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This is from the Enid newspaper
Champs crowned at Enid Speedway
The last checkered flag has waved on the final point race of the season at Enid Speedway Park. More than 8,000 laps were raced on the local oval, but only five stock car drivers could emerge victorious as 2008 track champions.
Modified champion Joe Adams is one of the most successful young hot shoes to ever compete on the Garfield County Fairgrounds track. Over the last nine years he has made his way to victory lane nearly 50 times (seven of them this year), but tossed his helmet into the ring for a championship for the first time in 2008. At the start of this season, Adams told me he planned to chase points for the coveted crown in the track’s premier division and though he admits it was a little tough, he was happy.
“It was a little stressful at the end but it feels good,” said Adams. “I want to thank my car owners, Gene and Linda Richardson, for giving me an awesome ride this season. Dunsworth Machine built an awesome motor that made it easy to run for a championship. Tyson Kraft got us headed in the right direction with set-up. And I have to give a very special thank you to Troy Martin, who busts his butt at the shop helping us every week.”
Adams’ quick Platinum Motorsports ride is a Kraft race car sponsored by BB Machine and D&T Welding.
Veteran driver, Jerry “The Warrior” Derr showed he still has all the right stuff as he piloted his invincible No. 57 car to the winner’s circle five times this season and easily wrapped up his first championship in 20 years in the competitive street stock division. Derr began his successful career behind the wheel of a go-cart when he was only 6 years old from Houston to Kansas City. Since then, he has raced street stocks, pro stocks, TIDA late models and modifieds.
“The last championship I won was in 1978,” said Derr. “We came out here this year to win races, and if you win enough races, the championship will come.”
According to Derr, he and his crew chief, “Big” Tom Smith, built every piece of the winning cars. Tools Plus, R&R Rental, HRT Services, Pronto Chemicals and Leon Ramirez Motorsports sponsored the team.
Greg Deterding proved seat time does not necessarily determine a championship as this Oklahoma State University college student walked away with the title in the track’s growing limited modified division during his rookie season.
Early this year, Deterding said his goal was to pick up the championship title during his inaugural season. He made good on his aspirations, clinching the crown on the final point night.
Deterding finished the season with one “A” feature win and numerous top-five finishes aboard his quick No. 85, which sports a Gould Racing chassis and his powered by a Dunsworth Machine motor. Pond Creek sponsors include AG Aviation Equipment, Deterding Aerial, RDS Trucking, D&D NAPA, D&B Service, the Bar-B-Q Joint and Harvest Grill.
Sixty-year old Ronnie Ramer captured the title in factory stocks, often competing against men a third his age. This determined veteran had a successful run, posting six “A” feature wins.
“I like racing with the young guys,” said Ramer. “My dad asked me when I was going to retire and I told him when I couldn’t compete with them anymore.”
Special Ops, Watonga Butane and NAPA of Watonga sponsor his quick car.
Perseverance paid off for 17-year-old Hennessey High School senior Tommy Bohnstedt as he picked up the first championship of his racing career in his sophomore season in the pure stock division.
This young gun raced his Comet Go Carts/Janes Machine Shop-sponsored car to the winner’s circle three times this year in the bloodthirsty division.
“I couldn’t have done it without all of my Dad’s (Joe Bohnstedt’s) help,” said Bohnstedt.
Licklider is the motor sports writer for the News & Eagle.
JIMMY MINTER 'AKA'dirtrack234
Yesterday
is history,
tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That is
why they call it the present.
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