8th ANNUAL BIG DAWG EVENT
PROMOTER: TOM WIECK
AUGUST 31, 2008
The racing got under way about 8 p.m. It had finally cooled down...amazing how hot it can be during the day and cool off enough that you needed a jacket at night....felt good after baking all day....
I have seen a lot of complaining on 4m about the track......... I have to agree with the fact that it was a one groove track............as far as track prep... I don't have any clue.... I do know that on saturday during heats the track was very dusty...by race time it was not bad.......on sunday same thing...it helped that they let the sun set before starting the race...
It had to be over 90% both days........so I may be wrong here...but I really don't think it would have helped no matter what they did to the track.... the sun dried the water up as fast as it was being put on the track........and......with the late model racing the track rubbered up very quickly...
The only passing that was going on was in the heats...by feature time there was NO PASSING...........
The race was just a matter of survival and staying out of trouble...where you started was where you stayed unless you pulled off or brought out a caution and had to go to the tail...
Jeff Leka started on the pole and stayed there all 100 laps......Jeff looked very smooth.... the only time he looked like he was getting challenged was right after the half way mark when Denny got up to his door two or three laps......then Jeff easily pulled away.........
Denny ran 2nd for most the race when he brought out a caution and had to go to the tail.......Danny was up to third in first half and he started smoking really bad..used up the rubber on his tires...he spun and almost took Nick Allen and Chad Kinder with him....they sent him to tail..........he got back up to third in second half and took out Nick Allen for 2nd....he was chged with spinning out Allen and was sent to the tail....
I honestly can't say there was any stand out moments in the race.....like I said "it was a matter of survival"
Joey Kramer said at half time he was bored...that it was a choo choo train out there and turned up to the crowd and said "I just hope the fans are still awake"...
Again...it is all true........but to put the blame on the track, promoter, or track prep.... I just can't do it.........it is a dirt track..... it is 90% out...I think they did what they could....
The race was ran very smoothly.... they were consistent with calls... if you spun out you went to the tail....if they saw someone spin due to a intentional bump..the guy got his spot back and the other went to tail....
There were 59 modifieds in attendence........six heats ..top three to feature..
In heat 1 the three to feature:
Ray Humpfrey..Joey Kramer and Devin Gilpin..
Joey Kramer started in 9th spot and right from the green flag started his march to the front....he tried squeezing up through the middle of Gilpin and Williams..his car went up into the air and came back down and he surged out in front of both cars..
The #5jp had started smoking in hot laps but came out in the heat... he started smoking again ..he was losing fluid ......he was sent off the track...
In heat 2 three to feature were:
Matt Bex...Danny Schwartz and Clint Demoss..
three cautions were brought out in this heat... one for the #11x..one for the #R1 and one for the #392 and the B79..
Heat 3
Denny Schwartz, Daryl Herbert and R. Levi all advanced to the feature.
.....This feature went off with only one caution which was for the #00 of Karth..Denny Schwartz came from 7th to take lst and Daryl Herbert came from 8th for 2nd...
Heat 4
Nick Allen, Chad Kinder and Derik Groomer all advance to feature...
In this heat the only cautions that were brought out was by the #6b of Baldwin..in the first caution he got sideways and #22 of Kinder slides to a stop to avoid hitting him....they both were at tail to start so...... on restart the #6B gets into Chad again ....this time they black flagged the #6B and he is sent to the tail...
Chad came up from the tenth spot making it a very exciting race for the #22s Kinder fans.....
Heat 5
Jeff Leka, Rob Fuqua and John Demoss went to the feature....
there were only six cars to cross the checker flag in this heat...
Right at the start of this heat the #59 of Chad Evans, the #24 of Ransom and the #3h of Hix all crashed..all three were taken off by wrecker....the ambulance was brought out for Ransom who had been hit by some debrie...he was reported ok...
The #R1 of Lilly never came out for the heat...
Heat 6
Shawn Tolson, Bill Wagner and Marty Oneal made it to the feature...
only caution in this heat was for the #17 of Bradley who spun out and the #16 of Haager spun trying to avoid him...
In the Dash for starting spots Denny Schwartz and Jeff Leka started one and two..Tolson started 3 and Allen 4....Bex was 5 and Humpfrey was 6..
results:
1..Leka
2..Schwartz
3..Humphfrey
4..Tolson
5..Allen
6..Bex
C Main 1 went pretty smooth with only one caution that I recorded..involved the #77, the #11x and the #195......Combs and Rahr pulled off...
