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Spencer Speedway
As the fans came through the gate at Spencer Speedway, there was a
buzzing of smack talking goin on about whose driver was better than
the other's. It was almost comical at best. Kids running around
underneath the stands and lining up at the candy counter or the
souvenir stand let's you know that it's all about fun. Then there
was mas hysteria and fans and children were running rampant as Mike
Gibson & Tony Bowling came throught the pit gate to enter the
"General Admission" area to see some fans and sign some autographs.
They stayed and did a little Q & A session with the fans which let
you know, that these drivers got it. They understand that they're
heroes or villians dependant upon the choices made on the track.
It's what the fans don't see that sets the drivers as a family and
fraternity off the track. It is what makes it.....Saturday Night
Thunder Racing.
The P.A. speakers crackle and then start to buzz as they explode
with "Aaaaannnnnnnnd NOW it's time for SAAAAturdaaayyy Night
Thunder. On the pole with a time of 21.038. The number 21 American
Racing Wheels Chevrolet Camaro....Toooonnnnyyyy BOWLINNNNNGG!
Clocking in with the 2nd fastest lap is the 28 Gibson Motorsports
Ford Mustang of Mike Git-r-Done Gibson. With a time of 21.152 The 46
Bob's Arco Plymouth Barracuda of Jim Whaley Jrrrrrrrr! Annnd
rounding out the dash with a time of 21.241 is the 85 Pontiac
Firebird of Trevor MALOOOOOnnne. Dash Carsss LIIIIINNE EMMM Up!!!!"
The "Dash Cars" got out onto the track to let it all out for 4
hardcore, let it all hang out, take no prisoner laps, and it would
be just that. The green waves and the four barrel into turn 1.
Bowling and Whaley on the inside and Gibson and Malone on the
outside. Since the inside line was the preferred way around this
very tight 1/2 miler, you knew the advantage would go to Bowling and
Whaley. Bowling came out on top and Whaley was trying to not get
into him as well as hold Gibson at bay. The first two laps were
pretty uneventful, but Whaley and Gibson turned up the flame. When
it was signaled that there were two more laps the battle ensued.
Whaley was putting his bumper right on Bowling and Gibson was doing
the same to Whaley. Exiting turn 4 on the last lap Whaley had a nose
underneath Bowling but couldn't get the rear wheels to stick coming
off the corner and Bowling held him off for the Dash win.
Heat 1 saw
nothing that was really unexpected. At the drop of the green heading
into turn 1 the 20 of Walters rearended Billy Fuller in the 74,
meanwhile the 092 Gasho Trucking Camaro of Clayton Stokes was
mauling the 43 Cuda of George Vincent, but it all came to a head
when on the last lap Stokes just touched Vincent's rear bumber in
the center of 3 & 4 and sent Vincent around. Stokes would manage to
get the win and the review board saw no evidence of reckless or
aggressive driving. So the win stood.
Heat 2 saw all
the "Big Guns" in it so this race truly could be anyones. It was a
dog fight between Bowling, Gibson, Malone and Whaley, but with 3 to
go Whaley got into the back of Malone and sent Malone around handing
the win to Gibson.
The Feature was
the next race up and with all the big boys in the very back we could
possibley see a new 1st time winner or a winner that hasn't won in
awhile. Neither of those scenario's came to fruition as the night
was filled with yellow after yellow during the first half of the
race. It took it's toll especially hard on championship contender
Mike Gibson as he lost 2nd place in the standings due to his almost
last place finish. This was not his fault however. Malone and
Bowling were battling it out for the lead when both cars got a
little loose off of turn 4. Both corrected but there just was not
enough room ans Malone came down and Bowling moved up. This is where
the carnage took place. Malone put his Firebird head on into the
outside wall just passed the start fininish line. Gibson managed to
miss him and spun off the track to what everyone would assume was
far enough from harms way that he would continue....wrong! As Malone
was sitting on the front stretch the 43 of Vincent had no where to
go and pummeled Malone sending him over on his roof. He slid all the
way to where Gibson was and then hit Gibson and flipped over and
landed on Gibson effectively ending both of their night's. Several
other cars were involved to receive damage but would soldier
on....for the most part. On lap 44 The green flag waived and Whaley
was right behind Bowling. In typical Whaley restart fashion he
hammered it at the right time and got inside of Bowling heading into
turn 1. Bowling could do nothing and had to settle back in line
behind Whaley. This would prove to be the move of the race. Only 2
more caution interrupted the racing action. One was a self spin, the
other was the 20 of Walters again gettin Fuller and ending his
night. Bowling did everything possible to rattle Whaley and make a
mistake, but The wiley veteran never paid attention to Bowling and
just drove to get his 2nd straight Feature win of the season and
career 21st.
Spencer Speedway
Top 5:
1st. 46 Jim Whaley Jr (Cuda)
2nd. 21 Tony Bowling (Camaro)
3rd. 06 Greg Artlip (Mustang)
4th. 43 George Vincent (Cuda)
5th. 20 Terry Walters (Mustang)
The drivers are heading north of the border in 2 weeks to Cayuga
Speedway. Come join all the racing action!!
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