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| Press Release |
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BUCKMAN BEATS THE BEST TO BECOME THE YEARSEIGHTH
DIFFERENT WINNER |
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Phoenix, AZ (July 13) Chuck Buckman and Terry Belcher, Jr. won main
events in what many fans called the best doubleheader in recent memory Saturday
night at Manzanita Speedway. Buckman scored his first career win in the Arizona
Sprint Car Association feature and Belcher got his first win of the year in the
IMCA Dirt Modified race. While Buckman's win could be considered an upset, he had only two top five finishes in his nine previous starts, many figured he was overdue. The third year driver had shown power and skill several times including a run from 15th to second on May 4th. He finished a strong third in the 50 lap Memorial Day Championships and had run with the leaders several times only to be beset with mechanical problems. Buckman lined up on the inside of the third row and quickly moved into second behind Brandon Lane who took the lead from his pole position. Lane, making only his second start of the year, held Buckman at bay until the 19th lap when Buckman found a fast groove on the outside to take the lead. Bob Ream, Jr., ASCA's winningest driver, was on the move from his fifth row starting position and also shot by Lane and took up the chase. The duo ran side by side and nose to tail with only the heavy traffic halting the side by side racing. Just behind them Marty Miller, Eric Wilkins and Mike Boat were locked in a similar battle for third. Ream kept his Truck Works Buckley on the inside while Buckman was pushing the cushion and finally put his Monte Taylor owned sprinter in front at the white flag. Undaunted, Buckman drove to the inside when Ream snapped a torsion bar going into turn one and brought his unsponsored car under the checkered flag with Ream still trying to steal the win. Miller, another of the low side drivers, barely edged Wilkins with Boat another car length back. Rounding out the top ten were Fred Bryan, Lane, Paul Norbury, Ricky Johnson and Terry Belcher, Jr., all former sprint car winners except Lane. The 1997 champion, Josh Pelkey took 11th. Even though the race was slowed by yellow flags only twice, four other drivers–Ben Gregg, Brandon George, Jason Sutphen and Jeff Henry-- also finished on the lead lap. The track maintenance crew fought 110 degree temperatures and scored a knockout as the track was smooth, fast and dust free. The preliminary races were run on a fairly heavy track but was at its best for the feature. Wilkins, who entered the race with a 345 point advantage over Ream, helped his cause as he came out of the third row to win the first heat, his tenth heat race win of the year. Ben Gregg continues to make a claim for most improved driver with a strong second place finish while Fred Bryan, fresh off his first career main event win, was third after starting seventh and Terry Belcher, Jr. came out of the fifth row to get the final main event transfer spot. After winning the trophy dash Jeff Henry was pumped for the second heat and took the win from the second row with Miller giving chase. Buckman set up his hopes for a main event win with a drive from eighth to third and Ream had to come back from an early spin to take fourth. Chris Bonneau drove into the lead from his outside front row at the drop of the green in the third heat and stayed there to the checkered flag with polesetter Jason Sutphen, Travis Cooley and Lane getting the other transfer spots. The 12 lap semi went green all the way and Boat, a 10 time ASCA winner who has also scored two SCRA wins at Manzy, displayed his talent with a drive from the middle of the field that netted him the win in near record time. Steve Cushman led the first eight laps but lost his brakes and Boat was there to take the lead. Cushman still managed to bring his Interstate Wreck Rebuilders car home in second, just in front of Norbury, Pelkey and Johnson. The sprint cars get a much needed week off before they take to the Manzy half mile track for only the third time this year on July 27th. SUMMARY ASCA SPRINT CARS Semi main: 1. Mike Boat 2. Steve Cushman 3. Paul Norbury 4. Josh Pelkey 5. Ricky Johnson 6. Brandon George 7. Brian Hacker 8. Rick George 9. John Gaston 10. Shon Deskins 11. J.T. Imperial 12. Bernie Smith 13. Michael Bryan 14. Davey Bateman 1st heat: 1. Eric Wilkins 2. Ben Gregg 3. Fred Bryan 4. Terry Belcher, Jr. 5. Steve Cushman 6. J.T. Imperial 7. Brian Hacker 8. Nathan High (DNS–Michael Bryan) 2nd heat: 1. Jeff Henry 2. Marty Miller 3. Chuck Buckman 4. Bob Ream, Jr. 5. Ricky Johnson 6. Josh Pelkey 7. John Gaston 8. Rick George 9. Bernie Smith 3rd heat: 1. Chris Bonneau 2. Jason Sutphen 3. Travis Cooley 4. Brandon Lane 5. Paul Norbury 6. Mike Boat 7. Brandon George 8. Shon Deskins 9. Davey Bateman Trophy dash: 1. Jeff Henry 2. Fred Bryan 3. Paul Norbury 4. Jason Sutphen UNOFFICIAL ASCA POINTS Junior steadily built on his lead as he was running at a record pace. He had a straightaway lead over 11th starting Darren Williams when the only yellow flag of the race was displayed on the 19th lap when Jason Noll lost power. Belcher went back to work and left it to the rest of the 25 car starting field to battle for the lesser positions as he flashed under the checkered flag 2.61 seconds ahead of Williams. Belcher's dad, a five time winner this year, was on the move from his tenth starting position but fell off the pace in the closing laps and could not overtake Williams and had to be content with a third place finish. Jason Black almost stole that position in the final laps and had Anthony Madrid beside him at the finish. The rest of the top ten, all on the lead lap despite only one caution flag, were Joe Warner, Whitwell, Ron Funk, Ricky Thornton and Greg Lemon. Jeremy Payne was the only other car on the lead lap. Belcher, Jr. drove out of the third row to beat Williams who started a row behind him in the first heat. Rick Ward led the eight lapper early and was running third at the finish with Madrid and John Cornell in pursuit. Black put on impressive drive as he matched Belcher's performance by driving from sixth to first in the second heat. Whitwell took second ahead of Jay Armstrong, Warner and Funk. Rich Lewerke bested the field in the third heat as he held of Jason Noll, Darin Center, Belcher and Lemon. Warner and Thornton started the night tied for the points lead and Warner's sixth place finish was enough to give him a three point lead as he looks forward to the next outing on July 26th. Williams gained ground with his second place finish and now trails the leader by only seven points. IMCA DIRT MODIFIEDS 1st heat: 1. Terry Belcher, Jr. 2. Darren Williams 3. Rick Ward 4. Anthony Madrid 5. John Cornell 6. Mark Harrison 7. Steve Adams 8. Matt Tipton (DNS–Jeff Gibson) 2nd heat: 1. Jason Black 2. R.C. Whitwell 3. Jay Armstrong 4. Joe Warner 5. Ron Funk 6. Jeremy Payne 7. Dick Reid 8. Jeremy Thornton 9. Jim Armstrong 3rd heat: Rich Lewerke 2. Jason Noll 3. Darin Center 4. Terry Belcher
5. Greg Lemon 6. Ricky Thornton 7. Dave Van Bruggen 8. Mike Ostrom |
