bwa39
07-06-2008, 07:37 PM
Brickerville, PA - Robbie Kendall, the 16-year old sensation from Catonsville, Md., picked up the biggest check of his still-young career as the winner of Saturday night's Super 600 Showdown at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.
"I don't even know what to say," exclaimed the jubilant teen in victory lane. "I have to thank my grandfather and everyone who works on this car. It was just so fast tonight...this is amazing!"
The Quarter-Midget grad lined up fifth as the 26-car starting field took the initial green. Pole-sitter Tom Kohler slammed into the outside guardrail in turn one, victimized by mechanical failure on his No. 5. The car never turned as Kohler, a recent high school graduate, led the star-studded pack into the corner.
On the second attempt, Jack Conover and Kenny Miller tangled in the middle of one and two.
The third try proved to be the charm, as Oklahoma's Scott Sawyer led the way and Kendall shot into the runner-up position.
Brock Zearfoss broke with three complete, forcing the restart that led to a crowd-pleasing stretch of green flag racing.
The next 22 tours would run caution-free, with some intense action spread throughout the field. The 600cc pilots used every inch of the smooth, tacky racing surface, producing the most competitive Showdown in the four-year history of the event.
With Sawyer planted upstairs on the cushion, Kendall made numerous dives to the bottom at both ends of the speedway. Each time, Sawyer was able to pull back in front using his momentum on the high side of the banking.
Finally, on lap 14, Kendall slid his Hyper/Spar No. 55 up the track, just ahead of Sawyer. The 600cc veteran from Broken Arrow, Ok., had to stab the brakes to avoid hitting the back end of Kendall's car, and that was all the teen needed to assume command.
As Kendall motored away from the pack, Sawyer fell back into the clutches of Ben Murphy, Jan Luckenbaugh, Luke Thomas, and Shane Lewis. Lewis weaved his way to third and began to pressure Sawyer for the runner-up spot.
The 17-year old from Honey Brook, Pa. was not only racing for the $10,000 Showdown check, but for the 600 Speedweek Championship as well. Lewis had to win the race in order to secure the Speedweek title, or finish second in the race to tie Brent Marks for the crown.
This highly entertaining stretch of green flag racing was interrupted at the event's halfway point, when Oklahoma's Steven Schebester and local ace Brenden Bright collided at the exit of turn four. Bright flipped his No. 88 into the homestretch fence, and a competition red was thrown as the wreckage was cleared.
During the red flag period, the cars were directed into the paddock area, where adjustments could be made but no parts or tires could be replaced.
Kendall dashed away on the ensuing green, and a furious five-car tussle for second grabbed the fans' attention. Sawyer, Murphy, Thomas, Lewis, and Ryan Smith engaged in a battle royale for the position, with Lewis eventually fading due to a deflating right-rear tire. The problem forced him to head for the pits, ending his bid for victory and the overall Speedweek title.
Smith, who qualified out of the B-Main, had quietly maneuvered his way from 17th at the start to seventh when the red flag signaled halftime.
The "Kid from Kunkletown" was on rail down low when the second half went green. Smith darted into fourth with 37 complete, then skated past Murphy for third as the race entered its final ten revolutions.
Smith, who also competes in ARDC Midget and USAC Silver Crown cars, snared second from Sawyer on lap 46, but Kendall was long gone by that time. The 20-year old from Kunkletown, Pa. had to settle for a $3,000 payday as the runner-up, finishing 1.5 seconds behind Kendall as the checkers waved.
Wyoming, Delaware's Luke Thomas crossed the stripe an impressive third after starting in the 11th position. Sawyer headed back to Oklahoma with the fourth-place cash, and Ben Murphy of Charlotte, NC, wound up fifth.
Brady Bacon, the Sprint Car and Midget hotshoe who drives for Kasey Kahne on the USAC tour, came from 16th to sixth after winning the B-Main. Tyson Hall, the teen from Texas, finished seventh, with Ryan Guyett of Springfield, Illinois taking the eighth spot. Bill Thomas and Eric Bodine rounded out the top ten.
The 1000cc Sidewinder Sprints competed in a 20-lap main event at the Showdown, with Mike Rutherford leading every lap to score the win. Rutherford buckled into Jason Morrison's Mr. Dent, Inc./ Hyper after Morrison decided to stay out of the car for this event, due to his role as the Showdown's promoter/race organizer.
