CUMBERLAND, MD (January 27, 2012)- Friday night was yet another great night of racing at the Xtreme Octane Late Model Series. This week we had 25 of the best dirt late model drivers make the trip to Cumberland Raceway. There were drivers such as VLR 18, VLR Shock, JFR Jim, VLR McGee, WFO Ranger, BLS_Kevin and many more of the top drivers in the game.
Heat 1 would lineup with SQ1 and BLS Kev on the front row for this 12 lap race. Biggest mover in heat 1 was JFR Jim coming from his 6th starting spot to finish 2nd. VLR McGee who started 3rd jumped out front and never looked back as he wins heat race 1.
Heat 2 had some good racing aswell with BLS BW starting on the pole. He would have no problem winning his heat race. Doit 11 would come from his 3rd starting position to grab the final transfer spot to the A-Main.
Heat 3 would be action packed. With BLS Deadbolt leading the field to the green and WFO Ranger to his outside. As soon as the green flag was in the air the racing was on, WFO Ranger would jump out front but not far behind were the 2 cars moving through the pack. VLR Shock and Blaze were on the move coming from their 5th and 6th starting spots.
On lap 5 they would be 3 wide coming through turns 3 and 4. VLR Shock on the bottom, WFO Ranger in the middle, and Blaze on the outside. There would be a bit of contact between Ranger and Blaze with Blaze getting into the wall and falling back to 5th. That contact would give VLR Shock the opening that he needed as he jumped out front and lead the rest of the race. VLR Shock with the win and WFO Ranger 2nd transfering to the A-Main.
B-Main 1 would be insane. With VLR 18 and XCR Geisler on the front row. They would take the green and on lap 2 IFRT OCF would start the havoc. As he got into BLS Jsn and XCR Geisler. Giving Blaze the opening he needed to get to the front. He would fall in line right behind VLR 18 and they would draft out front and get away from the rest of the pack. VLR 18 grabbing the checkers in B-Main 1. Blaze finishing 2nd and transfering to the A.
B-Main 2 would get pretty sketchy also. JFR Faschek and DS5 on the front row. This would be a very good race until the last lap. With JFR Faschek leading the race. USRA Ray put a horrible slidejob on him and taking the lead. IFRT Starnes was right behind ready to capitalize. As they entered turn 3 JFR Faschek would drive right into the side of USRA Ray taking them both out of the competition on the last lap. And taking advantage would be IFRT Starnes and new comer BMS. BMS making his 1st A-Main appearance in his very short career.
The sun has went down here in Maryland and now its time for the main event to begin. VLR McGee and JFR Jim would make up the front row. The green flag flies and VLR McGee would jump out front. JFR Jim tucking in right behind. This would be a very close race. With VLR McGee, JFR Jim, and VLR Shock all nose to tail. While that was going on up front VLR 18 had started picking his way through the field one car at a time.
Up front the racing would get more exciting. JFR Jim would get into VLR McGee and knock him up the track and into the wall. But that would not be the last we heard of McGee. Meanwhile VLR 18 and Doit 11 were battling it out for the 4th position. VLR 18 making the pass on Doit 11. Now he can set his sights on the front 3.
As the race would wind down VLR 18 and McGee would pull right back into that front pack. VLR 18 would then work his way to that first position. At the same time VLR McGee would make it back to the bumper of JFR Jim and knock him up the track for the pass. Allowing Shock to get around Jim.
In a last ditch effort JFR Jim would dive bomb turn 3 trying to t-bone the 53 machine. But missed. VLR 18 would come across the line 1st making it 3 wins in a row at XOR, Doit 11 coming in 2nd, McGee 3rd, Shock 4th, BW43 5th, Jim 6th, Blaze 7th, Ranger 8th, BMS 9th, IFRT Starnes 10th. VLR 18 is 3 for 3 this season and starting to pull away in the points. Next week is Knoxville 2k11. Hope to see everyone there.