“The Logger” Takes $1,000 Prize To Cap Off Year #2 At 250 Speedway.

–By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

 What a spectacular night to end the racing season at “Ohio’s Place To Sling Dirt” as we honored this day of remembrance with a special pre-race ceremony and 9-1-1 tribute. Drivers towed in from up to 3 hours to try to get into the 30 lap showdown. We also crowned our final Point Champion and had another breathtaking crowd that witnessed a preview of the exciting racing action that will thunder through the hills surrounding Tappan Lake for many years to come. Seventy six machines made the pull to the wide oval for the final time in 09’.

 Leading off the action on week #16 was the 30 lap TSMA Modified $1,000 to win main event. Leading the twenty car field down for Chief Starter Keith Decker’s green flag was heat race one and two winners Russ Dunn in the #47 and “The Batman” Scotty Peltz in the #7. On the initial start, Rex Slaughter took a wild ride as his #1X machine got into the turn two wall and barrel rolled down the back straightaway. There was a huge sigh of relief when Rex climbed from the mangled machine. The #67 of Jack Young had a lot of right side damage to his machine as well. On the restart, Peltz was able to race his way out front until his yellow #7 machine spun in turn four of the second lap and was t-boned by Young. Both drivers would have to pull pit-side with too much damage to continue. It looked as though we were going to continue last weeks caution fest into this week, But We would run the next 23 circuits under green. On the restart on lap 2, Kevin Morehouse was up front in the #28 with the #T1 of Randy Gray in second after the Peltz misfortune. “The Logger” was able to stretch out his lead to a full straightaway working the top side of the race track over the long green flag run. With the #28 way out in front, all eyes turned to the bright orange #D2 of Nolan Dalton who was working his way up to the second spot from the 9^th starting position on lap #12 using the very bottom of the race track. After some great racing in the middle of the pack during that long green flag period, the Point Champion Mitch Basich in the #B55 had mechanical issues on lap twenty five bringing out our third caution. Everyone was wondering what would happen as the field was bunched up over the final five laps with Morehouse upstairs and Dalton down low. The Top 5 with five to go was Morehouse, Dalton, the #101 of Jesse Weiscarver, The #70 of Matt Aber and Gray. On the restart Morehouse was able to get a little bit of a cushion until the Aber machine experienced bad luck in turn #2 bringing out what would be our final caution with three to go. A couple weeks ago, Morehouse was able to pull into victory lane at 250 Speedway by being the master of the restarts. He needed to nail it one more time in ‘09. “The Logger” was able to get a great jump and drive off into the chilly night air and pick up the cool $1,000 prize. Following the Hanover Ohio driver in the #28 machine was Dalton, Weiscarver, Gray and Dunn rounding out the top 5 finishers in a very entertaining feature event.

 Next up was the Pure Stock 15 lapper. The #43 of DJ Hores and the #26F of Rex Frohnaple, Sr. brought the field down to get underway. The #21 of Phil Wade was able to blast from his 3^rd starting position into the lead off turn two of the opening circuit. As the laps clicked away, Wade was able to stretch out his lead over Hores and would be untouched as he pulled into victory lane in the caution free event. Following the Doylestown Ohio driver in the Wade Brothers Racing Sponsored #21 was Hores, Tory Gibbs, Point Champion Rich Schweitzer and Dick Aubihl.    

  The 250 Speedway Late Models would again only bring four cars to the green flag with the #42 Of Matt Mallett and the black deuce of Kevin Smith on the front row. Other than the #17 of Jim Kuaigg making contact with the turn 3 wall on lap #3 and Smith spinning in turn number two on lap number nine, the race settled down and Mallett dominated. Nobody was going to touch the #42 machine who worked the top side of the race track all night long. Following the Byesville Ohio driver in the Mallett’s Concrete, Buffalo’s Bar & Grill Sponsored #42 was Smith, Jason Stewart and Kuaigg.

 On to the Super Sport 15 lap main event of the evening with the Point Champion Jim Hess in the #11H and Tory Gibbs pulling double duty again in the #10 on the front row. At the drop of the green flag, Hess was able to pick up the top spot for the first two circuits until Gibbs battled back on the outside and completed the pass off turn four. Just after Gibbs took the lead, the #77R of Glen Richea was able to make the pass on Hess and move up to the second position. The top three would stay status quo thru the middle part of the event despite a few caution periods. On the final restart on lap twelve, Richea and Hess split the leader Gibbs off turn four to take back the front two positions that the duo often found themselves in all year. On this night, Richea was just too strong and was able to motor his way to another checkered flag in 2009. Following the Valley Grove West Virginia driver in the Quicktime Performance, Orum’s Auto Body of Tridelphia West Virginia Sponsored #77R was Hess, Gibbs, Billy Hilliker and Tim Fabian. Although the two drivers are fierce competitors on the speedway, they have a great respect for one another. Hess and Richea celebrated in victory lane together, posing for picture with both machines.  

 The Final feature of the 2009 racing campaign was the 4 cylinder event with the #28 of Jim Orr and the #16C of Chris Seifert brought the field in for the final green flag. During the first heat race, Rex Frohnaple in the #14F had bad luck strike again and had to retire for the evening, that would hand the 2009 4 cylinder Point Title over to Seifert before he even turned a wheel. As he moved into the feature with the pressure off, he looked to be another driver that would clinch a Championship in style. Seifert was able to race out front early with Orr close in tow. After the only caution of the race flew on lap seven for the #15 of Joe Elerick who stopped on the front straightaway, Seifert was able to hold off the advances of Orr and capture another victory on the “wide oval”. Following the Quaker City Ohio driver in the Cadiz Muffler Sponsored #16C was Orr, Randy Hahn, Brandon Welker and Jamie Leslie rounding out the top 5.

