RoadRunner
07-18-2005, 01:20 PM
ECKERT TAKES HOME $10,000 IN DIXIE CHOPPER SHOWDOWN AT VIRGINIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Saluda, VA – Rick Eckert of York, PA squeezed past Davey “The Juice” Johnson of Greensburg, PA with three laps to go in the Dixie Chopper Showdown presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc to take the lead and win in front of a screaming crowd at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway.
Eckert, wheeling his #24 Raye Vest / J&J Steel / Rocket Chassis/ Coronett powered Ford Taurus, took the lead from Davey Johnson on the bottom groove in Turn 4 on Lap 47 and pulled away from Donnie Moran and Johnson over the final three laps to take the victory in the 50-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Dixie Chopper Showdown presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. feature at the half-mile oval. Eckert, whose margin of victory was three car lengths, deposited a winner's check worth $10,000.
"That was an awesome race," Eckert said about the battle. "The racetrack was beautiful you could run anywhere on the track, and I really didn't think I could win. Davey was good and running the line I wanted to use, but I just kept plugging away."
Rounding out the top five were 22nd starting Donnie Moran, Davey Johnson, Matt Miller and Ricky Elliott.
In other action Roland Mann of Chaptico, MD dominated the 35 lap Victory Lap Late Model feature on way to his second win of the season and in the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Brian Dobie of Partlow, VA became the division’s seventh different winner with a wire to wire victory.
At the start of the Dixie Chopper Showdown, Ricky Elliott, who started on the pole, wasted little time showing the field that he had one of the fastest machines on the track. He quickly built an advantage of two car lengths over Johnson and Earl Pearson Jr.
Three caution flags in the first 14 laps was the break the competition needed to tame Elliott's ride.
During the ensuing restart on Lap 14, Johnson grabbed the top spot in Turn 3 after Elliott jumped the cushion. Pearson and Eckert then followed Johnson's footsteps, moving Elliott's ill-handling car back to fourth in the following moments.
Eckert continued to move forward as the laps wound down. On lap 35, Eckert went inside of Pearson to take second place and find himself less than a car length off Johnson's rear deck lid. But getting by Johnson turned out to be a tall task for Eckert.
After the seventh, and final, caution slowed the pack on Lap 42 for a spin in Turn 4 by Booper Bare, Eckert spent the next five laps trying to get inside Johnson. But the difference on Lap 47 was Eckert's aggressiveness.
Heading into turn three Eckert drove three car lengths deeper into the corner than did Johnson. The aggressive move pulled Eckert even with Johnson exiting Turn 4. The two traded paint at the start-finish line, causing Johnson to lose momentum as they raced back into Turn 1 allowing Eckert to squeeze past for the lead.
After getting by Johnson Eckert pulled away by three car lengths leaving Johnson to battle for second with Donnie Moran. Moran, scheduled to start tenth, went to a backup car and had to start shotgun on the field. With two pit stops and 48 laps behind him, Moran was now poised to battle for second. With the white flag waving, Eckert was in control by three car lengths and had Johnson and Moran heavy at it for second. Eckert would cruise to the victory with Moran nipping Johnson at the line for second.
"If I could get it to stick for one lap, I knew I could get beside him," Eckert said. "But he pushed at the same time, and I made a good move."
Following Eckert to the checkers were 22nd starting Donnie Moran, Davey Johnson, Matt Miller, Ricky Elliott, Jim Bernheisel, 21st starting Don O’Neal, 20th starting Steve Casebolt, Earl Pearson and Booper Bare rounding out the top ten.
In the Victory lap Late Model 35 lap feature Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD set fast time in “Hot Lap” time trials for the fifth time this season and inverted the top four with the pill draw. That put Roland Mann and Ronald Cusic on the front row leading the field to green. Cusic out dueled Mann into turn one for the lead only to have a caution come out for an eight-car pileup in turn 1. On the restart Cusic proceeded to take the lead once again only to have the races second caution fly for a spin out of turn two. That put the field single file with Mann on the point.
