Burnside Wins Seventh Annual Richardson

By Jack Taylor 

(5/28/00 Danville, IL) Modified drivers from seven different states braved the elements and provided Vermilion County Speedway with a classic event in the running of the Seventh  Annual David Richardson Memorial Race on Sunday night. In what was booked as a weekend of top-notch modified racing, beginning at Danville on Friday night for $1000 to win, moving to Charleston Speedway on Saturday for $2500 to win, and back to Danville on Sunday for $5000, Mother Nature won two of three for the weekend. 

The Friday Danville show was postponed and will be rescheduled and the Charleston show, after getting in the heats and semi’s, was also lost to rain. That feature will be made up in two weeks after the Bristol race next weekend. 

With 106 Modifieds in the pits for the Sunday race and an infield full of water, the Vermilion County officials were determined to complete at least one show for the fans and drivers. The track, which normally allows three-wide racing on a dry-slick surface, reared its head and stayed tacky the whole night allowing just two grooves and fast conditions. 

Eight heat races of 20 laps were run, advancing two from each heat to the 50-lap feature. Four semi-features of 20 laps advanced another two from each race to make up the 24-car field. An additional car was added to the field for a 25-car starting field. 

National champions, track champions, Bristol qualifiers, veterans, and rookies made up the feature grid with Peoria’s Mike Chastain and Covington, IN native Dick Phelps on the front row. The second row was filled by NASCAR National champion, Jeff Leka of Springfield and Lance Dehm of Chatsworth, IL. On back from the first two rows were prominent drivers such as the 1998 UMP National Champion and winner of the race in 98, Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN. The 1999 National UMP champion and 99 race winner, Jeff Martin failed by one spot in the semi and missed the show. 

Some others making the feature field with championship driving credentials were Chad Kinder of IL, Denny Schwartz of IL, Ted Nobbe of KY, Kelly Shyrock of IA, Bryan Clendenen of IL, Jason Connoyer of IL, Randle Sweeney of KY, John Seets of IL, and Darrell Herbert of IN. 

Drivers loading up before the main event would have made a Modified Who’ s Who list. Notables such as Dusty Moore, Toby Massie, Dan Hamstra, Jim Shereck, Jeff Cone, Mike Marlar, Jeff Martin, Tom Seets, Josh Lucas, Gary Cook, Jr, and 72 others failed to make the final show. 

The first caution of the feature was brought out by local track points leader, Bryan Clendenen, as he spun in the fourth turn and was forced to retire for the night. Mike Chastain, from his pole position, took the early lead, but gave way to Jeff Leka after two laps. Leka set a fast pace as he and Chastain moved out to as much as a half straightaway lead in the early running. By the end of ten laps and another caution, Denny Schwartz and Tommy Burnside had made it a four-car race with Randle Sweeney and Jimmy Owens waiting in the wings. On lap 20, Owens went too high in turn one, catching the berm, and losing valuable track position. Five laps later, as Leka still set the pace, Owens tangled with Jammie Wilson and Lance Dehm causing another caution. 

Leka remained up front on the restart, but now it was Burnside giving chase. Starting from the 22 nd spot, Burnside was driving on a mission for the big bucks. Lap 39 brought another caution and it was for the leader. Leka clipped the wall on the front straight and put his car over the berm in turn one. 

Burnside inherited the lead on the restart and despite another caution on lap 45, went on to take the checkered flag and the $5000 prize for his biggest win in his career. Following him across the line were Schwartz, Chastain, Kyle Logue, and Darrell Herbert. 

Although 1999 winner, Jeff Martin failed to make the field, his neighbor and friend in tiny Kansas, Illinois, claimed the 2000 Richardson Memorial crown and became the seventh different winner in the seventh running of what has become one of the most prestigious Modified races in the Midwest. 

SEVENTH ANNUAL RICHARDSON MEMORIAL SUMMARY

106 Modifieds

Heat 1-Mike Chastain, Gary Burton, Wes Steidinger, Kyle Logue

Heat 2-Dick Phelps, Ted Nobbe, Larry Raines, Nick Cates

Heat 3- Lance Dehm, Matt Bachman, Gary Cook, Jr, Don Kiger

Heat 4- Jeff Leka, Kelly Shyrock, John Seets, Jim Shereck

Heat 5-Steve King, Jammie Wilson, Tommy Burnside, Phil Johns

Heat 6- Chad Kinder, Bryan Clendenen, Kerry Norris, Steve Francis

Heat 7- Jimmy Owens, Jason Connoyer, Darrell Herbert, Dusty Moore

Heat 8- Denny Schwartz, Randle Sweeney, Doug Murphy, Jason Lackey

Semi 1- Kyle Logue, Nick Cates, Victor Lee, John DeMoss

Semi 2-John Seets, Don Kiger, Gary Cook, Jr, Jeff Cone

Semi 3-Tommy Burnside, Kerry Norris, Eldon Herschberger, J.D. Francis

Semi 4- Darrell Herbert, Jason Lackey, Jeff Martin, Doug Murphy 

50-lap Feature

Burnside, Schwartz, Chastain, Logue, Herbert, Connoyer, Kinder, Sweeney, Lakey, Wilson, Cates, Nobbe, Jim Werner, Dehm, King, Bachman, Seets, Kiger, Leka, Owens, Norris, Burton, Phelps, Shyrock, Clendenen