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Sheridan beats
Sherman in Manzy's Hall of Fame Vintage Classic |
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(Sept. 22) Danny Sheridan beat local favorite Jeremy Sherman in Saturday night's USAC/CRA sprint car Hall of Fame Vintage Classic at Manzanita Speedway as he came out of the sixth row in winning the 30 lap feature on Manzy's half mile track. Both Sheridan, who is ranked third in USAC/CRA points, and Sherman, the American Sprint Car Series points leader, were trying to get their second win of the year. Sheridan took the lead on the 15th lap and stayed in front until Sherman used a low line pass to take the lead on the 24th lap. However Sheridan was back in front a lap later and held off Sherman to get his first win since April 14 at Perris Auto Speedway. Tony Jones, the USAC/CRA points leader made a drive from the back of the 21 car field to third at the checkered flag. Second generation driver Casey Shuman, up from tenth, finished fourth ahead of David Cardey. Rounding out the top ten were Rip Williams, Matt Rossi, Garrett Hansen, Blake Miller and Tom Ogle. Miller shared the front row with Mike Spencer and led the first lap. Spencer then took over and led two laps before pulling in with mechanical problems on the Ron Chaffin sprinter and that gave the lead to Garrett Hansen with Sherman in second. The two raced side by side and nose to tail for most of the laps until Sheridan got through the traffic. Sherman got a good run off turn four and as he tried to switch lanes he got into the back of Hansen's Mark Priestly car on the front straightaway and both cars were in danger of crashing but Sherman hit the brakes and both cars maintained their position. Sheridan, who had some brake problems in his heat race, moved by Sherman on the 14th lap and took the lead from Hansen a lap later. A yellow flag for debris, in the form of a cat, slowed the race on the fourth lap. Safety workers managed to get the feline and carry it to safety unharmed. Charles Davis, Jr., the pre-race favorite after winning a nail biter at Tucson Friday night, was sidelined in a freak accident on his qualifying run. As he exited turn four on his first lap the steering wheel came off and he made hard contact with the outside retaining was and then veered into the inside wall. The Jim Massey car was damaged beyond immediate repair ending Davis's night. A nine car field of vintage race cars ran an exhibition heat race and a ten lap feature on Manzy's one third mile track. The Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame added five new members in induction ceremonies held during intermission. The new members are car builders/crew chiefs Jack Rich, Gary Stanton and Rick Stewart along with drag racer Al Cerney and a many time stock car driver from Yuma, Dick Rautenberg. Ten drivers from the past, including many time sprint car champion Richard Griffin and Manzanita's all time winningest driver Terry Belcher, took part in a two hour autograph session prior to the race. SUMMARY USAC/CRA HALL OF FAME VINTAGE CLASSIC Main Event: (30 laps) 1. Danny Sheridan 2. Jeremy Sherman 3. Tony Jones 4. Casey Shuman 5. David Cardey 6. Rip Williams 7. Matt Rossi 8. Garrett Hansen 9. Blake Miller 10. Tom Ogle 11. Rick Ziehl 12. Tyler Brown 13. Rickie Gaunt 14. R.J. Johnson 15. Scotty Weir 16. Brad Noffsinger 17. Mike Leslie 19. Andrew Reinbold 20. Seth Wilson 21. Nadine Gardner 1st Heat: (10 laps) 1. Mike Spencer 2. Seth Wilson 3. David Cardey 4. Scotty Weir 5. R.J. Johnson 6. Tony Jones 7. Casey Shuman 8. Brad Noffsinger (time-3:20.51) 2nd Heat: (10 laps) 1. Mike Leslie 2. Blake Miller 3. Rick Ziehl 4. Matt Rossi 5. Ricky Gaunt 6. Danny Sheridan 7. Nathan High (time-3:23.17) 3rd Heat: (10 laps) 1. Rip Williams 2. Jeremy Sherman 3. Nadine Keller 4. Garrett Hansen 5. Tyler Brown 6. Tom Ogle 7. Andrew Reinbold (no time) Semi Main: (12 laps) 1. R.J. Johnson 2. Casey Shuman 3. Danny Sheridan 4. Tyler Brown 5. Rickie Gaunt 6. Tom Ogle 7. Brad Noffsinger 8. Andrew Reinbold 9. Tony Jones |