On the restart Mann pulled away leaving Cusic to battle with Stevie Long for second. Long made several attempts at second but couldn’t wrestle the spot away.
With the top three pulling away the best battle on the track was for fourth between Jared Powell, Sommey Lacey and Ray Love Jr. On lap 20 Love made a move out of turn 2 to take the fourth spot with Powell in tow to fifth only to have a caution come out on the backstretch, sending lacey back to fourth.
It took six laps before Love would get by Lacey for fourth, this time on the outside and with Powell following to fifth once again. On lap 32 Lacey got back inside Powell as the two raced out of turn 2. Lacey finally gained control of fifth as the two exited turn 4.
With one lap to go Mann still had Cusic and Long within striking distance but was flawless on way to his second victory of the season.
“Those two starts at the beginning I think we were a little too low on the bottom and Ronald (Cusic) got a good run on us, I’m glad it went to a single file restart I don’t know if we could have caught him if not,” commented Mann.
“The top ten cars, anyone can win on any night,” added Mann about the quality of the competition. Rounding out the top five were Ronald Cusic, Stevie Long, Ray Love Jr. and Sommey Lacey. Stevie Long picked up the Thurston Spring Service dirt Series Championship Rookie of the Race Award with his third place finish.
In the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Chuck Marks of Bryans Road, MD set fast time in “Hot Lap” Time Trials and inverted the top four with the pill draw. That put Brent Bordeaux and Brian Dobie on the front row. As the field got the green Bordeaux and Dobie went side by side through turns 1 and 2 with Dobie on the outside. Dobie would take control as the two exited turn 4 and pull to a four-car length advantage.
On the next lap caution would come out for a spin in turn 4 by Renee Weeks who was running in third at the time. On the restart Dobie was able to once again pull away with Bordeaux in tow. On lap 14 Mark Claar Sr. made an inside pass on Bordeaux in turn 3 to take second and set out to catch Dobie.
Over the next ten laps Claar made several attempts to get by Dobie on the inside but each time Dobie got a good bite on the high side to keep the lead. Dobie never looked back and drove his #10 Warrior Chassis to his first career win and became the division’s seventh different winner.
“The track was great, and I see the #7 on the board and I know Mark (Claar) is tough and we just got a couple good restarts, we didn’t need those cautions because this new Warrior was just hunkered down and it was good,” commented Dobie on his first victory.
Rounding out the top five were Mark Claar Sr., Brent Bordeaux, Eric Erwin and new points leader Page Harrison. Matt Dickens picked up the Thurston Spring Service dirt Series Championship Rookie of the Race Award with a sixth place finish.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway return to action Saturday July 23rd with Family Value Night. All Tickets will be $5 with children 6 and under free. The night’s activities will feature the Truckin Thunder Sportsman, Budweiser Modified, Al’s Auto Parts Charger and Dixie Chopper All American divisions in action.
Competitor gates for Thursday, July 23rd will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 4pm. On track activities will begin at 6:15pm with hot laps. Divisions scheduled to race on Saturday July 23rd: Truckin Thunder Sportsman (30 Laps); Budweiser Modifieds (25 Laps); Al’s Auto Parts Chargers (25 Laps) and the Dixie Chopper All Americans (15 Laps). Sportsman and Modified divisions will run Hot Lap Time Trials and Features only. Chargers and All Americans will run heats and features. Adult, Senior and Military tickets are just $5, Students 13 –17 yrs old $5, Children 7 – 12 yrs old $5 and Children 6 and under free.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2005 schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223
RESULTS FOR JULY 16, 2005:
DIXIE CHOPPER SHOWDOWN presented by THURSTON SPRING SERVICE INC. LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES 50 LAP FEATURE (23 CARS):
1. Rick Eckert; 2. Donnie Moran; 3. Davey Johnson; 4. Matt Miller; 5. Ricky Elliott; 6. Jim Bernheisel 7. Don O’Neal; 8. Steve Casebolt; 9. Earl Pearson, Jr.; 10. Booper Bare; 11. John Mason; 12. Sean Cosgrove; 13. Darryl Hills; 14. Terry Harris; 15. Scott James; 16. Freddy Smith; 17. Randall Chupp; 18. Jeremy Miller; 19. Mark Pettyjohn; 20. Timmy Booth; 21. Brent Robinson; 22. Matt Hubbard; DNS: Louie Littlepage.
