2001 OVDCA Race Results
Roney Crowned "Little Indy" Champion
October 6
Shady Bowl Speedway
The long awaited "Little Indy" race was held at Shady Bowl Speedway Saturday October 6th. Despite forecasts for unseasonably cold weather and rain in the surrounding area, a fine field of some of the nation's best asphalt Dwarf cars assembled in DeGraff, Ohio for this season ending race. When the checkered flag dropped, Fenton, MI resident Rob Roney was crowned the "Little Indy" champion after the 25 lap feature. The win was the second of the season for Roney at Shady Bowl. K.D. Knoedler was second in his best finish in several visits to the 'Bowl. Southern Ohio area dirt track specialist Jim Adams was third in his first ever attempt on asphalt. Longtime OVDCA competitor Mark Jamison bounced back from adversity throughout the season to finish a strong fourth, and the ever improving Josh Sell rounded out the top five. Roney, Jamison and Adams captured heat wins.
The dash was marred by a nasty crash that saw Brad Coons and Bill Hostetler hit the turn three wall. Hostetler was transported to Bellefontaine Hospital where he was treated and released.
In its first year, the "Little Indy" race attracted 19 drivers from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee, despite several asphalt races being scheduled against it in Tennessee and Florida. The OVDCA appreciates the competitors support, and is grateful to the owners of Shady Bowl for the opportunity to stage the event. The OVDCA looks forward to returning to Shady Bowl for the 2002 season, and plans to work closely with asphalt racers across the country to help our sport continue to grow and prosper.
Dash: 1. Rob Roney 2. Mark Bernard 3. Wayne Fitzpatrick 4. Brad Coons
Heat 1: 1. Mark Jamison 2. Josh Sell 3. K.D. Knoedler 4. John Miller
Heat 2: 1. Jim Adams 2. Mike Rector 3. Jerry Davis 4. Mike Weisburg
Feature 25 laps: 1. Rob Roney 2. K.D. Knoedler 3. Jim Adams 4. Mark Jamison 5. Josh Sell 6. Jeff Slayton 7. Jerry Davis 8. Max Evans 9. John Miller 10. Roger Balcomb 11. Mark Otting 12. Greg Watson 13. Wayne Fitzpatrick 14. Mike Weisburg 15. Mike Rector 16. Tim Gaskin 17. Mark Bernard
Hostetler Wins Again
September 22
Shady Bowl Speedway
The OVDCA Dwarf cars were in action at Shady Bowl Speedway Saturday night, with Bill Hostetler ending up in victory lane for the fourth time this season. The 2001 track champ was behind the wheel of his Ohio Caverns sponsored Ford. The 68 year old youngster dominated the night, by also setting fast time and winning his heat.
Fast Qualifier: Bill Hostetler
Heat: 1. Bill Hostetler 2. Brian Rusch Jr. 3. Wayne Fitzpatrick 4. Max Evans
Feature 20 laps: 1. Bill Hostetler 2. Wayne Fitzpatrick 3. Max Evans 4. Mark Jamison 5. C.E. Daughtery 6. Josh Sell
7. Greg Watson|
8. Brian Rusch Jr. 9. Mark Bernard
Final 2001 Point Standings: 1.Bill Hostetler 314 2. Brad Coons 263 3. Wayne Fitzpatrick 255 4. Mike Weisburg 245, 5. Max Evans 208 6. Mark Bernard 196 7. Mike Rector 150 8. Josh Sell 137 9. Mark Jamison 106 10. Doug Kerrigan 88
Evans and Weisberg 1st Time Winners
Saturday August 25, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
Max Evans of West Liberty won his first ever OVDCA feature when he claimed top spot in the make up feature Saturday night in his Ohio Caverns backed machine. Mike Weisberg, Brad Coons, Bill Hostetler and Josh Sell finished second thru fifth.
The regular feature saw Mike Weisberg of Chesterland win his first feature in the Fast Financial Ford sedan. The race was red flagged on lap 11, when Josh Sell flipped several times down the front straight. Sell was unhurt in the wild melee. Brad Coons, Jeff Slayton, Mark Bernard and Mike Rector chased Weisberg across the finish line. Heat wins went to Coons and Jason Eddy.
Carrigan Seizes Moment, Wins at Shady Bowl
Saturday August 4, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
After a couple attempts last season and two more already in 2001, Murfreesboro, Tennessee's Doug Carrigan finally got the win he traveled over eight hours to get in the most recent Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association event at Shady Bowl Speedway near DeGraff, Ohio. Carrigan's victory was anything but easy, as he had to overcome a high speed shootout with three-time Shady Bowl winner Bill Hostetler and the always fast Chad Pendleton, making his return behind the wheel of a dwarf.
