POST FALLS, Idaho -- With only one race left in the 2005 Inland Northwest Super Stock Series championship run, goals and agendas came to fruition in unpredictable fashion Saturday night at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls. Dan Garber picked up his second win of the season as point leader Kevin Richards suffered setbacks.
Dan Garber the defending champion checked two goals off his list Saturday, winning the 100-lap Keller Williams Coeur d’ Alene 100 while inching within striking distance of a repeat championship. The two accomplishments did not come without its share of obstacles.
Inland Northwest open wheel driver Tony Berry lead the 20-car pack to the green for the 100-lap main. Cautions quickly flew before a single lap was completed with contact between newcomer Tom Schultz and Mike Hoover sending both to the pits for bodywork.
On the restart, the faster cars of Dave and Dan Garber, Hayden, Idaho’s Darren Rupinksi, and Kevin Richards worked their way though the field on the inside line after the ten-car invert.
With controversy surrounding drivers Dan Garber and Rupinski stemming from Friday night’s qualifying race for the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200 in early August and August 20th, INSSA event, with a photo finish between Dave Garber and Kevin Richards things on-track became unpredictable starting on lap 19 as the four drivers tried to occupy the same space.
Contact between Dan Garber and Rupinski brought out the first caution on lap 19, sending Garber to the back of the back while running second after the two made nose to tail contact out of turn two. On the restart with Berry leading, Dave Garber shot to the outside with Rupinski and Richards in tow.
Rupinski quickly went to work trying to find a way around leader Dave Garber as the two headed into lap traffic with Rupinski using the outside line and Dave Garber on the bottom, jolting around lap traffic with mixed results.
Rupinski helped move the slower lapped car of Ross Cooper down the front stretch to gain the lead on lap 35. Dave Garber, stuck on the bottom groove behind another slow car, was left to battle Richards as the two dueled for second.
While the front pack sorted itself out, eventual race winner, Dan Garber was on the move, marching forward when cautions started to fly midway in the race. Tony Berry spun with brake problems on lap 40 as Dan Garber made it up to fourth, nudging around Richards after a multi-lap battle for third when Ross Copper and Mike Hoover collected each other in turn four on lap 53 bringing out another caution.
On the restart, Dan went around brother Dave, tracking down race leader Rupinski by lap 61 nudging by him in a touchy move through turn four after some brief contact on the backstretch to take the lead by lap 62 with Rupinski in trail. Brother Dave and Richards swapped around for third.
After multiple side-by-side racing through-ought the night Richards, the current point leader, tagged Ross Copper in turn three to bring out a caution. Richards sustained a flat tire before the incident but was able to continue the race after a pit stop under the yellow.
With the laps counting down, Rupinski spun his tires on the restart allowing Garber to launch to a considerable lead. But, Jessie Taylor, the night’s B Heat winner, brought out the final caution spinning down the back stretch setting up the final re-start.
On the green Rupinski, faster in the entering and exiting the corners, tucked his nose under Garber with slight contact out of turn four, but could not find a route around the leader by the time the checkers flew. Garber picked up his second win of the season, Rupinski finished second, Dave Garber third. Brad Allard won a battle with fast time setter Mike Behar for fourth.
Richards rallied after tire problems to finish sixth but suffered a set back in his points lead to race winner Dan Garber with only 17 points separating the two heading in to the series season finale at the Dr. Pepper/7up 100 Championship race September 17.
Craig Felix scored another 20-lap main for the Hobby Stocks over Rob Ballard and Brian Husk. Felix’s win nearly secures him the point championship with only two races remaining in their Saturday night series. Ballard won the dash race and Husk and JC Ward picked up heat wins.
Scott McMillen won the 15-lap main for the Early stocks, their final appearance of the season, beating Justin Robideaux and Ken Iverson to the line.
The wild, wacky, over the top action of Wednesday Night Fever resumes this Wednesday at 6pm with Fever 4’s, Road Runners, plus the wild and crazy Bumper Cars. Adults are just $5.75; kids under the age of nine accompanied by adults are free.
For more information about Stateline Stadium/Speedway including coming attractions, schedule of events, and competition rules, log onto www.raceidaho.com or contact the event hotline at 208-773-5019.
Pictures of the event can be found at www.stateline.photoreflect.com
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Stateline Stadium/Speedway – 9/3/05 Saturday Results INLAND NORTHWEST SUPER STOCK SERIES Fast Time – Mike Behar, 13.29. Trophy Dash – A) Darren Rupinski; B) Brian Saling. Heat – A) Andy Brown; B) Jessie Taylor. Keller Williams Coeur d’ Alene 100 -- 1) Dan Garber; 2) Rupinski; 3) Dave Garber; 4) Brad Allard; 5) Behar; 6) Kevin Richards; 7) Brown; 8) John Mandere; 9) Brian Saling; 10) Billy Belton.
EARLY STOCKS Fast Time – Richard Cox, 15.19. Trophy Dash – 1) Justin Robideaux. Heat – 1) Scott McMillen. A Main -- 1) McMillen; 2) J Robideaux; 3) Ken Iverson; 4) Eldon Wilson; 5) Amanda Robideaux; 6) Cox.
HOBBY STOCKS
Fast Time – Craig Felix, 16.17. Trophy Dash – 1) Rob Ballard. Heat – A) Brian Husk; B) JC Ward. A Main -- 1) Felix; 2) Ballard; 3) Husk; 4) Ned Pennington; 5) Joe Mauro; 6) Gary Hommel; 7) JC Ward; 8) John Ward; 9) Krissy Gutierrez; 10) Tony Kempken.
