By Cheryl Licklider, Staff Writer
August 24, 2008 11:27 pm
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Woodward racer Derek Ramirez found the haul to Enid disappointing as he put his Boomer Well Service-sponsored Kraft Race car in the winner’s circle for the first time this year at Enid Speedway Park Saturday, only to be disqualified for refusing tech inspection after Joe Adams filed a protest on Ramirez’s heads.
The disqualification saw Adams inherit the win.
Pat McVicker shot off the pole like a rocket to set up nearly a straight away lead in a single lap.
Ramirez was closing in on McVicker when Jon Herring Jr. came to a rest at the top of turn two to put the race under caution.
Officials hurried to the back entrance during the yellow flag as Bryan Rowland entered the pits with his motor engulfed in flames.
McVicker hurried away when the race went green with Ramirez hooked to his bumper like glue. Ramirez took the lead on turn four in lap 11 after making a daring low challenge.
Ramirez took a straight away advantage when Brandon Kenny and Kip Hughes tangled in front of the grandstands to bring out another yellow flag.
Ramirez took a commanding lead to the finish line, which turned out to be for naught.
Adams was followed by Kenny, Brendon Gemmill and Mark Smith.
Patience paid off for Ronnie Ramer as he made his way to the winner’s circle for his first career victory aboard his Special Ops of Watonga, NAPA- sponsored limited modified.
“It was the first time that I’ve had an opportunity to drive this car on a dry track and really had to guess at the set-up, but I guess it worked and we had fun,” said Ramer.
A caution waved on the start as Vickie Cummings slammed into the wall on the backstretch and collected Tim Ford. Ramer raced off the outside pole and led the way when the race went green.
Frank Graven, after some insistent challenges, took the lead on the fifth lap and had a straightway lead at the race’s mid-point.
Graven lapped his way through nearly half of the field before his motor went up in a puff of smoke to send him to the pits with only two laps remaining in the race.
New leader Ross McCartney vaulted to a halt on the top of the wall on turn two to send up another yellow flag
Ramer headed up the field on the restart — and despite insistent challenges by Randy Miller —captured the win.
Miller settled for second, followed by Milt David, Todd Decker and Mark Willson, who was disqualified when car owner Mike Cooper refused the post race tech inspection.
Bud Longpine conquered the field in the caution-riddled street stock main and made his way to victory lane for the first time this season.
Longpine raced off the pole and started lapping the field, just six laps into the race.
Richard Shearon spun in turn two and came to a halt, putting the track under caution two laps later. A second yellow waved on the restart as Cliff Morrow slammed into the wall and flew back onto the track, triggering a four-car pile-up.
Longpine sported a straight away advantage when the track came back under caution for a three-car crash in turn three. The race was further delayed as officials black flagged Tim Gardner for aggressive driving and banished him to the pits.
A red flag waved on the restart for a violent crash in turn one which sent Dustin Allen over the wall and left Ryan Bohnstedt and Jon Herring Sr. stalled on the wall.
Longpine hurried away on the restart — and despite another caution — raced to the finish uncontested. Jerry Derr captured second, trailed by Phil Pearson, Kevin Dickson and Jimmy Manharth.
Persistence paid off for John Whitley as he piloted his Farmer’s Transportation/Applied Construction and Technologies-sponsored factory stock to his fourth win of the year.
“It felt good and I had a lot of fun tonight,’’ said Whitley. “I couldn’t have done it without my cousin, Earl.”
Two yellow flags waved before the field could get in a single lap. Brad Costello shot from the third row on the restart and took command of the track.
It was a drag race as Whitley went in hot pursuit and took the lead with a daring high challenge in lap eight. It was déjà vu two laps later as Costello made a high charge out of turn four to take the lead.
The duo entered a frenzied battle, sending lapped car Jim Bohnstedt to a halt in turn four, putting the race back under caution. Track officials showed Costello the black flag and sent him to the pits for rough driving.
Whitley led the restart and — despite a late race caution — rushed to the line uncontested.
James Mayhugh, Landon Maddox, David Fisher and David Megee rounded out the top five.
James Goldman Jr. continued his reign over pure stock as he piloted his Koontz Racing-sponsored pure stock to his ninth feature win of the year.
Tim Smart raced off the outside pole and headed up the field, only to see a yellow flag fly as Willis Adams slammed into the wall in turn two.
Smart picked up where he left off when the race went green, only to see Goldman take the lead the next time around with a daring challenge in turn four.
Goldman set up a straight away advantage in two laps. He lost shape in lap six, but made an amazing recovery and was never challenged on his route to the checkered flag.
Michael Meek posted second, followed by Michael Watts, Tim Calvin and Lonnie Wilson.
Watts was disqualified in the post race tech inspection which moved Tommy Bohnstedt up to fifth.
Hughes and Smith were modified heat winners. Jon Herring Sr. and Johnson were Street stock heat winners.
Ramer, Miller and David were limited modified heat winners.
Factory stock heat winners were Dave Cameroon and Costello. Adams and Meek took honors in pure stock.
Enid Speedway Park’s next card of racing will be at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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