LOVELL SETS FAST TIME—WINS DASH

Source: Bob Cook
Date: 06/23/2008

The top 6 cars were lined up for the trophy dash according to card draw.” Lucky” Lovell drew an ace for the pole; Hopkins drew the deuce for the outside pole position. I t looked like the inside groove was the place to be, that proved true for Lovell who took the lead on the start and never let up. Lovell won over McCormack 2nd, Hopkins 3rd, Collins 4th, Knight 5th and Sean Caturegli 6th.

The main event lined up with a 12 car invert and Allen Gibney started on the pole with Forrest Kuecker on his outside. Up 3rd was Bill Binns then Kevin Ostern rounding out the top 4. On lap 13, the first of 8 yellows came out and Binns took the lead from Gibney who led the first 12. The second yellow was pulled out on lap 15 for Mike Swaney and Mike Bourbon in turn 3, right in front of the leaders. The leaders checked up and Lovell had nowhere to go, his black #75x sponsored by All In One Tires was done for the night. Lovell had looked as if he was one that could beat McCormack’s 3 win streaks, but not this time. Collins and Eric Williamson retired to the pits for the evening. The field was restarted with Binns in the lead and Jim Stillman 2nd, Gibney 3rd, Caturegli 4th and Hopkins rounding out the top 5. Hopkins, who started 9th in the beginning, also seemed to be another contender for breaking McCormack’s’ streak. That wasn’t meant to be as the 3rd yellow came out on lap 23 for Hopkins in his # 15J machine sponsored by Hopkins Construction as he experienced engine failure and was done for the night. With the fast competitors falling out, on the restart we saw McCormack in the top five, Ostern 4th Caturegli 3rd, Stillman 2nd and Binns still in the lead. The 4th yellow came out for our newcomer, Barent Ackerston in the blue #37 sponsored by North Counties Development. Ackerston was able to restart in the back of the field. The restart on lap 30 had Binns with the lead, followed by Ostern who just took 2nd from Stillman in 3rd, McCormack in 4th and Caturegli rounding out top 5. Ostern started challenging Binns for the lead on the restart and over took him on lap 33.On lap 34 the 5th yellow came out for Caturegli, who had been running in the top 5 most of the night. After a trip to the pits, he was lined up at the back of the field. This once again bunched up the field, and McCormack was 3rd behind Binns with Ostern in the lead. The sixth yellow came out for Jarred Beddow on lap38. The field was restarted with 12 to go and McCormack in 2nd and looking for his 4th win of the season. The 7th yellow came out for Kuecker, the 8th and final yellow on lap 45 for Swaney. On the lap 42 restart, Ostern left the inside groove open just enough for McCormack to slide by. McCormack took the lead from Ostern and led the next 8 laps. This is his 4th win of the season for 4 in a row.

McCormack wasn’t the fastest car, but saved his equipment for the end, and he was sharp on the restarts. With 8 yellows it gave him the edge. Ostern, who had a fast car and finished 2nd, said after the race” When I left the bottom open and McCormack got under, I knew it was a mistake.” Binns, who led 20 laps, finished 3rd, Stillman 4th, and pole sitter Gibney rounded out top 5.

The next race will be July 4 & 5, 2008 "Racin' For A Cure" NASCAR Camping World East regional series, Derek Thorn returns to the Lakeport Speedway for the Fourth of July weekend to race, not just for a trophy, but for a cause. His "Racin' For A Cure" team will travel from Wisconsin to raise awareness and donations for their primary sponsor, the ALS Association, to help fight ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). For more information on this go to www.lakeportspeedway.com or www.racinforacure.com

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