Hostetler Wins Final Shady Bowl Feature
Saturday October 11, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
Shady Bowl Speedway closed out its 2003 racing season under ideal weather conditions with a full fast paced program of stock car racing. It was also Dayton Auto Racing Fan Night with all DARF members enjoying a free night of racing.
The DWARF cars were also on the schedule, with Bill Hostetler of West Liberty putting his scaled down Trenor Motors sponsored car in victory lane. The 70 year old veteran driver was chased across the finish line by J.J. Stewart, Mark Bernard, Don Eaton and Chris Weeks. Bernard was the winner of the heat race.
Heat Race Winner: Mark Bernard
Feature 20 laps: 1. Bill Hostetler, 2. J.J. Stewart, 3. Mark Bernard, 4. Don Eaton, 5. Chris Weeks, 6. Wayne Fitzpatrick, 7. Randy Steck
Hostetler Wins, Fitzpatrick Locks Up Title
Saturday September 13, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Bill Hostetler won the battle, but Wayne Fitzpatrick ultimately won the war as the 1998 OVDCA Champion wrapped up the 2003 crown in the final points race of the season at Shady Bowl Speedway on September 13th. Hostetler picked up the feature win, but a fourth place effort by Fitzpatrick was enough to wrap up his second crown.
The evening’s main event was a great battle between Josh Sell, home from school in North Carolina and Hostetler. Sell jumped into the lead from the pole position with Hostetler moving right into second after rolling off third. The younger of the combatants, Sell, took control for the first lap, before Hostetler slipped by on the second circuit. The three-time champion’s time out front was short lived, as Sell motored back past on lap three.
From there, the field remained the same with Bernard, 2003 OVDCA Rookie of the Year Randy Steck and Fitzpatrick right behind. Fitzpatrick finally made his move past Steck on lap nine and closed in on Bernard.
The standings took one final change on lap 11 as Hostetler made the winning pass of Sell and set sail for the checkered. Behind Hostetler, Bernard and Fitzpatrick staged the best battle on the track for third, with Bernard holding on for the spot, just behind Sell. Steck rounded out the top five in the final standings.
The evening’s heat race started off with Bernard in control, just ahead of Fitzpatrick and Hostetler. Second place changed hands on lap four as Hostetler passed Fitzpatrick, before taking over the lead just one circuit later. Sell moved through the field with a vengeance after starting fifth, unseating Bernard for third on lap five, but coming up just short at the line for second behind Fitzpatrick.
With the season’s points races now complete, Fitzpatrick is the points champion for the second time. Sell finished in a career-best of second in the standings, just 26 behind. Bernard capped off his season with a third place ranking, 27 better than Max Evans. Donnie Eaton rounded out the top five ahead of last season’s rookie of the year Chris Weeks. Michigan’s Rob Roney was seventh in the standings, just ahead of Mike Rector, Keith Bailey and Mike Weisberg, rounding out the top 10. Steck wrapped up the top rookie honors, finishing 11th in the standings.
Despite the ending of the points competition, the OVDCA still has three races remaining on the 2003 docket. Things start this weekend with the final leg of the GLAS series at Flat Rock (MI) Speedway on Saturday. The Shady Bowl schedule wraps up with race dates scheduled for both October 4 and 11.
Heat Race: Hostetler, Fitzpatrick, Sell, Bernard, Steck, Bailey.
Feature: Hostetler, Sell, Bernard, Fitzpatrick, Steck, Bailey.
Final 2003 OVDCA Standings
1. Wayne Fitzpatrick 404 8. Mike Rector 198 15. Tom Sliwa 108
2. Josh Sell 378 9. Keith Bailey 186 16. H. Mitchem 45
3. Mark Bernard 320 10. Mike Weisberg 185 17. Ron Shamel Jr. 43
4. Max Evans 293 11. Randy Steck 162 18. Mark Jamison 41
5. Donnie Eaton 268 12. Bill Hostetler 151 19. K.D. Knoedler 39
6. Chris Weeks 247 13. Chad Goff 122 20. Steve Carter 5
7. Rob Roney 219 14. Eddie Briggs 119 Bob Stewart 5
Roney Scores Another GLAS Event Win
Saturday, September 6, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Shady Bowl Speedway hosted the forth event of the five race Great Lakes Asphalt Series (GLAS) Classic Modified/Dwarf racing event. Unseasonably cool weather greeted the twenty-seven entrants as the prepared for battle at the 3/10 oval. Sixteen racers made the long haul from the MCR club in Michigan, and 4 Illinois competitors were on hand, along with the Shady Bowl regulars.
The field was broken into three heat races, each sponsored by local businesses. The Liberty Firestone (West Liberty, OH) sponsored heat one was a battle between MCR racers John Wylie and multiple Shady Bowl feature winner Rob Roney. The two battled through every turn, but Wylie held on to win from the pole position. Roney, Tom Schabel, Tom Silwa, Craig Inke, and Todd Shepard picked up the transfer spots.
The Bellefountaine Storage (Bellefountaine, OH) heat two was dominated by the #13 of Chad Goff, scoring another heat victory for the MCR club. Goff was chased by pole setter Eric Hoffman who held on for second, followed by Jeff Slayton, Tim Curtis, Ohio's Mike Weisburg, and Al Clapps of Illinois.
