A Tradition Holding Strong
-Lynda Yates
Sandusky, OH. – After 32 years of cold winds, frigid temperatures and piles and piles of snow; Sandusky Speedway has kept the Annual Hangover Race alive at the track with the latest race ran this past January 1st. Drivers from three states and racecars ran at over 12 other tracks came out to compete in the first race of the New Year.
The Moonshine division was first with local Sandusky Speedway driver Kenny Calhoun picking up the first checkers of the year with his heat win. Craig Dippman from Ohio picked up the second heat win. In feature racing action, Dippman led from lap one followed by Calhoun, Ronnie Bloomfield, Josh Carge and Gary Perram. The first of two yellows came out on lap seven for Carge and a spin on the backstretch. On the restart, Bloomfield overtook second from Calhoun. The second caution came out on lap nine as Scott Bunge spun in turn four with his afternoon of racing over. The rest of the race was green flag racing with Dippman taking home the first feature win of the year followed by Archie Padgett, Calhoun, Perram and Chuck Faller.
The Whiskey Stocks were next with three heats run with over 30 cars ready to race. Seth Rager, Andy Parks and Joey Wyckoff all from Ohio picked up the earlier heat wins. Wyckoff, a local racer, picked his heat win up going sideways crossing the line with David Lucas challenging him coming out of turn four of the final lap. Fans were on their feet for that finish. The 20 lap feature had a compete restart after a mid pack spin. Parks led the first lap followed by Wyckoff, Jason Dennis, Rager and Lucas by lap four. Wyckoff passed the leader in turn one of lap five to take the top spot over. Back to back cautions were out on lap six. The first one for Rager spinning in turn two and the next one for debris left on the track on the front stretch. Wyckoff held onto the lead on the restart and led until lap 13 when Parks took the lead back over in turn one. Wyckoff seemed to be loosing ground with mechanical issues as he fell back a few spots. Parks hung and took home his first feature win of the year with Rager crossing in second, Lucas in third, Wyckoff in fourth and Jordan James rounding out the top five.
The Campaign Stocks were the last division. The legendary Ron Miller from Michigan and his number #35 ride with the lexan side took the first heat win with Mark Pollack from Ohio winning heat number two. Richard Patton from Ohio lead the first three laps of the feature with the caution coming out on lap three for the leader and Craig Dippman coming together. Patton was done with Dippman rejoining at the tail after a quick pit stop. Pollack inherited the lead followed by John Kasmierski, Jeff King, Steve Chartrand and Ronnie Bloomfield. King spun in turns three and four to being the caution out on lap eight. The next caution was out on lap 10 for the leader and a solo spin coming out of turn four. Kasmierski took over the lead on the restart and led until the final turn of the final lap as Kasmierski and Steve Morris came together with Morris sent tail and Kasmierski taken off the track by hook and tow. Chartrand from Michigan was the new leader as the green and white flew together for the final lap. The leader hung on and took home the win followed by Jeremy Grover, King, Miller and Chuck Faller.
Action at the track picks up again for opening day on April 18th. It will be an all stock car show with Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Spectator Stocks. Modifieds make the first appearance of the summer the following weekend with the 305 Sprints hitting the track for the first time on May 9th. A complete schedule can be found at www.sanduskyspeedway.com.