Before I get going with tonight’s Summernationals recap from the Tri State Speedway I want to make the following statement to the track management:

In every other case of me posting results, I would hope that in turn for a track’s hospitality word might reach some fan and hopefully persuade them to visit that track. However in this particular case, this post is ONLY for the benefit of those who were not able to attend tonight’s race and enjoy reading what I write. In no way is it for the benefit of the Tri State Speedway as your “policy” towards the media and treatment tonight was totally ludicrous. Apparently the media who produce news articles, photos and publish results are deemed meaningless. It’s a shame that such a wonderful facility and well-prepared racing surface is operated under such arrogance.


BILLY DRAKE parked his MasterSbilt on the hub and cabbaged on the Real Deal’s misfortune to pick up his first Summernationals win of 2003.

FINISH:

1 Billy Drake
2 Rick Aukland
3 Bob Pierce
4 Billy Moyer
5 Shannon Babb
6 Rodney Melvin
7 Randy Korte
8 Kevin Weaver
9 Kevin Claycomb
10 Dennis Erb, Jr.

RICK AUKLAND took the lead at the start of the main event from dash winner DON O’NEAL while BILLY MOYER wrestled third away from BOB PIERCE bringing SHANNON BABB along before the caution flew for BILLY FAUST who climbed up on WENDELL WALLACE’s car collecting BOBBY MELVIN and STEVE CASEBOLT, JR.

On the restart, Aukland held off O’Neal who took a look off four. High riding Babb slipped off tow allowing Pierce back under and onto Moyer’s deck lid. Moyer meanwhile joined Aukland and O’Neal to challenge for the lead as Donnie O began to turn up the wick on Aukland. Aukland in turn drove his Rayburn deeper into the corners on the rim as the Real Deal went to the hub. As the duo raced into traffic, O’Neal worked under Aukland in three but the momentum carried by the artist formerly known as the Fargo Flash put him back up front at the stripe. The two swapped the lead this way for the next few laps before O’Neal dealt an ugly slider that cleared Aukland but a near stop off the corner forced Aukland to check up allowing O’Neal to scoot away. Behind them, Drake began to slowly begin his march forward working on Babb for fifth.

Back up front O’Neal fended off Aukland’s challenge taking the leaders into lapped traffic. Back at fifth, Babb used the lapped traffic as a pick to get back around Drake. With O’Neal a half straightaway ahead of the field, Aukland’s hands were full with Moyer. Babb, who’d shaken Drake for the time being, chased down Pierce for fourth but the Bloomington, Illinois chauffeur hung around on the hub while his fellow Illini entered lapped traffic.

With the Real Deal on the rim and driving to a straightaway lead, Drake joined Pierce and Babb rolling under both cars off two on the hub. A lap later, Drake reeled in Moyer and challenged for third as the field took the crossed sticks. The Drake/Moyer duo swapped the third spot for the next two laps before Drake again pulled ahead off the bottom of two. By this time, Aukland had been caught and with the help of Steve Casebolt as a pick, second was Drake’s off two. A lap later, Moyer went to work on Aukland again before Casebolt brought out the next caution stopping in two.

When the field went green again, Drake poked a nose under O’Neal while Moyer and Aukland raced side by side for third. Pierce followed Drake’s low line and rolled under Babb for fifth. As O’Neal again inched ahead by a half straightaway the caution flew once more denying Pierce’s pass of Moyer.

On the restart, Moyer dove under Aukland to challenge for third before Aukland sailed past on the rim. Drake then went to work on O’Neal looking low off turn four. O’Neal’s deep run into one sent him high off two allowing Drake to sneak under and take the lead down the back chute. O’Neal then rallied to pull alongside through three and four and wind his Pro Power tight down the front side and very deep into one on the rim alongside the leader. The Real Deal’s challenge and bid for his first win since last week’s illness ended in turn two when a flat right rear ended his night as he slowed and stopped in three to bring out the final caution and send track workers all down the back stretch picking up the remains of his right rear.

With only six trips left to go, Drake pulled away from the field despite a broken left front strut tube. Pierce inched his way under Aukland for second as Aukland once again used his momentum off the corners to retake second. In the final mile of racing Drake pulled out to a half straightaway lead while Pierce and Aukland swapped second off four and down the front chute. As Billy Drake picked up his first special event win of 2003, Aukland nipped Pierce by inches at the line as a result of Pierce’s gentlemanly allowance of room off four that gave Aukland enough room to slip by at the stripe. Moyer rode home fourth keeping Babb behind the boss’s kid for the first time in three races.


All in all a great night of racing. And despite getting snubbed at the gate and denied entry on a press credential the action on the track was very good. I only hope now that Tom Helfrich can afford to have that operation now.

Proximity is key as Monday’s action only takes us a few miles down the road Monday night as the PAL-U crew rolls into the Terre Haute Action Track for more Summernationals action. Until then, we’ll be wondering of Jason Sapp can get the Rockethead a date with Dora the Explorer and rollin’ em around!