The final heat, sponsored by This Old Car of Urbana, Ohio was hotly contested by the two most successful Shady Bowl regulars, Wayne Fitzpatrick and Bill Hostetler, who turned to his backup pickup after engine woes struck his black sedan in practice. Fitzpatrick held off Hostetler for the win, while hard charging Craig Curtis moved from his 7th starting spot to 3rd. Remaining transfers included OVDCA's John Miller and Randy Steck, with the final spot going to Michigan's Roger Balcom edging a persistent Max Evans, who was debuting a new car.
Given the full race card, non-transfers had little time to prepare before the OVDCA officials were calling for the 8 car B-main to take the track to determine the final four starting spots. Terry Slayton paced the field to the green, but was unable to hold off Max Evans who was apparently getting comfortable with his new ride. Second spot was claimed by Kyle Gabriel, who started on the tail after coming up light at the scales in heat race one. Harold Mitchem took third, while Angela Asmus was able to overcome ignition problems that plagued her car all night, edging Jim Chapp on the white flag lap.
Twenty two of the finest asphalt Classic Modified/Dwarf cars in the Midwest lined up to battle for the GLAS bragging rights, but odds favored the #911 of Rob Roney, who had drawn the #1 pill for the six car re-draw prior to the feature. Roney was looking to improve on his 4th place finish at the first GLAS event of 2003 at Shady Bowl, held on May 24. Outside polesetter Chad Goff had a runnerup finish to his credit from May, but wanted to take the "This Old Car" first place trophy home to Michigan. Defending Shady Bowl GLAS event winner Bill Hostetler was outside row two with Eric Hoffman, while John Wylie would have to avenge his earlier 4th place finish from back in the 5th spot. OVDCA points leader Fitzpatrick lined up beside Wylie in row 3.
At the green flag Roney pulled into the lead, but was unable to shake the #13 of Goff, with Hoffman, Hostetler and Wylie nose-to-tail behind them. Craig Curtis once again demonstrated his hard charging style, contesting Fitzpatrick for 6th. As the laps quickly flew by, Roney caught the back of the pack, and was able to get a little breathing room from Goff by executing daring three wide passes. Amid the lapped traffic Hoffman finds an opening to squeeze by Goff. Wylie finds his way under Hostetler, then is all over Hoffman and Goff as Roney continues to draw away. The furious action is halted on Lap 18 of 20 as Roger Balcomb's spin coming out of turn four brings out the yellow. Balcomb joins the field at the tail, and the stage is set for a two lap battle to the checkered. The running order is Roney, Hoffman, Goff, Wylie, Hostetler, Curtis, Fitzpatrick, Schabel, Clapps, Slayton, Inke, Weisburg, and Miller.
The Shady Bowl crowd anticipated a charge by Hoffman at the green, but Roney proved to be too strong, pulling away from the field leaving Hoffman to battle with Wylie who had wrestled 3rd away from Goff on the restart. Not to be outdone, Hostetler also slipped by Goff at the white flag, while Fitzpatrick moved past Curtis for 6th.
The top five rolled to a stop at the flag stand to be presented with their hard earned trophies. The checkered flag photo opportunities and the "This Old Car" 1st place trophy were presented to Roney. The Sell #5 Motorsports trophy went to Hoffman, with Wylie taking the OVDCA sponsored third place trophy back to Michigan. The Bellefountaine Storage 4th place trophy became the possession of local favorite Hostetler, and the Liberty Firestone 5th place trophy can be added to Goff's collection.
The GLAS series, in its second year of existence, continues to provide first rate competition for racers, and furious racing excitement for fans. The Shady Bowl event resulted in no bent race cars, despite the large field of competitors, and travelers were on there way home shortly after 10pm. A special thanks to the trophy sponsors, to Jack and Lee Van Dyke who provide refreshments to all the participants, and to the Shady Bowl Speedway management for hosting the event. The final GLAS race of 2003 will be held at Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan on September 20th.
Fitzpatrick Wins Labor Day Weekend Action
Saturday August 30, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
1998 OVDCA Champion Wayne Fitzpatrick took a big step towards a second title as he scored his second feature win of 2003 in racing action at Shady Bowl Speedway over Labor Day weekend. Fitzpatrick led flag-to-flag, outdistancing Josh Sell, who finished in the runner-up spot after advancing from fifth to second in the last two laps of action.
Fitzpatrick and Mark Bernard were paired on the front row of the eight-car field and it was Fitzpatrick taking control at the green with Bernard right behind. Mike Weisberg quickly took over the number two spot on the second lap and it appeared the Chesterland-based driver would be Fitzpatrick’s biggest opposition for the win.
Though the track was very green from heavy rain in the area earlier in the week, the 20-lap event went off without a caution. It became evident early that passing would be tough as the running order remained the same for much of the race. Bill Hostetler finally did something about that on lap six as he worked fifth place away from Max Evans. Sell followed Hostetler through a lap later, cracking the top five for the first time.