 Please stay tuned to 250speedway.com and ohiovalleydtr.com for all the off-season news and rumors as we look towards 2010!! It has been another successful season at 250 Speedway and we would again like to send out a SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the driver’s, teams and especially the FANS for supporting us this season. On behalf of Chief Starter Keith Decker; Corner Officials Art Zalinski and Kenny Decker; Scorers Scotty Bush, Mama Decker and Alana Decker; Pit Stewarts Terry Colletti and Sharon Black, Tech Inspector Glen Toole, Jr.; Track Photographer Gabe Pringle; Assistant Announcer / Scorer George Kail and Track Owners Kim and Dan Wagner, I’m “Hot Rod Kail, Voice of 250 Speedway wishing you a great off-season and we will see you in March!!

 Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com for More Info.

2 More Season Champion’s Crowned on Full Moon Friday at “Ohio’s Place To Sling Dirt”.

–By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

 It was just one of those nights that fans, drivers, crews and officials dread on week #15 of the 2009 season. I would say the ghost’s and goblin’s were out, but that would be Halloween. I could say “April fools”, but that was 5 months ago. How about Friday the 13^th? Nope, it was only the 4^th. So we’ll just say it was a wild and crazy, full moon Friday night at the 3/8 mile speedrome for Mechanic’s Night.  The stands were packed and 71 machines were pit-side on the next to the last night of the season.  The air was cool, the full moon was bright (have I mentioned that it was a full moon yet?).

 Leading off the action again this week was the Pure Stock 15 Lapper, which was arguably the best feature of the evening, and by far the most well behaved. The #14M of Matt Wallick and Point Champion Rich Schweitzer in the #84 were on the front row. Right off the bat the #21 of Phil Wade was able to dart his way out front from his 4^th starting position with the #43 of DJ Hores glued to his back bumper. After a caution on Lap four after the #26 of Ricky Thomas stopped in turn two with mechanical problems, Wade would continue to lead when the first weird thing of the evening happened. Coming off of turn two on lap #8, Wade’s machine looped around and went directly to the infield with apparent mechanical problems. At the same time the new race leader Hores tried to avoid some debris in turn #3 just as the caution waved, but apparently he was unsuccessful and had to retire from the event. That magically put the #14M machine back to the top spot (that’s a slight of hand trick Criss Angel would have been proud of). After the restart, the Point Champ took several shots at the Wallick machine over the last six circuits, but was unable to pull the rabbit out of his own hat on this night. Following the New Philadelphia Ohio driver in the #14M was Schweitzer, Rex Frohnaple Sr., Dick Aubihl and Mike Powell rounding out the top 5 finishers.

That’s when the full moon took over and the wolves howling on top of the hill should have been a sign of the things to come. I think I even heard someone singing the Nightmare on Elm Street theme “one, two, buckle my shoe…” The #T1 of Randy Gray and The #65M of Mike Davis brought the carnage filled 20 lap TSMA Modified feature down for Chief Starter Keith Decker’s green flag. After the fourth attempt to start the event was successful, Davis was able to race his way out front with Gray close in tow. Thru the first four laps the field looked as though they may settle down, with the #7 of “The Batman” Scott Peltz working his way around Gray for the second position and the #D2 of Nolan Dalton charging from the 15^th starting position inside the top 8. That’s when the #B55, #65 and #62 got tangled in turns three and four on lap six. Once we got the line-up set after a brief red flag period to sort out where everyone was suppose to be, I heard another person singing “…three, four, better lock the door…” The Caution flag would fly on laps 7, 11 and finally for the final time on lap 13. During that time Davis was able to maintain the top spot, Peltz in second, Gray in third and Dalton all the way up to fourth. Battles continued thru the field over the final six circuits, but Davis was just too strong. I’m sure that the Pilot of the #65M machine hopes for a repeat next week and a $1,000 check to boot. Following the Rayland Ohio driver in the Alltel Wireless, GRS Modified’s sponsored #65M was Peltz, Gray, Dalton and Bruce Takach. Mitch Basich in the #B55 machine was able to clinch the 2009 TSMA Modified Point Championship. Congratulations Mitch!

After a Jason Voorhees look alike was spotted near turn one uttering “kill, kill, kill…..ma, ma, ma” The third feature of the evening was the 250 Speedway Late Model twenty lap contest. Kevin Smith in the Black Deuce and Matt Mallett in the #42 brought the field to the line. I have no idea what the Guinness Book of World Records say about cautions in an event with only 5 cars, but I guarantee they challenged it. Smith and Mallett tangled in turn four on the opening lap, sending Smith to the tail after changing a right rear tire. Mallett was able to lead the event wire to wire and pick up another feature victory. Following the Byesville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar & Grill, Mallett’s Concrete sponsored #42 machine was Smith, Rick Carpenter, Mike Enos and Jason Stewart.

After catching a few head spinning re-runs of the Exorcist on the laptop, the Super Sport feature made its way onto the speedway. Starting on the front row for the 15 lap heavy weight tilt was the #10 of Tory Gibbs and The #11H of Jim Hess. With a solid top 10 finish, Hess would clinch the 2009 Championship, but he was looking to wrap it up in style. On the initial start, the #M-15, #2 and the #11TEEN got tangled up in turn four after Gibbs was able to slide out front. As the field lined up for the due-over, the #10 machine surprisingly pulled to the infield with apparent mechanical problems, moving the #78 of Randy Gray to the pole position. After the green flag waved for the third attempted restart, Hess was able to race out in front of Gray and Tim Fabian in the #M-88. On lap two the bad luck bug bit Gray as he, Deak Parsons (filling in for Glen Richea in the #77R) and Brad Ronshausen in the #3 piled up in turn one. The #77R was able to continue but had to pull pit-side on the restart with rear-end problems. After a spin by the 5^th place runner Billy Hilliker in the #27B on lap six, Hess was able to hold off “Kid Rocket” Brock Burcher in the #07 to not only pay another visit to 250 Speedway victory lane, but capture the Super Sport Championship. Congratulation Jim! Following the Centerville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar & Grill, Pat’s Reloading LogoTek Vinyl Graphics, Larry Mason Paint, D&K Heating & Cooling and Dad’s Checkbook sponsored #11H was Burcher, Bob Nolan, Fabian and Paul Murray making his first appearance at 250 Speedway and coming from the 15^th starting position, rounding out the top 5.