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Based on an invert from the heat races, the double points event was brought to the green by Brad Coons and Mark Jamison. Coons wasted little time in taking the lead, bringing Hostetler, Mike Weisberg, Carrigan and Pendleton with him. Coons' time out front was short-lived as Hostetler made a pass for the top spot on lap two. On a night where attrition would prove to take its toll on many of the regular frontrunners, Weisberg was the first to get bit on lap five. Going into turn one, Weisberg went too low and clipped the inside tires, spinning him out and sending him to the hill early, joining Spence Stearns who retired earlier with mechanical problems.
On the restart, Pendleton in the Hostetler-owned dwarf truck took second away from Coons, with Carrigan and current points leader Wayne Fitzpatrick slipping by as well. The yellow waved again on lap six as Mount Vernon's Mike Rector appeared to lose an oil line and spun on the front stretch in a cloud of smoke, retiring him to the hill. When racing resumed, Coons fell victim to mechanical woes and began to slip back in the field. The problems reached a climax when he spun in turn four and hit the inside wall rupturing his radiator and ending his night early.
When the green came back out, the front four continued to wage an epic battle, with the front two of Hostetler and Pendleton holding steady and Carrigan and Fitzpatrick swapping positions on laps eight and nine. The entire complexion of the event and the quest for the season championship took a huge turn on lap ten when Fitzpatrick came to a stop in turn three with a broken right front spindle. The result was Fitzpatrick's first DNF of the 2001 campaign after an incredible streak of seven straight top fives to start the year.
After the event's final yellow, the pack settled into a steady groove. Behind the highflying front trio, Mark Jamison and Mark Bernard were battling it out for fourth place, with Jamison holding the advantage. Behind that battle, Max Evans and the steadily improving Josh Sell were in a tight race for the number six spot. After a terrible start to his second season of racing, Sell was able to make a pass of the Evans on lap 17 to claim the position for good.
With the white flag ready to be displayed, Hostetler looked to be in control as the leader's began entering lapped traffic. On lap 19, Hostetler was slowed momentarily behind a lapped car and was tagged from behind by Pendleton. Carrigan took advantage of the moment, squeezing beneath Pendleton, Hostetler and the lapped car and set sail for his first feature win at Shady Bowl. The resulting contact ripped second gear out of Hostetler's car and allowed Pendleton to slip by to take runner-up honors, with Hostetler holding onto third. Jamison prevailed in the battle of the Mark's to take fourth place in another strong run for the veteran driver. Knocking on the door to the top five were Sell, in a career-best run for him and Evans in seventh. Rookie C.E. Daugherty finished eighth with ninth going to Keith Bailey. Another rookie, Max Thomas finished a somewhat disappointing tenth after clutch problems ended an other wise strong run early.
The evening's first heat event provided an epic battle between Hostetler and Pendleton. Coons jumped to the early lead from the outside pole only to be overtaken Hostetler and Pendleton. Hostetler appeared destined for victory, but Pendleton had other ideas as he went low on the last turn of the last lap to take the win. Coons and Fitzpatrick took the final two points positions. Heat number two was all Carrigan as he led the distance from the outside of row one. Weisberg came all the way from last in the seven-car field to claim second with Jamison and Bernard rounding out the top four.
The aforementioned attrition caused a major shake-up in the chase for the Shady Bowl championship. What before was a nine-point deficit for Hostetler is now a 27-point cushion atop the standings over Fitzpatrick with just three points races left. Third through fifth still show Coons, Weisberg and Evans. Bernard's top five run moves him past Rector into the number six spot. Sell and Carrigan, by virtue of his heat and feature win are tied for eighth, with Jamison rounding out the top ten. The dwarfs return to action on August 18 joining the 305 sprint car series, the VARC vintage cars and Pro and Flying Stocks on the card.
Heat 1: Pendleton, Hostetler, Coons, Fitzpatrick, Evans, Rector, Bailey, Daugherty.
Heat 2: Carrigan, Weisberg, Jamison, Bernard, Sell, Thomas, Stearns.
Feature: Carrigan, Pendleton, Hostetler, Jamison, Bernard, Sell, Evans, Daugherty, Bailey, Thomas, Fitzpatrick, Coons, Rector, Weisberg, Stearns
Dwarf Car Point Standings Through 8/4:
1. #9H Bill Hostetler 260 6. #31 Mark Bernard 146
2. #2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 233 7. #6 Mike Rector 108
3. #012 Brad Coons 206 8. #03 Josh Sell 88
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 172 #8 Doug Carrigan 88
5. #57 Max Evans 151 10. #82 Mark Jamison 82
Hostetler Fights Off Challenges For Win Number Three
Saturday July 28, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
2000 Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association champion Bill Hostetler made the most of his pole position starting spot to take the checkered flag in a rain-shortened event at Shady Bowl Speedway. Hostetler led all 11 laps of the affair, outdistancing Tennessee’s Doug Carrigan for his third feature win of the season.