As the caution-free laps clicked off, Weisberg continued to pressure Fitzpatrick, while Hostetler and Sell turned up the heat on third place running Bernard. Hostetler moved into third on lap nine, with Sell making a move past Bernard on lap 12. Sell’s time in the number four spot lasted just two laps, however, as he got sideways coming out of turn four on the event’s 14th lap, handing the position back over to Bernard.
The event’s outcome took a mighty turn on lap 19, as the top five received a big shakeup. Hostetler, trying to move into second, came together with Weisberg on the back stretch, causing a flat right front tire on Weisberg’s mount and killing Hostetler’s momentum. Behind the incident, Bernard checked up anticipating a caution that much to the surprise of many didn’t come. Sell, in his Mid-Ohio Harley-Davidson backed ride, stayed on the gas, passing all three cars and moving into second place.
At the checkered, Fitzpatrick was the winner, with Sell pulling off a runner-up finish ahead of Bernard. Hostetler got going again to finish fourth, just ahead of Evans. After running second throughout the majority of the race, Weisberg ended up a disappointing sixth, with Donnie Eaton the last car running in seventh. Tennessee native K.D. Knoedler rounded out the field after pulling off early with mechanical problems.
The evening’s lone heat race featured a pair of the OVDCA’s hot shoes on the front row as Hostetler and Sell brought the pack to the green. Hostetler controlled the field from the pole and held off numerous challenges from Sell, who appeared to have the faster car. A move for the lead by Sell on lap seven proved disastrous for both drivers, as contact spun both cars in turn four. Weisberg inherited the lead from there and showed the way for the final two circuits for his second heat win in as many tries. Fitzpatrick and Evans chased Weisberg across the line.
With the season reaching its home stretch, Fitzpatrick is atop the point standings after a season of consistent runs, with Sell his closest competition. The road to the championship is much more difficult now for Sell who has returned to North Carolina for his sophomore year at UNC-Charlotte. Evans and Eaton make up the three and four spots in the standings, with Bernard jumping from eighth to fifth in the rundown.
The OVDCA will play host this coming Saturday, Sept. 6 to the fourth leg of the Great Lakes Asphalt Series (GLAS) at Shady Bowl, being joined by members of BIDCA and MCR. The next regular OVDCA show is a week later at Shady Bowl on Sept. 13.
Heat Race: Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Evans, Bernard, Hostetler, Sell, Eaton, Knoedler.
Feature: Fitzpatrick, Sell, Bernard, Hostetler, Evans, Weisberg, Eaton, Knoedler.
2003 OVDCA Standings Through 8/30/03
1. W. Fitzpatrick 390 8. Mike Rector 198 15. Randy Steck 107
2. Josh Sell 305 9. Mike Weisberg 185 16. H. Mitchem 45
3. Max Evans 293 10. Bill Hostetler 151 17. Ron Shamel Jr. 43
4. Donnie Eaton 268 11. Keith Bailey 135 18. Mark Jamison 41
5. Mark Bernard 255 12. Chad Goff 122 19. K.D. Knoedler 39
6. Chris Weeks 247 13. Eddie Briggs 119 20. Steve Carter 5
7. Rob Roney 219 14. Tom Sliwa 108 20. Bob Stewart 5
Roney Scores Double Shady Bowl Wins
Saturday August 16, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Holly, Michigan’s Rob Roney made good use of an off date in the MCR schedule, as he swept double feature action in an OVDCA-sanctioned event at Shady Bowl Speedway. Roney came from deep in the field of both events en route to victory, while also scoring the win in his eight lap heat race. The evening’s second main event was unfortunately marred by a nasty crash involving 2002 rookie of the year Chris Weeks that saw the 15-year old end up on his roof near the turn four wall. Thanks to a well constructed chassis and proper safety equipment, the youngster escaped the incident relatively unharmed.
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Peggy Issacs Photos |
The first order of business for he evening was the running of a make-up feature from the July 4 race date. The OVDCA’s previous two feature winners, Josh Sell and Roney rolled off 10th and 11th, respectively, but quickly proved they would be heavily involved in the event’s outcome.
Donnie Eaton and Bill Hostetler were paired on the front row for the outset of the 20-lap affair and Hostetler, the three-time defending OVDCA Champion, quickly took control of the event. The yellow flag flew early as this year’s leading rookie Randy Steck got into the back of Eaton in a battle for third, spinning both and ending the evening early for Steck. Despite damage, Eaton was able to return to the track later in the event, finishing eighth.
Donnie Eaton and Bill Hostetler were paired on the front row for the outset of the 20-lap affair and Hostetler, the three-time defending OVDCA Champion, quickly took control of the event. The yellow flag flew early as this year’s leading rookie Randy Steck got into the back of Eaton in a battle for third, spinning both and ending the evening early for Steck. Despite damage, Eaton was able to return to the track later in the event, finishing eighth.
Following the restart, Roney and Sell both disposed of Mike Rector, moving into the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. The event took a dramatic turn on lap five as Hostetler’s engine exploded, bringing out the final caution a lap later.
The lead was then handed over to Max Evans, who showed the way for the next six circuits. Roney and Sell continued their march to the front, as each passed Mark Bernard on lap eight. That move set the stage for a great three-car battle for the top spot that Roney eventually won on the event’s 11th counter.
