DEAN HOFFMAN IS 97 CHAMPION
By Jack Taylor

(5/25/97) The 1997 Memorial Day weekend has passed and for most race fans and drivers, it didn't even happen. Most of the big plans for special racing events at area tracks were washed out by weekend rains that started on Saturday and lingered throughout Monday. 

Even the Indy 500 was effected as a total of 15 laps had only been completed by Monday evening. Local tracks washed out over the weekend are juggling their schedules to try and fill those special shows later on. Only Vermilion County Speedway was successful in running their scheduled events over the weekend completing their added Friday night races and running it's marathon David Richardson Memorial show on Sunday. 

Vermilion County Speedway Promoter, Phil Richardson, kept his promise to drivers and fans from as far away as Kentucky and Ohio as he diligently started and completed the big Sunday show over a period of 12 hours or so. With gates opening at 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoon and some Kentucky drivers already at the track, Richardson continued to fight the elements of nature, and the wrath of many of the fans and drivers, as one of the highest paying Modified programs in the Midwest was completed with the feature race for $4,000 to win was won by Dean Hoffman of Belleville, Illinois at 3:30AM Monday morning. For fans and drivers alike, only the strong survived, but Richardson should be awarded a star for determination.

A remarkable field of 72 UMP Modified drivers from five states qualified for the large purse along with strong turnouts of local drivers in the four other classes to swell the pits to the limit. An additional four cars left the track before qualifying began.

Fast time for the Modified event was posted by Ed Chenault of  Richmond, Kentucky. Six 12-lap heats were run to set the starting field for the 50-lap feature, along with 2 semis fielding 18 cars each to determine the final four spots for the main event. The trophy dash was won by Denny Schwartz of Ashmore, IL. The six heat winners wee Brandon Raef of Kokomo, IN, Jeff Leka of Buffalo, IL, Tommy Burnside of Kansas, IL, Arby Burton of Georgetown, IL, Jeff Martin of Kansas, IL, and Mike Petersak of Danville, LL.The two 15-lap semis went to Butch Shay of Louisville, KY (94 Champ) and Mick Huckstep of Charleston, IL.

The 22-car field for the start of the main event was filled with outstanding drivers such as past winners, Shay, and Scott Patman of Valonia, IN (96 winner), along with Jerry Johnston of Shelbyville, IL, Steve Hillard of Sadorus, IL, Scotter May of Creve Cour, IL, and Toby Massie of Hindsboro, IL. Hillard, a five-time feature winner in 97, started in very last position of the star-studded field. Many top drivers such as Bryan Clendeen of Oakwood, IL (96 VCS Champ), Schwartz, Richie Hedrick of Urbana, IL, and Dave Bice of Avilla, IN (96 Springfield Mile Champ) failed to make the field

With the six heat winners filling the first three rows, Jeff Martin and Mike Petersak battled for the lead as the green dropped and the rest of the field settled in for the 50-lap run. Scooter May worked his way to the front and took the lead from Martin on lap 10, only to lose it back to Martin on lap 14. Martin continued to hold off Petersak and May from lap 15-40when May pulled off the track with problems.

Eventual winner Hoffman had been working his way through traffic from his 18th starting position and caught the leaders on lap 40. On lap 45 Hoffman passed Martin as he faltered for the lead and held off challenges by Jeff Leka and Petersak in the waning few laps.

The Southern Illinois driver crossed the finish line on the final lap to take the checkered ahead of Laka, Petersak, Bill Davis of Chesterton, IN, and Steve Hillard, with a fifth place finish after starting last. Martin, who led most of the race, finished in 14th place.

Hoffman becomes the fourth different driver to win the Richardson Memorial, which has become an outstanding Modified showcase for the Midwest. The long night of racing had come to an end with some good racing for the fans. Promoter Richardson had pulled it off and beat the weather. Under the conditions that were forced on the track by the weather, it was an excellent show and should continue to grow in the future. Possibly a two-day show may become necessary.

FEATURE EVENT
1-Dean Hoffman
2-Jeff Leka
3-Mike Petersak
4-Bill Davis
5-Steve Hillard
6-Tommy Burnside
7-Everett Bradham
8-Ed Chenault
9- Plummer