The winner’s of the evening’s two heats, Hostetler and Carrigan brought the 15-car field down to the green to kick off the seventh event of the 2001 campaign. Hostetler wasted no time taking control, with Carrigan and current points leader Wayne Fitzpatrick right behind. Behind that trio, the threesome of Brad Coons, Mike Weisberg and Mark Bernard settled into a groove.
Throughout the feature event, Hostetler began putting distance between himself and the remainder of the field, as the top six continued to run in the same order. The biggest gainer in the field was West Liberty’s Max Evans. Evans started 12th in the line-up, but gained two spots on the event’s first lap. By lap five, Evans had found his way around 2000 OVDCA rookie of the year Josh Sell, after the latter went high in turn four to take the seventh position.
The end of the event became imminent on lap 12 when 14-year old rookie Brian Rusch, Jr. spun in turn two. During the caution period, oil began to flow onto the track from the #42 car piloted by rookie driver C.E. Daugherty. After the track was cleaned up, racing resumed only to be stopped again before a lap could be completed, as rain began to move into the area. The combination of rain, floor dry on the track and possibly some remaining oil caused Carrigan to spin in turn two. His spin started a chain reaction pile-up that also involved Coons, Bernard and Sell.
After a few moments of red flag conditions to clean up the wreck and see if the rain would taper off, Shady Bowl officials called the race complete, as it was more than half-way in the books. The officials than reverted back to the running order on the last green flag lap, number 11 for the finishing order. Hostetler picked up the win, with second going to Carrigan. Third and fourth went to Fitzpatrick and Coons, who are the only two drivers to finish in the top five in all seven 2001 events. Weisberg finished fifth ahead of Bernard and the hard-charging Evans. Rounding out the top ten were Sell in eighth, Mark Jamison and Gordon Schwarz.
Heat number one featured great battles for the number one and three spots. Fitzpatrick got the jump from the pole at the outset, with Hostetler right behind. The battle for third raged as Mount Vernon’s Mike Rector slipped past Sell for the position. Up front, Hostetler was able to make a move to take the lead and win away from Fitzpatrick. Rector and Sell continued to battle throughout, with Sell finally making the pass coming out of turn four on the last lap. As the two drivers crossed the finish line, contact between the two cars sent Rector spinning. Heat number two was all Carrigan as he passed the front row duo of Mike King and Jamison to take the win. Coons and Weisberg moved up from row three to take second and third, with Bernard grabbing the number four spot.
With the win, Hostetler was able to cut into the 14-point cushion that Fitzpatrick had enjoyed. The 1998 champion still leads Hostetler by nine points. The remainder of the top five remains the same, with Coons, Weisberg and Evans in third through fifth. The second half of the top ten received a shake-up, however. Bernard’s second straight sixth place finish, moves him four points ahead of Rector. Sell has apparently recovered from a tough first half of the season, as he moved up two spots into eighth. Keith Bailey holds down the ninth position, with Michigan driver John Barnard still lingering in the top ten, despite just two starts this season.
The dwarfs are right back in action this Saturday, August 4, for double points night. All six regular Shady Bowl classes will be on hand for the event. The dwarf car feature could figure to be one of the most memorable in recent memory. Expected to joint the battle for the top spot are Carrigan and former OVDCA standout Chad Pendleton in the Hostetler-owned dwarf truck.
Heat 1: Hostetler, Fitzpatrick, Sell, Rector, Schwarz, Rusch, Bailey, Daugherty.
Heat 2: Carrigan, Coons, Weisberg, Bernard, Jamison, Evans, King.
Feature: Hostetler, Carrigan, Fitzpatrick, Coons, Weisberg, Bernard, Evans, Sell, Jamison, Schwarz, Rector, King, Bailey, Rusch, Daugherty.
Dwarf Car Point Standing Through 7/28:
1. #2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 219 6. #31 Mark Bernard 108
2. #9H Bill Hostetler 210 7. #6 Mike Rector 104
3. #012 Brad Coons 194 8. #03 Josh Sell 56
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 162 9. #45 Keith Bailey 55
5. #57 Max Evans 123 10. #13 John Barnard 47
Fitzpatrick Makes Wish, Wins Again at Shady Bowl
Saturday July 14, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
One would have to assume that all Wayne Fitzpatrick wanted for his 56th birthday was a chance to show the dominance that he has displayed this season in Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association action at Shady Bowl Speedway. Fitzpatrick got his wish as he won for the fourth time over the OVDCA's largest field of the 2001 campaign. Fitzpatrick had his hands full though, as he fought off numerous challengers to take the checkered flag.
