USAC Sprints @ Dodge City Saturday 8-13-2011

Just as I got to the track, people were saying there was a bad storm moving in with 70 mph winds and some were scrambling to get cars covered and stuff back in the haulers. There was a very dark storm just north of the track, but it slid by with only a small sprinkle. All it did was cool things off by about 15 degrees.

We were down 3 cars (Brewer, Johnson, & Stephens), but decent weather kept the track in good shape and the racing fast.

A full moon seemed to have an effect on the support classes. The B Mods finished with only about 4 cars running. The sprints looked like it got to them too for a while as it took 5 tries to get the feature started; a couple of bad starts, some bumping, and one close call bringing out a series of wave-offs. On the 4th try, Damion Gardner climbed a tire on Jeff Stasa's car and it looked like he was about to take a ride, but somehow they untangled and stayed on all four.

Once they got started, Keith Bloom Jr took the early lead, but Robert Ballou got around him and opened up a fair lead. Friday's winner Tracy Hines closed the gap and moved into the lead with about 5 to go. On the next lap, Ballou flipped in turn 3 but was OK.

When he won Friday, Hines was pretty calm as he climbed from the car, but Saturday, he gave a big wave & celebrated more.

For Friday, I put up shots taken from the turn 4 wall just for a little variety. These are from #3 in hot laps and some from #2 in qualifying and are much better pics.

Zach Blurton

Robert Ballou

Levi Jones

Jon Stanbrough

Tony Everhart

Kris Miller

Patrick Stasa

Hud Cone

Justin Schwien

Keith Bloom Jr

Michael Williams

Tracy Hines

Jeff Stasa

Damion Gardner

Hunter Schuerenberg

Chris Windom

Dave Darland

Blake Fitzpatrick

Travis Rilat

Bobby East

Jordan Weaver

Back to turns 3 & 4 for heats.

For the feature, I started at the entrance to turn three, but the drivers were soon entering up high and I moved into #4.

Coming into #3, when Gardner climber Stasa's tire, it looked like he was going for a ride.

Then he got off...

....then on again....

....and off once again, all without much harm done.

Robert Ballou seemed to be in control early.

Late in the race & they were still three wide at times.

Ditto

Hines on his way to the sweep.

Touchdown!