Tim Mertz, currently second in the Sidewinder standings, finished as the runner-up to Rutherford in this non-point event. Shane Lewis drove a Henchcraft House Car to third, with Jeremy Lynch and Rohan Beasley rounding out the top five.
The Sidewinder vs. 600 Wingless Challenge was stopped after two laps, when Ken Wilhide ran up and over the rear wheel of another car, causing his mount to flip violently into the catch-fence along the front straightaway. Wilhide's wild ride brought down almost 100 feet of fence, bringing out the red flag. Wilhide was carefully extricated from his torn up racecar, then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. He was alert and speaking to the EMT's on site, and also helped to free himself from his No. 92k. No updates were provided as this was being written on Sunday evening, but Wilhide's injuries did not appear to be serious as the ambulance left the track on Saturday night.
A large group of volunteers went to work and put the fence back in place, then re-secured it to the support posts. The big job was completed very efficiently, and the fence was race-ready in a relatively short amount of time.
The remainder of the 20-lap Wingless Challenge was scrapped at that point, due to the lateness of the hour and the fact that the 50-lap Showdown still had to be run.
Showdown Notes: a total of 92 cars took part in the 600cc qualifying races that were run using a modified Sprint Bandit format. A quick poll taken after the event indicated that most of the competitors favored this qualifying format, in which points earned for finishing position were added to passing points for each driver. The point system was utilized for the heats and 'A-Main Qualifiers'; it was very similar to the format used at the Chili Bowl.
Two former winners of the Super 600 Showdown were forced to watch the A-Main this year. Mike Dicely (2007) and Ryan Greth (2006) did not advance through the alphabet mains. Greth wasn't able to make it out of the B-Main, while Dicely got together with Oklahoman Jason Brown in the C-Main, ruining his chances of transferring to the B.
Greth and Dicely had one final opportunity to race their way into the A-Main, as both were eligible for the Champion's Last Chance Provisional Race. Only one driver received a provisional starting spot from this event, and it went to Brent Marks, who won the 12-lap dash. Marks' eligibility came from his distinction as the leader of the Speedweek point chase.
When Shane Lewis fell out of the A-Main due to his flat tire, Marks became the 2008 PA 600 Speedweek Champion. Because he used a provisional to get into the Showdown finale, Marks did not receive any points. It didn't matter, however, when Lewis went to the sidelines. Marks, by the way, finished 13th in the Showdown's A-Main.
Dicely's tangle with Jason Brown in the C-Main led to a wild flip by Brown. Although Jason climbed from his used up machine, he had a nasty gash on his leg. Later, in the pit area, Brown became nauseous and, according to some, a bit disoriented. A Life Lion helicopter was summoned to air lift Brown to Hershey Medical Center. Updates on his condition were not available as this was written.
Rain showers in the afternoon and during warm-ups led to a lengthy delay, and further delays due to the flips by Wilhide and Brown made the Showdown a long, long affair. Kendall zipped under Tiim Gehret's checkered flag about 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. Most of the sizeable crowd stuck around for the finale, though, and the fantastic racing action made it all worthwhile. The rain showers were actually a blessing in disguise, as the clay surface remained ultra-tacky all night long. Multiple racing grooves were present during the entire program, and despite all the moisture that soaked into the oval and the pounding of 92 of the 600's and 17 Sidewinders, it stayed very smooth throughout the entire program.
Andrew Deal, from Kansas, raced his way out of the D, then advanced from the C to the B-Main, but that is where his long day's night ended.
RTS Chassis sponsored the Showdown's A-Main, with American Racer/Lias Tire sponsoring the B-Main. The C-Main was sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires, and MicroRacing.com sponsored the D-Main. Hyper Racing sponsored the Past Champion's Last Chance Provisional Race.
Super 600 Showdown Results:
600cc Micro-Sprints (A-Main, 50-laps): 1.Robbie Kendall 2.Ryan Smith 3.Luke Thomas 4.Scott Sawyer 5.Ben Murphy 6.Brady Bacon 7.Tyson Hall 8.Ryan Guyett 9.Bill Thomas 10.Eric Bodine 11.Chris Snyder 12.Kyle Newcomb 13.Brent Marks 14.Mike Rutherford 15.Brock Bilger 16.Jan Luckenbaugh 17.Joey Startt 18.Jeremy Lynch 19.Shane Lewis 20.Kenny Miller 21.Steven Schebester 22.Brenden Bright 23.Brock Zearfoss 24.Tim Gladfelter 25.Jack Conover 26.Tom Kohler.
