New V-8 Pure Stock Class Debuts at Putnam County Speedway
By: Tera Gunter 5-12-07
The speedway introduced a new class at Putnam this week and with Powder Puff racing on the schedule too, Saturday promised a lot of racing action with 8 features on the card.
Ryan Mitchell took the lead in the Late Model feature with Jamie Carter determined to unseat Mitchell. As Billy Costello, Bug Rose, and John Trammell fell into place behind Carter, the field spread out somewhat until a caution on lap 9 tightened the field back up. Carter took advantage of the restart to pressure Mitchell to no avail. Carter would close in the turns only to see Mitchell pull out on the straightaways. Carter fell out of contention with mechanical problems and Mitchell took the checkered over Costello, Rose, and Trammell.
Jason Lowe took the lead over Ronnie Chance in the Modified feature with Jamie Carter challenging Chance for his second spot. Carter nabbed second from Chance and by lap 7, the leaders were lapping the rear of the field. Last week’s winner, Mike Tripp, overcame Chance for 3rd. Lowe was never seriously challenged as he led Tripp, Phil Guadagno, Chance, and Donald Wilson to victory lane.
Tim Dowling endured heat from Ron Frank in the Hobby Stock division as Frank tried his best to unseat Dowling for the lead. Plenty of action took place behind Frank as David Miller Jr. and Mike Tripp battled for 3rd. A few laps later, Frank found himself in a three way battle for 2nd as Miller gained on Frank with Tripp hot on his heels. Frank, Tripp, and Miller flew three wide down the backstretch before Miller got loose, bringing out the caution. Dowling suffered mechanical problems and the green flag saw Tripp with a lead he would not relinquish. Tripp took the checkered over Frank, Bruce Birkett, Sam Hatcher, Randy Moody, and Buddy Rohn.
The Street Stock feature became the most talked about race of the night as Richard Adams, who started in the last row, became a man on a mission, one racer found himself all over the track, and another finished the feature in reverse. The green flag set the tone for the feature as a three way battle for the lead broke out between Kevin Mills, Josh Sanford, and Tim Dowling. When the dust settled, Mills had the lead over Sanford, Dowling had been placed to the tail, and Robert Hicks was defending himself from Adams and Marc Kinley. Lap 5 found Adams working the inside groove for the lead and Kinley working Mills. Mills went to the rear after bringing out the caution and Kinley went to the rear after a tire change. Dowling and Kinley worked back into contention but Adams was not giving up the lead. The checkered flag flew for Adams, Dowling, Hicks, Sanford, and Kinley, who had looped his ride on the front stretch to take the checkered in reverse. A technical decision disqualified Adams, handing the win to Dowling.
Mini Stocks saw some familiar faces return to the speedway. The night didn’t go good for father and son team Jay and Jamie Farris as both fell out of contention with mechanical difficulties, and Art Souther brought out the red flag with a fire. Richard Tipton took the lead at the restart and took the checkered over Brack Gill, Jake Hartley, Dalton Strehle, and Rodney Alexander.
Tim Gigon, William Martin, and Jody Wells battled in the new Pure Stock division. Gigon took the initial lead as Wells overcame Martin to take 2nd. Gigon lost position after pitting for a tire change and Wells took the checkered over Martin, Jimmy Dowling, DeWayne Tyre, and James Benton.
Box Stocks had the biggest showing tonight with 17 cars. Mark Comitale sat in team mate Bruce Burk’s ride and led wire to wire for the win. Shawn Pawlak, who suffered serious damage to his late model a couple of weeks ago, found himself on a wide ride as he flipped his ride end over end between turns 3-4. Officials assured Pawlak was ok and the restart found Mark Wolcott Sr. and Casey Feaster dueling for the right to challenge Comitale. A racing incident between Kenn DeVane and Wolcott put Wolcott out of contention and both racers in the pits. Comitale took the checkered over Feaster, Jack Miller, Dustin Childers, and Joe King.
The guys watched anxiously as the ladies took their rides into the ring in the Powder Puff feature. Angel Usach took the lead as Dean Herron challenged Alisha Tyre for 2nd. Herron gained on Tyre and set her sights on Usach. Usach held off Herron’s challenges before Herron got loose out of turn 4. Usach took the checkered over Sandra Scranton, Tyre, Julie Sanford, and Herron.
Racing resumes Saturday at 6:30pm. For more information, visit the speedway’s website at www.putnamcountyspeedway.com or call 386-649-5372.
