ASCS WAYNE WEILER MEMORIAL SALUTE TO INDY

Source: Manzanita Speedway PR/wm
Date: 05/25/2008

Chris Shuman, who races in the Midwest, had an open date when his crew failed to get his car ready to race. Shuman hopped a plane and came to Phoenix to compete in Saturday night’s Discount Tire American Sprint Car Series Wayne Weiler Memorial Salute to Indy at Manzanita Speedway. Many of the drivers probably wished that the crew in Indiana had made that car race ready.

The track was heavy for the running of the four heat races and Shuman, who started last in the second heat could not make it to the top four but his overall points, including passing points, earned him an eighth row starting berth in the 51 lap feature.

Shuman put on a driving display in the Rex Foster sprinter that carried him to the lead on the 23rd lap and he held off a late challenge by Jeremy Sherman, a tenth row starter, to garner his second win of the year. Sherman and Shuman each passed 15 cars with Shuman’s first place finish earning him the hard charger award. He also picked up extra cash for leading at the half way point and then padded his payday by leading the final lap. He collected over $2000 for his win.

Josh Pelkey, led for five laps and finished third while Bob Ream, Jr. led the first 16 laps and crossed the finish line in fourth ahead of Charles Davis, Jr. Rounding out the top ten were R.J. Johnson, (up from 19th), Jeremy Reagles, Mike Leslie (started 17th), Mike Colegrove (started 18th) and Stevie Sussex who drove out of the 11th row.

Sherman’s second place finish allowed him to add six points to his lead over Davis and will carry a 28 point lead into the June 7 race when the ASCS sprints return to the 1/3rd mile track and the Barnett Dirt Modifieds will be on the half mile clay oval.

There was very little passing the fourth heat race but by the time the cars ran their semi it was lightning fast and had all of three groooves. In the first heat Mike Martin beat Thomas Ogle, Seainn Hendricsen and Nathan High who all moved to the feature. The second heat had Davis, Jr. on the pole and it was no contest as he beat Pelkey, Andy Reinbold and Mike Leslie. However Shumans points total was more than Colegrove earned in the third heat The top four in the third heat were Nick Aiuto, Reagles, Ream, Jr. and Colegrove. The final heat went to Brian Swinehart with Brandon Lane, Jeff Henry and Bernie Smith taking the transfer spots.

The semi had some real "hotdogs" and the top four were turning laps in the mid 14 second range. Sherman stared alongside Colegrove and consistently was under 14:40 with his best clocked lap at 14.53. Colegrove held off Johnson for third, Justin Fisher was fourth and Stevie Sussex took fifth. Adam Wirth, Ken Caskey and Jody Wirth also earned their way into the feature.

Martin got off to a great start with a win in the Arizona Hardchrome/Hoosier Tire West trophy dash and then won his heat.

The first 16 laps in the feature were uneventful as Ream led the way. However a three car tangle brought out the first yellow with Jody Wirth, Nick Aiuto and Thomas Ogle ending their run. None of the drivers were injured.

A short field of midgets were on hand and only six cars took the green flag for the 12 lap feature. C.J. Sarna bicycled in turn three on the first lap, dug in and did a wild series of barrel rolls. The youngster was not injured. Joe Fabozzi lead all but the first lap as he recorded his first ever win at Manzanita. R.J. Johnson was second ahead of Jeff Perry. Terry Goodwin was fourth and Brenden Higgins fifth.

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