[END]
"I don't even know what to say," exclaimed the jubilant teen in victory lane. "I have to thank my grandfather and everyone who works on this car. It was just so fast tonight...this is amazing!"
The Quarter-Midget grad lined up fifth as the 26-car starting field took the initial green. Pole-sitter Tom Kohler slammed into the outside guardrail in turn one, victimized by mechanical failure on his No. 5. The car never turned as Kohler, a recent high school graduate, led the star-studded pack into the corner.
On the second attempt, Jack Conover and Kenny Miller tangled in the middle of one and two.
The third try proved to be the charm, as Oklahoma's Scott Sawyer led the way and Kendall shot into the runner-up position.
Brock Zearfoss broke with three complete, forcing the restart that led to a crowd-pleasing stretch of green flag racing.
The next 22 tours would run caution-free, with some intense action spread throughout the field. The 600cc pilots used every inch of the smooth, tacky racing surface, producing the most competitive Showdown in the four-year history of the event.
With Sawyer planted upstairs on the cushion, Kendall made numerous dives to the bottom at both ends of the speedway. Each time, Sawyer was able to pull back in front using his momentum on the high side of the banking.
Finally, on lap 14, Kendall slid his Hyper/Spar No. 55 up the track, just ahead of Sawyer. The 600cc veteran from Broken Arrow, Ok., had to stab the brakes to avoid hitting the back end of Kendall's car, and that was all the teen needed to assume command.
As Kendall motored away from the pack, Sawyer fell back into the clutches of Ben Murphy, Jan Luckenbaugh, Luke Thomas, and Shane Lewis. Lewis weaved his way to third and began to pressure Sawyer for the runner-up spot.
The 17-year old from Honey Brook, Pa. was not only racing for the $10,000 Showdown check, but for the 600 Speedweek Championship as well. Lewis had to win the race in order to secure the Speedweek title, or finish second in the race to tie Brent Marks for the crown.
This highly entertaining stretch of green flag racing was interrupted at the event's halfway point, when Oklahoma's Steven Schebester and local ace Brenden Bright collided at the exit of turn four. Bright flipped his No. 88 into the homestretch fence, and a competition red was thrown as the wreckage was cleared.
During the red flag period, the cars were directed into the paddock area, where adjustments could be made but no parts or tires could be replaced.
Kendall dashed away on the ensuing green, and a furious five-car tussle for second grabbed the fans' attention. Sawyer, Murphy, Thomas, Lewis, and Ryan Smith engaged in a battle royale for the position, with Lewis eventually fading due to a deflating right-rear tire. The problem forced him to head for the pits, ending his bid for victory and the overall Speedweek title.
Smith, who qualified out of the B-Main, had quietly maneuvered his way from 17th at the start to seventh when the red flag signaled halftime.
The "Kid from Kunkletown" was on rail down low when the second half went green. Smith darted into fourth with 37 complete, then skated past Murphy for third as the race entered its final ten revolutions.
Smith, who also competes in ARDC Midget and USAC Silver Crown cars, snared second from Sawyer on lap 46, but Kendall was long gone by that time. The 20-year old from Kunkletown, Pa. had to settle for a $3,000 payday as the runner-up, finishing 1.5 seconds behind Kendall as the checkers waved.
Wyoming, Delaware's Luke Thomas crossed the stripe an impressive third after starting in the 11th position. Sawyer headed back to Oklahoma with the fourth-place cash, and Ben Murphy of Charlotte, NC, wound up fifth.
Brady Bacon, the Sprint Car and Midget hotshoe who drives for Kasey Kahne on the USAC tour, came from 16th to sixth after winning the B-Main. Tyson Hall, the teen from Texas, finished seventh, with Ryan Guyett of Springfield, Illinois taking the eighth spot. Bill Thomas and Eric Bodine rounded out the top ten.
The 1000cc Sidewinder Sprints competed in a 20-lap main event at the Showdown, with Mike Rutherford leading every lap to score the win. Rutherford buckled into Jason Morrison's Mr. Dent, Inc./ Hyper after Morrison decided to stay out of the car for this event, due to his role as the Showdown's promoter/race organizer.
Tim Mertz, currently second in the Sidewinder standings, finished as the runner-up to Rutherford in this non-point event. Shane Lewis drove a Henchcraft House Car to third, with Jeremy Lynch and Rohan Beasley rounding out the top five.