Top finishers: Back, Eads, Douglas, Shute and Wheatly
C Main 2..this consi ran pretty smooth also only cautions were for the #6b who spun out on two different occasions..pulled off
top finishers: Evans, Laster, Huddleston, Bradley and Risner..
B Main 1 had a few cautions... the #32 of Davis pulls off...the #46 of Eads pulls off....a caution comes out when the b79 of Bowman spun the #32 of Williams out..Williams got his spot back...Bowman to the tail...
top finishers : Hood, Lanter, Seets,jr, Hines and Griffis
B Main 2 i have no cautions recorded..
top finishers were Ryan Thomas, Barrow, Largent, Anderson and Szekacs...
In the feature you had Leka and De Schwartz on the front row..2nd row is Humpfrey and Tolson..3rd row Allen and Bex.... 4th Kramer and Da Schwartz..5th row is Herbert and Kinder...6th row was Fuqua and Wagner...7th row Gilpin and C Demoss....8th row was Levi and Groomer..9th was John Demoss and Oneal...10th row was Hood and Thomas..11th row was Lanter and Barrow..12th was Seets and Largent..
The green flag was lowered and Jeff Leka got out to the lead...he was only challenged once after halftime by Denny Schwartz for about two or three laps and then Jeff pulled away...
The running order behind Jeff was Schwartz, Tolson, Humphrey,Bex, Allen, Da Schwartz, Kinder and Kramer......
a caution came out for #1 who spins......front runners were the same...
John Demoss spins in turn four while running in 17th spot..
next caution came out when the #52 hit the wall and got into the #21d of Danny Schwartz.. Tolson had been running 3rd and Danny had been running 6th...Shawn had two laps to change a tire....before starting the #28 who had sit out for a couple of laps came back on the track....the #1h and the #31 has damage on their car so I am assuming they got caught up in the spin by Tolson also but they did not stop on track...Tolson came back and tagged the tail while Schwartz got his spot back....Tolson only stayed in a lap or two and pulled off....
Running order now was Leka , De Schwartz, Bex, Humphrey, Da Schwartz, Allen, Kinder, Kramer, Gilpin, Fuqua, Herbert, C Demoss, Hood, Griffis, Oneal,#1, Groomer, Lanter, #1, Demoss and Wagner.......
caution comes out for debrie on the track...came from #31 of Bex...he had to go to the tail...
next caution came out for Cody Hood who spins in 4...running order is the same for drivers in front of Hood...Hood goes to tail
next caution comes out for the #7 of Lex...he goes to tail
Next caution is for the #30 of Herbert who spins in turn one
next caution is for Cody Hood who came to a stop right in front of the grandstands...Cody got out of his car to check it...his night was over...wrecker pulls the car off...
caution comes out for the #22 of Lanter who spins..
caution comes out for Danny Schwartz who was running 4th at the time...his car was smoking...tires were wore out....Nick Allen and Chad Kinder verily escaped contact but managed to clear...
running order is Leka, De Schwartz, Humpfrey, Allen , Chad Kinder, Kramer, Gilpin, Fuqua, Oneal, Clint Demoss, Barrow, Lanter, #1, Wagner, John Demoss, Bex, Groomer, #1, and Danny Schwartz....
50 laps in
When Chris Nunn went from driver to driver doing interviews he asked what changes they were making... most were taking gas and some changing tires...Kinder said his car was tight and was going to loosen it up.....when they talked with Joey Kramer he cracked everyone in the stands up.... he said he was bored...said it was like a choo choo train...he then turned around and said I just hope that the fans are still awake.....
We saw them working on Chad's car...by half way warning they were still working on it.......they lifted it once again and went back under it..........two minute warning..they were still under the car..... after the ten minutes was up Team #22 was not ready and they had to go to the tail of the pack.....
What a bummer we thought............... but afterwards we realized it did not matter..... Chad had been in fifth spot.....he got back to sixth by a matter of elimination..... there was no passing.....
Halfway mark it was LEKA, DE SCHWARTZ, HUMPHREY, ALLEN , CHAD KINDER, JOEY KRAMER, GILPIN, FUQUA, ONEAL, CLINT DEMOSS, LANTER, JD LARGENT,WAGNER, JOHN DEMOSS, BEX, GROOMER, RYAN THOMAS AND DANNY SCHWARTZ....
only chg on restart was Chad Kinder to the tail.........
when they started the second half Denny Schwartz came on strong... i thought it maight be a little different in the second half with Denny giving Jeff some pressure...but Jeff pulled away after about three laps...
the #22 of Lanter got sideways and another car made contact but he kept going..Lanter went to tail...
