[Jerry Shaw]

I'll paraphrase Justin Hatten, from several years ago on IOW when he said "I don't know how many times I've left Tri-State Speedway thinking that may have been one of the best sprint car races I've ever seen." Last night was one of those times.

I knew it before I ever even parked my car in the track parking lot. The pavement was wet a half a mile north of the track, on US 41. Right in front of the track, dry as a bone. I passed the track and went to Flying J to get some things and it was raining there, three miles south of the track. When we got back to the track and took our seats, it still hadn't rained, but the humidity was stifling. And towering thunderheads were passing to the south and to the north. As threatening as it looked to the untrained eye, all those who know and love this place knew everything was going to be alright. The Haubstadt force field was in effect. And they all knew what that meant.

As the green flew, Critter Malone grabbed the lead, but he couldn’t shed Wes McIntyre, who was applying constant pressure. A pressure that he was dialing up with each successive lap. Critter wasn’t going to go down with a fight, though. He never does and that’s why he’s always been a fan favorite here in Indiana. This fight went on for several laps before Wes claimed the point. McIntyre was flying and began to stretch his lead out to a healthy one. While this was going on, back through the field it was just bedlam! Great battles were happening all over the place. Blake Fitzpatrick and Jon Stanbrough waged a war that went on for more than half the race! They went at it tooth and nail and clean as a whistle. That one was a bare knuckles, fight to the finish, Marquess of Queensberry rules scrap. And once Blake had finally conquered Jon, he moved on to the bigger fish he had to fry in this one. And Brady Short was making a beeline to the front. As was Casey Riggs, who started on the tail, after a nasty flip in the heat race. And Chase Stockon, after falling back some early, was crashing the cushion on both ends and heading towards the front, as well. He and Braylon Fitzpatrick were the cushion crashers of the night. As this was happening, Levi had reeled in Wes and was just all over him. The 4-time USAC Champ flying around the top and the youngster was wheeling it into turns 1 and 3, backing it in hard, Bob Kinser style and just taking off on the bottom of 2 and 4. To everybody he looked doomed, but fought the fight of his life and held the more experienced champion off for many, many laps. Even when they got to heavy traffic, when you knew the clock would finally strike midnight on this Cinderella story, he stepped up again and actually outmaneuvered Levi though the backmarkers. Then, shortly afterwards, in one of those slight lulls that you were catching your breath, Wes bobbled and the old pro struck and took control of the race. He was a goner. Checked out off into the horizon and you knew this story had been written. But, just when you had it figued out, as the laps were winding down, here comes McIntyre, again!! He went up to the cushion, was on a rail and was cutting big chunks out of Levi’s lead. And at the same time, on the bottom of the track, he was being quickly caught by Blake Fitzpatrick. So here we were, with only a handful of laps left and we had three drivers that you could have thrown a blanket over and the track was still kick ass perfect. As Blake put pressure on Wes, Levi escaped a little and built a little margin. Coming out of turn 2, with I think three laps left, Wes slightly bobbled, Blake seized the millisecond and now we had a two lap, two car trophy dash for $5000! Levi had a slight advantage as they took the white flag, but Blake just charged into turn 1, wrapped it around turn 2 and took off, powering past Levi and leading down the backstretch. He did the same in 3 and 4, although he didn’t get as much bite coming out of 4 as he had in turn 2. Levi rocketed off of turn 4 and had the momentum, but then Blake got a delayed surge and they drag raced to the line. Levi crossed the line first, but it couldn’t have been by more than a foot or two. Here’s these two drivers going as fast was they did for 40 laps and and you literally didn’t know who the winner would be until the last five feet of the race. What a finish!! What a race!! It was one of those that everybody, no matter who they were rooting for, was standing and screaming as this one ended. And that was followed by immediate silence, with everybody just looking around at their race fan neighbors, with that look on their face that just says “WOW!!” in any language. And you saw people high fiving other people, all around.

There a few things to say about last night’s race. First off, the track was perfect. From hot laps, all the way to the checked flag. Secondly, Ive been impressed by Wes McIntyre this year. But, not as much as I am now, after the race he ran last night. That dude can flat out wheel a sprint car. Not only with the lead, but also under pressure and he knows how to regroup and mount a comeback, following a setback. Also, lately I’ve heard a lot of people suggesting that Braylon Fitzpatrick is already as good as Blake. IMO, he’s getting there and he’s probably the best 15 year old since Windom and Clauson before him. But Blake still has so much more in his arsenal and is a lot more developed as a driver, at this point. Last night’s epic battle with Levi is evidence of that. And Levi just gave us more proof that he would have been a great driver in any era. He’s aggressive, patient, never gets rattled and fights to the finish. Every time. No exceptions.

So, Mother Nature left us alone. Tommy, Blake and their crew set the stage. And all these great drivers took that stage and brought the house down. Now, Clauson and Larson’s Putnamville Midget classic has a serious challenger in the Race of the Year category.

I bet Justin left Tri-State Speedway last night with that thought, again.

Jerry

[rachasin]

Wow jerry !!!!
I was standing on the top row seats watching!!!!
From my couch and laptop in south dakota!!!!
Great story!!!!
Thanks bob

[Pine]

After reading that Jerry, I had to look in my glass of ice tea for mud-balls. It was like I was there...

[jim goerge]

Jerry I work with MSCS as a scorer. I see the race but don;t really get to watch it. Hope that made sence. WOW you just made me feel like I was really watching it unfold . Thank you so much.

[Jerry Shaw]

Originally Posted by jim goerge Jerry I work with MSCS as a scorer. I see the race but don;t really get to watch it. Hope that made sence. WOW you just made me feel like I was really watching it unfold . Thank you so much.

I understand. You just did me a huge favor. I crossed scorer off of the list of things I would ever consider doing, as a result of your post.

Jerry

[ClaytonYeley]

Very nice job Jerry. It was like i got to see it all over again. It is just crazy how many times the races at TSS come down to the wire like that. First it was the Daum/ Hagen battle in the Hut 100. Then at the end of May we had a last lap pass w/ Br Fitz and Chase Stockon. Even the lm race with Babb came down to the end. This last one may have been the closest finish on the year. That makes 4 out of 7 races at Haubstadt that had passes for the lead with time running out. Can't wait for the next one.

[NOSTINKINWINGS]

Jerry, From the top of turn 3, I think Blake had Levi covered but his inside move was slowed by a lap car(maybe Cummins) and with just an instant of lost momentum(he clearly lifted), Levi cranked off the top and hit the line first. I felt terrible for Blake especially after his battle with the 53. Give Jones credit, he ran everyone clean on this incredible night.
Posted via Mobile Device

[illinisprintfan]

Originally Posted by NOSTINKINWINGS Jerry, From the top of turn 3, I think Blake had Levi covered but his inside move was slowed by a lap car(maybe Cummins) and with just an instant of lost momentum(he clearly lifted), Levi cranked off the top and hit the line first. I felt terrible for Blake especially after his battle with the 53. Give Jones credit, he ran everyone clean on this incredible night. Posted via Mobile Device

I think it was the 4B he had to lift for.

[NOSTINKINWINGS]

Thanks for the clear up. It was 4B. Hell of a race and the topper was this guy sitting 2 rows down with a "Bad to the Bone" Hud Cone shirt on kept looking around all night like he was being watched. The next day I read about a break in the DB Cooper case. I'm thinking DB is a sprint nut also!!!!!!!!!