[Lucky161]

It was a little cold last night, but it was dry enough to run. Tony Bruce Jr. from Liberal KS caught early leader Tim Crawley in traffic, passed him and checked out. Crawley had led the first 2/3 of the race but lapped traffic was his undoing. Speaking of lapped traffic, defending and probably repeat national champion Jason Johnson was lapped by Crawley around lap 10.
Who didn't make the A and who almost missed the A was a who's who of sprint car racing. With 70 cars, they had 8 heat races with only 14 transferring to the A from the heats based on passing points. So finishing 2nd in a heat didn't assure an A main start. All time ASCS leader Gary Wright finished 4th in his heat and didn't answer the bell for his B main. Jason Johnson had to get into the main through his B main and almost didn't make it then. He caught a rut between one and two on the first lap of his B, bicycled, bounced, almost stopped and looked to be headed to the pits as he was passed by several cars during that. But another car crashed on the front straight and it was a complete restart. Johnson didn't go through the ruts that time and went on to win. Gary Taylor appeared to have 2nd and final transfer locked up for most of the 12 lap B, but wound up 4th. Sammy Swindell was caught up in a 4 car pile up at the start. As most of you know in sprint car racing a pile up doesn't just mean several cars crashing, but often cars literally "piled up." He restarted and appeared to win his heat, but was penalized a lap for having a crewmember work on the car during the closed red. A friend of mine that owns one of the competing cars said Sammy was understandably miffed and he wasn't sure if he would load up and go home or not. He came out for his B main though and got into the A. Jack Dover didn't make the main through his B either. Just too many good cars and drivers fighting for only 2 transfer spots in the 4 B mains. Last year's Cowtown Sprint Nationals winner, Brian Brown couldn't make the A even after starting on the pole in his B.

Great races. I probably missed the 2 best ones as I was too cold by the time the sprints finished and didn't stay for the two modified qualifying features and the modified heats were really good. Hopefully the weather will hold off for today's finale, but it's been misting and drizzling all morning with rain predicted most of the afternoon.

[Gregg]

Thanks, Lucky.

70 cars? Wow!