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| Press Release |
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SHERMAN PASSES EIGHT CARS IN FINAL FOUR LAPS TO
TAKE WIN By Windy McDonald |
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Phoenix, AZ (July 24) Although he started on the pole, the path to the winner's
circle in Manzanita Speedway's Hank Arnold Memorial was anything but boring. Sherman started on the pole for the 25 lap sprint car main event on the half mile track and by the 19th lap had built an eight second lead over Mike Leslie. As he entered turn one while working the 20th lap he lost air pressure in his right rear tire and coasted to a stop. His crew made a quick tire change and he started at the tail end of the field with only six laps remaining. He was spectacular as he flew through the field, especially when he moved from fourth to the lead on the 23rd lap. The night was a nightmare for many of the favorites but was a fan’s delight as the 33 car field let it all hang out and there was more passing than is usually done in a month of competition elsewhere. Bob Ream, Jr., winner of five main events and the points leader, started off the hard charging as he came from eighth to first to win the third eight lap heat race. He made it to the front with an inside move on Ricky Johnson in the final turn. Ream blew an engine on the 19th lap and was credited with a 15th place finish. Eric Wilkins had a roller coaster night but was the center of attention. While working the third lap of the fourth heat race and closing on the leader his car suddenly veered right and he slammed the wall hard. His crew went to work replacing the damaged parts and pushed him out in time for the semi main. Eric started 16th in the 15 lapper and all eyes were on the Ahearn Rental Special as he fought his way toward the front and took the lead from Bernie Smith with three laps remaining. Eric also had the fans watching in the feature where he started 17th. While Sherman was getting gone as the first 19 laps were accident free after a restart that sidelined Shon Deskins on the opening lap, Eric was using all grooves as he headed toward the front. When Sherman was forced to pit that left Wilkins running on the rear bumper of Mike Leslie’s BG Chemical sprinter. At the ensuing green flag, he went to work. Leslie, hoping for his first sprint car win after years of success in the midgets, stayed in the fast groove making Wilkins take the inside. The two cars touched on the 21st lap and Wilkins spun. He managed to drive back for a seventh place finish but gained only a few points on Ream. The final four laps had all eyes on the Fred Bryan #77 with Sherman at the controls. The 2001 Western World champion pulled out all stops and made the dramatic move that carried him to the lead as he went by the front runners. Leslie’s great drive gave him his second runner-up finish of the year and Mike Martin notched his third straight top five finish as he finished third. Nathan High was the official hard charger of the race as he drove to fourth after starting 19th as a result of finishing third in the semi behind Wilkins and Bernie Smith. Ricky Johnson ran with the leaders all night long and was fifth at the finish line. Rounding out the top ten were Josh Pelkey, Wilkins, Brian Hacker, Andrew Reinbold and Ryan Linder. In addition to Ream Pelkey, Leslie and R.J. Johnson won heats. R.J. also won the trophy dash. He flipped in the feature while running fifth. Jesse Dunham flipped on the first lap of the feature. Neither driver was injured. The sprint cars will be back on the one third mile track July 31. SUMMARY—HANK ARNOLD MEMORIAL ARIZONA SPRINT CAR ASSOCIATION (1/2 MILE TRACK) Main Event: 1. Jeremy Sherman 2. Mike Leslie 3. Mike Martin 4. Nathan High 5. Ricky Johnson 6. Josh Pelkey 7. Eric Wilkins 8. Brian Hacker 9. Andrew Reinbold 10. Ryan Linder 11.Willy Grombach 12. Bobby Boone 13. Bugs Norbury 14. R.J. Johnson 15. Bob Ream, Jr. 16. Bernie Smith 17. Jay Ervine 18. J.T. Imperial 19. Paul Norbury 20. Shon Deskins Lap leaders: laps 1-19 Sherman, laps 20-23 Leslie, laps 24-25 Sherman 1st Heat: 1. Josh Pelkey 2. Jay Ervine 3. Brian Hacker 4. Andrew Reinbold 5. Bernie Smith 6. Michael Bryan 7. Steve Sussex, Jr. 8. James Aragon (8 laps, time: 2.45.88) 2nd Heat: 1. Mike Leslie 2. Mike Martin 3. Bugs Norbury 4. Ryan Linder 5. Chris Bonneau 6. Jeff Henry 7. Chris McArthur 8. Bruce St. James (no time) 3rd Heat: 1. Bob Ream, Jr. 2. Ricky Johnson 3. J.T. Imperial 4. Willy Grombach 5. Shon Deskins 6. Mark Deskovick 7. Marty Wilcox 8. Steve Sandrolini (8 laps, time: 2:47.26) 4th Heat: 1. R.J. Johnson 2. Jeremy Sherman 3. Bobby Boone 4. Paul Norbury 5. Ben Gregg 6. Nathan High 7. Travis Cooley 8. Eric Wilkins (8 laps, time: 2:48.00) Semi Main: 1. Eric Wilkins 2. Bernie Smith 3. Nathan High 4. Shon Deskins 5. Steve Sussex, Jr. 6. Jeff Henry 7. Ben Gregg 8. Chris Bonneau 9. Mark Deskovick 10. Michael Bryan 11. Marty Wilcox 12. Chris McArthur 13. Steve Sandrolini 14. James Aragon 15. Bruce St. James 16. Jesse Dunham (15 laps, time: 5:31.38) Trophy Dash: 1. R.J. Johnson 2. Willy Grombach 3. Nathan High 4. James Aragon (4 laps, time: 1:21.78) UNOFFICAL ASCA POINTS Bob Ream, Jr. 2900 Eric Wilkins 2614 R.J. Johnson 2432 Ricky Johnson 2151 Nathan High 1904 Josh Pelkey 1812 Chuck Buckman 1707 Jeff Henry 1705 Marty Miller 1646 Bugs Norbury 1595 |