Paired on the front row for the beginning of the event, were a pair of Toledo residents. 14-year old rookie Brian Rusch, Jr. in his Shady Bowl debut was on the inside next to Jerry Davis in the #81 S&D Racing car. At the drop of the green it was Rusch taking the early lead with 1999 OVDCA champion Jason Eddy, Bellefontaine's Brad Coons, Mike Weisberg of Chesterland and Fitzpatrick right behind. Rusch's lead was short lived however, as the rookie spun into the inside turn two wall on the event's third lap ending his evening ahead of schedule.
Two cars in the field, Oscar O'Dell and Doug Carrigan both traveled great distances to compete, only to find they were not in compliance with OVDCA rules. Rather than turn the drivers away, O'Dell and Carrigan were allowed to participate with the understanding they would automatically be scored in the back of the pack at night's end. While O'Dell was forced to the hill early, Carrigan put on quite a show for the Shady Bowl fans. After going to the hill on the first caution for a flat tire, Carrigan returned one lap down and nearly made the lap up, passing all but about four cars by the checkered flag.
After the yellow, the lead went to Eddy on the restart. Eddy, now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri made a return to the area on vacation and jumped immediately into the Larry Janney-owned machine for the evening's event. As the event got back underway, a fierce three-way battle between Eddy, Weisberg and Fitzpatrick ensued. The trio swapped positions throughout the event as the caution-free laps ticked away.
Interestingly, three cars that started outside the top ten each made frantic drives through the pack towards the top five. 2000 champ Bill Hostetler returned to his West Liberty home following heat race action and returned with his Pro Chassis truck, automatically starting on the tail of the feature event. The other two, Gordon Schwarz of Temperance, Michigan and Mark Jamison of Columbus, also started in the back and raced their way to the front.
The biggest change of the event came within a matter of minutes around the lap 16 mark. As the leader's entered lapped traffic, contact between a number of cars set off quite a melee. Going into turn four, Fitzpatrick and Weisberg battling for the lead, made contact partially spinning Fitzpatrick. Carrigan swerved to avoid the two and made contact with both Davis and Eddy, sending the latter hard into the turn four wall. On the restart, Weisberg slowed dramatically from the start with a flat right rear tire.
During the last five laps, Fitzpatrick checked out from the rest of the field to pick up the victory. Coons ran a consistent race, staying in the top five throughout to take runner-up honors. Hostetler powered his truck all the way up to the number three position, holding off hard chargers Jamison and Schwarz in fourth and fifth. Behind the top five were the duo of Mark Bernard and Max Evans, ahead of 2000 OVDCA rookie of the year Josh Sell in the best run of his sophomore campaign. Rounding out the top ten were Mike King and Keith Bailey.
The evening's first heat race turned into one of the most bizarre races in recent memory. Following a lap two yellow, Hostetler and Eddy, on the front row made three attempts at a restart with none of them coming off clean. The two were then moved to the back row for the start. As a track official came onto the track to slow up traffic, he was inadvertently struck by one of the dwarfs. A visit to the hospital for the official revealed a broken collarbone and a knot on his head. On the track, Weisberg took advantage and picked up the win ahead of Eddy. Behind the front two on the final lap, the Kawasaki engine of Mike Rector expired and as he slowed, many cars got caught behind the Mount Vernon driver. Rusch was the first to take advantage and took third ahead of Bailey and Hostetler. Heat two was all Fitzpatrick as he held off the trio of Coons, Davis and King for the win.
Fitzpatrick's win now puts him 14 points ahead of second place Hostetler. Coons continues to hold down third, with Weisberg chasing him. Evans was able to pass Rector to round out the top five in the standings. The OVDCA returns to action on Saturday, July 28 joining the E-Mods, Late Models, Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks on the evening's card.
Heat 1: Weisberg, Eddy, Rusch, Bailey, Hostetler, Sell, Rector, O'Dell (DQ).
Heat 2: Fitzpatrick, Coons, Davis, King, Bernard, Schwarz, Jamison, Evans, Carrigan (DQ).
Feature: Fitzpatrick, Coons, Hostetler, Jamison, Schwarz, Bernard, Evans, Sell, King, Bailey, Davis, Weisberg, Eddy, Rusch, Carrigan (DQ), O'Dell (DQ).
Dwarf Car Point Standings Through 7/14:
1. #2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 194 6. #6 Mike Rector 97
2. #9H Bill Hostetler 180 7. #31 Mark Bernard 91
3. #012 Brad Coons 171 8. #45 Keith Bailey 53
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 142 9. #13 John Barnard 47
5. #57 Max Evans 109 10. #03 Josh Sell 42
Hostetler Tightens Points Race With Win
Saturday June 16, 2001
By Shawn Sell
After dropping into a tie for second place in the point standings following a broken oil line the previous time out, 2000 Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association champion Bill Hostetler rebounded in a big way in the most recent event at Shady Bowl Speedway. The 68-year old West Liberty resident took advantage of the double points being offered to cut into 1998 champ and current leader Wayne Fitzpatrick's lead with his second feature win of the season. Hostetler was easily the class of the field on this night, putting his Midwest Distributor-sponsored car in victory lane in both heat and feature action, to shrink Fitzpatrick's lead to just six points.
