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Rip Williams Wins On Cut Short Wagsdash Weekend by Ronnie Gardner |
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October 16, 2004...USAC/CRA Sprint Cars hit Seaside Park
for the 16th annual wags
dash weekend. Events started around 12:00 for the wags dash. Mr.
And Mrs. Wags had prepared chili, hot dogs and chips for
everybody to enjoy. There was a silent biding on all the
pictures and memorabilia that they had scraped together. There
was a nice bake sale and o yea the sexiest driver contest. Which
went to the only lady driver that was on hand for the Wags dash
Nadine Keller. There was also the pit stop contest. I’m happy
to say I was part of the winning crew that consisted of changing
a right rear tire and a front shock. The winning crew of me
Ronnie Gardner, Chet Gardner and Blake Miller for the Black
widow racing #5. Which made A perfect clean sweep for Black
Widow racing winning the sexist driver and the pit stop
contests.
Grand Marshall for the wags dash was none other then Two
time CRA Champion from Concord, North Carolina Brad Noffsinger.
Becoming the Only Grand Marshall to race in the event. He was
18th quick and was scheduled to be in the B main in till it was
cancelled due to rain.
Qualifying was wild starting off with the timing light not
working so they had to go the old fashion way using stop
watches. Craig Bragg which came out early got on the left rear
down the front stretch and flipped his Pratt Racing # 12 into
turn #1. Fast Time went to Tony Jones who used the low grove to
stay out of the holes and turned a 11.804. Second quick was not
surprisingly Damion Gardner with a 12.018. 3rd quick was former
turkey night grand prix winner Jordan Hermansader with a 12.219.
First heat went to Corona, CA’s Steve Ostling who passed
David Cardey with two laps to go and went on for the win. 3rd
was Alan Ballard and 4th went to fast qualifier Tony Jones.
Second heat was exciding as it was pledged with yellows.
The first yellow was for Nadine Keller who rode over a wheel on
the back stretch and hit the wall causing heavy damage to the
right rear of her car ending her night. Second caution was for
Danny Ebberts who Bicycled into turn one and came to a stop.
Mike Kirby Stormed away with the second heat winning it by a
straight away. Second was Mike English making his first start in
about a mouth, 3rd was Damion Gardner and 4th was Tom Stansberry
who fought off a late race charge from Brad Noffsinger.
The 3rd heat was the best race of the night as it saw
rookie driver Ronnie Case take the win but it wasn’t easy as
he saw a challenge from Bobby Cody and Jordan Hermansader. On
lap two Case, Cody and Greg Taylor went three wide down the back
straight. Nobody wanted to lift as they went into turn three,
Cody came out with the lead and then drifted wide and case went
bye. During all that Taylor went from first to last in one lap.
Cody gave one more challenge but Case came away with the win.
Cody second and Hermansader third. Forth went to Dan Hillberg.
The fourth heat went to Crag Bragg as he repaired his car
in time to make it out for the forth heat. Second went to former
wags dash winner J Hicks. The third spot went to point leader
Rip Williams and forth to Mike Spencer.
Small dog Dash consisted of 4 low buck or bad luck drivers
who were drew before the races started. The winner was David
Cardey who made contact with Danny Sheridan and Danny came to a
stop as Cardey went on to the win. Big Dog dash went to fast
Qualifier Tony Jones. The big dash consisted of the top 6
drivers in drivers points who wanted to compete in the race.
Then the rain came at the green flag of the B main. It was
Red flagged and soon cancelled. There was a two and a half hour
rain delay before the main event got started.
Finally the A main event started around 11:05 pm. Rip
Williams got out to the lead at the start of the A main. Early
yellow for Crag Bragg and Steve Ostling who got together and
that ended there night. Rip lead all the way in till a lap 15
red for Danny Ebberts who flipped and his car Caught fire. The
race was called on lap 15 for time constraints and the win went
to Rip Williams. Second was Mike Spencer and Damion Gardner was
third. It was Rips 3rd win of the year and his 94th of his
Career.
I would like to say thanks to the Wags People for all they
do for racing and to say I cant imagine a year with out this
good event THANK YOU.
Next week Racing for USAC/CRA will resume at Bakersfield Speedway |
