BROWNSTOWN, IN (January 26, 2014)- Wow what a race tonight at VLR! Tonight's 50 lap A Main at Brownstown was certainly exciting one that featured many DTR2 legends fighting with some not-so experienced racers tonight in one of the most exciting races in VLR history.
The Rushville Rocket Doug Payne (DP_22P) of Rushville, NY made his first VLR A Main in only his second attempt and started on the pole of the feature thanks to VLR's reverse average finish format for this season.
The young 16 year-old driver raced out to a lead quickly from the start as the drivers mixed it up in his mirror for second. However, nerves seemed to get the best of the rookie driver on lap six when his four car length lead disappeared heading into turn one on the flat quarter-miler. The slip up quickly dropped Payne to fourth after the three cars of Boomer, Howard Weaver (VLR_0), and Dirk Daniels (Doit 10) rocketed past and began a spirited battle for the top spot.
By lap 10 the running order was Daniels, Boomer, Weaver, Payne, Brian Williams (BLS_BW43), point leader Austen Semmelmann (BLS_18), Thomas Walter (WFO_Ranger), Josh Weems (VLR_JW), and Ryan Guererri (51g) of Geneva, New York.
On lap 25, halfway through the race, the picture up front had changed dramatically, however. In just 15 laps, Cross Plains, IN driver Gage Clark had stormed from 7th to first utilizing the surprisingly fast high groove. Brownstown is just an hour west of the young gun, and the always fast driver was looking for his series leading third win of the season.
Weaver had taken over 2nd at this point, with Boomer hot on his heels. Early leader Dirk Daniels hopped the cushion and fell to ninth. 14 year-old Guererri was certainly turning some heads after starting last and moving from 10th to 4th in fifteen circuits around the short track.
Meanwhile, the race for the lead remained hot for the entire race with Clark, Weaver, and Boomer giving the fans a treat to some of the most exhilarating racing in DTR2. Clark and Weaver ran side-by-side for the last 25 laps with Boomer right on their bumper waiting for a slip up.
On the last lap, Weaver drove in hard in turn three and came out of the corner in a dead heat with Clark. It wasn't meant to be, though, as Clark edged Weaver at the line for his third win of the season! The finish was the second straight side by side finish at VLR. Boomer had a career best third place finish, and was followed by point leader Semmelmann in fourth after he made a last corner pass on Guererri. Guererri brought home a very impressive top 5, however.
Payne, Daniels, Williams, Walter, and Weems rounded out the finishers. Next week VLR heads to the southeast for some red clay racing at the famous Cherokee Speedway in the Groundhog Day 60! Cya there!
Top 10/Starting Pos./Location:
1. (6th) Gage Clark (VLR_Gage) Cross Plains, IN
2. (4th) Howard Weaver (VLR_Shock)
3. (5th) Boomer West Virginia
4. (8th) Austen Semmelmann (BLS_18) Brookfield, WI
5. (10th) Ryan Guererri (51G) Geneva, NY
6. (1st) Doug Payne (DP_22P) Rushville, NY
7. (3rd) Dirk Daniels (Doit 10) Fort Worth, TX
8. (7th) Brian Williams (BLS_BW43) Sparta, MI
9. (2nd) Thomas Walter (WFO_39) Erie, PA
10. (9th) Josh Weems (VLR_JW) West Point, MS