After taking over the top spot, Roney set sail for the checkered, leaving Evans and Sell in the best battle on the track for second. Evans held the position until the last corner of the final lap, when Sell used a pair of lapped cars to his advantage to take the spot. Wayne Fitzpatrick also made a strong drive through the field after starting ninth to take fourth, just holding off a hard charging Weeks.
Heat race action was next and it was Sell that took a big lead in the first preliminary. Roney, in his Holly Auto Parts sponsored entry, got stuck in traffic early but finally caught Sell in his Mid-Ohio Harley Davidson backed ride, on lap seven, motoring by for the lead and the win. The second heat provided a flag-to-flag win for Mike Weisberg. Weisberg won the event ahead of Hostetler, who jumped into his back-up vehicle, the truck formerly piloted by Tennessee phenom Josh Adams. Michigan’s Tom Sliwa held on for third.
It was Hostetler who drew the lucky number one pill for the evening’s final event and he jumped to the lead with Weisberg in tow. Roney, who started the event eighth, wasted little time in heading back to the front, taking over third by lap five as Hostetler continued to show the way.
Caution flew for the first time on lap nine as Sell, running fourth at the time, spun into the infield off of turn two. The big wreck involving Weeks happened just three laps after the restart as cars piled up in turn four. Michigan late model driver Ron Shamel, Jr. was running fifth just ahead of Weeks when he checked up for a loose car in front of him. As Weeks tried to go high, he and Shamel, Jr. came together, sending Weeks hard into the wall and eventually onto his side with all four tires facing the wall. Eaton, who was trailing the duo was unable to slow in time as he spun hard into Weeks, knocking the latter onto the roof of his wrecked dwarf truck.
Following a lengthy delay that saw all three cars towed to the hill, racing resumed with Roney going right to work. The 2000 MCR Champion took second from Weisberg on lap 13 and began applying heavy pressure to Hostetler. Behind the front running pair, the best battle on the track was for fifth as Fitzpatrick, Evans and Sell staged a fight that wasn’t decided until the checkered flag flew.
Back up front, Roney finally found the hole he needed, making what proved to be the winning pass of Hostetler on lap 18. Hostetler hung on for what looked like a runner-up finish until a post-race engine inspection saw Hostetler over the legal compression limit for the third consecutive event, handing second to Weisberg. Sliwa made a strong drive for third, with Fitzpatrick winning the three-car war for fourth, ahead of Evans and Sell.
With two more OVDCA events in the books, the 1998 champion Fitzpatrick continues to lead in his quest for a second crown. Despite the hard wreck Weeks continues to sit second, but may drop quickly due to the heavy damage. Sell takes over third from Eaton and trails Weeks by just a single point. Evans is fourth, just eight back of Sell, while Eaton rounds out the top five.
The OVDCA returns to competition with an action-packed Labor Day weekend of racing. The dwarfs will be in action both Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 at Shady Bowl. The two-day show will set the stage for the fourth GLAS race of the year at Shady Bowl the following Saturday.
Make Up Feature: Roney, Sell, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Weeks, Rector, Bailey, Eaton, Bernard, Hostetler, Steck.
Heat 1: Roney, Sell, Fitzpatrick, Rector, Eaton, Briggs. DNS-Bernard, Steck
Heat 2: Weisberg, Sliwa, Evans, Shamel Jr., Weeks, Bailey. DQ-Hostetler; DNS-Stewart
Feature: Roney, Weisberg, Sliwa, Fitzpatrick, Evans, Sell, Bernard, Rector, Bailey, Shamel Jr., Weeks, Eaton, Briggs. DQ-Hostetler; DNS-Stewart
2003 OVDCA Standings Through 8/16/03
1. W. Fitzpatrick 317 8. Mark Bernard 196 15. Bill Hostetler 98
2. Chris Weeks 247 9. Keith Bailey 135 16. H. Mitchem 45
3. Josh Sell 246 10. Mike Weisberg 128 17. Ron Shamel Jr. 41
4. Max Evans 238 11. Chad Goff 122 18. Mark Jamison 41
5. Donnie Eaton 225 12. Eddie Briggs 119 19. Steve Carter 5
6. Rob Roney 219 13. Tom Sliwa 108 Bob Stewart 5
7. Mike Rector 198 14. Randy Steck 107
Roney Scores Second GLAS Event Win
Saturday August 2, 2003
Owosso Speedway
By Shawn Sell
It was a tough night for the Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association’s four-car contingent, but the same couldn’t be said for Michigan’s Rob Roney, as he scored his second straight Great Lakes Asphalt Series win in the third leg of the series held at Owosso Speedway. Roney bettered a field of 32 dwarfs from across the region, holding off a mired of challenges to score the win.
The evening wasn’t too kind to the native Ohioans, as none was able to place better than Mike Weisberg’s 16th place effort in the A-Main. Wayne Fitzpatrick and rookie Randy Steck also competed in the main event, finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. Josh Sell endured the biggest heartbreak of the evening as engine problems forced him to the trailer prior to the evening’s heat races. The early end marked a second straight disappointing trip to Owosso for Sell who suffered a similar fate at the track two weeks prior.