The #28 of Bill Wagner lost his tire off his car........it passed him up in the straight of way..he had two laps to chg it.... or catch it should I say...
with 54 laps in the caution came out for the #1 of JD Largent...he went off the track and came back on...to tail...
next caution comes out for Joey Kramer who stops on the track...he goes off track..
now running order is Leka, De Schwartz, Humpfrey, Allen, Gilpin, Fuqua, Oneal, Clint Demoss, Da Schwartz, Bex, Kinder, Groomer, Largent, Wagner..
only 14 cars left in race.........
next caution comes out for the #1g of Gilpin..he goes off....
next caution is for Denny Schwartz who has a flat tire......has two laps to chg the tire....coming back on the track he smacks the wall in turn two...keeps on going....goest to tail..
running order now by elimination only is: Leka, Allen, Humphrey, Oneal, Fuqua, Da Schwartz, Clint Demoss, Bex, Kinder, JD Largent, Groomer, Wagner...
next caution comes out for the #48 of Groomer who spins and hit the wall in four...he goes to tail...
next caution is for the #19 of Oneal who spins in two......
there are five laps left...Leka is and has been in front all laps so far...Allen ...Danny Schwartz...Humphrey....Fuqua...Clint Demoss...Kinder..Bex...Schwartz...Largent...Wagner..Groomer..
on restart the #21d of Danny Schwartz got into Nick Allen spinning him out...Schwartz was sent to the tail and Allen got his spot back...
now its Leka, Allen Humphrey, Fuqua, Clint Demoss, Kinder, Bex, Denny Schwartz, JD Largent, Oneal, Danny Schwartz and Wagner....
and that is how it finished...
So as you see...........there was NO PASSING.........everyone held their position and just held on hoping to stay out of the way of any accidents........
As it was stated A MATTER OF SURVIVIAL...........
It was a shame.........there was a lot of really good drivers out there that could do nothing but hold their line..
Putting the blame on someone///////// Nope...not gonna do it.... I have been to other races that have been the same way...........
No one sets out to have a bad race............. it is a dirt track.......NO RAIN.....and HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT............ they waited til the sun went down...tried to get moisture in the track....they did try..... track got real rubbered down with the late model........
I don't think running a track is an easy task.......I don't think track prep is either...everyone thinks they know how to do it but everyone giving their opinions on it I am sure has never tried to do it.....
You guys want big money races........there are less and less every year... the promoters have to stick behind what they advertise and not change the payouts..... the drivers need to show up at these races so they will be there next year............also tracks need not to schedule races against one another also..
I had a good time at Union County.... the people were very friendly...got to meet some new people and got to see some that i had not seen for a while...
Food was good.........bathrooms were not the greatest but I would sure take them over porta potties........ I will wait til the race is totally over and go to a gas station....so... I appreciated a bathroom with a sink with running water..... I did hear the mens bathroom was worse then the womens...
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We stayed in the motel right off of I-70.... saturday morning when we came out to get into our car (I have a big sticker on the back window glass that says #22s KINDER...........) someone had wrote in the dust #21s all over my car..... When I ran into Rob Fuqua and Denny Schwartz I asked Denny if he had done that to my car...........he got the most serious look on his face and told me that he had not done it...........everyone busted out laughing............... I know Denny didn't do it..but it was fun accusing him of it....
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Man Jeff Leka...you are looking great this year!!!! I can see that uMP Championship in your future...
Shawn Tolson...wow...what a hit you took sunday night...glad to see that you was able to make it back on the track after that...always a pleasure talking with you...
Cody Hood...such a sweetie..... you were looking really good out there as well..and you looked really good at Charleston the week before....goodluck with your schooling....!!!! just remember me when you make it BIG....
Joey Kramer...you are a character..... I love running into you...very witty person and a joy to talk with....
John Demoss..was glad I got to meet your brother this year....if he is anything like you he has to be likeable... you always have a smile on your face...
Chris Nunn....one of the best announcers I know.......always a treat to run into you...
And Ryan and Heather Thomas........such a cute couple... I just love them...hope your business is a great success...
Sorry I missed you this weekend Matt Huddleston but I did get to talk to your grandpa Jerry and grandma Pam...
And to my best buddy Chad Kinder.....you looked really good out there saturday night and you was great in that heat sunday..... you had us all standing in the bleachers screaming for you.....very very very exciting!!!! In the feature..well we know there was no passing..... can't wait til the next race !!!!
I will start working on my interviews soon..........will be adding pictures now..
cj
