|
Whitney Wins Thriller At Lancaster
by Paul Pittman
Lancaster, WI (Sept 3, 2005): Travis Whitney felt that he gave the 2004 Labor
Day visit away because of an ill handling car which ultimately lead to damage
during the feature and his fading. The recent birth of son Declan and that
memory was all Whitney would need for incentive when the Bumper to Bumper IRA
Outlaw Sprint Series made it’s traditional trek to the Grant County Speedway
in Lancaster, WI. Despite they ultra high fuel prices, 28 teams still
made the trek to Lancaster, however, the prices would have a detrimental
affect on the crowd as it was noticeably down from previous years.
Mike Kertscher bested the field in time trial on a near perfect surface with a
lap of 13.484 seconds. The highly competitive heat races were won by Scotty
Neitzel, K. J. Skelton and Whitney. Dave Uttech took the
B-Main.
The start of the 30 lap A-Main saw pole sitter K.J. Skelton take early control
of the event and lead the first 6 laps while Neitzel, Scott Young and Joe Roe
(the IRA’s top three in points) battled for second, swapping the position
back and forth several times per lap. By lap seven, Neitzel would assert
his 2W to the top spot, leaving Roe and Young to duke it out for second while
Skelton began to fade. On lap eleven, Young would move up to challenge
for the lead, using lapped traffic, and grabbing the lead on lap twelve.
Young’s lead would be short lived however. Lap thirteen saw Randy
Anderson and Matt Wasmund tangle in turns 3 and 4 in front of the
leaders. By the time the dust settled on the accident, only Roe would
find his way through the melee, but not totally unscathed as wing damage to
the right wing panel would come into play later in the event.
The restart saw Roe inherit the lead as Neitzel’s team was able to make
repairs to get him back into the event, albeit in the rear beside Young.
While both Neitzel and Young weaved their way through traffic, trying to get
back to the front, Roe found his hands full with Whitney, who was able to get
by Roe by lap fifteen. The caution would wave on lap seventeen when Kim
Mock and Donny Goeden got together in turns 1 and 2. Neither car would
continue. On the restart, Whitney got a good jump on Roe while a battle
for third was shaping up between Steve Meyer, K.J. Skelton and Billy Balog
with Neitzel and Young continuing their marches forward. A final caution
on lap twenty-three set up a seven lap run to the end. Whitney would go
on unchallenged, as was Roe for second, but all eyes were watching the
developing battle for third between none other then Scotty Neitzel and Scott
Young. At the drop of the checkered flag, both drivers made a desperate
effort for the position with Young literally inching out Neitzel who was
pinched along the wall.
In victory lane, an elated Whitney dedicated the win to his wife (Lorri) and
their new son. “I was a little bit worried about the rain and I knew
Roe was behind me so I knew I had to get him on that first restart and I
don’t even know where he was, but I’m sure it wasn’t very far.”
Whitney told the fans. “Lorri and Declan are home and doing good, but
I wanted this one for them.”
OFFICAL RESULTS
TW Metals Time Trials: Mike Kertscher (Osborn & Son Trucking #80K)
13.848 seconds
WELD Racing Heat: Scotty Neitzel (R&H Enterprises #2W)
MPD Race Products Heat: K.J. Skelton (Simplicity Lawn & Garden #80)
Lane Automotive Heat: Travis Whitney (Whitney Racing #9)
Behling Race Equipment B-Main: Dave Uttech (Timberking Tree Service #68)
United Trailers A-Main (30 laps): Travis Whitney (Whitney Racing #9),
Joe Roe, Scott Young, Scotty Neitzel, Steve Meyer, Scott Uttech, K.J. Skelton,
Jason Johnson, Todd Hepfner, Jim Melis, Billy Balog, Todd King, Dave Uttech,
Mike Kertscher, Wayne Modjeski, Kurt Davis, Scott Biertzer, Ty Bartz, Donny
Goeden, Kim Mock, Matt Wasmund, Randy Anderson
DMI Hard Charger: Scott Uttech (Trinity Racing #7) +14
|
|
|