To start the evening’s activities following qualifying, a special four-car, four-lap exhibition dash pitting three of Michigan’s finest against winged sprint car driver Tom Fedewa , brother of NASCAR Busch series driver, Tim Fedewa, was held. Fast qualifier Craig Curtis topped the all-star field, holding off Jon Wylie, Fedewa and Roney in the special event.
Heat race action was next and the four preliminaries had a strong Michigan flavor, as all four event went to Michigan-based drivers. Tom Sliwa overcame a last row starting spot to win the first heat ahead of Clyde Chapman. Weisberg was third and Fitzpatrick fifth in the event. Jerry Olson carried the checkered in heat two, outdistancing Joe Mcmanman and Al Claps for the win. Steck represented Ohio in the race, finishing fifth.
The third prelim saw Wylie blast past Mike Mcmanman, Sr. for the win after starting in the last row. Tim Curtis took third in the eight-lap affair. Craig Curtis’ big night continued in the final heat as he scored the win ahead of Eric Hoffman and Chad Goff.
With 19 cars locked in from qualifying, the final five spots were up for grabs in the 12-lap B-Main. The highly competitive event was led early by Steck, who gave way to Claps. The BIDCA president’s time at the front was short lived, though as Olson motored by for the win. Claps held on for second, with Weisberg, Joe Mcmanman, and Steck grabbing the final transfer spots.
The evening’s main event proved to be worth the wait as four different drivers took a turn up front. Polesitter Roger Balcom led at the outset, showing the way for the first nine circuits, before 17-year old Craig Curtis slipped by on lap 10.
The young Curtis clicked off laps at a torrid pace, appearing on his way to victory. But mechanical difficulties late in the event allowed Illinois rookie Tom Schnabel and Roney to sneak by into first and second on lap 16.
From there, it was déjà vu all over again as the event played out just as the New Paris GLAS event had in late June. Schnabel was the race leader on lap 18, just as he had been at New Paris, but in another cruel twist of fate, Roney sped by on lap 19 for the second straight event, holding on for the victory. Unlike the trip to New Paris, however, Schnabel was able to hold onto second, beating Craig Curtis, Wylie and Balcom to the line. An interesting side note to Roney’s victory was that he was driving the beautiful dwarf truck he built himself for the first time in competition.
Trailing the front five to the line, were outside polesitter Jeff Slayton, Ron Shamel, Jr., Hoffman, Todd Shepherd and Mike Mcmanman, Jr. rounding out the top 10.
The GLAS series now takes a pause until September 6, when it returns to Shady Bowl for the fourth event of the five-race schedule. The OVDCA returns to action on August 16, running a pair of features at Shady Bowl. All legal cars are welcome and invited to attend, but only the 12 that were present on the rained out date of July 4 may compete in the evening’s first feature.
Qualifying: 17. Sell (16.80), 18. Fitzpatrick (16.90), 23. Weisberg (17.31), 27. Steck (17.59). Fast Qualifier-C. Curtis (16.34).
Heat 1: Sliwa, Chapman, Weisberg, Ausmus, Fitzpatrick, Mitchem, Dolbee. DNS-Sell.
Heat 2: Olson, J. Mcmanman, Claps, Abee, Steck, Hammarman, Slaydon, Chapp, Reardon.
Heat 3: Wylie, Mcmanman Sr., T. Curtis, Schnabel, Gabriel, Slayton, Balcom, Mcmanman Jr.
Heat 4: C. Curtis, Hoffman, Goff, Shamel Jr., Powell, Shepherd, Roney.
B-Main: Olson, Claps, Weisberg, J. Mcmanman, Steck, Abee, Chapman, Hammarman, Slaydon, Chapp, Reardon, Dolbee.
A-Main: Roney, Schnabel, C. Curtis, Wylie, Balcom, Slayton, Shamel Jr., Hoffman, Shepherd, Mcmanman Jr., T. Curtis, Mcmanman Sr., Goff, Powell, Olson, Weisberg, Ausmus, J. Mcmanman, Fitzpatrick, Steck, Mitchem, Claps, Gabriel, Sliwa.
BOLD represents OVDCA driver.
Hard Charging Roney Wins GLAS Event Number Two
Saturday June 21, 2003
New Paris Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Michigan’s Rob Roney made a lap 19 pass of Illinois rookie Tom Schnabel, overcoming a 17th starting position to win the second round of the Great Lakes Asphalt Series at New Paris (IN) Speedway on June 21. The Midwest Classic Racers (MCR) dominated the top of the final rundown with four of the top five finishers. Jon Wylie was all over Roney’s back bumper but had to settle for second ahead of Roger Balcom and Tom Sliwa. OVDCA driver Wayne Fitzpatrick, the group’s 1998 champion, rounded out the top five.
The event was marred by a pair of sizable accidents in turn two of the ¼ mile track that twice red flagged the 20 lap event. Michigan’s Clyde Chapman and Fitzpatrick brought the 23-car field to the green, following a 75% inversion of the field from qualifying. Fitzpatrick jumped into an early lead and still held an advantage when the first yellow flew on lap five. Attrition struck the five-car OVDCA contingent on the first lap as Mike Weisberg retired with mechanical problems.