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Following a six-car invert after the heat races, Mount Vernon's Mike Rector and Marysville's Mark Bernard were paired on the front row to start. The first lap of the event produced some of the tightest and most exciting racing of the evening, regardless of class. Cars sliced and diced their way around the 3/10-mile oval, going three-wide at times, with Bernard emerging in the lead after one circuit. But his lead was short lived as Hostetler made his move to the front on the second lap.
From there, Hostetler was never really challenged as the caution free laps ticked away. Behind Hostetler, there was close racing all over the track, as the ten-car field battled it out. Up front, Fitzpatrick was fighting off Chesterland's Mike Weisberg for the number two spot. Behind that duo, Bernard had his hands full with Brad Coons of Bellefontaine in a battle for the fourth spot. The trio of Rector, Dave Williamson and Max Evans fought it out behind them for the number six position. Evans, forced to start on the tail after spinning in his heat race, worked his way around Williamson on lap four and settled into sixth in front of Rector on lap 10. Coons was finally able to wrestle fourth away from Bernard, but not until the event's fourteenth lap.
At the checkered, Hostetler had the win by well over a straightaway. Coming down to the finish line on the last lap, Weisberg made his move around Fitzpatrick, just edging him out for second. Coons took fourth ahead of Bernard, who finished fifth despite burning up a rear end for the second consecutive race. Evans was sixth ahead of Williamson in the Mark Jamison-owned car, who passed Rector for the spot on lap 13. Rounding out the field were a pair of West Liberty natives, Keith Bailey in ninth place and rookie Max Thomas in tenth.
The evening's two heat races also featured some close racing, with Hostetler and Weisberg picking up the wins. In the first heat, Hostetler and Coons swapped the lead in the early going, with Hostetler taking the lead for good on lap four. Coons hung on to Hostetler's bumper for second ahead of Rector, Thomas and Bailey. After picking up his first career heat win on May 19, Evans appeared primed to repeat in heat number two. It was not to be though as Weisberg made a pass for the lead and win on lap four. Evans was fighting off Fitzpatrick for second until he spun in turns three and four on the last lap. That gave second place to Fitzpatrick, with Bernard third, Williamson fourth and Evans with a hard-luck fifth place finish.
The aforementioned double points tightened things atop the Shady Bowl dwarf car point standings. Fitzpatrick's comfortable 16-point lead is now down to six after Hostetler's win. Coons now sits alone in third, with Weisberg just ten points behind. Rector remains in fifth, but Evans is hot on his heels, just two points behind. The dwarfs return to action with two races the week of the Fourth of July holiday. Shady Bowl has included the dwarfs in a special Tuesday night show on July 3, joining the $6,000 Firecracker 50 E-mod race and a regular Pro Stock show. On Saturday, July 7 the dwarfs are right back in action in a regular show joining the Late Models, Pro Stocks, Flying Stocks and Mini Stocks on the evening's card.
Heat 1: Hostetler, Coons, Rector, Thomas, Bailey.
Heat 2: Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Bernard, Williamson, Evans.
Feature: Hostetler, Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Coons, Bernard, Evans, Williamson, Rector, Bailey, Thomas.
Dwarf Car Point Standings Through 6/16:
1. #2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 164 6. #57 Max Evans 95
2. #9H Bill Hostetler 158 7. #31 Mark Bernard 75
3. #012 Brad Coons 144 8. #13 John Barnard 47
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 134 9. #45 Keith Bailey 44
5. #6 Mike Rector 97 10. #16K Max Thomas 35
11. #03 Josh Sell 30
The OVDCA races scheduled at Shady Bowl Speedway for May 26th and June 2nd were both cancelled due to rain.
Fitzpatrick Wins Again at Shady Bowl
Saturday May 19, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
To steal a line from ESPN's Stuart Scott, "Wayne Fitzpatrick must be butter, cause he is on a roll." The 1998 Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association champion did it again in the most recent event at Shady Bowl Speedway, winning his second feature in a row and third in four feature starts. Fitzpatrick, in the Elevator Services Inc., IBEW Local 683, Accurate Fabrication, Robson's Hilliard Marathon sponsored had to overcome a strong run from Chesterland's Mike Weisberg and a late race charge from Brad Coons of Bellefontaine to take the win.
