Published: July 29, 2007 11:49 pm            

Hacker gets first win

By Cheryl Licklider

Staff Writer



First-half champion Darren Hacker dominated in the main event as he drove his Hot Shots Power Washing/Midway Rentals-sponsored Kraft chassis to his first win of the season in racing action at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night.

“We needed this win,’’ said Hacker.

Pat McVicker sped off the outside pole and took command of the race. Bryan Rowland found the quick way around in lap 11 and had control of the track when Kelly Wheeler slammed into the wall and brought out a yellow flag in lap 14.

Rowland headed up the restart, only to see another caution fly as Dusty Robbins flew off the track in turn four. A yellow came out on the restart as chaos in turn four left Troy Gemmill stopped.

Hacker made a brilliant inside challenge when the race went green and hustled into the lead. With a clear track in front of him, Hacker was unstoppable and took nearly a straightaway advantage to the checkered flag. Brandon Kenny made a late charge to secure second, trailed by Rowland, McVicker and Jim Ciampi.

Randy “The Dandy” Miller found track conditions to his liking as he put his Buck’s Sign-It-Signs/Mike Hoffman Photography/Comet Go Carts-sponsored limited modified in victory lane for the fifth time this year.

“The track really rubbered up and you could run high or low, it was fun,’’ said Miller. “I have to thank Kenny Morris for setting up my front end and fixing the brakes.’’

John Hoeltzel accelerated off the outside pole and showed the way. Miller skillfully maneuvered through the field and the fight was on. It was a heated skirmish for several laps, with Miller using the high groove to take control in lap eight. Miller sped away from the field, with Tony Sessions in hot pursuit.

The duo lapped their way through the field, with Miller on the top side of the track and Sessions on the bottom. Miller kept his foot in it and raced to the line with the advantage. Sessions settled for second, with Nick Shenberger, Hoeltzel and Jesse Canaan trailing.

Jerry Derr was in the right place at the right time as he captured his third feature win of the year in street stock. Derr exploded off the outside pole and headed up the competitive field. He had a five-car length lead when J.D. Choate flew off the front straight and brought out a yellow flag in lap nine.

Derr resumed command of the track on the restart, with Travis Johnson in hot pursuit. A heated skirmish ensued as the talented duo battled for the lead. Johnson took command with a daring high challenge in lap 11, but all that effort was for naught as Mark Smith spun to a halt in turn two and put the track back under caution.

Johnson sped away when the green flag waved and looked to be the man to beat, but fell off the pace and stalled on the final lap, which saw Derr race to the checkered flag. Jay Arnold, Cliff Morrow, Adam Schrag and Ryan Bohnstedt rounded out the top five.

Kenny Adams displayed his winning ways as he piloted his Platinum Motorsports factory stock to his seventh “A” feature win of the year.

A caution waved on the start for mayhem in turn four, which left Justin Scott stalled on the track. Teammates Adams and Michael Smith went head to head on the restart, only to see a yellow flag fly the second time around. Adams took command when the track finally went green and set up a straightaway lead in a mere two laps.

With a clear track in front of him, Adams was unstoppable. Scott made an amazing recovery to capture second, followed by Logan Macy, Davis Fisher and Walter O’Dell.

Willis Adams continued his reign in pure stock as he put his Platinum Motorsports car in the winner’s circle for the sixth time this season.

Adams raced off the second row and easily put his ride out front. Adams pulled away from the field and took nearly a half a lap lead to the checkered flag. First-half champ Duane Head raced to second, trailed by Tommy Bohnstedt, Kyle Vibbard and Justin Pruett.

Heat winners in modified were Robbins, Brendon Gemmill and Hacker.

Miller and Canaan won their heats in limited modified, with Derr, Schrag and Johnson posting the heat wins in street stock.

Factory stock heat winners were Macy and Bad Costello, with Head taking the honors in pure stock.

Enid Speedway Park’s next card of racing will be 7 p.m. Saturday.