The Final feature of the evening was the 15 lap 4 Cylinder event. Bringing the field in for the green flag was the #EZ1 of Andy Parks and the #1C of Mike Linn. This division has the honor of having our closest point battle, Chris Seifert led Rex Frohnaple by 10 points coming in. I was hopeful that we would have no cautions so I could catch up on lost episodes of Tales from The Crypt before turning in for the evening, but why should this feature be any different than the others? Parks was able to race out front with the #88H of Randy Hahn applying the pressure in second. After a couple cautions the driver who now finds himself in second place in the point standings for the first time this year, Frohnaple in the #14F will be looking up out of a big hole now, as he spun his machine on lap two and experienced mechanical problems on lap ten that forced him to retire from the event. After the final restart, Parks was able to hold off Seifert in the #16C, who was able to pad his point lead with a runner-up finish. Frohnaple will now need some help from the Racing God’s to take the championship away from Seifert, but the good thing is, he still has a shot heading into the final event. Following the Coshocton Ohio driver in the #EZ1 was Seifert, Hahn, Hard Charger Jimmy Orr coming from the 20^th starting position and Luke Freed rounding out the top 5.

In the Mechanic’s events, Ryan West was able to wheel the Mardis Racing #2 machine to victory in the Mod’s. Mike McElwain driving the Hores Racing #43 was able to hold off track photographer Gabe Pringle and a host of others to pick up the Pure Stock mechanic’s trophy. And finally, Michael Seifert driving the Seifert Racing #16C was able to out-duel track scorer Scotty Bush and pick up the victory in for the 4 Cylinders.

 Next week is the final race of the 2009 racing season and the rescheduled TSMA sanctioned event at 250 Speedway. DJ Cline, winner of the first TSMA race and 30+ other Mod’s will look to take home the cool $1,000 prize in the 30 lap event. Pit admission will be $30 with Grandstand admission being $12. Camping will be permitted in the pit area after the event, so bring your tent and join us for the 250 Speedway Blowout!! This is your last chance to see the dirt fly at 250 before the snow flies!!

 Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com for More Info.

Morehouse, Hess and Smith Win; Seifert Takes Photo Finish, Schweitzer Crowned at 250.

 –By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

 On week #14 of the 2009 racing season, the program got off to a late start because of a bad accident on St. Rt. 250 near Tappan Lake. I want to take this opportunity to thank track owner Dan Wagner and his staff for holding up the show to allow the drivers and fans that were stuck in traffic (some over an hour) to get to the speedway and participate or watch a complete night of racing. Even though it made for a late night, it was a great call that not many facilities would have made, CUDO’S to DAN and STAFF. On a beautiful fall like evening, we saw another first time winner at the speedway, along with some familiar names and some recognizable side by side action on the 3/8 mile dirt / clay oval. We had another awesome crowd and a stout field of 66 machines pit side for Pittsburgh Circle Track Club night at 250 Speedway.

 Leading off the action was the Pure Stock division and after the 15 lap feature, the pole sitter Rich Schweitzer in the #84 machine was crowned our first point champion in 2009. Congratulations Rich, Job well done. Starting alongside the point champ in the front row was the #21 of Phil Wade. Coming to get the one to go signal from Chief Starter Terry Colletti, problems struck the #21 before the race got underway, relegating him to the infield. That would move the #43 of DJ Hores up to the outside starting position. After a first lap caution Schweitzer was able to race out front with the #43 of Hores and the #14M of Matt Wallick close in tow. As the laps clicked away, Schweitzer was determined to be crowned the champ in victory lane and was able to keep the #43 and the #14M at bay. After a Restart on lap twelve for contact between Ricky Thomas in the #26 and Justin VanFossen in The #61, Schweitzer was able to hold off the challenges from the second and third place cars and pick up another feature win and his first championship on dirt, in style. Following the New Philadelphia Ohio driver in the PringlePhotography.net, CitiLoan sponsored #84 was Hores, Wallick, Mike Powell and Thomas.

Once again we had a small field of cars in the 250 Speedway Late Model Division, but as always, the drivers put on a good show. Bringing the field down for the start was the #42 of Matt Mallett and the # 2 of Kevin Smith. Once we got the race under way, it looked like Mallett would cruise to another victory and when his closest competitor Smith spun in turn two on lap number nine, we were penciling it in the books. But that is why people love racing and you can never assume anything (you know what happens when you assume, right?). On the restart, the race leader Mallett and the second place machine of Jerry Farmer in the #11 made contact in turn two and that allowed the black deuce to sneak past on the outside and inherit the top spot. After a caution on lap #13 for contact again in turn two between the #11 and the #42, sending Mallett home on the hook, Smith was able to fend off Farmer and pick up another feature win. Pleasing the crowd with some spectacular doughnuts in turn four, the Belle Valley Ohio driver in the Whitey’s Wood Service, Oasis Bar & Grill, Smiths Stor-It-All sponsored #2 was followed to the finish by Farmer and Mallett. 

