[i (Lima, OH)] The old saying “The third time’s a charm” could not have been more true Friday night when Limaland Motorsports Park finally ran the 8th Annual Bobby Keysor Memorial. Mother Nature thwarted the first two attempts at running this prestigious race but Earnie Woodard found that it was well worth the wait when he claimed the $2000 first place check and his first victory of the year.
Limaland’s second big event of the evening was the annual NRA vs. 305 Challenge. Thirty-eight sprint cars registered to compete in this two-night challenge, which culminates in a final race at Fremont Speedway. Darren Long, who has been noticeably absent from Limaland Motorsports Park competition while competing on the ASCS National Touring Series, worked some of his home-track magic and won round one of the NRA/305 Challenge.
Feature number one was the Engine Pro NRA Sprint Invaders vs. 305 Challenge. Luke Hall took an early lead with Jared Horstman and John Ivy in tow. The only red flag of the evening came out on lap five after a restart for debris. Stuart Brubaker flipped several times in turn three after making contact with the wall. Brubaker was able to walk away from the scene and racing resumed. Hall was able to maintain a small advantage over Horstman, but both cars were running the high-line against the wall. Long, who started 12th, had worked his way to third by lap fourteen. A few laps later, Long took advantage of traffic, which was running the leaders’ line, and streaked by on the bottom-side to take the lead. From that point on, it was Darren Long’s race to lose and Luke Hall could do nothing to catch him. JR Stewart maintained his stranglehold on the NRA and Limaland season championship as he finished a solid third.
Earnie Woodard found himself on the outside of Craig Dippman as the two drivers brought the field of Bud Thunderstocks to the green flag of the 20-lap Bobby Keysor Memorial. Woodard took the lead coming out of turn two and settled in at the point. After several early cautions, the final restart came on lap three with Woodard in the lead followed by Dippman, Zach Bowen, Dave Hollon, and Mark Hiatt. The drivers kept it green while racing hard for positions throughout the field. With three laps to go, Jeff Babcock started putting pressure on Dippman and both drivers tried to find a way around Woodard. In the end, Woodard was able to hold off a last ditch effort by Babcock who finished second with Dippman in third. Tony Anderson finished in fourth after starting 10th and Jeff Koz turned a night of bad luck into a finish to be proud of as he picked his way from 14th to fifth.
The Professional Computer Company Modifieds were the last feature of the evening. Todd Sherman started on the pole and looked like he had the car to beat as the drivers maintained a furious pace in the early going. Darryl Banks, suffering through one of his most frustrating seasons, moved his car to the lead by lap ten. Banks was followed by Brian Post, who is having his best season ever. With five laps to go, the running order was Banks, Post, Hull, and Sherman. Post was able to work underneath Banks with three laps to go and briefly take the lead. Banks battled back and used lap traffic to his advantage. Banks re-took the lead and claimed his first victory of the year. It is important to note that the Modified drivers ran twenty flawless laps on an incredibly racy track and showed a level of professionalism everyone is used to as they went green to checkers.
This Friday, Limaland Motorsports Park will hold a Fan Appreciation Night. In action will be the Professional Computer Company Modifieds, a special Bud Thunderstock vs. V8 Truck Challenge and the Dirt Trucks. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with hot laps beginning at 6:30 p.m. Racing begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.
You can find all the latest news and information about America’s premier quarter-mile dirt track at www.limaland.com.
Engine Pro NRA vs. 305 B-main #1:
- Tim Allison
- Ron Blair
- Neil Shephard
- Todd Heverman
- Dwain Leiber
- Brent Gehr
- Ethan Hoy
- Ryan Kirkendall
- Caleb Helms
- Jarrod Delong
Engine Pro NRA vs. 305 B-main #2:
- James Horton
- Craig Keel
- Mike Miller
- Dallas Hewitt
- Dan Hammond
- Shawn Valenti
- Josh Muntz
- Tommy Kerce
- Bob Gehr Jr.
- Travis Hery
Professional Computer Company Modified B-main
- Andy Bibler
- Steve Schnapt
- Nick Katterhenry
- Steve Billenstein
- Zach Walkup
- Buz Jacobs
- Jeremy Powley
- Jeff Sommers
Bobby Keysor Memoral B Main:
- Pete Zuppardo
- Justin Long
- Jerry Butler
- Jim Post
- Keith Ralston
- Zach Wehlage
- Chacs Sentch
- Andy King
- Chris Tressler
- Luke Timmerman
8th Annual Bobby Keysor Memorial
- Earnie Woodard
- Jeff Babcock
- Craig Dippman
- Tony Anderson
- Jeff Koz
- Mike Kruger
- Mark Hiatt
- Tim Bowen
- Pete Zuppardo
- Justin Long
- Jim Post
- Keith Ralston
- Bob Mayer
- Tony Zuppardo
- Sam Bodine
- Dave Holland
- Zach Bowen
- Stacey Gazarek
- Jerry Butler
- Chris Puskas
Professional Computer Company Modifieds Feature:
- Daryl Banks
- Brian Post
- Terry Hull
- Todd Sherman
- Tony Anderson
- Mark Fowler
- Steve Schnapt
- Jeff Babcock
- Kelly Bowlby
- Bill Keeler
- Schuyler Nahre
- Casey Luedeke
- Andy Bibler
- Nick Katterhenry
- Josh Lolmaugh
- Jeremy Grover
- Ryan Ordway
- Zach Walkup
- Shawn Bayliff
- Steve Billenstein
Engine Pro NRA vs. 305 Challenge Feature:
- Darren Long
- Luke Hall
- JR Stewart
- Jared Horstman
- Kent Wolters
- Butch Schroeder
- John Ivy
- Neil Shephard
- Ben Rutan
- Mike Dunlap
- Dennis Yoakam
- Bobby Clark
- Craig Keel
- Ronnie Blair
- James Horton
- Tim Vile
- Brock Mayes
- Mike Miller
- Tim Allison
- Jeff Williams
- Stuart Brubaker
- Mike Brecht
[b Photo By: Brent Pierce]
- Bob Fricke on Aug 17, 2009
- Article Date: 8/17/2009