Clingan Secures Sportsman Nationals Win By Lynda Yates
Sandusky, OH Jul 24, 2006 - Tom Clingan drove his way back into victory lane in the Sportsman Nationals this past weekend at Sandusky Speedway. While most area tracks were closed due to impending weather, Sandusky Speedway once again remained opened and hosted racing to six divisions brought to you by Ed’s Midview out of Grafton, Ohio. Along with the Five-Star Bodies Sportsman, the E-Mods, Linden Propane Pure Stocks, Spectator Stocks and the Hartland Heating Slam Duro cars put on great races.
Heat race winners were Ron Jones (4 Cylinders); Mike White (6 Cylinders); Bruce Bevan (6 Cylinders); LJ Stanley (D & L Auto Spectator Stocks); Matt Marlowe (E-Mods); Scott Wyle (E-Mods); Bernie Cook (E-Mods); Scott Simpson (Sportsman); Tom Clingan (Sportsman); Stephen Schlea (Pure Stocks) and Dustin Stroup (Pure Stocks).
The D & L Auto Spectator Stocks hit the track for the first feature of the night with Brian Masters and John Buderer setting the pace. The caution flew before a lap was in the books for a bumper flying off on the backstretch. Once the race was green again, Buderer took the lead. Stephanie Rothacker took the lead away the next lap with Buderer and Masters behind her. By lap four, Rothacker had LJ Stanley and Rick James chasing her down. Stanley passed Rothacker on the outside of lap five to take the top spot over. The following lap James passed under Rothacker for second. Joey Wyckoff joined the chase as he took over third on lap 10. With only one lap to go, James and Stanley fought side by side with James overtaking the lead at the line. After a post race inspection, the win went to Stanley with Wyckoff and Rothacker finishing second and third.
The E-Mods lined up next for their 20-lap feature. Kurt Hennings and Ken Phillips set the pace with Hennings scored the leader after the first lap. Hennings was followed by Phillips and Rick Harmon. Matt Marlowe passed Harmon on the outside on lap four to take over third. By lap seven, Tim Ensign caught the top three making it a bumper to bumper race with Ensign stealing third away on lap eight. One lap later, Ensign passed Phillips on the outside in turns one and two to land in second. The caution came out on lap 10 for the leader spinning coming out of turn one. Hennings was charged with the caution sending him to tail and handing the top spot over to Ensign on the restart. Jim Blagg finally fought his way up from his tenth place starting spot to pass Marlowe on lap 12 for third. The next lap, Blagg made an outside turn two pass on Phillips to take over second. Tim Ensign raced on to his fifth feature win in a row. Blagg and Phillips held on for the top three.
The Sportsman Nationals were next with Rick Yatson Jr. and Scott Simpson on the front row. Simpson took an early lead followed by last week’s winner Greg Sharp and Rodney Saunders. Sharp passed Simpson on lap two to take over as leader. Ed Jahnke passed Saunders on lap seven for the third place spot. The caution was thrown on lap eight as Sharp broke out his time and was forced to relinquish his top spot. Simpson once again had the lead with Jahnke and Saunders behind him. Saunders moved into second on lap nine with Tom Clingan joining the picture in third. Clingan passed Saunders on the outside of lap 10 for second. The caution was thrown on lap 11 for Jahnke and Mike Sims coming together. Jahnke was charged with the caution. Sims passed Saunders for third on lap 12. On lap 13, Sims took over second place from Simpson. Greg Sharp fought his way back from his tail restart up to third on lap 16. Clingan held off the last lap charge of Sims to land back into victory lane after his perfect feature record was broke last weekend. Clingan crossed the start/finish line followed by Sims and Sharp.
The Linden Propane Pure Stocks lined up on in turn three for the start of their 20-lap feature with Jesse Worcester and Roland Sheppard bringing the pack around for the green. The group was two-wide five rows deep around the track the first lap with Roland Sheppard officially scored leader by inches at the line. The field started to thin out with Worcester and Wayne Sweeney sitting second and third behind Sheppard. The first of two cautions in the race was thrown on lap six for Dustin Stroup slowing to a stop going into turn two. Stroup was pushed back to the pits with his night cut short. Justin Hamilton passed Sweeney on the outside on lap seven for third. Hamilton passed Worcester the next lap for second. Chris Hamilton followed his brother and took over third the same lap. Justin Hamilton took the lead on lap nine with a pass under Sheppard in turn two. Chris Hamilton passed Sheppard on lap 13 for second. Another set of brothers battled it out on lap 18. Mike Sheppard overtook brother Roland in turn three for third place. The last caution came out on lap 19 for Dean Veverka and Roland Sheppard spinning on the front stretch. Sheppard was charged with the caution and sent tail. The final lap was a battle as the Hamilton brothers had fans on their feet with Justin edging out Chris by half a car length to take home his second feature win of the year. Veverka took home third.