The third feature of the evening was the Super Sport 15 Lapper. Bringing the field in for the green flag was point leader Jim Hess in the #11H and his bitter rival Glen Richea in the #77R. Just as the green flag was displayed, the #77R sputtered and crept to a halt on the front straightaway, ending any hope for another showdown between the two. The other twelve drivers behind the front row did a great job to maneuver around the lifeless machine and avoid disaster. That would move the #10 of Tory Gibbs up to the second starting spot. Hess was able to jump out to the early advantage over Gibbs and Sam Clegg during the early laps. On lap four, Clegg, the second place driver in the point standings got loose in turn two and collected the #11TEEN of Mike Phillips Jr. With his closest competition in the points knocked out early, it would turn out to be another great night at the speedway for the #11H team. Although Gibbs battled hard over the last 7 or 8 laps, taking his shots driving deep into the corners, Hess was able to hold on for the victory. Following the Centerville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar &Grill, Pat’s Reloading, LogoTek Vinyl Graphics, Larry Mason’s Paint, D&K Heating & Cooling and Dad’s Checkbook sponsored #11H was Gibbs, Phillips Jr., Dale Holcomb Jr. and Billy Hilicker rounding out the top 5.

Next up was the TSMA Modified Division with their 20 lap tune-up for next week’s $1,000 to win 30 lap spectacular. We have had some outstanding main events in this division all year, the last two weeks especially. This week would be no different as the #65M of Mike Davis and The Phantom #309 of “Stormin” Norman Aronhault brought the field to the stripe. As the field kicked their machines sideways in turn one, a chain reaction pile-up took place involving 7 cars. Once the smoke had cleared, only the #1KC of Kacy Campbell had to go pit side because of damage. On the second attempt, Davis was able to slither his way out in front of Aronhault and the race ran green until lap #7. This was the pivotal point in the event where the strengths and weakness of the field started to show. Davis was strong on the longer green flag runs and the #28 of Kevin Morehouse showed that he was masterful on restarts. The first restart he was able to slide past “Stormin” Norman and set his sights on the leader. Aronhault would fall into the clutches of “The Batman” Scotty Peltz, his first night out in a Mod this season, and a great battle would ensue. The top four would continue their 2 by 2, side by side battle until the next caution flew on lap #12 when last week’s feature winner Matt Aber in the #70 spun in turn two. Remember what I said about Davis needing the long runs and Morehouse needing restarts? The #28 machine snapped to the bottom of the race track at the hint of the green flag, almost as if he was standing on the starter’s stand with Chief Starter Terry Colletti.  The two would race side by side, trading the lead several times each lap until a caution on lap #15 would bunch up the field. Morehouse was merely feet ahead of Davis the last time by the start / finish line and Peltz was finally able to get by the #309 during that run and move into third. Once again we had a restart, and once again Morehouse was money. The #28 was able to pick up three car lengths on Davis by the time they got to turn one and that was all he needed. Davis would have to hold off a late race charge by “The Batman” and watch the black #28 drive off into the sunset. Morehouse was able to pick up his first feature victory on his initial visit to the wide oval, and couldn’t say enough about the track crew and officials saying “I have never been on a track with that much bite”. Mr. Morehouse was tickled and I have a feeling you’ll see him back at “Ohio’s Place To Sling Dirt” in the very near future. Following the Hanover Ohio driver in the #28 Machine was Davis, Peltz, Aronhault and point leader Mitch Basich.

The Final feature of the evening was the 15 lap 4 Cylinder event. Bringing the field in for the green flag was the #EZ1 of Andy Parks and the #88H of Randy Hahn. “Hondo” was able to march out to the early lead until the point leader Rex Frohnaple in the #14F got tangled up with the #845 and #77 cars in turn two. This would be another bad night in a long string of bad luck for the point leader that has seen his one-time 100+ point lead evaporate. On the restart, Hahn was able to keep the top spot until he got crossed up in turn four of lap #4, dropping him to fourth (the rule of four’s applied to “Hondo” tonight, bet you can’t guess where he finished?). That allowed Parks to take over the top spot where he would stay until the final circuit. As the three lead cars of Parks, the #16C of Chris Seifert and the #31 of John Schooler worked thru lapped traffic down the backstretch of the white flag lap, you knew it was going to be a wild finish that the people who left will be kicking themselves for heading out early. The trio made their way thru turns three and four with Schooler dropping back just a bit and Seifert diving to the bottom of the race track. At the line the cameras were ready and the #16C nosed out another trip to victory lane, and the point lead, by about 6”. Following the Cadiz Muffler sponsored #16C from Quaker City Ohio was Parks, Schooler, “Hondo” and Jimmy Orr who battled his way up through the field from the 15^th starting position.

Next week is the final TSMA sanctioned event at 250 Speedway in 2009. DJ Cline, winner of the first TSMA race and 30+ other Mod’s will look to take home the cool $1,000 prize in the 30 lap event. Pit admission will be $30 with Grandstand admission being $12. Only three weeks left in the 2009 campaign and with the last 3 modified features being as competitive as they have been, you won’t want to miss this one!!

 Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com for More Info.

 First Time Winner’s Rule On Fan Appreciation Night At 250 Speedway.

                      –By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

On a another hot and humid Friday night at the 3/8 Mile center for speed, the racing on the track was spectacular and the huge crowd left the speedway with autographs, pictures and a lot of merchandise that was given away. We have had a lot of first time winner’s at 250 Speedway, especially since it’s only our second year of operation, but it seems like a lot of drivers have won their first career features at our facility this season and this week that story would hold true. With 60 machines pit side, it was another successful night on week #13 of the 2009 campaign. 

