Ziniewicz 2. Jimmy Hardin 3. Shanna Ard 4. Mike Moore 5. Wayne Morgan Heat 2 – 1. Mike Austin 2. Earl Polk 3. Jason Majors 4. J.C. Flowers 5. Billy Hoover Feature (20 laps) – 1. Jimmy Hardin 2. Mike Austin 3. Billy Hoover 4. Mike Moore 5. Shanna Ard 6. J.C. Flowers 7. Jason Majors 8. David Moore 9. James Ziniewicz 10. Thomas Faddis 11. Wayne Morgan 12. Earl Polk MODIFIEDS – Heat 1 – 1. Tommy Aaron 2. Sammy McMullen 3. Steve Williams Feature (15 laps) – 1. Sammy McMullen 2. Tommy Aaron SUPER STOCKS – Heat 1 – 1. Blake Streetman 2. Steve Campbell 3. Jody Henderson 4. Mike Murphy 5. Robert Royce Heat 2 – 1. Steve Britt 2. Larry Perkins Jr. 3. Chris Bryant 4. Chris Cotto 5. Gary Davis Feature (25 laps) – 1. Steve Campbell 2. Blake Streetman 3. Larry Perkins Jr. 4. Steve Britt 5. Jody Henderson 6. Mike Murphy 7. Gary Davis 8. Chris Bryant 9. Chris Cotto 10. Robert Royce Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!