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 GAFFNEY,
SC (September 21, 22) -- Despite two setbacks, United Dirt Track Racing
Association driver, Rick Eckert, overcame potential disaster to
capture his sixth series win of the season, and more importantly,
extended his narrow point lead to 23 markers over Steve Francis.
Despite mechanical problems on the first night of competition and
electrical problems on the final night, Eckert took the 100-lap win,
leading all 100 circuits of the event and pocketed $20,000 for the
win.
On Friday night, the first of two night's of competition, Eckert encountered mechanical problems during
hot laps which required the points leader to go to a back-up car for
qualifying, as 36 of the 37 competitors elected to ride on USA-made
Hoosier tires. Eckert and his team rolled up their sleeves and had the
car ready in time for Eckert's qualifying turn. Eckert drew the number
one qualifying position which cut his "prep time" to an
absolute minimum. Eckert, in his Raye Vest Rocket/Cornett
Mustang backup, went on to post the fifth fastest time, a tribute to
his team's skills. Also on Friday, the three
preliminary heat races resulted in a Hoosier 1-2-3 finish in all three
events. Steve Francis, Wendell Wallace and Scott Bloomquist finished
first, second and third for Team Hoosier in the night's first heat,
while Rick Eckert, Dale McDowell and Mike Duvall finished 1-2-3 in the
middle heat. In the final heat, Davey Johnson, Tim Headen and Dan
Schlieper capped the "all-Hoosier" podium sweep of the
preliminary heat racing competition. On Saturday night, Eckert's #24
developed a misfire during hot laps. Eckert's crew once again jumped
into action, hurriedly changing the dirt modified's entire ignition
system just minutes before the main event was to start. With his
adrenaline pumping and starting from the outside pole
position, Eckert immediately used the high line to take possession of
the race lead on the first circuit. From there, Eckert would not be
denied, leading all
100 laps en route to the heart pounding win in front of the
standing-room-only crowd. Finishing in second was Steve Francis,
as Scott Bloomquist captured third. The finish duplicated the current
UDTRA points standings as Eckert (5805) extended his narrow lead over
Francis (5782) to 23 points, with Scott Bloomquist still within
striking distance in third, with 5684 points, with just five events
remaining in the season. Hoosier tires
were on all but one of the feature race competitors, as Team Hoosier swept
the top eight finishing positions. Finishing fourth through
eighth were Wendell Wallace, Dale McDowell, Freddie Smith, Randle
Chupp and Tim Headen for Team Hoosier. The next two UDTRA events
will be a $7,000 to-win race on September 28, and a $10,000 to-win
race on the 29th at Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Alabama. Hoosier
Racing Tire Corp. thanks all the UDTRA competitors for their continued
use and support of our tires during the 2001 racing campaign. |