 Leading off the action was the TSMA Modified Division. Last week the fans saw a great battle up front as the two leaders duke'd it out over the second half of the event, trading the top spot on several occasions. This week, we would see the same type of action and one of last weeks players was involved again. The #T1 of Dennison Ohio’s Randy Gray started on the pole with the #70 of Wooster Ohio’s Matt Aber along side. At the drop of the green flag, Aber was able to position his machine at the point, followed by Gray and the #21R of Randy Bauknecht. The three machines would battle through the first part of the event until Bauknecht had to pull to the infield on lap 9 due to mechanical problems. Aber was able to keep the top spot as the leaders started to work lapped traffic during the middle stages. (Notice I haven’t had to mention any cautions, all drivers did an outstanding job tonight.) That allowed Gray to pull along side the #70 machine and the battle was on for the second week in a row. Gray was able to get the lead at one point until Aber made a nice move off of turn two to take it back. The two raced nose to tail until the #E0 of Mark Enos ruined our chance at our first flag to flag Modified race of the season, with a spin in turn #3. On the final restart Gray would mount another charge, but was relegated to being the runner-up of a great feature two weeks in a row. Following Aber to his first career feature win in the Premier Pallet & Recycling Inc., Ken Adams Trucking, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Tank Services, Keystone Pallet & Recycling, Weekly Electric, Banshee Graphic’s sponsored #70 machine was Gray, Chris Basich, Hard Charger Daryl Charlier and Rex Slaughter rounding out the top 5 finishers.  

Next up was the always exciting Super Sport 15 lap main event of the evening. Bringing the field down for the start was the #07 of Mike Enos and The #11TEEN of Mike Phillips, Jr. Enos was able to race his way out front for the first lap and a half until the car got sideways in turn #4 bringing out our first caution and sending the #07 to the tail. That handed the lead over to Phillips who was determined to keep it and pick up his first victory and the #10 of Tory Gibbs lurking in the second position. The two race nose to tail thru the middle section of the race until Gibbs decided it was time to go. Off of turn four coming to the white flag, Gibbs made the pass stick and drove on to his first feature victory in the Super Sport division. Another last lap pass for the win in this division and another outstanding race. Following the Port Washington Ohio driver to the line in the #10 machine was Glen Richea, point leader Jim Hess, Phillips Jr. and Enos

Bringing the small field of 250 Speedway Late Models down for the start was the #42 of Matt Mallett and the #22 of Charles Daughtery. Mallett was able to race out front to a commanding lead in the uneventful 20 lapper. Just as it looked like Mallett was going to pick up the tri-fecta, problems struck the #42 machine as he got the two to go signal from Chief Starter Keith Decker. A broken drive shaft would nullify the three-peat. That put the Daughtery Machine out front and he was able to notch up his first career feature victory. Following the Cambridge Ohio driver in the Baier Auto, Heintz Brothers, RaceCenter, Cincinnati Independent Auctioneers sponsored #22 was the #17 Machine (Driver unknown at time of print) and Mallett.

Phil Wade in the #21 and Matt Wallick in the #14M brought the field in for the start of the 15 lap Pure Stock feature event. Wade was able to race out front until the #14 of “Wild Man” Butch Newbert brought out the caution on lap #2. On the restart Wallick was able to work his way to the door of the race leader and was finally able to make the pass work on lap #5. After another restart on lap six, the #21 machine spun in turn four from the second position and would have to go to the tail. That would give the second spot to the #43 machine and running third was the double duty driver Tory Gibbs in the #10. By the ten lap mark, Gibbs was able to work around the #43 and set his sights on the #14M for the clean sweep of the evening. The problem for the #10 machine was that Wallick was just too strong as he was able to pull away from Gibbs and pick up his first career feature victory. Following the New Philadelphia Ohio driver in the #14M to the line was Gibbs, Ricky Thomas, Mark Zambucco and “Big Daddy” Bob Wagner rounding out the top five finishers.

The Final feature of the evening was the 15 lap 4 Cylinder event. Bringing the field to line for the green flag was the #88H of “Hondo” Randy Hahn and the #09 of John Sikish. After a failed first attempt at a start, Hahn was able to race out to a sizeable lead on the second. Rex Frohnaple in the #14F was able to work his way to the second position with the #15 of Joe Elerick running third. All eyes were on the #28 of Jim Orr and the #EZ1 of Andy Parks who started at the rear of the eighteen car field. The two were picking their way into the top 5 until the Orr machine got sideways in turn three for the second straight week. After a few cautions in the middle sections of the event, third place runner and point leader Frohnaple spun in turn four and took a major hit in the points battle as the #16C machine of Chris Seifert worked his way up to the second position. After another restart on lap #13, Parks was able to work his way around the #16C machine and set his radar on the #88H. Parks looked to the low side for about a lap and a half but was not able to make it work as “Hondo” held on for his first win in 2009. Following the Roswell Ohio driver in the C&K Auto, Route 39 Auto Sales sponsored #88H to the stripe was Parks, new point leader Seifert, Elerick and Sikish.

Next week is a regular program at 250 Speedway, but it will hardly be a routine evening. With only four weeks left in the 2009 season and still 3 division point championships to be decided, the action will certainly be fierce. Modified drivers will be getting their set-up’s right for next weeks TSMA sanctioned 30 Lap, $1,000 to win feature. Don’t miss the opportunity to see some exciting dirt racing action before the snow flies.

 Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com for More Info.

 Mallett and Seifert Double Up On Week #12 at 250

–By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

 On a beautiful full moon Friday night in August, we had another outstanding crowd and some exciting racing despite a few brain farts on the race track. At certain times during the evening, I had flash backs of the demolition derby at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds last weekend, I guess it was just one of those weird full moon nights. All in all, we had a very competitive night that saw 63 machines pit side for another successful night at 250 Speedway. Most weeks I try to thank people for sponsoring a race, giving things away at intermission, etc. This week I want to thank our outstanding staff at 250 Speedway. For a facility that has only been operational for a little more than a year, I think we have taken big strides. Despite some hiccups every now and then, our staff works their tails off to bring the fans a great show week in and week out. I congratulate and thank each and every one of you!! It all starts at the top with great leadership and Dan and Kim Wagner have put together a great staff that will hopefully lead 250 Speedway into being one of the most successful dirt tracks in our region. THANKS EVERYONE!!  

