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| Press Release |
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SHERMAN DECIMATES TOUGH FIELD TO WIN ASCA SEASON
OPENER by Windy McDonald |
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Phoenix, AZ (March 12) Jeremy Sherman started the 25 lap Arizona Sprint
Car Association feature in the fourth row but wasted little time in getting to
the front. He took the lead from Bobby Boone on the 4th lap and only a rash of
yellow and red flags allowed the field to stay reasonably close. Sherman built as much as a seven second lead over the field and may well have lapped the field had the green flag stayed out. Each time he would pull away, the yellow or red was displayed and the field would close in. He was well in front when the race was slowed for the final time with four laps remaining and took the win by over four seconds. Boone held off Nathan High, up from 19th, for second. Chuck Buckman took fourth ahead of R.J. Johnson. Only half of the 20 car starting field took the checkered flag with Marty Miller, Brian Hacker, Ben Gregg, Mike Kuemper and Mike Leslie rounding out the top ten. The opener had more than its share of problems as the Sprint cars qualified for the first time in their 15 year history. The qualifying started over an hour late due to a series of problems that management, which adhered to a strict set of rules last year that kept the shows running on time, vowed to correct. The cars that drew late qualifying runs had the best times as Josh Pelkey, the 30th car out, set the standard at 14.893, barely edging R.J. Johnson who qualified just before him at 14.950. Matt Rossi was third quick at 14.974 and then came Ben Gregg at 15.011. Chuck Buckman went wire to wire in winning the first heat race over Pelkey, Shon Deskins and Mike Leslie. Bob Ream, Jr., expected to be a contender in the feature broke a radius rod, had it repaired but could only muster a fifth place finish. The second heat went to Mike Martin who bested Boone, Michael Bryan, and Marty Miller. Tim Beal, Jeff Henry, Johnson and Cole Houser earned spots in the semi. The third heat was another wire to wire win as Jay Ervine beat Andy Reinbold, Rossi and Seainn Hendricsen. Failing to make the feature were Soctt Pasmore and Davey Bateman along with rookies Thomas Ogle, Michael Mundy and Drew Starck. Sherman provided the passing in the final heat as he came out of the third row to beat Brian Hacker, Kuemper and Willy Grombach. High, Willy Grombach and Ashley Corey missed the feature. The semi main was delayed as officials had a tough time getting the cars in line after a line up change caused confusion. Once underway Gregg beat Johnson into the first turn and took the win. Johnson took second ahead of eighth starting High and Bernie Smith nipped Bob Ream, Jr. at the line for the fourth and final transfer spot. Ream, winner of the 2004 season opener failed to qualify for the feature after a disappointing night. Rossi beat Pelkey, Johnson and Gregg in the Arizona Race Mart trophy dash. SUMMARY ASCA SPRINT CARS Main Event: 1. Jeremy Sherman, 2. Bobby Boone, 3. Nathan High, 4. Chuck Buckman, 5. R.J. Johnson, 6. Marty Miller, 7. Brian Hatcher, 8. Ben Gregg, 9. Mike Kuemper, 10. Mike Leslie, 11. Matt Rossi, 12. Jay Ervine, 13. Josh Pelkey, 14. Willy Grombach, 15. Michael Bryan, 16. Mike Martin, 17. Shon Deskins, 18. Andy Reinbold, 19. Seainn Hendricson, 20. Bernie Smith Lap leaders: laps 1-3 Boone, laps 4-25 Sherman 1st Heat: 1. Chuck Buckman, 2. Josh Pelkey, 3. Shon Deskins, 4. Mike Leslie, 5. Bob Ream, Jr., 6. Bernie Smith, 7. Johnny Williams, Jr., 8. Terry Belcher 2nd Heat: 1. Mike Martin, 2. Bobby Boone, 3. Michael Bryan, 4. Marty Miller, 5. Tim Beal, 6. Jeff Henry, 7. R.J. Johnson, 8. Cole Houser 3rd Heat: 1. Jay Ervine, 2. Andy Reinbold, 3. Matt Rossi, 4. Seainn Hendricson, 5. Scott Pasmore,6. Davey Bateman, 7. Thomas Ogle, 8. Michael Mundy, 9. Drew Starck 4th Heat: 1. Jeremy Sherman, 2. Brian Hacker, 3. Mike Kuemper, 4. Willy Grombach, 5. Nathan High, 6. Ben Gregg, 7. Ashley Corey (DNS-Bryan Hosford) Semi Main: 1. Ben Gregg, 2. R.J. Johnson, 3. Nathan High, 4. Bernie Smith, 5. Bob Ream, Jr., 6. Thomas Ogle, 7. Jeff Henry, 8. Scott Pasmore, 9. Cole Houser, 10. Terry Belcher, 11. Chris McArthur, 12. Michael Mundy, 13. Drew Starck ,14.Tim Beal, 15. Davey Bateman Trophy Dash: 1. Matt Rossi, 2. Josh Pelkey, 3. R.J. Johnson, 4. Ben Gregg Fast Time: Josh Pelkey-14.893-80.574 mph) |
