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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| STANSBERRY GETS FIRST IMCA
SPRINT CAR WIN by Gary Jacob |
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IMCA Sprint Cars and IMCA Modifieds |
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Ventura, CA -May 29, 1999--After a successful dwarf car career,
Tom Stansberry tried winged 360 sprint car racing in 1998 and had a
very successful season in Tulare. Here in 1999, he has elected to take
the wing off and race his sprint car with the unwinged IMCA sprint
cars and also with the unwinged USAC sprint cars on pavement. Saturday
night at Ventura Raceway, Stansberry charged from 6th starting to win
the 30 lap IMCA Sprint Car main for his first sprint car feature win.
Dale Harwood broke out of a recent slump by finishing second from his
pole starting spot. Defending track IMCA modified champion Randy
McGraw has been on a recent tear and he won Saturday nights main to
close within 6 points of 1997 track champion John Aitken in their
championship duel. McGraw had finished second in the previous two
races.
The IMCA sprint car count improved to 26 cars, leaving several frustrated teams sitting out the feature since Ventura limits their main events to 18 cars. Among those missing the transfer were Jimmy Crawford, who was locked in a tight duel for second in points before the night started. Most recent feature winner Bobby Graham and top runners like Michael Smith, Denny McVey and dwarf car star Rob Anderson also missed. Stansberry won the main event from sixth starting as pole starter Harwood ran second. Steve Conrad came from 7th for his third place finish and Bill Welch had the best passing job as he came from 13th starting to finish 4th. Welch has climbed into third in points, just five out of second and 30 behind point leader Kevin Kierce. Outside front row starter Ronnie Case was fifth ahead of Kierce, who lined up 10th. Jim Thomson and second ranked point racer Chris Wakim rounded out the top 8. Santa Maria regulars Mike Knopf and Joey Layman visited with Knopf 9th and Layman 14th. With his win, McGraw climbed past Donald Houghton into second in track points, just six behind Aitken and four ahead of Houghton. The modifieds had a 17 car field and Steve Greenlands up and down year continued as the most recent feature winner was last in tonights finish. McGraw was chased to the win by Jamie Taylor, Gary Curtis and Robert Paquette. A surprise visitor was Billy Griffin and he finished 5th ahead of Aitken. Bill Waltman, David Rhodes and Bakersfield visitor Scott Pruett rounded out the top 9. Paquette is fourth in points, 19 behind Aitken. Houghton finished 10th. Summary IMCA Modified Main-Randy McGraw, Jamie Taylor, Gary Curtis, Robert Paquette, Billy Griffin, John Aitken, Bill Waltman, David Rhodes, Scott Pruett, Donald Houghton, Jim Tietz, Mike Furlong, Bob Dias, Ed Shelton, Kathy Pierson, Hobie Conway, Steve Greenland. IMCA Sprint Car Main-Tom Stansberry, Dale Harwood, Steve Conrad, Bill Welch, Ronnie Case, Kevin Kierce, Jim Thomson, Chris Wakim, Mike Knopf, Will Perkins, Clark Templeman III, Greg Taylor, Jeff Heaton, Joey Layman, Bob Moody, Nathan Ellerton, Tony Dighera, Dan Tedrick. |