Now onto the show…..

We will lead off this week with the 250 Speedway Late Models. Last week, a young hot shoe that people are going to continue to hear from in the future, captured his first career feature victory. Get used to hearing the name Matt Mallett folks, this nice young man is a fierce competitor on the race track and does a nice job representing himself and his sponsors off it. He would lead the field down for the 20 lap feature event in his red #42 machine with the #2 of Kevin Smith along side. Just as the green flag waved the front two cars made contact on the front straightaway, sending the black deuce for a wild ride on top of the front stretch wall. It was a welcome site to see Smith exit his machine, albeit a little upset. Despite all the damage, Smith’s crew was able make some repairs and he was able to rejoin the field for the restart but shortly thereafter he would have to retire to the infield with suspension problems. That would move the #2A of John Sowers to the front row. Mallett was able to race his way out front and pretty much drive away from second place runner Scotty Peltz in the #23S. On lap 15 the “Batman” was trying to lap the #2A of Sowers when the two touched, sending Peltz hard into the wall just in front of Chief Starter Keith Decker and ending both of their nights. That left us with a battle between Mallett and Mike Enos in the #70. Enos got a good restart and was staying right with the #42 car until he made hard contact with the front straightaway wall on lap #17, about the same exact accident Smith had. That would send him pit side giving the victory to Mallett. Despite the attrition and low car count, the best Late Model on this night still got the win, his second in a row. Following the Byesville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar & Grill, Mallett’s Concrete Sponsored #42 was Enos, Peltz, Sowers and Smith.

The other double up driver started on the outside of the front row in the final feature of the evening. Jimmy Orr in the #28 and the #16C of Chris Seifert brought the field to the green flag. The two would race side by side until they hit turn #4 before the completion of the second lap. Orr got his racer sideways thru the west end of the race track and would have to drop to the tail of the field. The next up to try to take away the twin killing from Seifert was the #12 machine of Kevin Davis. The two would wage a pretty good battle thru the middle stages of the event. The #28 machine would race his way back up to the third position before spinning in the exact same spot on lap #8. That would send Mr. Orr pit side for the evening. On the restart, Davis wheeled his machine to the bottom of the speedway, waiting to pounce on a mistake from the race leader. On lap #11 the front two machines made contact and that sent the #12 car to the tail for the restart. That allowed the Seifert machine to finish out the final 4 laps and pick up his second win in a row and maybe more importantly, close the point gap between himself and leader Rex Frohnaple, which was only 13 to start the evening. Following the Bridgeport Ohio driver in the Cadiz Muffler Sponsored #16C car to the stripe was point leader Frohnaple, Davis, Joe Elerick and Shawn Daughtery rounding out the top 5 finishers. A call goes out to the #7JR Machine of Brandon Mansfield who did a great job in his opening night in a race car. The young man is the youngest driver to compete at 250 Speedway so far at 14 years old, Good Job Kid!

The best feature of the evening was the lid lifter, the TSMA Modified 20 Lapper. On the pole was the #55S of Rick Schmitt and the #T1 of Randy Gray. On the opening lap, Gray was able to clear the Schmitt racer and pull out front. After a caution for the #B55 of Mitch Basich and the #1X of Rex Slaughter, The War was on. The #14 Machine of Scott Stiffler was able to wrestle the lead away from Gray until a restart on lap #6. Gray was able to make a nifty inside pass on the #T1 machine to regain the top spot two laps later. The two drivers put on one of the best battles we have seen at the 3/8 mile speedrome this season. Back and forth, nose to tail, side by side, tooth and nail the duo showed off some serious driving skills,  the lead changed hands 5 times at the line over the final 10 circuits, but they traded the lead several times on each lap. Officially the final lead change would take place on lap #18 as Stiffler squeezed by on the outside off turn four. The two drivers would trade the lead three different times over the course of the white flag lap and Stiffler was able to hold on. Last season when he picked up his first checkered flag at 250 Speedway, I accidentally called him Steve (after the character in the movie American Pie) during the victory lane interview and I don’t think I will ever hear the end of that one. But on this night we were not in the movie American Pie, it was 250 Speedway and Scott (not Steve) Stiffler was in victory lane after a great TSMA Modified 20 lap feature. Following the Farmdale Ohio native in the Integra Sponsored #14 Machine was Gray, Slaughter, point leader Basich and Rob Melzer making his return from early season engine woes, to complete the top 5.

Up next was the Super Sport 15 lapper with Sam Clegg in the #2 and Glen Richea in the #77R starting on the front row. Richea was able to position his racer at the point heading into turn one of the opening lap. Behind the race leaders, the arch rival of the #77R was caught up in some contact with the #21 of Jamie Warner. The #11H of point leader Jim Hess was forced to wheel his racer pit side to change a left rear tire and had to join up at the back of the field. On the restart Hess was able to start making his way up thru the pack until lady luck bit him again. The Hess machine and the second place driver in points Clegg, were forced to go pit side once again with flat tires. Drivers never wish bad luck on each other because that karma comes back to bite you in the ol’ keester if you know what I mean. Having said that, Richea smelled the blood in the water of the two drivers in front of him in the season long standings and he punished the rest of the field for it. After a late race caution that closed the #10 Machine of Tory Gibbs up to the back bumper of the race leader, Richea was able to hold off the challenge and pick up another feature victory in 2009. Following the Valley Grove West Virginia driver in the Quictime, Orums Auto Body of Tridelphia West Virginia sponsored #77R was Gibbs, Warner, Billy Hillicker and Kyle Warner rounding out the top 5. It was Hillicker and K. Warner’s first time out this season. Also, we had a rare feat accomplished at 250 Speedway Friday night. We had 3 Generations of drivers on the race track at the same time, in the same division. Randy Gray, The elder statesman who drove to a runner-up finish in the TSMA Modified feature was in the #78 machine, Jamie Warner and his son Kyle bested Gradpa and Dad Randy and race to top 5 finishes. Congratulations to the Gray-Warner family for this rare accomplishment.

