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Bennymite
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Posted: Sunday May 4th, 2008 09:03 AM |
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CROCKETT CONQUERS CLASSIC…AGAIN
By Ben Deatherage
For the third time in the last five Grove Classics only one night has been ran out of the scheduled two. In 2002 the first Classic rain came about Friday to wash away the first night but Saturday seen Dan Menne of Fort Jones, California take the win. In 2003 and 2004 both nights were ran in each race but 2005 seen only Friday completed.
The last time we were able to get the Classic completed in 2006 both nights were in the books. This year only one night was completed after Friday was cancelled due to track conditions. Only Limited Sprints and 360 Sprints were on hand for the classic so the other classes had the night off.
Limited Sprints:
In qualifying Monte Smith of Springfield was able to best the field by posting the quickest lap of 11.549 seconds. It was his second fast time of the year. Smith was looking for his first win since June of 2006.
In the first heat race of the night Ron Cooper of Cottage Grove made his season debut running a three digit number. Running his regular #2 he added his late cousin Alan Cooper familiar #14 to make the #214. It proved to be a good move as Cooper led the caution free heat to victory earning the one and only transfer spot to move in the next heat.
In heat two Cottage Grove’s Ted Baker piloted his vehicle around smoothly on the high side. After taking the lead Baker looked to capitalize and open his lead up. Baker did just that and led another caution free heat to victory.
In the Ray’s Food Place Trophy Dash the top four of the last heat were inverted and the winner starting in the back. Brandi Bounds of Cottage Grove got an early start until it was called back. Steven Horner of Cottage Grove was able to get past Bounds and get his car to victory lane. Horner was fortunate enough to draw a white chip and ensure a front row starting position.
During the main Bounds got the early jump on Horner to take the lead. A great battle ensued between Smith, Horner, and Ozzie Osburn of Springfield. Smith made the pass for second while Horner made the pass again. Horner tried to close up the gap for the lead but found a problem with fuel and killed the car on lap twenty. On the restart Bounds sailed to victory followed by Osburn, Jake Waddell of Roseburg, Smith, and Dan Philpot of Glide rounding up the top five.
360 Sprints:
With a good field of cars with drivers ranging from rookies to veterans the 360 class was pretty stacked. Roger Crockett of Medford looking for his fourth straight Classic title bested the field in qualifying. Crockett’s 10.834 seconds set fast time of the night narrowly edging Leduc, Alberta’s Casey Adams and his time of 10.893 seconds.
If the Limited heats seen no cautions then the 360’s seen quite a few. Kyle Miller of Eugene was able to hunt down Chad Groves of Bend on lap six to take over the lead. Miller was able to hold on and cruise to the heat race win and move to heat two.
In heat two Crockett led all ten laps to keep his second straight clean sweep alive. Crockett so far had seen no problems as he managed to work up a big lead over second place.
During the Ray’s Food Place Trophy Dash Shane Forté of Junction City got an early hole shot lead. For Forté no problems occurred during the rest of the race to stop him from snapping Crockett’s sweep. But Forté drew a blue chip and would have to start in the middle of the field.
During the main Marvin Smith of Cottage Grove managed to get the early race lead. Smith led till Crockett got by him on a restart on lap thirteen to take the lead. Crockett found himself out front but Kyle Miller of Eugene was hot on his trail. Miller would get a flat right rear on lap thirty-two and would be sent to the back. Chad Noland of Central Point and Todd Zeitler of Medford found themselves battling hard for second during the last few laps. Crockett powered his #7N to two straight wins at Cottage Grove and his fourth straight title. Zeitler finished in second followed by Noland, Chad Groves, and Garren Linder of Central Point in fifth.
Race Summary
Limited Sprints:
Fast Time-Monte Smith, Springfield, 11.548
Heat One-Ron Cooper, Cottage Grove
Heat Two-Ted Baker, Cottage Grove
Trophy Dash-Steven Horner
Main-
1. Brandi Bounds, Cottage Grove
2. Ozzie Osburn, Springfield
3. Jake Waddell, Roseburg
4. Smith
5. Dan Philpot, Glide
360:
Fast Time-Roger Crocket, Medford, 10.834
Heat One-Kyle Miller, Eugene
Heat Two-Crockett
Trophy Dash-Shane Forté, Junction City
Main-
1. Crockett
2. Todd Zeitler, Medford
3. Chad Noland, Central Point
4. Chad Groves, Bend
5. Garren Linder, Central Point
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