The 6 Cylinder Spectator Stocks were out next for their 12-lap feature with Chris Burke and Tom O’Donnell setting the pace. After a three wide first lap, Russ Bachman came out the leader with Bruce Bevan and Jamie Bachman behind him. Bevan charged under Russ Bachman for the lead in turn three of lap three. Jamie Bachman followed through to take over second. John Bevan made an attempt to take over third on lap eight but Bachman closed the door on him. Bruce Bevan sailed on to take home his first feature win of the year, backing up his earlier heat win. Jamie and Russ Bachman rounded out the top three.
Sami Burke and Robert Calipare brought the 4 Cylinder Spectator Stocks out of turn four for their 12-lap feature. Callipare took an early lap one lead. Jason Rowe and Matt Wilson were on the hunt behind Callipare. Ron Jones charged through the pack to take over second as Callipare got shuffled back, giving up his lead to Rowe. Jones wasted no time and took over the lead on lap four with Rowe and Wilson still battling behind him. Jim Morrison showed his power as he fought his way into third, then second on lap nine. The only caution came out on the final lap as Joe Blood Jr. went off turn four and had to be towed to the pits. On the restart, Rowe was able to get Morrison loose and shuffle him back a few positions allowing Jones to take home his fourth feature win of the year with Rowe and Wilson the podium finishers.
The Hartland Heating Slam Duro boys hit the track for the final show of the night. Tom Didion from Sandusky took charge early and swept the 12-lap event taking home his first Slam Duro win. The much anticipated 29th Annual Hy-Miler Supermodified Nationals kick off Thursday July 27th with Fan Appreciation Night. Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Spectator Stocks headline this event with $1.00 general admission and $1.00 beer/coke products all night. The Garth Brooks tribute band “Shameless” will be performing the National Anthem and will be playing during intermission and the conclusion of the features all weekend as well. Friday, the ISMA & MSA Supermodifieds will run a 40-lap feature with an appearance by the E-Mod division. Saturday will be the 100-lap Supermodified feature with the 305 Sprints supporting. You can find all the information on the weekend at www.sanduskyspeedway.com.
RESULTS
4 Cylinders
Fast Qualifier: Ron Jones 23.04
Heat #1: Ron Jones, Matt Wilson, Jason Rowe, Joe Blood Jr., Robert Callipare
Feature: Jones, Rowe, Wilson, Jim Morrison, Kyle Watson, David Wiley, Callipare, Sami Burke, Blood Jr., Toots Hart
6 Cylinders
Fast Qualifier: Mike White 22.54
Heat #1: Joey Wyckoff, Tom O’Donnell, Alayna Mounts, Chris Burke, Cory Gentry
Heat #2: Bruce Bevan, Jamie Bachman, Sara Kaman, Tara Hart, John Bevan
Feature: B. Bevan, J. Bachman, Russ Bachman, White, J. Bevan, Hart, Kaman, Jason Peterson, Joey Wyckoff, Dustin Hennings
D & L Auto Spectator Stocks
Fast Qualifier: Eugene Rothacker 23.17
Heat #1: LJ Stanley, Eugene Rothacker, Stephanie Rothacker, Brian Masters, Ryan Smith
Feature: Stanley, Joey Wyckoff, S. Rothacker, E. Rothacker, Smith, Masters, John Buderer, Troy Moore
Pure Stocks
Fast Qualifier: Chris Hamilton 21.63
Heat #1: Stephen Schlea, Roland Sheppard, Jesse Worcester, Jim Remley, Kyle Lashley
Heat #2: Dustin Stroup, Chris Hamilton, Kyle Watson, Justin Hamilton, Dean Veverka
Feature: J. Hamilton, C. Hamilton, Veverka, Mike Sheppard, Kyle Watson, Jesse Worcester, Schlea, Wayne Sweeney
Sportsman
Fast Qualifier: Tom Clingan 19.93
Heat #1: Scott Simpson, Joe Quinn, Rick Yatson, Nick Buckles, Tom O’Leary IV
Heat #2: Tom Clingan, Mike Sims, Rodney Saunders, Ed Jahnke, Kevin Wadsworth
Feature: Clingan, Sims, Greg Sharp, Saunders, Scott Simpson, Leo Cicirella, Nick Buckles, Rick Yatson Jr., Ed Jahnke, Joe Quinn
E-Mods
Fast Qualifier: Jerrod Prince 18.24
Heat # 1: Matt Marlowe, Tim Ensign, Jim Blagg, Greg Sharp, Jim Martin
Heat # 2: Scott Wyle, Russ Stoutenburgh, Rick Page, Kurt Hennings, Steve Jones
Heat #3: Bernie Cook, Bill Petrie, Chris McQuillen, Andy Hoskinson, Tim Gregory