Lap Leaders – 3: Elliott 1 – 14; Johnson 15 – 46; Eckert 47 – 50.
Fast Qualifier: Donnie Moran 17.884 sec, 100.649 mph
Heat race Winners: Ricky Elliott, Davey Johnson, Earl Pearson Jr.
VICTORY LAP LATE MODEL 35 LAP FEATURE (23 CARS):
1. Roland Mann; 2. Ronald Cusic; 3. Stevie Long; 4. Ray Love; 5. Sommey Lacey, Jr.; 6. Jared Powell; 7. Jamie Lathroum; 8. Joey Love; 9. Pat Wood; 10. Austin Hubbard; 11. Larry Grimstead, Jr.; 12. Louis Timberlake; 13. Mark Parks; 14. Chuck Beech; 15. Billy Hubbard; 16. Tom Cohick; 17. Joe Bounds; 18. Craig Eastep; 19. Art Rundstrom; 20. Eddie Groome; 21. Scott Adams; 22. Anthony Kincaid; 23. Walker Arthur. (Lap Leaders – 1: Mann 1 – 35) Fast Hot Lap Time: Jamie Lathroum 19.801sec, 90.904 mph.
BUDWEISER MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE (18 CARS):
1. Brian Dobie.; 2. Mark Claar Sr.; 3. Brent Bordeaux; 4. Eric Erwin; 5. Page Harrison; 6. Matthew Dickens; 7. Bill Atkins; 8. Chuck Marks; 9. Mark Schools; 10. Bill Roberts; 11. Brad Bowling; 12. Renee Weeks; 13. Wayne Barricks; 14. Lance Grady; 15. Ron Taylor; 16. Kelly Samuels; 17. Warren Camron; 18. Donnie Medlin. (Lap Leaders – 1: Dobie 1 – 25) Fast Hot Lap Time: Chuck Marks 21.597 sec.
Saluda, VA – Rick Eckert of York, PA squeezed past Davey “The Juice” Johnson of Greensburg, PA with three laps to go in the Dixie Chopper Showdown presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc to take the lead and win in front of a screaming crowd at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway.
Eckert, wheeling his #24 Raye Vest / J&J Steel / Rocket Chassis/ Coronett powered Ford Taurus, took the lead from Davey Johnson on the bottom groove in Turn 4 on Lap 47 and pulled away from Donnie Moran and Johnson over the final three laps to take the victory in the 50-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned Dixie Chopper Showdown presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. feature at the half-mile oval. Eckert, whose margin of victory was three car lengths, deposited a winner's check worth $10,000.
"That was an awesome race," Eckert said about the battle. "The racetrack was beautiful you could run anywhere on the track, and I really didn't think I could win. Davey was good and running the line I wanted to use, but I just kept plugging away."
Rounding out the top five were 22nd starting Donnie Moran, Davey Johnson, Matt Miller and Ricky Elliott.
In other action Roland Mann of Chaptico, MD dominated the 35 lap Victory Lap Late Model feature on way to his second win of the season and in the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Brian Dobie of Partlow, VA became the division’s seventh different winner with a wire to wire victory.
At the start of the Dixie Chopper Showdown, Ricky Elliott, who started on the pole, wasted little time showing the field that he had one of the fastest machines on the track. He quickly built an advantage of two car lengths over Johnson and Earl Pearson Jr.
Three caution flags in the first 14 laps was the break the competition needed to tame Elliott's ride.
During the ensuing restart on Lap 14, Johnson grabbed the top spot in Turn 3 after Elliott jumped the cushion. Pearson and Eckert then followed Johnson's footsteps, moving Elliott's ill-handling car back to fourth in the following moments.
Eckert continued to move forward as the laps wound down. On lap 35, Eckert went inside of Pearson to take second place and find himself less than a car length off Johnson's rear deck lid. But getting by Johnson turned out to be a tall task for Eckert.
