[sprinter14]

Hall Takes Eldora - Smith Becomes First BOSS Champion



For nearly a half century, the Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio was known as the "Home of the Sprints", even proclaiming that on the concrete wall in turn #4 for many years. Last night, the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series brought back traditional old school open wheel racing to the famous Darke County half mile. Despite a cold and rainy start to the day, 33 traditional sprint cars showed to support the season finale to the nation's newest sprint car sanctioning body.



Coming into the event, Russiaville, Indiana driver Dustin Smith held a slim 41 point lead over Gibsonburg, Ohio driver Tony Beaber for the 2012 points championship. As fate would have it, the duo would draw into the same heat race with Beaber on the front row and Smith with his work cut out for him starting in the eighth spot. Beaber appeared to be a man on a mission as he set sail in his heat race turning some of the fastest laps of the day in a winning effort while Smith had worked his way to 3rd when the motor shut off on the final lap!



The four BOSS heat races and the BOSS B-Main ran non stop (no cautions) with Dallas Hewitt, Beaber, Kirk Jeffries, and Sheldon Haudenschild winning heats. The B-Main event featured more points drama as Dustin Smith now held just a 30 point lead but was in a "must transfer" situation to have a shot at the title. Smith blasted from his outside front row starting spot and reeled off 10 consecutive laps of sheer determination to set the stage for a main event title fight with Beaber. Meanwhile, in the pack, the battle for the 4th and final B-Main transfer saw 4 cars, 2 wide and 2 deep on the final lap with Mike Miller making a late race move from 7th to 4th in the final lap to steal the last spot in the A-main.



With the 33 car field narrowed down to the 24 main event starters, Smith led Beaber by a mere 30 points. Beaber would roll off from 6th starting spot while Smith would start from 21st in the 25 lap affair. Smith needed a 7th or better to clinch in the event that Beaber could win the race. The dynamic duo met just minutes from the drop of the green for a "prize fight staredown" then the pair "touched gloves" and came out swinging!



At the drop of the green flag, a second generation Eldora favorite, Sheldon Haudenschild took early command of the event. To the veteran Eldora Speedway fans, memories of years past, before the scoreboards and commercial advertisments, must have been thick as Haudenschild's, Hewitt's, and Beaber's rode high and dangerously close to the Eldora concrete in traditional sprint cars. The prior generation all in the pits turning wrenches, as a new generation of heroes were leaving their mark on the historic half mile oval.



The race's only caution flag flew for a spin by Michigan native Nick Landon. Back under green, Lil Haud continued to show the way, but Luke Hall had found some momentum on the cushion with Dallas Hewitt, Matt Westfall, and Tony Beaber running in the top 5. With Beaber 5th, Dustin Smith had to finish 12th or better. Smith was slowly inching his way forward prior to the caution, and on the restart had begun picking cars off in groups! All eyes were on Smith has he knifed and slashed his way to the front.



After hounding Haudenschild for several laps, Luke Hall was able to make the winning pass on lap #20 and appeared headed for victory. The race's only red flag flew on lap #23 when BOSS points runners Aaron Middaugh and Landon Simon ran out of racing room, sending both on a wild ride in turn 2 with Middaugh's car completely destroyed! Both drivers walked away from the incident that also collected Kyle Simon, Mike Galajda, and Joe Bares.



With 3 laps remaining, Dustin Smith was now in 7th position and only had to ride out the remaining laps with Beaber in sight to secure the championship. Hall brought the field to green with Haudenschild now determined to retake the lead. The younger Wild Child bounced his right rear off the concrete in 1 and 2 trying to find the drive to retake the lead, but Luke Hall refused to be denied his first Eldora Speedway victory and his first ever victory with the BOSS series. At the stripe, it was Hall, Haudenschild, Hewitt, Westfall, and Beaber completing the top 5. Steve Irwin, Dustin Smith, Aric Gentry, Chad Wilson and Mike Galajda completed the top 10.



The BOSS series would like to thank the teams and drivers who supported this first full season of competition. Also a great thank you to the tracks who booked our shows and most of all, to the many fans who have shared such kind words with officials and drivers. BOSS would also like to thank our sponsors: Superior Tank & Trailer, Horne Performance Motorsports, NAPA Auto Parts, Indy Race Parts, Lias Tire American Racer, and Hoosier Tire Midwest. Series officials hope to release the 2013 schedule in December and tentatively plan for 16 points events in Ohio or along the Ohio border.