Paired on the front row for the feature start for the second consecutive race were Mount Vernon's Mike Rector and Weisberg. Weisberg took control at the drop of the green with Fitzpatrick, Coons, Rector and 2000 OVDCA champ Bill Hostetler right behind. Hostetler slipped into the number four spot on lap two as the field settled into shape.
The first round of attrition struck the field on lap seven when 2000 OVDCA rookie of the year Josh Sell saw his frustrations continue. Throughout the night, Sell had been battling an oil leak caused by a dented cooler from a previous wreck. With smoke billowing from his Mid-Ohio Harley Davidson sponsored #03, Sell called it an early night. Two laps later Marysville's Mark Bernard did the same when something broke in the rear end of his #31 car.
The field ran constant for most of the event, until hard luck hit Hostetler, still running fourth on lap 12. A broken oil line caused a great deal of smoke and brought out the evening's first yellow on lap 15 when Hostetler couldn't make it all the way to the pits.
A lap after the restart, Fitzpatrick made his move around Weisberg, bringing Coons with him into second. On lap 17, Weisberg spun while trying to reclaim his lost positions. Before another lap could be completed, Coons got into the back of Fitzpatrick in turn four, turning himself around. However, a ruling by Shady Bowl track officials gave Coons his spot back in line as a full lap had not been completed since the restart, thus the need for a complete restart from the last completed lap.
By the race's conclusion, Fitzpatrick had the win wrapped up, with Coons right behind. Weisberg rebounded for a third place finish. The polesitter Rector held off West Liberty's Max Evans after a 20-lap battle for fourth, with Keith Bailey the last car running in sixth position.
With just nine cars on hand for the evening, the field was placed into one heat. Evans and Weisberg brought the field down, with Evans taking early control. The Ohio Caverns sponsored car and driver knew what to do from there as Evans withstood two cautions and a charge from his old buddy Hostetler to pick up his first career win at Shady Bowl. Fitzpatrick took third, with Coons in fourth.
Another win by Fitzpatrick keeps him firmly in control in the Shady Bowl points standings. Another good run by Coons and the tough luck of Hostetler, have now placed them in a tie for second. Weisberg and Rector round out the top five.
The next dwarf car action is slated for this Saturday, May 26. The headline event of the evening is the 51-lap Neal Sceva Memorial late model race. Rounding out the evening are the E-Mods and Flying Stocks.
Heat Race: Evans, Hostetler, Fitzpatrick, Coons, Weisberg, Rector, Bailey, Sell, Bernard.
Feature: Fitzpatrick, Coons, Weisberg, Rector, Evans, Bailey, Hostetler, Bernard, Sell. DNS-Jamison.
Dwarf Car Point Standings Through 5/19:
1. #2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 114 6. #57 Max Evans 63
2. #012 Brad Coons 98 7. #13 John Barnard 47
#9H Bill Hostetler 98 8. #31 Mark Bernard 35
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 78 9. #03 Josh Sell 30
5. #6 Mike Rector 69 10. #45 Keith Bailey 24
Fitzpatrick Wins Number Two at Shady Bowl
Saturday April 28, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
There is an old adage in racing that once a driver picks up that elusive first win, the victories start piling up in bunches. In dwarf car action at Shady Bowl Speedway, Marengo's Wayne Fitzpatrick is proving that point. Now in his seventh year of competition with the Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association, Fitzpatrick reeled off career win number two in the most recent event at Shady Bowl. After taking top honors in the first event of the season two weeks ago, Fitzpatrick held off Brad Coons and Bill Hostetler to secure the checkered flag.
As a result of the six-car invert conducted by Shady Bowl officials, Mount Vernon's Mike Rector and Mike Weisberg of Chesterland brought the 13-car
field to the green. Weisberg took early control with Rector second, Hostetler third and Coons fourth. The first yellow flag of the evening flew on lap two, as Urbana's Josh Sell spun in turn three, collecting Temperance, Michigan's Gordon Schwarz and ending the night early for last season's top two rookies.
On the restart, Hostetler and Fitzpatrick started their march to the front, taking over the second and third spots. Hostetler slipped back to fourth by lap four, with Fitzpatrick picking up the number two spot and Coons the number three. The entire complexion of the event turned on lap six when the second and final caution of the night flew. Weisberg, still in control and looking for his first career feature win, spun on the backstretch, handing the lead to Fitzpatrick.
Relegated to the tail for the restart, Weisberg put on a frantic drive through the pack, moving back into the fourth spot by lap eight. Also moving through the pack was Robbin Slaughter in the Jack Morgan-owned #12 car. Slaughter, who captured the 2000 ARCA Truck Championship was marching through the field after starting eleventh, up to sixth by lap 11. The veteran driver was eventually able to overtake Marysville's Mark Bernard for fifth on lap 16 to make his night in a dwarf car into a top five finish.