The third feature of the evening was the 15 lap Pure Stock event. At the front of the grid was the #43 of DJ Hores and the #22 of Bob Wagner. The #43 was able to race out front with Tory Gibbs, who was pulling double duty in the #10 slotting into the second spot. The battle for the second spot was heating up as Gibbs and Wagner were under fire from the #14M of Matt Wallick. The three drivers waged a good battle until the Wallick machine spun in turn #1 and the Gibbs ride retired due to a bum wheel. That moved “Big Daddy” back up into the runner-up spot and the #26F of Rex Frohnaple Sr. into third. Despite a late caution, Hores remained untouched and cruised into victory lane for another time in ‘09. Following the Wheeling West Virginia driver in the Line-X sponsored #43 was Wagner, Wallick, Frohnaple and Phil Wade. Congratulations to the #84 of Rich Schweitzer who wrapped up his first championship on dirt and our first Pure Stock Points Championship at 250 Speedway.

Next week is Fan Appreciation / Autograph night. Fans will be able to get autographs and pictures of their favorite driver and we have many special prizes we will be giving away. With only 4 more weeks of racing left and 3 more point titles to be decided, now is the time to stop out and see us.  

Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com for More Info.

Young, Smiling Faces Win At 250 Speedway On Kids Night.          

July 24–By Chris “Hot Rod” Kail

If I Told You That The Racing During Week #6 Of The 2009 Racing Season Was Close, That Would Be An Understatement. With A Great Field Of Cars and An Even Better Crowd On Hand To Watch The Action On A Beautiful June Evening, It Was A Very Successful Night.

By Far The Best Race Of The Evening Came In Our Super Sport Division and Once Again, It Was The Glen and Jim Show. Heat Race Winner Jim Hess In The #11H Started On The Pole With His Arch Nemesis Glen Richea In The #77R Just Along Side. Right From The Drop Of The Green Flag, Everyone Knew It Was Going To Be A Good One. Hess raced Out To The Early Lead With Richea In Second and Sam Clegg In The #2 Machine Running Third. On Lap Number Six, Richea Was Able To Make An Outside Pass Stick Off Of Turn Four To Take Over The Top Spot. As The Laps Clicked Off, You Could Tell That Lapped Traffic May Become A Factor Near The Completion Of The 15 Lap Event. As The Leaders Caught Clegg and The #62 Of Joe Thomas In Turn Three Of The White Flag Lap, Hess Made His Move To The Inside Of The Speedway. Coming Off Turn Number Four, The Front Two Cars Were Dead Even With Richea Pushing One Of The Lapped Cars Across The Line, But Hess Was Able To Squeak It Out By About 6 Inches. Following The Centerville Ohio Driver Of The Buffalo’s Bar and Grille, Pat’s Reloading, LogoTek Vinyl Graphics, Larry Mason Paint and Dads Checkbook Sponsored #11H, Was Richea, Clegg, Thomas and Dale Holcomb, Jr.

The First Race Of The Evening Was The TSMA Modified's, With Points Leader And New Daddy Kacey Campbell In The #1KC and “Racin” Rick Mardis In The #2 Leading Them In For Chief Starter Keith Decker’s Green Flag. Campbell Raced Into The Early Lead  Under A long Green Flag Run, But All Eyes Were On The #12 Machine Of Daryl Charlier Who Didn’t Get The Best Start, But Worked His Way Up To Challenge Campbell and Make and Inside Pass In Turn Three To Take The Top Spot Away. Things Were Running Smooth Until  Mike Stringer In The #04 and Ryan West In The #9 Had Contact On Lap #10. On The Restart, The #1KC Made Some Contact With The #12 Machine and Was Penalized For Jumping The Restart and Had To Fall To The Tail Of The Field. From There Charlier Was Untouched To Pick Up His First Feature Win Of The Season. Following The Midway Pennsylvania Driver In The Parker Auto Center, Donaldson Supply, Turnkey Foundations, Totally Tropical Tanning, W.J. Beitler Warehouse & Trucking Sponsored #12 Machine Was Mitch Basich, Mardis, Campbell and Bill Westlake.

The Third Feature On Tap Was The Pure Stock Division, Who Has Seen Its Car Count Continue To Grow By The Week. Tony Wilson In The #761 Machine and “Big Daddy” Bob Wagner Started On The Front Row. Wilson Was Able To Move Out In Front and Quickly Opened The Gap Between Himself, Second Place Wagner and Third Place Runner And Point Leader, Rich Schweitzer In The #84. The Race Ran To Its Conclusion, Fairly Uneventful As Wilson Was Able To Lead Wire To Wire and Pick Up His First Career Victory At 250 Speedway. Following The Coshocton Ohio Driver In The #761 Machine Was Wagner, Schweitzer, “JARV” Justin VanFossen and John Vermillion, Jr.

