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Haubstadt, IN - August 2, 2008. Saturday night Brady Short of
Bedford, IN, captured the title for the 4th annual Hoosier Sprint Nationals at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN. Short became the
4th different winner since the inception of the race in 2005. He
moved into the lead on lap 29 and had the ability and speed necessary to stay there. The distance was 50 laps! It was the longest race so
far this season for the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series and it paid $10,000 to win.
In victory lane Short made a rousing appearance atop the roll cage. The driver of the victorious Indiana Stoneworks sponsored
Maxim saluted the crowd and welcomed a rush of crew members and family members from the pits. Congratulations are due car owner Don
Short and the entire crew.
At the finish two equally determined drivers were closing on Short. Runner-up Kyle Cummins was looking to the outside and then
charging off the corners in an effort to pull even. A slight late race bobble up in turn two cost him some time but he made that up
quickly and lifted the car off turn 4 with the throttle and made the last dash to the line an exciting finish. Cummins second place
finish was worth $5,000. His push to second from a 15th place start gave him the MSCS - Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard Charger Award.
Robert Ballou's third place finish was a remarkable feat in itself because he had to pit when his wheel came off. At the time he
was leading and he then had to restart on the tail and start picking off competitors again. Thomas Meseraull proved how tough he can be
to pass. All race long he seemed to be in the thick of the action as drivers had to deal with him before they could challenge for the
ultimate goal of taking the $10,000. He would finish fourth. Former Hoosier Sprint Nationals winner Kevin Briscoe was fifth. Briscoe
proved to be the workhorse of the race. He earned a 16th starting spot by winning the B-Main and then availed himself of every
opportunity to move forward in the A-Main.
The second five at the finish included veteran Hud Cone and a bevy of teenage sprint car pilots including Blake Fitzpatrick, John
Memmer, Jeff Bland Jr., and Kevin Thomas Jr. Finishing the race was a challenge for one and all. Four of these five drivers were
involved in at least one incident. There were numerous incidents and accidents. Caution periods and red lights were a constant factor.
There was also a fuel stop with 28 laps on the lap count board. Two crew members could come onto the track to add fuel. This was due to
the cars having logged in over extra 50 laps of caution time.
The four qualifying heat races for the 37 MSCS sprints were won by Chase Stockon, Jerry Ruble, Kevin Thomas Jr., and Hunter
Schuerenberg. Lance Grimes collected the Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award after finishing 11th in the field. Alex Shanks used an MSCS
Provisional to finish 13th. Mike Hess missed the show by one spot after running in the B and was listed as the possible alternate but
everyone started the feature.
Shane Cottle was the first driver out in the feature when his car overturned in heavy traffic as the field collected and then
scattered in turn two on the original start. Hunter Schuerenberg crashed in turn three on lap 6 while running second. Daron Clayton
endured a side winding series of flips in turn one after ten laps. He too had worked his way up to second. They all took the long walk
back to the pits!
The leader for the first 17 laps was Chase Stockon. Robert Ballou finally succeeded in making the pass to become the new leader.
Stockon had been turning some very quick laps! Once passed Stockon's car broke in the effort needed for him to stay in the hunt and he
retired to the pits. Ballou stayed in the lead through lap 28 which is when his wheel broke off sending him pit side briefly.
Veteran Jon Stanbrough had qualified for the feature but in doing so he was involved in a flip at the finish line in heat four.
He crossed the finish line 4th while flipping but the car was mangled and destined to be loaded in the trailer. By the B-Main call 5 other
drivers had scratched from the line-ups.
Prior to the evening's event a short ceremony was conducted during which noted author and broadcaster Dave Argabright was on hand
to present Tom Helfrich a plaque in recognition of his being named as the Non Wing Sprint Car Promoter of the Year thus recognizing his
total involvement with both Tri-State Speedway and the Midwest Sprint Car Series. The award was presented as a result of balloting by
members of a National Sprint Car Poll.
The next event for the MSCS Sprints at Tri-State Speedway is set for Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. That is August 31st. In the
meantime the MSCS sprints will appear at Clay County Speedway in Flora, IL, on August 16th and Union County Speedway and Twin Cities
Raceway Park on August 22nd and 23rd. The Clay County date is a new
addition to the schedule.
....
The UMP Open Wheel Modified Division was in action also on Saturday night. The 25 lap feature was won by Everett Bradham of
Olney, IL. It was his second victory in a row and third at the track this season. Following Bradham at the finish line to complete the
top five were Zach Fair, Danny Claycomb, Levi Kissinger, and Chris Moore. Bradham, Fair, and Don Boyles won the three preliminary heat
races.
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