The first of the turn two melees started when MCR rookie Harold Mitchem spun. The result saw a sea of cars piled up, including Chad Goff who drove over the tire of another competitor, flipping his car one time over, before it came to a rest on all four wheels. Also collected during the incident were the father-son team of Tim and Craig Curtis, ending what started as a great night for Craig who set a new track record (14.175) in qualifying. In what would prove to be a night of near misses, Urbana, Ohio driver Josh Sell split two cars during the incident, narrowly missing an early trip to the trailer. Mechanical woes struck Ohio again as Mark Bernard was retired with battery and clutch issues.
Following the restart a trio of drivers in Schnabel, Wylie and Roney were darting their way through traffic to the front. Schnabel quickly took the lead from Fitzpatrick and pulled into a sizable advantage as the race progressed. Trouble struck again on lap 15, starting when Eric Hoffman went around in turn two following contact with another competitor. This multi-car pileup collected the cars of Mitchem, Dan Powell, Jeff Slayton and Andy Taylor with the latter crashing head on into the turn two wall. Sell again made a daring barrage of moves to avoid the wreckage, coming through with no damage.
The caution proved to be the break that Roney needed as he used an awesome restart to get by Wylie to take over second on lap 16. The field was slowed again on lap 18 for debris in turn three that came off the ride of Hoffman, damaged in the second turn two incident.
The last lap proved to be chalk full of excitement as Roney made the winning pass on Schnabel. Much to the shock of the crowd, Schnabel than spun through the infield grass, following all the way back to 14th in the final run down. As he came back onto the track off of turn two, Sell made it a three-for-three night, once again averting sure disaster as he avoided the speeding Schnabel.
Chasing the top five across the line was the pole sitter Chapman in an impressive drive for the MCR driver. Sell was seventh, with Hoffman finishing the event with no rear bumper or deck cover lid but in eighth place, ahead of Larry Dolbee and Jamison Corn rounding out the top 10. John Miller concluded the list of OVDCA competitors, finishing 13th, after sustaining minor damage during the second caution.
Heat race action started the evening of racing and at the checkered of the two preliminaries, Sliwa and Al Claps were posing for winner’s pictures. Sliwa led flag-to-flag in the first heat, outdistancing Hoffman and Schnabel. Following a lap one incident involving Corn and Angela Ausmus, Claps dominated the event to pick up the win in the second prelim. A trio of OVDCA drivers in Weisberg, Fitzpatrick and Miller tailed Claps.
The GLAS series continues on August 2, with MCR hosting an event at Owosso Speedway. The OVDCA returns to action with a big, two-day show a Shady Bowl on July 4-5.
Qualifying: 13. Sell (14.714), 14. Bernard (14.785), 15. Miller (14.821), 17. Fitzpatrick (14.937), 19. Weisberg (15.023). Fast Qualifier-Curtis (14.175, NTR).
Heat 1: Sliwa, Hoffman, Schnabel, Balcom, Wylie, Goff, Slayton, Roney, Taylor, C. Curtis, T. Curtis.
Heat 2: Claps, Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Miller, Corn, Chapman, Powell, Mitchem, Sell, Bernard, Dolbee, Ausmus.
Feature: Roney, Wylie, Balcom, Sliwa, Fitzpatrick, Chapman, Sell, Hoffman, Dolbee, Corn, Ausmus, Claps, Miller, Schnabel, Powell, Taylor, Slayton, Mitchem, Bernard, Goff, C. Curtis, T. Curtis, Weisberg.
BOLD represents OVDCA driver.
First GLAS Event Goes To Hostetler
Saturday May 24, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Photos by Peggy Issacs Photos
Whitmore Lake, Michigan's Chad Goff led for 19 3/4 laps, but didn't lead the all important final 1/4 as the ageless Bill Hostetler of West Liberty, Ohio won by less than half a car length in the first round of the Great Lakes Asphalt Series held Saturday at Shady Bowl Speedway. The event produced asphalt dwarf car racing at its finest as 30 of the best dwarfs in the Midwest put on a first class show with none of the finishing positions determined until the checkered flag.
Hostetler, at the tender age of 70, was running third with two laps to go, but swept by Fowlerville, Michigan driver Jon Wylie to take over the second spot on lap 19. Coming down to the checkered, Hostetler and Goff bumped, allowing Hostetler the opportunity to take the win. Wylie held on for third place, with fellow Michigan driver Rob Roney in fourth and Urbana, Ohio's Josh Sell rounding out the top five.
Goff and Wylie were paired on the front row for the start of the main event sponsored by Stapleton Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge of Urbana. Goff promptly took control of the event, with Wylie and third place starter Andy Taylor right behind. Hostetler was up to third by the lap three, with Tom Sliwa taking over fourth early on.
The field set a blistering pace throughout the event, with breathtakingly close racing and high speed all over the track. Roney began his charge to the front from his 12th starting spot, moving into fifth by the event’s halfway point. Max Evans was making a move up after rolling off seventh, as was Craig Curtis from his 10th place-starting slot.