Next Up Was The Division That We Are Experimenting With and It’s Starting To Get A Nice Following Behind It, The Limited Late Model / Outlaw Street Stock’s. On The Pole Was Cambridge Ohio Driver Ed Leasure In The #88 and Former Modified Driver Bruce Takach In The #65. The Takach Machine Was Able To Race Out In Front With Leasure In Second and The #2 Machine Of Kevin Smith. While Takach Stretched His Lead, Eyes Turned To The #42 Machine Of Matt Mallett Who Picked His Way Up Thru The Field To Eventually Find Himself In The Second Position and Closing On The Leader. But Unfortunately, That’s When Lady Luck Frowned Upon The #42 Machine and The Power Plant Let Go On Lap 12. That Moved The Leasure Machine Back Up Into The Second Spot and Smith Back To Third, Until Contact Between The Two Put The Second Caution Out Over The Field and Smith To The Infield. Leasure Would Get A Good Final Restart On Lap 14, But Takach Was Able To Pull Away For His Second Feature Win Of The Season. Following The Colerain Ohio Driver In The RST Excavating Sponsored #65 Was Leasure, Charles Daughtery, Rick Carpenter and Hard Charger Jason Stewart Who Started 10^th.

The 4 Cylinder Machines Were Up Next With Jimmy Orr In The #28 and “Hondo” Randy Hahn In The #88 Starting In Row One. Orr Raced Out To The Lead In His Racer, Which Has Had Problem After Problem This Season. It Looked Like The #88 Of Hahn Would Come Up To Challenge, But Had Problems Of His Own With A Spin In Turn #2 On Lap 6. After The Restart, Orr Was Not To Be Denied His First Feature Victory At The 3/8Mile Clay / Dirt Oval As He Was Able To Win Going Away. Following The Dennison Ohio Driver In The R&K Supply, MFC Drilling Sponsored #28 Machine Was Points Leader Rex Frohnaple, Kevin Davis, John Sikish and Chris Seifert Rounded Out The Top 5.

The Final Event Of The Evening Was The Powder Puff Race. The #112 Of Wendy Stonebreaker Started Up Front With The #14 Of Amber Kakascik, The #761 Of Velma Wilson and The #33 Of Priscillia Grabits Rounding Out The Field. The Only Incident Of The 6 Lap Event Was When The #761 Machine Moved Up To Battle For The Lead, Something Happened and Mrs. Wilson Took A Scary Ride Thru Turns 3 &4 and Down The Front Straight, Making Contact With The Wall Several Times Before Coming To Rest In Turn 1. The Car Was Not Too Badly Damaged, But The Main Thing Was The Driver Was Ok, Other Than Maybe Needing A Change Of Underpants. The #112 Machine Was Able To Get A Good Restart and Pull Away To Victory. Following The #112 Machine Of Armstrong Mills Ohio Driver Wendy Stonebreaker Was Grabits and Kakascik.

Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com For More Info.

Even Though Mother Nature Shortened Week #4 Of The 2009 Racing Season, The Action On The Track Was Hot and Heavy With All Four Of Our Regular Divisions In Action On A Beautiful Final Friday Of May.

Leading Off The Evening Was The TSMA Modified’s For Their 20 Lap Feature Event. The #R88 Machine Of Baden PA’s Larry Kugal Was On The Pole With Point Leader Kacey Campbell In The #1KC From St. Clairsville, Oh Along Side. Kugal Was Able To Take The Point Early In The Caution Marred Event. A Good Battle Was Brewing For The Second Position Between Campbell and The # 23 Of "Lucky" Lou Krushansky, Until Lou’s Luck Turned Sour and He Fell Victim To One Of The Early Accidents. As The Field Dwindled Due To Hard Racing, Kugal Positioned Himself Perfectly On The Restarts and Was Able To Cruise To His First Feature Victory At 250 Speedway. Close In Tow Behind The #R88 Machine Was Campbell, The #B55 Of Mitch Basich, The #1X Of Rex Slaughter and Rounding Out The Top 5 Finishers Was The #12 Of Daryl Charlier, Who Came From The Back Of The Pack After Being Caught Up In An Opening Lap Heat Race Accident. Rounding Out The Top 10 Was The #4J Of Jim Plance, The #04 Of Mike Stringer, The #CRS2 Of Deana Groves In Her First Trip To The 3/8 Mile Oval, The #21R Of Randy Bauchnecht and The #45 Eric Singhaus. Kugal, Campbell and Bill Westlake Were Heat Race Winners.

The #77R Of Valley Grove, WVA Driver Glenn Richea and Neff, OH’s Own Bob Nolan In The #12 Machine Brought The Super Sport 15 Lap Feature Down For The Green Flag, With Nolan Getting The Early Jump. Richea Dropped Into A Great Back and Forth Battle With The #07 Of "Kid Rocket" Brock Burcher and The #11H Of Jim Hess For The Second Position. But Things Quickly Changed About The Half Way Mark For The Leader, When Just As He Did In His Heat Race, After A Few Laps The #12 Machine Started Smoking While Running Up Front. Unfortunately For Him, The Smoke Quickly Got Worse In The Feature Event and Mr. Nolan Was Shown That Dreaded Black Flag. That Handed The Lead Over To The Pole Sitter and He Would Hold Off The Challenges Of Burcher and Hess To Pick Up His Second Feature Victory In A Row. Following The #77R Of Richea Was Burcher, Hess, The #02 Of Sam Clegg and The #14 Of Greg Mazzoleni Rounding Out The Top 5. Nolan and Richea Picked Up Heat Race Victories.

Just After The Conclusion Of The Super Sport Feature, The Skies Opened Up and Ended Our Evening A Bit Prematurely. Have No Fear Race Fans, That Means That The Pure Stocks and 4 Cylinders Will Run Double Features This Coming Friday Night. New Philadelphia Driver Rich Schweitzer In His #84 Car Was Able To Pick Up The Pure Stock Heat Race and The #88H Of Randy Hahn and The #14F Of Rex Frohnapel Were Heat Race Winners In The 4 Cylinder Division.

Please Come Out and Join Us Each and Every Friday Night At 250 Speedway. Racing Action Starts At 8:00. Visit 250speedway.com For More Info.