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Posted: 05/23/10
03:31 PM
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The Starstruck Report- 5/21/10 Notes
Hello friends and welcome to another edition to the Starstruck Report. There was a moderate crowd at the track on what turned out to be a very comfortable night to watch a race. It was also a night where my headphones for my scanner break after years of use and abuse. Now, let's review the action.
Champ Karts (20 laps): This was a very clean and green race with no cautions. David Emory (22) started the race on the pole. On lap 2, Brad Davis (18) took the pole. Lap 3, Kenny Miller (4) went off the pace and got out of the way to prevent a caution being called. On lap 18, Buzz Moore (11) took the lead and held off Brad Davis (18) on the last lap on a side by side finish. 1. (11) Buzz Moore 2. (18) Brad Davis 3. (38) Stanley Holmes 4. (22) David Emory 5. (01) Stan Holmes 6. (21) Cameron Wood 7. (98) J. D. Eversole 8. (00) Randy Emory 9. (28) Ricky Gum 10. (16) Wes Simmons 11. (88) Josh Barefoot 12. (02) Clint Gunn 13. (12) Daniel Davis 14. (8)Tommy Chambers 15. (4) Kenny Miller
Modified (50 laps): Thomas Stinson (4) started this race on the pole. On lap 3, the first caution came out when Kyle Wood (19) and Chris Johnson (36) got together in turn 4. Both men were in the pits. On the restart, Mike Rudy (8) took a brief lead from Stinson (4) only to lose the lead back the next lap. Great side by side racing on that lap. On lap 14, Chris Johnson (36) spun in turn 1. During the same caution, Mike Rudy (8) broke his steering box. Mike Tomlin (73) made a pit stop during that caution. Lap 18, Mike Johnson (38) went in the pits. The caution flag waved on lap 19 when Stacey Wilbourne spun in turn 3. Lap 27, Rudy (8) had the steering fixed enough to finish and re entered the race. Stinson (4) would take the checkered leading all but one lap. 1. (4) Thomas Stinson 2. (36) Chris Johnson 3. (9) Rusty Wood 4. (37) Chris Hoylman 5. (21) Ryan Wilbourne 6. (38) Michael Johnson 7. (19) Kyle Wood 8. (23) Stacey Wilbourne 9. (73) Mike Tomlin 10. (22) Tim Layne 11. (8) Mike Rudy
Late Model Sportsman (75 laps): Chris Hopkins (99) would start this race on the pole. On the first attempt to start the race, Steve Zuskin (71) and John Eversole (98) got together in turn 4. Eversole went in the pits during this caution and would be out most of the race. When the race restarted, Eddie Johnson (43) lead the first lap. On lap 3, Chris Hopkins (99) took the lead. On lap 14, Raymond Pittman III (50) was spun by Jason Pittman (51) on front stretch. Shannon Marano (6) went in the pits during this caution. John Eversole (98) made an attempt to reenter the race on the restart but pulled back off after one lap. Lap 28, Steve Zuskin (71) almost spins in turn 1 and makes a great save in traffic. On lap 37, Jason Pittman (51) wrecked in the front stretch. Adam Resnick (4) made a pit stop during this caution. On lap 39, Eddie Johnson (43) would take the lead and not look back. The following lap, Raymond Pittman (50) and Greg Fernandez (02) wreck in turn 3. Johnson (43) would claim the checkered flag for the first time in 2 years. 1. (43) Eddie Johnson 2. (71) Steve Zuskin 3. (0) Chris Dodson 4. (99) Chris Hopkins 5. (12)Michael Solaimani 6. (6) Shannon Marano 7. (39) Brandon Hendrick 8. (95) Shayne Lockhart 9. (50) Raymond Pittman III 10. (4) Adam Resnick 11. (18) Brad Davis 12. (25) David Mooney 13. (7) Mike Kersey 14. (02) Greg Fernandez 15. (51) Jason Pittman 16. (98) John Eversole
Street Stock (50 laps): This was a hard race to follow and in some ways, it seemed to drivers and fans alike that we had more caution laps than racing laps. Keep in mind, caution laps count in this series. Ricky Stotler (92) started this race on the pole. On lap 1, Todd Ruggles (40) spun in turn 2 and several cars spun in turn 4. Ethan Ayers (69) and Bo Tuck (39) made pit stops during this caution. The race resumed on lap 8. Lap 9, Bobby Corbitt (58) spins in turn 4 but had the car under control fast enough to prevent the caution from being called. On lap 11, Brian Smith (06) took the lead. Lap 15, Chris Kantzler (01) made a pit stop. Lap 20, James Groome (31) took the lead. On lap 22, Justin Groome (8) brought out the caution in turn 4. Ethan Ayers (69) and Dan Rogers (33) made pit stops during this caution. The race resumed at lap 29. Caution was avoided on lap 30 when Wayne Groome (08) spun in turn 4 but got under control fast enough. Lap 31, caution was brought out when Ethan Ayers (69) and Chris Bryant got together in turn 4. Kantzler (01) and Bryant (6) would make pit stops. Ethan Ayers (69) was blackflagged and parked during this caution. Lap 40, Brian Smith (06) would take the lead for good. Lap 41, Mike Ganoe (82) hits wall but goes under control so no caution is called. On lap 44, Bo Tuck (39) was blackflagged. Smith (06) claimed the checkered flag while several cars were wrecking in turn 4. 