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| Puterbaugh Captures First KISS Win at Lincoln Park |
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June 16, 2007 – Billy Puterbaugh Jr. claimed the first King of Indiana
Sprint Series victory of his career on a wild and crazy night at Putnamville’s
Lincoln Park Speedway. It was a night when the probative favorite didn’t
complete a lap of the feature and the fastest car left the track on the back of
a wrecker. But the winner was the old school favorite who had already won twice
at Lincoln Park this year, leads the track’s point standings and his crew
chief is also his mother. “This means a lot, “ Puterbaugh said afterwards. “We’ve been racing sprint cars for 13 years and I’ve never won a KISS race. At a track that I’ve run my whole life, this means a lot.” Puterbaugh led twice for 13 laps, as Shane Hollingsworth finished second, followed by Jeff Bland Jr., Danny Holtsclaw and Dickie Gaines. After sweeping the previous four KISS events this year, Jon Stanbrough’s night began badly. Before he completed the first lap in the second heat race, a car spun in the middle of the pack and collected four other machines. Among them were Chris Gentry, who somersaulted twice, and Stanbrough. Before the semi, Steve and Brad Fox replaced the front clip, the tail tank and many other pieces between the two on Stanbrough’s DRC. After a run from 11th to third in the semi, Stanbrough lined up 18th for the feature. This time Andrew Prather spun in the second turn on the opening lap and five other cars were caught up including Stanbrough, Hunter Schuerenberg, Cole Whitt, Danny Williams Jr. and Ty Deckard. Stanbrough ricocheted off another machine and into the tractor tire marking the inside of the track, breaking the left front suspension. Schuerenberg had a bent axle and Deckard was damaged as well, but the track’s rules prohibited any repairs. Hollingsworth grabbed the lead on the first lap with Holtsclaw, Puterbaugh, Robbie Rice and Daron Clayton close behind. But Clayton didn’t stay in line. Taking to the cushion at both ends, he was second by lap 3 and rocketed around Hollingsworth on the next circuit. While Puterbaugh and Hollingsworth fought for second, Clayton built more than a straightaway-length lead. Then, Whitt and Williams tangled in turn one, bringing the caution on lap 16. On the restart, Clayton slid through the cushion in turn one, giving the lead to Puterbaugh. He hustled back on the track in fourth spot, then ran over the top of three, falling back further. Puterbaugh extended a comfortable lead while Clayton began a charge back to the front. Blazing across the tops of the turns at both ends, he passed cars wherever they were and reached third on lap 21. Three laps later, he drove around Hollingsworth, banging wheels as they came off the second turn, and set his sights on the leader. Clayton caught Puterbaugh on the 27th circuit and executed a perfect slide-job to take the lead. He quickly opened a dozen car lengths, but while running hard into the third turn the beadlock broke free of the left rear wheel just as he touched the brakes. The deflating tire killed the motor and Clayton came to an abrupt stop. Puterbaugh held on over the final two laps after the restart, for the win. Bland worked past Hollingsworth on the last lap, but the Trucker’s 24 Hour Service car fought back, barely edging Bland for second. For the second consecutive night, Bland had earned a third after starting deep in the field. Puterbaugh noted that a large dirt clod had become wedged under his throttle pedal and he couldn’t get it freed until the first yellow. Then he was able to get the car hooked up more, the tires to break loose and he could run the cushion a lot harder. His experience at Lincoln Park played a part in his victory, too, he said, “You kind of know what the track’s going to do and you get in a rhythm. Your car is already set up and you have a game plan. I think it was a little bit of an advantage.” Results, King of Indiana Sprint Series, Lincoln Park Speedway, June 16, 2007 Heat 1: Danny Holtsclaw 3 (4), Andrew Prather 16 (3), Hunter Schuerenberg 10T (7), Jeff Bland Jr. 21S (10), Shawn Krockenberger 21K (6), Jared Fox 56 (8), Eric Krockenberger 21E (5), Daren Krockenberger 42K (9), Justin Walden 15, (2) Heat 2: Billy Puterbaugh 16 (4), Jon Sciscoe 7 (3), Ty Deckard 48 (10), Dickie Gaines 11P (8), Kenny Carmichael Jr. 92C (1), A.J. Martin 70 (7), Danny Williams Jr. 57R (2), Chris Gentry 26 (5), Jon Stanbrough 53 (6), Derek O’Dell 11D (9) Heat 3. Shane Hollingsworth 10 (2), Robbie Rice 22R (4), Stephanie Tuttle 34 (1), Kenny Carmichael 29 (6), Danny Pollack 24 (3), Kyle Krockenberger 7K (5), Derek Williams 64 (8), Terry Eup 47T (9), Cole Whitt 29W (7) Semi: Martin (2), Williams Jr. (5), Stanbrough (11), S. Krockenberger (1), Whitt (10), Walden (13), D. Krockenberger (8), E. Krockenberger (7), Eup (9), O’Dell (12), K. Krockenberger (3), Williams (4), Gentry (6) Feature: 1. Puterbaugh (4), 2. Hollingsworth (2), 3. Bland (13), 4. Holtsclaw (1), 5. Gaines (11), 6. Rice (3), 7. Martin (16), 8. Tuttle (9), 9. S. Krockenberger (19), 10. Carmichael (12), 11. Clayton (5), 12. Pollock (15), 13. Prather (7), 14 Williams Jr. (17), 15. Whitt (20), 16. Carmichael Jr. (14), 17. Sciscoe (6), 18. Deckard (8), 19. Schuerenberg (10), 20. Stanbrough (18) The KISS point standings going into Sunday’s event at Kokomo are: 1. Stanbrough 605, 2. Hollingsworth 524, 3. Short 485, 4. Schuerenberg 422, 5. Neely 375, 6. Bland 362, 7. Whitt 350, 8. Anderson 262, 9. Hines 254, 10. Martens 240 Sunday, June 17th, the KISS show is at Kokomo Speedway, where the front gate will open at 4 pm. Ages 6 and under are free, and admission for 7 – 10 year olds is just $5. The program will include UMP Thunder Car, UMP Street Stock and Pure Stock divisions. The front and pit gates open at 3 pm with racing at 6:15. The track website is at www.kokomospeedway.net. Each KISS feature will pay $2,500 to win and $250 to start. B-Main starters who don’t transfer will take home $100. The KISS point fund is worth $1,400 to the 2007 King, with $1,000 for second, and pays eight places deep. 2007 King Of Indiana Sprint Series Schedule SPONSORS. Sponsorship from Indiana Stone Works has boosted the payoff at each
event and B-Main starters are guaranteed $100. Elliottbrand Web Designs, in
Westport, IN, created the KISS website, which provides a highly functional and
effective tool that places the King Of Indiana Sprint Series within arms length
of racing fans around town and around the world. Visit them at
www.Elliottbrand.com. Sprint Car & Midget Magazine, Simpson Performance
Products and RockStar Paint sponsor the unique KISS champion’s helmet. Kiva
Networking in Bloomington is the host of the KISS website. |