As the high-speed action continued up front, the best battle on the track was for sixth, with Taylor, Curtis, Sell and Evans right in the midst of a heated challenge. Taylor held the spot for the majority of the event, with Evans using a lapped car to sweep around Sell for the eighth position.
Sell had moved back past Evans for eighth by the time the first and only yellow flag of the event flew for an incident involving Evans and Mt. Morris, Illinois’ Danny Powell on lap 16. Heading into turn three, Evans spun in oil dropped by another competitor, crashing hard into the back stretch wall and collecting Powell.
With the field brought back together again, Roney and Sell both used the restart to their advantage. Roney quickly passed Sliwa for fourth, while Sell continued to hound Taylor and Curtis for the sixth spot. Just two laps from the checkered, Hostetler made his move on Wylie for the runner-up spot, setting up the classic last lap dual with Goff. Sell also “got up on the wheel,” on the white flag lap, making a daring three-wide pass of Taylor and Curtis in turn one to move up to sixth, then being the beneficiary of a Sliwa spin in turn three that allowed the 2000 OVDCA Rookie of the Year to claim fifth.
In a post-race interview, Hostetler admitted to losing his brakes during the caution period and issued a public apology for the contact on the last lap to a visibly disappointed Goff. But for the second time in as many tries, Hostetler was the winner of the GLAS event at Shady Bowl.
Trailing the top five across the finish line were Michigan drivers Taylor in sixth and Eric Hoffman in seventh. Two Ohio-based drivers, Wayne Fitzpatrick and Mike Weisberg made hard drives from row nine starting spots to claim eighth and ninth, with Roger Balcom of Vermontville, Michigan rounding out the top 10.
As expected, the four heat races provided a great preview of things to come, with tight racing all over the track. Sliwa led flag-to-flag in the Jeff’s Automotive-sponsored first heat, holding off Evans and Powell. Illinois rookie Tom Schnabel ran a strong fourth with Weisberg grabbing the final transfer spot.
The second preliminary event was sponsored by People’s Savings and Loan of West Liberty and turned into a great battle between Manhattan, Illinois driver Todd Shepherd and Wylie. At the checkered, Shepherd had held off the 2002 MCR Champion, with Curtis, Slayton and Fitzpatrick earning spots in the A-Main.
Skilling’s Tractor of North Hampton was the third heat sponsor and Taylor picked up the win, but not without a battle from Sell and Hoffman. The two-time MCR Champion led all eight circuits, holding off a hard challenging Sell and Hoffman in second and third. Millerstown, Ohio’s Donnie Eaton had one of his most impressive showings in a short dwarf car career, holding on for fourth ahead of Balcom.
As would be the case in the A-Main, the Moore Trucking heat number four was a battle between the evening’s top two finishers. Goff led at the outset, with Hostetler and Roney in hot pursuit. Hostetler finally found a way around Goff with two laps to go and held off his younger adversary for the win. Mark Bernard grabbed fourth, with Ohio rookie Randy Steck taking fifth in his first dwarf car drive. A post-race trip across the scales showed Steck too light however, disqualifying him and moving John Miller into the final transfer position.
With just two transfer spots available from the One Stop Tire Shop B-Main, the event has hotly contested as expected. MCR rookie Harold Mitchem led all 15 laps though, to pick up the win. The first of two cautions flew on lap five, when 2002 OVDCA Rookie of the Year Chris Weeks went hard into the turn four wall after contact with Steck. The yellow was out again three laps later as Eddie Briggs spun in turn four. During the same period, Mike Rector and K.D. Knoedler, running second and third at the time, came together, spinning Rector in turn one. Knoedler retired to the hill while Rector was awarded his spot back in line.
On the restart, Rector didn’t take off right away, allowing Angela Ausmus, the only female driver in the field and Steck to move past. Rector finally got back around Steck on lap 14, but couldn’t reel in Ausmus by the checkered, having to settle for third. Steck and Mike Hicks rounded out the top five of the last chance event.
This was just the first of five events slated for the GLAS series this season. The next event is slated for June 21 at New Paris (IN) Speedway, to be hosted by BIDCA.
Heat 1: Sliwa, Evans, Powell, Schnabel, Weisberg, Hicks, Ausmus, Slaydon.
Heat 2: Shepherd, Wylie, Curtis, Slayton, Fitzpatrick, Mitchem, Weeks, Briggs.
Heat 3: Taylor, Sell, Hoffman, Eaton, Balcom, Rector, Knoedler.
Heat 4: Hostetler, Goff, Roney, Bernard, Miller, Reardon, Steck (DQ).
B-Main: Mitchem, Ausmus, Rector, Steck, Hicks, Slaydon, Briggs, Knoedler, Reardon, Weeks.
A-Main: Hostetler, Goff, Wylie, Roney, Sell, Taylor, Hoffman, Fitzpatrick, Weisberg, Balcom, Curtis, Slayton, Bernard, Sliwa, Shepherd, Eaton, Mitchem, Schnabel, Ausmus, Miller, Powell, Evans.
Fitzpatrick Inherits OVDCA Feature Win
Saturday April 26, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Three-time defending OVDCA Champion Bill Hostetler darted into the lead on lap eight and appeared to have his first feature win of 2003 wrapped up, but a post-race inspection proved otherwise, as 1998 champ Wayne Fitzpatrick inherited the win in the second OVDCA event of the year.
After taking a sizable advantage to victory lane, Hostetler’s motor tested over the 210# compression limit, giving Fitzpatrick the victory. Michigan driver Chad Goff picked up second place money, after a great battle with Fitzpatrick and 2002 rookie of the year Chris Weeks. Max Evans and Mark Bernard rounded out the top five in the adjusted standings of the caution-free event.
Goff and Fitzpatrick were paired on the front row for the start, with Fitzpatrick jumping into the lead. Hostetler, who rolled off fourth, quickly moved into the number three slot, before steaming by Goff for second on lap four.
By lap eight, Hostetler had made his way to the front and checked out from the rest of the field. That left a great three-car battle behind him for second, with Goff battling Fitzpatrick and Weeks giving Goff all he could handle. Goff made countless attempts to take second, but Fitzpatrick held his ground. Weeks actually wrestled third from Goff when the duo entered lapped traffic, only to lose the slot late following a slip by the youngster in turn two.
Heat race action was paced at the green by Josh Sell, making a special pre-summer appearance on a weekend trip home from school in North Carolina. Sell’s lead lasted just a lap, as a tight handling racecar allowed Fitzpatrick to speed by for the lead on lap two. The 2000 OVDCA Rookie of the Year held onto second for three more laps, before getting freight trained back to sixth on lap five. At the checkered, no one had anything for Fitzpatrick, with Hostetler moving up to second after a last lap pass of Bernard. Goff finished fourth in the event, with Evans in fifth.
The OVDCA returns to action on Saturday night, sharing the Shady Bowl card with the E-Mods, Late Models, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks, Flying Stocks and Compacts. Fans should also mark their calendars now for the first Great Lakes Asphalt Series (GLAS) race of the year, coming up at Shady Bowl on May 24.
Heat: Fitzpatrick, Bernard, Goff, Evans, Weeks, Sell, Rector, Jamison, Eaton. DQ-Hostetler.
Feature: Fitzpatrick, Goff, Weeks, Evans, Bernard, Sell, Jamison, Rector, Eaton. DQ-Hostetler.
Roney Wins Thrilling OVDCA Opener
Saturday April 12, 2003
Shady Bowl Speedway
By Shawn Sell
Holly, Michigan’s Rob Roney became the OVDCA Classic Modifieds first feature winner of 2003 as he survived a classic dual with three-time defending champion Bill Hostetler to pick up the win. With Roney running first and Hostetler second on the final circuit, Hostetler made a daring move down the back stretch, going three-wide with a lapped car to take the lead, only to spin in turn three, allowing Roney to cruise by for the victory.
Polesitter Max Evans appeared to have the car to beat for much of the event as he led the majority of the race. But just over half way through, Evans got caught behind a lapped car, going from first to eighth in a matter of a split second, handing the lead over to Roney. The second yellow flag of the event flew on lap 13 for an accident involving Tom Sliwa and Chad Goff that brought the field back together and gave Evans a second chance.
On the restart, Roney took off to a sizable lead over Hostetler with Wayne Fitzpatrick, Evans and Mark Bernard in hot pursuit. By the checkered, Fitzpatrick had taken runner-up honors, with Evans working his way back up to third ahead of Bernard and 2002 rookie of the year Chris Weeks in an impressive fifth. Hostetler was scored sixth, with Harold Metchim and Donnie Eaton the final two cars running in seventh and eighth.
Heat race action was also hotly contested, with Bernard and Evans taking season-opening checkered flags. In heat one, the first event of the 2003 season at Shady Bowl, Roney jumped to an early lead, only to have the event slowed by a lap two Metchim spin. During the caution, it was ruled that Roney had jumped the previous start and he was sent to the rear of the field, with Bernard inheriting the lead. Roney made a quick drive through the pack, but took until the final lap to finally work around a strong running Weeks for second place. The second prelim was all Evans, as he led flag-to-flag for the win. The highly competitive event was yellow flagged just once on lap six when Goff and Hostetler got together in turn two, sending Hostetler into the wall and Goff up the hill to the pit area to avoid the concrete. Tailing Evans across the line in the final redraw positions were Fitzpatrick and Sliwa.
The OVDCA returns to action back on Shady Bowl on April 26, joining the E-Mods, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks, Late Models, Flying Stocks and Compacts on the night’s card.
Heat 1: Bernard, Roney, Weeks, Eaton, Briggs, Metchim.
Heat 2: Evans, Fitzpatrick, Sliwa, Hostetler, Goff.
Feature: Roney, Fitzpatrick, Evans, Bernard, Weeks, Hostetler, Metchim, Eaton, Goff, Sliwa, Briggs.
2003 OVDCA Point Standings Through 4/12:
1. Rob Roney 73 7. Donnie Eaton 47
2. Wayne Fitzpatrick 67 8. Harold Metchim 45
3. Max Evans 65 Tom Sliwa 45
4. Mark Bernard 61 10. Chad Goff 43
5. Chris Weeks 55 11. Eddie Briggs 39
6. Bill Hostetler 51