After the seventh, and final, caution slowed the pack on Lap 42 for a spin in Turn 4 by Booper Bare, Eckert spent the next five laps trying to get inside Johnson. But the difference on Lap 47 was Eckert's aggressiveness.
Heading into turn three Eckert drove three car lengths deeper into the corner than did Johnson. The aggressive move pulled Eckert even with Johnson exiting Turn 4. The two traded paint at the start-finish line, causing Johnson to lose momentum as they raced back into Turn 1 allowing Eckert to squeeze past for the lead.
After getting by Johnson Eckert pulled away by three car lengths leaving Johnson to battle for second with Donnie Moran. Moran, scheduled to start tenth, went to a backup car and had to start shotgun on the field. With two pit stops and 48 laps behind him, Moran was now poised to battle for second. With the white flag waving, Eckert was in control by three car lengths and had Johnson and Moran heavy at it for second. Eckert would cruise to the victory with Moran nipping Johnson at the line for second.
"If I could get it to stick for one lap, I knew I could get beside him," Eckert said. "But he pushed at the same time, and I made a good move."
Following Eckert to the checkers were 22nd starting Donnie Moran, Davey Johnson, Matt Miller, Ricky Elliott, Jim Bernheisel, 21st starting Don O’Neal, 20th starting Steve Casebolt, Earl Pearson and Booper Bare rounding out the top ten.
In the Victory lap Late Model 35 lap feature Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, MD set fast time in “Hot Lap” time trials for the fifth time this season and inverted the top four with the pill draw. That put Roland Mann and Ronald Cusic on the front row leading the field to green. Cusic out dueled Mann into turn one for the lead only to have a caution come out for an eight-car pileup in turn 1. On the restart Cusic proceeded to take the lead once again only to have the races second caution fly for a spin out of turn two. That put the field single file with Mann on the point.
On the restart Mann pulled away leaving Cusic to battle with Stevie Long for second. Long made several attempts at second but couldn’t wrestle the spot away.
With the top three pulling away the best battle on the track was for fourth between Jared Powell, Sommey Lacey and Ray Love Jr. On lap 20 Love made a move out of turn 2 to take the fourth spot with Powell in tow to fifth only to have a caution come out on the backstretch, sending lacey back to fourth.
It took six laps before Love would get by Lacey for fourth, this time on the outside and with Powell following to fifth once again. On lap 32 Lacey got back inside Powell as the two raced out of turn 2. Lacey finally gained control of fifth as the two exited turn 4.
With one lap to go Mann still had Cusic and Long within striking distance but was flawless on way to his second victory of the season.
“Those two starts at the beginning I think we were a little too low on the bottom and Ronald (Cusic) got a good run on us, I’m glad it went to a single file restart I don’t know if we could have caught him if not,” commented Mann.
“The top ten cars, anyone can win on any night,” added Mann about the quality of the competition. Rounding out the top five were Ronald Cusic, Stevie Long, Ray Love Jr. and Sommey Lacey. Stevie Long picked up the Thurston Spring Service dirt Series Championship Rookie of the Race Award with his third place finish.
In the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Chuck Marks of Bryans Road, MD set fast time in “Hot Lap” Time Trials and inverted the top four with the pill draw. That put Brent Bordeaux and Brian Dobie on the front row. As the field got the green Bordeaux and Dobie went side by side through turns 1 and 2 with Dobie on the outside. Dobie would take control as the two exited turn 4 and pull to a four-car length advantage.
On the next lap caution would come out for a spin in turn 4 by Renee Weeks who was running in third at the time. On the restart Dobie was able to once again pull away with Bordeaux in tow. On lap 14 Mark Claar Sr. made an inside pass on Bordeaux in turn 3 to take second and set out to catch Dobie.
Over the next ten laps Claar made several attempts to get by Dobie on the inside but each time Dobie got a good bite on the high side to keep the lead. Dobie never looked back and drove his #10 Warrior Chassis to his first career win and became the division’s seventh different winner.