Up front, Fitzpatrick continued to pace the field ahead of Coons and Hostetler. The last four laps proved exciting as the trio began entering lapped traffic, with both Coons and Hostetler taking shots at the lead. By the checkered it was not enough, as Fitzpatrick had his second win of the 2001 campaign. Coons ended in the runner-up spot, with Hostetler third and Weisberg and Slaughter rounding out the top five. West Liberty's Max Evans rebounded from a tough crash two weeks ago to take sixth, with Bernard seventh and Rector eighth. Two drivers out for the first time in 2001, Jerry Davis of Toledo and Columbus' Mark Jamison rounded out the top ten finishers.
Fitzpatrick and Coons paced the evening's two heat races. Heat number one was all Fitzpatrick as he passed early leader Rector on lap two and took heat win number three of the season. Evans had a strong run for second, with Rector third and Davis fourth. In the second heat, Coons jumped into the lead from the pole position to stake his first checkered of the year. Hostetler passed Weisberg for second on lap five to grab runner-up honors, while Sell made an aggressive last-lap, last-turn pass on Bernard to take fourth.
With the win, Fitzpatrick remains in control in the quest for the first Shady Bowl dwarf car track championship. Hostetler is second, five points behind, with Coons moving up to third, Weisberg fourth and Rector in fifth. The next dwarf car action is scheduled for May 19 in a regular show with the E-Mods, Late Models, Pro Stocks and Flying Stocks.
Heat 1: Fitzpatrick, Evans, Rector, Davis, Jamison.
Heat 2: Coons, Hostetler, Weisberg, Sell, Bernard, Slaughter, Schwarz.
Feature: Fitzpatrick, Coons, Hostetler, Weisberg, Slaughter, Evans, Bernard, Rector, Davis, Jamison, Schwarz, Sell, King. DNS-Claypool.
OVDCA Point Standings Through 4/28:
1. # 2 Wayne Fitzpatrick 86 6. #13 John Barnard 47
2. #9H Bill Hostetler 81 7. #57 Max Evans 41
3. #012 Brad Coons 73 8. #31 Mark Bernard 23
4. #14 Mike Weisberg 56 9. #03 Josh Sell 20
5. #6 Mike Rector 49 10. #12 Robbin Slaughter 18
Fitzpatrick and Hostetler Take Shady Bowl Features
Saturday April 14, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Following a rain shower the previous Saturday that wiped out the season opener, the Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association was finally able to open its season with double feature action at Shady Bowl Speedway. When all the smoke had cleared, two dwarf car veterans had found their way to victory lane. The make-up feature belonged to Marengo's Wayne Fitzpatrick, as the 1998 OVDCA champion picked up the first feature win of his career. Feature number two went to defending OVDCA champ and West Liberty native Bill Hostetler, who recovered from an early spin to pick up the win.
In the make-up feature, it was Fitzpatrick and Hostetler bringing the 12-car field to the green, with Fitzpatrick taking early control. Hostetler ran second early, chased by Michigan's John Barnard, Bellefontaine native Brad Coons and Marysville's Mark Bernard. On the move after starting dead last in the field was Michigan's Rob Roney who moved past Bernard for fifth on lap three.
Hostetler made a move for the lead on lap eight and led until the event's first caution flew on lap 10. Bernard, still running sixth, saw his Kawasaki engine blow up after just two and a half races. By that time, Fitzpatrick had moved back in front but as Bernard headed for the hill, he dropped oil in turn two, which Hostetler got into, spinning out and bringing out the yellow. With Hostetler given his spot back, the field was ready to go green again when the second caution flew before a lap could be completed. A slow restart resulted in a pile-up in turn four with West Liberty's Keith Bailey nearly running over the car of Mount Vernon's Mike Rector. Rector was able to continue, while Bailey was forced to call it an evening.
Following the restart, Roney moved around Coons for the number four spot as Fitzpatrick continued to lead with pressure from Hostetler and Barnard. On lap 14, Hostetler went too hard into turn four and dropped back two positions. The evening's final caution flew two laps later as Cleveland's Mike Weisberg, already several laps down spun on the back chute.
At the checkered, Fitzpatrick was still out in front to pick up the win. Barnard took second, while Roney, who appeared to finish third, was disqualified in
a post-race inspection for being too wide. That gave the number three spot to Hostetler, followed by Coons and Rector. Max Evans followed Rector across for sixth, while 2000 OVDCA rookie of the year Josh Sell came home a career-best seventh, Mike King eighth and Weisberg, the last car running in ninth.
In the evening's second feature, the front row again paired Fitzpatrick and Hostetler. On the way to the green for the first lap, Hostetler spun in turn four, collecting the cars of Evans, Rector and Sell, with Evans and Sell both forced to retire early. After order was restored, Fitzpatrick once again took control of the seven-car field at the green, with Hostetler second, Coons third, Barnard fourth and Weisberg fifth.