1. (06) Brian Smith 2. (31) James Groome 3. (92) Ricky Stotler 4. (17)Gary Turner 5. (97) James Loving 6. (911) Travis Nicely 7. (40) Todd Ruggles 8. (8) Justin Groome 9. (15) Shawn Sutphin 10. (41) Jason Beck 11. (29) Paul Clemons 12. (32) O.K. Wilson 13. (79) Robbie Groome 14. (58) Bobby Corbitt 15. (33) Dan Rodgers 16. (96) Alex Ayers 17. (38) Jesse Hendricks 18. (82) Mike Ganoe 19. (08) Wayne Groome 20. (6) Chris Bryant 21. (39) Bo Tuck 22. (69) Ethan Ayers 23. (01) Chris Kantzler 24. (25) Michael Sutphin
Very good show by all four divisions. Now let's analyze the races.
Performance of the week (tie): Most of the time, I salute one of the winners in this award. However, it was not what stuck out most to me in all the races. The honors this week goes to Chris Johnson (modified 36) and Steve Zuskin (LMS 71). Johnson (36) spun twice in the modified race. He came all the way from the back, even taking advantage of the cone restart rule to finish second. Likewise, Zuskin (71) spun on the first lap but kept digging and took advantage of the cone restart rules to finish second. Both men showed resilience in taking a beating and kept right on racing to finish strong. Afterall, the race isn't over till the checkered flag is displayed.
Tough luck Champ Karts: Kenny Miller (4) is the only possible recipient this week. The race was completely clean and green and he was the only kart that ended up in the pits at all.
Tough luck modifieds: Mike Rudy (8) broke his steering box and finished last. He came in the race second in points. However, since it's early in the season, he only lost one position in the points.
Tough luck late model sportsman: John Eversole (98) was involved in a wreck on the first attempted start with Steve Zuskin (71). Zuskin (71) would finish second and Eversole (98) would end up finishing last with a DNF beside his name. Eversole came into the race 3rd in the points and since it's early, he only lost two positions.
Tough luck street stock: Ethan Ayers (69) seemed to have the worst night. Near the end of the race, he was blackflagged and parked.
Flashback: In 1962, Jimmy Pardue won the second Nascar Grand National tour race held at Southside Speedway. Only Pardue and Jack Smith, the second place car, was on the lead lap. Richard Petty, Joe Weatherly and Jim Paschal rounded out the top 5. Emanuel Zervakis, Southside Speedway hall of famer, finished 6th. Wendell Scott, first African American race driver, had his best finish at Southside finishing 8th. Ned Jarett, legend as a driver and commentator, finished 14th and this would be a DNF due to engine trouble. Will find more historical stories later.
Looking ahead: The track will not be running any races on Memorial Day weekend. On that note, I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. On June 4th, the track will host a huge events with Ucars, Grand Stock and Champ Karts. The main event is a 150 lap Late Model Sportsman race. This race should be a good race and have a strong car count.
Now, a couple of personal notes, if I may. The Starstruck Report would like to send out get well wishes to Nascar Sprint driver Brian Vickers as he recovers from blood clots. Vickers will miss the rest of this season and hopefully will be healthy enough to return to racing next season. Good luck and God speed in your recovery. Also, I think it's fitting to give a round of applause to Nascar's first class of Hall of Famers. Each of the 5 men contributed more to racing that I have the space to write about. They remind us of the greatness that made us racing fans. So, to the new Hall of Famers, thank you for all you gave us over the years.
That's all for now and I will see you at the races.
*Larry Starstruck*
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