The Sidewinder vs. 600 Wingless Challenge was stopped after two laps, when Ken Wilhide ran up and over the rear wheel of another car, causing his mount to flip violently into the catch-fence along the front straightaway. Wilhide's wild ride brought down almost 100 feet of fence, bringing out the red flag. Wilhide was carefully extricated from his torn up racecar, then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. He was alert and speaking to the EMT's on site, and also helped to free himself from his No. 92k. No updates were provided as this was being written on Sunday evening, but Wilhide's injuries did not appear to be serious as the ambulance left the track on Saturday night.
A large group of volunteers went to work and put the fence back in place, then re-secured it to the support posts. The big job was completed very efficiently, and the fence was race-ready in a relatively short amount of time.
The remainder of the 20-lap Wingless Challenge was scrapped at that point, due to the lateness of the hour and the fact that the 50-lap Showdown still had to be run.
Showdown Notes: a total of 92 cars took part in the 600cc qualifying races that were run using a modified Sprint Bandit format. A quick poll taken after the event indicated that most of the competitors favored this qualifying format, in which points earned for finishing position were added to passing points for each driver. The point system was utilized for the heats and 'A-Main Qualifiers'; it was very similar to the format used at the Chili Bowl.
Two former winners of the Super 600 Showdown were forced to watch the A-Main this year. Mike Dicely (2007) and Ryan Greth (2006) did not advance through the alphabet mains. Greth wasn't able to make it out of the B-Main, while Dicely got together with Oklahoman Jason Brown in the C-Main, ruining his chances of transferring to the B.
Greth and Dicely had one final opportunity to race their way into the A-Main, as both were eligible for the Champion's Last Chance Provisional Race. Only one driver received a provisional starting spot from this event, and it went to Brent Marks, who won the 12-lap dash. Marks' eligibility came from his distinction as the leader of the Speedweek point chase.
When Shane Lewis fell out of the A-Main due to his flat tire, Marks became the 2008 PA 600 Speedweek Champion. Because he used a provisional to get into the Showdown finale, Marks did not receive any points. It didn't matter, however, when Lewis went to the sidelines. Marks, by the way, finished 13th in the Showdown's A-Main.
Dicely's tangle with Jason Brown in the C-Main led to a wild flip by Brown. Although Jason climbed from his used up machine, he had a nasty gash on his leg. Later, in the pit area, Brown became nauseous and, according to some, a bit disoriented. A Life Lion helicopter was summoned to air lift Brown to Hershey Medical Center. Updates on his condition were not available as this was written.
Rain showers in the afternoon and during warm-ups led to a lengthy delay, and further delays due to the flips by Wilhide and Brown made the Showdown a long, long affair. Kendall zipped under Tiim Gehret's checkered flag about 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. Most of the sizeable crowd stuck around for the finale, though, and the fantastic racing action made it all worthwhile. The rain showers were actually a blessing in disguise, as the clay surface remained ultra-tacky all night long. Multiple racing grooves were present during the entire program, and despite all the moisture that soaked into the oval and the pounding of 92 of the 600's and 17 Sidewinders, it stayed very smooth throughout the entire program.
Andrew Deal, from Kansas, raced his way out of the D, then advanced from the C to the B-Main, but that is where his long day's night ended.
RTS Chassis sponsored the Showdown's A-Main, with American Racer/Lias Tire sponsoring the B-Main. The C-Main was sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires, and MicroRacing.com sponsored the D-Main. Hyper Racing sponsored the Past Champion's Last Chance Provisional Race.
Super 600 Showdown Results:
600cc Micro-Sprints (A-Main, 50-laps): 1.Robbie Kendall 2.Ryan Smith 3.Luke Thomas 4.Scott Sawyer 5.Ben Murphy 6.Brady Bacon 7.Tyson Hall 8.Ryan Guyett 9.Bill Thomas 10.Eric Bodine 11.Chris Snyder 12.Kyle Newcomb 13.Brent Marks 14.Mike Rutherford 15.Brock Bilger 16.Jan Luckenbaugh 17.Joey Startt 18.Jeremy Lynch 19.Shane Lewis 20.Kenny Miller 21.Steven Schebester 22.Brenden Bright 23.Brock Zearfoss 24.Tim Gladfelter 25.Jack Conover 26.Tom Kohler.
[END]