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BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY SPRINT CARS
BLOOMINGTON, IN - APRIL 11, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, IN (April 12, 2008) – The racers and fans turned out in large numbers last night at Bloomington Speedway. The racers were greeted by Mike Miles’ usual well prepared track; and the fans were greeted a good field of cars in all three classes.In the first Safety-Kleen sprint car heat race, Ty Deckard drove from his sixth place starting position to win the opening race of the season. Jon Stanbrough, who won just about everything last season started inside of Deckard and finished second. Shawn Krockenberger, Brady Short, and Safety—Kleen Sprint Car Rookie of the Year candidate Jesse Cramer claimed the remaining three tickets to the feature.
Defending Safety—Kleen Sprint Car champion Jeff Bland, Jr. started outside of the front row of the second heat race. He quickly pulled out to a commanding lead of more than half a lap only to have it called back by a yellow flag. When the race resumed with only a couple of laps to go, he again took the Danny Roberts owned sprinter to nearly as large a lead as he had had initially. Kenny Biro came home second followed by Kenny Carmichael, Sr., Kenny Carmichael, Jr., and Blake Fitzpatrick.
Dickie Gaines also started on the outside of the first row of his heat. He took the early lead and held it until the checkered flag flew. Tony Reed who started on the pole through the luck of the draw held on to a strong second place finish ahead of Jon Sciscoe, Ricky Williams, and Ryan Tusing.
The final five positions in the feature would come from the “B” Feature. Kevin Chambers and Shain Matthews started side by side on the front row. Matthews took the early lead and drove to the win. Bobby Stines started sixth and drove to a second place finish. Jimmy Light came home third trailed by Danny Holtsclaw and Chambers.
The field was set for the first Safety—Kleen Sprint Car feature of the season. Dickie Gaines and Kenny Biro started side by side on the front row of the feature followed by Ty Deckard and Jeff Bland, Jr., Gaines led the first six circuits. By lap three Jeff Bland, Jr. was in second place and headed for the lead. In the same three lap Brady Short had made his way from tenth to sixth; and he had plenty of time left to get to the front. On lap seven Bland took the lead; and he was followed by Gaines, Biro, and Short. Stanbrough was two spots farther back. Of course, almost anyone who has found himself in a sprint car over the past couple of years knows, there is almost know lead over Stanbrough that is big enough.
At the end of the first ten laps the running order was Bland, Short, Gaines, Deckard, and Stanbrough. On lap 14 Short passed Bland to take the lead; and 18th circuit Stanbrough passed Gaines to take third place. Although he was still running in third place, Stanbrough was gaining on Short and Bland. In the closing laps it was any of their race to win. But, Short held on to take the win; while Bland managed to hold onto second. Stanbrough was forced to settle for third. The sprint feature was one that will be fodder for bench racers for years to come.
Over the off season the famous Fox Brothers sprinter had changed from white to black; and it was almost devoid of adornment. The emphasis had obviously been on getting the car on the track. Things like getting contingency sponsors’ decals on the car would have to wait for another day. It is believed that the engine had not lit until it was pushed off in the pits last night. It seems pretty certain that the car will be much more ready to go the next time out.
Another familiar face was missing from action last night. The white number five was absent from the pits. Dick Briscoe, however, was present; and he indicated that the Briscoe team had intended to compete; however, their motor was not returned to them in time. It is probable that Kevin’s son will be ready to assume his rightful position in the cockpit of a sprinter before long – perhaps as a part of a two car team.
HEAT 1: 1.(6) Ty Deckard, 2.(5) Jon Stanbrough, 3.(1) Shawn Krockenberger, 4.(7) Brady Short, 5.(8) Jesse Cramer, 6.(2) Kevin Chambers, 7.(9) Jimmy Light, 8.(3) Chris Babcock, 9.(10) Danny Holtsclaw, 10.(4) John Paynter
HEAT 2: 1.(2) Jeff Bland, Jr., 2.(6) Kenny Biro, 3.(5) Kenny Carmichael, Sr., 4.(4) Kenny Carmichael, Jr., 5.(7) Blake Fitzpatrick, 6.(3) Shain Matthews, 7.(8) Arin McIntosh, 8.(1) Eric Edwards, 9 (9) Kevin Studley
HEAT 3: 1.(2) Dick Gaines II, 2.(1) Tony Reed, 3.(5) Jon Sciscoe, 4.(3) Ricky Williams, 5.(4) Ryan Tusing, 6.(6) Bub Cummings, 7.(7) Bobby Stines, 8.(9) Drew Ikerd, 9.(8) Eric KrockenbergerBrady Short, 10.(5) Steve Rone
‘B” FEATURE: 1.(2) Shain Matthews, 2.(6) Bobby Stines, 3.(4) Jimmy Light, 4.(9) Danny Holrsaclaw, 5.(1) Kevin Chambers, 6.(3) Bub Cummings, 7.(7) Chris Babcock, 8.(5) Arin McIntosh, 9.(10) Kevin Studley, 10.(8) Eric Edwards, 11.(11) Drew Ikerd, 12.(12) Eric Krockenberger, 13.(13) John Paynter
FEATURE: 1.(10) 36 Brady Short, 2.(4) 21s Jeff Blands, Jr., 3.(5) 53 Jon Stanbrough, 4.(1) 11P Dickie Gaines, 5.(3) 48 Ty Deckard, 6.(9) 7 Jon Sciscoe., 7.(13) 12T Jesse Cramer, 8.(16) 67 Shain Matthews, 9.(2) 22 Kenny Biro, 10.(12) 11w Ricky Williams, 11.(14) 10 Blake Fitzpatrick, 12.(17) 9 Bobby Stines, 13.(18) 23 Jimmy Light, 14.(11) 92c Kenny Carmichael, Jr., 15.(6) 8 Tony Reed, 16.(15) 16 Ryan Tusing, 17.(19) 3 Danny Holtsclaw, 18.(7) 21k Shawn Krockenberger, 19.(20) 18 Kevin Chamber, 20.(11) 92 Kenny Carmichael Lap Leaders: Dickie Gaines (1-6), Jeff Bland, Jr. (7-13), Brady Short (14-25)
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