The running order remained the same until lap eight when Barnard moved past Coons for the third spot. On lap 13, Hostetler finally found his way around Fitzpatrick, inheriting a lead he would not relinquish. Yellow flag number two appeared on lap 18 as Coons and Weisberg, battling for fourth place, got together in turn four.
With such a small field, Weisberg did not lose much ground and came out very aggressive for the remaining two laps. Contact with Barnard on the fina
l lap, brought out the event's third caution, retiring Barnard early. On the restart, Weisberg made another aggressive move to take second from Fitzpatrick at the checkered, behind Hostetler. The remainder of the field showed Coons fourth, Barnard fifth, rookie Max Thomas of West Liberty sixth in his debut, and Rector seventh after pulling off on lap two.
The evening's first heat was paced at the beginning by Weisberg, who led the first three counters before conceding the lead and the win to Fitzpatrick. Evans took second after Weisberg spun on the last lap of the event. Rector finished third, with Sell fourth and Weisberg fifth. Coons jumped into the early lead of the second heat, leading the first four tours before Hostetler overtook him for the lead. Last lap contact between Coons and Barnard, led to the latter spinning on the last lap and Coons taking the number two position. Thomas rounded out the field in fourth.
After two races, Fitzpatrick and Hostetler are in a dead heat in the chase for the first-ever Shady Bowl dwarf car track championship. Barnard sits eight points behind in third, with Coons and Rector rounding out the top five. The dwarfs return to action on April 28, joining a co-sanctioned NAMARS/ARCA Midget show, along with the Kenyon Midgets, Late Models and Flying Stocks.
Make-up feature from 4/7: Fitzpatrick, Barnard, Hostetler, Coons, Rector, Evans, Sell, King, Weisberg, Bernard, Bailey. DQ-Roney.
Heat 1: Fitzpatrick, Evans, Rector, Sell, Weisberg.
Heat 2: Hostetler, Coons, Barnard, Thomas.
Regular Feature: Hostetler, Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Coons, Barnard, Thomas, Rector. DNS-Bailey, Bernard, Evans, Roney, Sell.
Rain Ends Shady Bowl Opener Early
Saturday April 7, 2001
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
The 2001 Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association kicked off at Shady Bowl Speedway near DeGraff, OH with a brief shower and lighting in the area ending action before the dwarfs could take the track for their feature event. 12 cars were entered for the event but separate incidents in the first practice eliminated two cars from contention.
An accident involving Bellefontaine's Brad Coons and Grand Blanc, Michigan's Rob Roney knocked the latter from the field with front-end damage. 2000 OVDCA rookie of the year, Josh Sell taking over the Mid-Ohio Harley Davidson-sponsored ride piloted last season by his father Mike, also was forced to call it an early night after knocking a hole in his oil cooler.
Despite the small field, the cars were broken into two heats for the evening. Bringing the field down to the green for first heat of the new year were Marysville's Mark Bernard and 1998 OVDCA champion and Marengo resident Wayne Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick got the jump from the outside pole leading all eight laps to pick up the win. Michigan's John Barnard moved around Coons, who recovered from his practice accident on the final lap to pick up second. The pole sitter Bernard took fourth, with Mike Weisberg, debuting a new Jaxports car taking fifth.
Heat number two was paced at the beginning by Max Evans of West Liberty. Evans jumped out to a sizable lead from his outside front row starting position, with 2000 champion Bill Hostetler in tow. Hostetler finally found his way around his longtime friend on lap six to take the checkered. West Liberty's Keith Bailey held on for third, with Mike Rector of Mount Vernon fourth and pole sitter Mike King from West Liberty fifth.
Following the rain, Shady Bowl promoter Charlie Stapleton agreed to allow the dwarfs to make up their lost feature this Saturday, April 14 giving the dwarfs double features this weekend. The field will start straight up from their finishing positions from the heat, with heat one starting on the inside row and heat two outside. OVDCA officials have also decided to allow the cars of Sell and Roney back into the field, starting in the sixth row.
With the start of the new season also came the debut of two new non-racing vehicles at the track. Hostetler brought out the official OVDCA pace car, a dwarf car with the roof cut off, to be driven this season by Francie Saylers. Mike Sell, after spending four years as a driver elected to sell one of his two cars and in its place acquired a Harley Davidson powered golf cart. The cart was painted by LeVan's Body Shop and bares a striking resemblance to the #03 car driven by Mike's son Josh. Look for these two new fun additions all season long at Shady Bowl.
Heat 1: Fitzpatrick, Barnard, Coons, Bernard, Weisberg.
Heat 2: Hostetler, Evans, Bailey, Rector, King.