“The track was great, and I see the #7 on the board and I know Mark (Claar) is tough and we just got a couple good restarts, we didn’t need those cautions because this new Warrior was just hunkered down and it was good,” commented Dobie on his first victory.
Rounding out the top five were Mark Claar Sr., Brent Bordeaux, Eric Erwin and new points leader Page Harrison. Matt Dickens picked up the Thurston Spring Service dirt Series Championship Rookie of the Race Award with a sixth place finish.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway return to action Saturday July 23rd with Family Value Night. All Tickets will be $5 with children 6 and under free. The night’s activities will feature the Truckin Thunder Sportsman, Budweiser Modified, Al’s Auto Parts Charger and Dixie Chopper All American divisions in action.
Competitor gates for Thursday, July 23rd will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 4pm. On track activities will begin at 6:15pm with hot laps. Divisions scheduled to race on Saturday July 23rd: Truckin Thunder Sportsman (30 Laps); Budweiser Modifieds (25 Laps); Al’s Auto Parts Chargers (25 Laps) and the Dixie Chopper All Americans (15 Laps). Sportsman and Modified divisions will run Hot Lap Time Trials and Features only. Chargers and All Americans will run heats and features. Adult, Senior and Military tickets are just $5, Students 13 –17 yrs old $5, Children 7 – 12 yrs old $5 and Children 6 and under free.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2005 schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223
RESULTS FOR JULY 16, 2005:
DIXIE CHOPPER SHOWDOWN presented by THURSTON SPRING SERVICE INC. LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES 50 LAP FEATURE (23 CARS):
1. Rick Eckert; 2. Donnie Moran; 3. Davey Johnson; 4. Matt Miller; 5. Ricky Elliott; 6. Jim Bernheisel 7. Don O’Neal; 8. Steve Casebolt; 9. Earl Pearson, Jr.; 10. Booper Bare; 11. John Mason; 12. Sean Cosgrove; 13. Darryl Hills; 14. Terry Harris; 15. Scott James; 16. Freddy Smith; 17. Randall Chupp; 18. Jeremy Miller; 19. Mark Pettyjohn; 20. Timmy Booth; 21. Brent Robinson; 22. Matt Hubbard; DNS: Louie Littlepage.
Lap Leaders – 3: Elliott 1 – 14; Johnson 15 – 46; Eckert 47 – 50.
Fast Qualifier: Donnie Moran 17.884 sec, 100.649 mph
Heat race Winners: Ricky Elliott, Davey Johnson, Earl Pearson Jr.
VICTORY LAP LATE MODEL 35 LAP FEATURE (23 CARS):
1. Roland Mann; 2. Ronald Cusic; 3. Stevie Long; 4. Ray Love; 5. Sommey Lacey, Jr.; 6. Jared Powell; 7. Jamie Lathroum; 8. Joey Love; 9. Pat Wood; 10. Austin Hubbard; 11. Larry Grimstead, Jr.; 12. Louis Timberlake; 13. Mark Parks; 14. Chuck Beech; 15. Billy Hubbard; 16. Tom Cohick; 17. Joe Bounds; 18. Craig Eastep; 19. Art Rundstrom; 20. Eddie Groome; 21. Scott Adams; 22. Anthony Kincaid; 23. Walker Arthur. (Lap Leaders – 1: Mann 1 – 35) Fast Hot Lap Time: Jamie Lathroum 19.801sec, 90.904 mph.
BUDWEISER MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE (18 CARS):
1. Brian Dobie.; 2. Mark Claar Sr.; 3. Brent Bordeaux; 4. Eric Erwin; 5. Page Harrison; 6. Matthew Dickens; 7. Bill Atkins; 8. Chuck Marks; 9. Mark Schools; 10. Bill Roberts; 11. Brad Bowling; 12. Renee Weeks; 13. Wayne Barricks; 14. Lance Grady; 15. Ron Taylor; 16. Kelly Samuels; 17. Warren Camron; 18. Donnie Medlin. (Lap Leaders – 1: Dobie 1 – 25) Fast Hot Lap Time: Chuck Marks 21.597 sec.