Bloom Sets New Track Record at Plymouth
By Andrew D. Hayn
This past Saturday night at the Plymouth Speedway was Transit Mix and Carnegie Towing night at the races for the Mid-Season Championships for all of the divisions besides the late models. What a night it turned out to be with well over one hundred and twenty-five cars; which included twenty-two Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series Competitors.
When qualifying began no one in the audience thought they would see a new overall track record set on Independence weekend. Jeff Bloom came out of the pits to set a new lap record with a time of 11.317 seconds. That is an average lap speed around the 3/8 mile of over 119 miles per hour. Mike Schewchuk came out with the points lead in the sportsmen division for the Mid-Season Championships and set the fast time with a time of 14.739. In the mini stocks it was also their point leader, Rich Hensley setting fast time with a circuit in the time of 15.460.
After the opening ceremonies it was time to go racing with the sportsmen heats. Picking up the eight lap events were Eric Bidwell, Tony Chapman, and Kevin Papa.
The Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series were up next for their three heats, also consisting of eight laps each. Picking up the heat wins were Sam Davis, Jason Fuller, and Jimmy McCune.
The mini stocks were up next with two heat races with eight laps in each affair. Picking up wins and visiting victory lane were Brandon Ross, Derrick Davis, and Syracuse’s Patrick Tranter.
The thundercars had two heat races with both going eight laps. The winners were Thomas Groning and Troy Lindsey.
After the heat races it was time for a quick intermission where the track mascot, “Scarecrow”, ran a quick figure eight race where his car literally split in half. With the intermission complete it was time to go feature racing.
The first feature was the forty lapper for the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series. Jimmy McCune broke out to an early lead and never looked back. Geoff Kiser had a shot for the lead, but lap traffic made the difference. Kiser had to hold on for second behind McCune; while Jeff Bloom pulled off two late passes to the inside to finish in the third and final podium position.
The sportsmen were up next for their Mid-Season Championship thirty lap event. Cory Presslor of Benton Harbor, Michigan made a late race charge to pick up his first feature win of the 2008 racing season. Finishing in the second spot was Kevin Papa while Mitch DeWitt finished in the third spot.
The mini stock feature was the next event on tap for the fans. They were scheduled to go twenty-five laps. A tough break late in the race for rookie Darrin Harrell, after a dominating performance, he went over his time and was forced t the tail. Dale Oliver Senior ran a clean race and took over the race lead and went on to make it his second feature win of the year. Finishing in the second spot was Derrick Davis and Rich Hensley came across the line in third.
The thundercars went twenty laps for their feature event. The fastest car on the track was Joe Clark of South Bend and he proved it with a big win. He was followed in second by Dave Long Junior and Cory Lindsey finished in the third spot.
The front wheel drive feature was fifteen laps where Robert Reed continued to pull out in his point lead with the feature win. Reed was followed in second by Kelton Kachle and Eric Kiser finished in the third spot.
This weekend at the Plymouth Speedway its going to be a two day show in one great weekend. On Saturday night it will be the Mid-Season Championship for the Dually Depot Outlaw Late Models along with a regular night of racing for the sportsmen, minis, thundercars, and front wheel drives. Highlighting the show will be “Scarecrow” when he attempts to jump over a motor coach thirty-two feet in length.
Then on Sunday night it will mark the return of the CRA Super Late Models for the CRA 200. The speedway will also host the mini stocks and CRA front wheel drives. For more information visit them online at www.plymouthspeedway.net.
