|
Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Press Release |
|
|
|
Western World Championships |
|
Phoenix, AZ (November 9) The "real Western" is back. That was more than amply demonstrated in the Saturday night finale with a standing room only crowd of 7, 118 cheered on the toughest and largest field in recent history as they fought it out for the $12,500 first place prize money. USAC's Bud Kaeding had no last lap problems this time and beat Jeremy Sherman who won last year's NAPA Auto Part/Budweiser Western World Championship when Kaeding crashed on the final lap. Kaeding, who missed much of the season due to injuries, started on the pole of the race billed as SCRA vs. USAC and beat fellow front row started Troy Rutherford into the first turn. He pulled away from Rutherford who was driving the Mark & Carmen Priestly car that carried Sherman to his win last year, and set sail on Manzy's famed half mile track that was surprisingly fast despite heavy winds. While Kaeding was pushing the cushion with his BK Motorsports sprinter, the local fans were focusing on Bob Ream, Jr. who was moving toward the front with his Pop's Racing Products Mopar powered machine. Ream, although a former Arizona Sprint Car Champion, was not listed among the favorites but proved that he should have been as he went by SCRA champion Richard Griffin, USAC Silver Crown titlist, J.J. Yeley, former USAC Sprint Car champion Tony Elliot, USAC Midget points leader Dave Darland and Rutherford to move into a challenging position. Ream completed his work as he used traffic to his advantage and took the lead from Kaeding on the 18th lap. He pulled away to a one second advantage before the race was halted two laps later as Jerry Coons, Jr. lost a fuel filter and his Smiley's Crane Sevice Extreme Chassis burst in flame. Coons stopped down low on the front straightaway and the fire crew finally extinguished the fire as Coons quickly exited the car. When Ream stopped for the red flag his crew found a severely blistered left rear tire and it had to be replaced which moved him to the back of the pack and gave the lead back to Kaeding. The local fans had another focus as they saw Sherman coming through the field. He had started 17th and was working both the high side and low groove as he passed car after car and took over second from Yeley with about ten laps remaining. Then he started reeling in the leader with his Ellis Racing Special and made a picture perfect slide job to briefly take the lead in the closing laps but Kaeding was up to the challenge and dived to the low side to reclaim the lead. He held off another last lap effort and avenged the 2001 finish with a
narrow win. Yeley, who started eighth, was doing his usual three wheeling and
brought the ABC Sand & Rock Twister Chassis car home third. Eleventh
starting Charles Davis, Jr. took fourth Richard Griffin in fifth. Rounding
out the top ten were Dave Darland, Rickie Gaunt, Ream, John Scott and
Rutherford. Twenty of the twenty-four started completed the 40 lapper. Damion Gardner, one of the pre race favorites won the consy and was on his
way to the front of the semi when he jumped the cushion, slammed the wall on the
fifth lap and did a series of snap rolls. He was uninjured. Brian Stanfill got
into the fence on the 14th lap and flipped hard as Bobby Cody also rolled in the
same incident. Again, neither was injured. NAPA AUTO PARTS/BUDWEISER WESTERN SUMMARY Marty Miller was on the move from his tenth starting berth and got by his team mate Sheridan and then Yeley to close on Sherman. With three laps remaining both Yeley and Sheridan blew right rears and headed to the pits. Both made it out on the lead lap but at the back of the field. Bob Ream, Jr. spun and was hit by Chuck Buckman on the lap 27 restart and both cars were put on the hook. Miller made it close but could not overtake the determined Sherman and had to be content with second in the season's biggest race. Ricky Johnson drove a smooth consistent race and finished third ahead of 15th starting Eric Wilkins, the 2002 Arizona Sprint Car champion. Yeley had a fast final three laps and drove back to take fifth. Behind the top five were Bugs Norbury, Jeff Henry, Chris Bonneay, Jason Sutphen and Ervine. With a total of 52 cars in the show the 360s ran two races for the non qualified drivers. Charles Davis, Jr. started ninth in the first consy and drove the Fred & Evelyn Bryan car to a win in the ten lapper. Rick Johnson, Travis Rilat and Fred Bryan also transferred to the semi. Fifteen year old R.J. Johnson, the Arizona Midget Racing Association driving
champion, stopped studying for his Driving Learner's permit long enough to get a
win in his first sprint car start as he beat Ben Gregg, Kent Rosevear and John
Keusher in the second consy. DMC FINANCIAL/YRURENTING.COM 360 SUMMARY (1/3RD MILE TRACK) Although Henry tried to steal it in the final turn he fell short and Palmer ended his season on a bright note and was a close second in the final standings. Behind the leaders were Tim Ogle, Dave Alexander, Thomas Ogle, Dustin Carmony, Duane Adams, Charles Mokry, Joey Strobel and Dennis Parks the 2002 points champion. MONSTER LIMO.COM WESTERN WORLD MINI SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS |
