Stapleton Claims First Win at Kil-Kare

 

by Jerry Wahl

 

Xenia, Oh (5/21) - Former Kil-Kare Speedway track champion Jerry Stapleton of Troy scored his first NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model feature win of the year Friday night.

  Tony Brunke and Steve Foster brought the field to the starting line for the 30 lap event with Brunke, a one time winner thus far jumping out into the lead. Russ Bobb tried to hold off Sam Heckman for second with Heckman claiming second on lap eleven just as the yellow  appeared when Ricky Bates and Russ Bobb made contact on the backstretch. With action back underway, Stapleton who had started sixth was busy picking off his opponents one by one as he passed on the outside. He moved in on leader Brunke and on lap eighteen showed as the leader in his Terry's Radiator sponsored Monte Carlo owned by his brother Carl Stapleton.

  Finishing behind Stapleton was Brunke, Heckman, Steve Forster and Mike Miller.  Heckman and Bates tied for fast time with a clocking of 14.33

  Defending Pure Stock champion Jeff Marsh of Centerville took advantage of his pole starting position to out his Superior Auto Sales Camaro out front to lead all the way. For Marsh it was his first feature victory of the year. Marsh left the rest of the nineteen car starting field to fight for positions and that they did. When the checker waved it was Bill Burba claiming second with Tom Williams, a one time winner advancing from seventh to  claim third. Bret Clark came from tenth to place fourth and fifth was one time winner Mike South Jr.

  Heath White posted fast time for the third time this year with a clocking of 15.39.

  In the wild compact class it was Enon's Tim Haerr, the defending champion taking the win in a hard fought battle with former leader Brett Boykin. Anthony Heitzman  led the first eight laps with Walter Campbell in front the next lap only to see eighth place starter Boykin take over. For awhile it looked like Boykin might pick up his first win of the year but as he and Haerr came upon traffic in the closing laps Haerr sneaked by Boykin to take the win with Boykin second . Rounding out the top five was Campbell, Anthony Heitzman, and Brian Smiley.

  In the school bus figure-8 it was Dayton's Galen Huffman taking the win which saw several drivers vie for the front spot. Second was early leader Butch Russelll followed by Jeff Banger, Jimmy Frey, and Matt McCarty to round out the top five. Butch Russell came back to win the demolition derby.

 

 Next Friday night, May 28, will be "Ladies Night" for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series featuring the Late Models, E-Mods, Mini Stocks/Sports Trucks, Pure Stocks, and Compacts with the gates opening at 6 p.m. and racing at 8 p.m.

 

 

 

NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series

Kil-Kare Speedway

May 21, 2004

 

 

Late Models

 Fast time - Sam Heckman & Rickey Bates 14.33

 Feature (30 laps) - Jerry Stapleton, Tony Brunke, Sam Heckman, Steve Foster, Mike Miller, Ron Simpson, Russ Bobb, Ricky Bates, Virgil Powell, Don Mahaffey

 

Pure Stocks

 Fast time - Heath White 15.39

 Feature (20 laps) - Jeff Marsh, Bill Burba, Tom Williams, Bret Clark, Mike South Jr., Jason Evans, Derrick Louderback, Mark Smith Jr., Don Robbins, Duane Bohrer, Tony Cottrill, Jamie Sites, Brian Rauch, Mike South Sr., Travis Digges, Heath White, Jimmie Johnson, Melvin McMullen, Matt McCarty

 

Compacts

 Feature (15 laps) - Tim Haerr, Brett Boykin, Walter Campbell, Anthony Heitzman, Brian Smiley, Frank McCubbin Jr., Troy Patterson, Gary Williams, Aron Harshbarger, David Shaw, Bob Mills, Chris Hensley, Shane Williams, David Sagers, Sonny Haerr, Joe Hoelscher, Steve Barnhart, Ronald Sagers

 

School Bus Figure-8

 Feature (15 laps) - Galen Huffman, Butch Russell, Jeff Banger, Jimmy Frey, Matt McCarty

 Demolition Derby

 Winner - Butch Russell