Bret Emrick
Greensboro (Madison),NC 4-17-04
Donnie Moran of Dresden,OH notched his second Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar
Series sanctioned main event victory of the 2004 season Saturday night at New
311 Speedway located near Madison,NC. Starting third, the driver of the QPI
Tools Dirt Ripper/Eddie’s Sunoco No. 99 Donnie Moran Racing MasterSbilt
Chassis/SMS Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo grabbed second from Brian
Birkhofer on lap 3. Moran then worked early race leader Matt Miller for the next
three circuits until powering underneath of Miller for the lead exiting turn two
while working lap 6. Once in front Moran opened a huge lead on the field feeling
no pressure the rest of the way pocketing the $10,000 to win “Tar Heel State
50”. Brian Birkhofer rode home second nearly two seconds behind Moran with
Jimmy Mars third, 9th starting Ray Cook fourth and Darren Miller fifth.
Completing the top ten were Matt Miller in sixth followed by Billy Drake, 25th
starting Don O’Neal, Steve Shaver and Jeep Van Wormer.
“Everything worked out great!”, stated the happy winner. “The
MasterSbilt Race Car, the SMS Racing Engine, the Goodyear Eagle Racing Tires,
the crew…… What more can I say. Everything could go about as good as you
could want. Once we got the lead it was just run your line, work the traffic and
basically stay out of trouble. The car would go wherever I needed it. Low,
middle, high. It didn’t matter. Nothing is ever perfect but it was real close
tonight.”
Birkhofer and Miller brought the 27 car starting field to the green flag with
the front row pair racing side by side on the opening lap until Miller got the
edge over Birkhofer exiting turn four. Moran was third with Mars fourth and
Shaver fifth at the end of the first lap. But, before lap 2 could be completed
the first of 6 caution flags flew when Earl Pearson Jr. and other cars tangled
in turn one. Pearson Jr. suffered extensive damage to his car, enough to force
him from the race. Pearson Jr. opened the night by setting a new track record
during RINGERS GLOVES time trials but it was straight downhill from that point.
Leading 9 and ¾ laps of the first heat race, Pearson Jr. blew his engine
limping home second. Forced to his back-up car for the main event, Pearson Jr.
then made it 1 and ¼ laps before getting involved in the accident.
Moran continued his torrid pace once the race resumed opening up a nearly
full straightaway length lead on the field by lap 10. Just as Moran encountered
lapped traffic the yellow waved again for debris on the race track. On the
restart, a multi-car tangle in turn two quickly brought the yellow flag right
back out.
Once the green flag replaced the yellow flag Moran immediately pulled away
from Birkhofer, M. Miller and Mars while Shaver had his hands full with Billy
Hicks in a battle for fifth. By lap 20, Moran started to put the slower cars a
lap down and two laps later saw himself in heavy lapped traffic which allowed
Birkhofer to close to within five car lengths of Moran. The leader would see the
track clear ahead of him when the caution waved once more when Larry Blankenship
spun in turn four.
Moran just like the earlier restarts easily pulled away from his challenger’s
but the caution would come right back out when Shaver got sideways between turns
one and two collecting Hicks. The contact straightened Shaver’s car but Hicks
suffered damage as did a few other competitors who tried to avoid the contact
between Shaver and Hicks.
With the race back underway Moran was just too much for the rest of the
field. By lap 30 Moran had lapped several cars and opened his advantage back to
nearly four seconds over Birkhofer. M. Miller now had his hands full with Mars
losing the third spot to Mars on lap 33. The races final caution at lap 44 for
the slowing car of Dennis Franklin bunched the field back up for the remaining
six laps. And, as before Moran was in a class of his own easily pulling away for
the victory.
The $42,000 event attracted 42 drivers to the high-banked ½ mile speedway
with Pearson Jr. establishing a new track record during RINGERS GLOVES Time
Trials with his fast lap of 16.732 seconds. Grabbing heat race wins were Mars,
Moran, M. Miller and Birkhofer. The “B” Main events fell to Gary Mabe and
David Dick and the YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINK Dash fell to Birkhofer.
The racing action from New 311 Speedway was captured by the cameras of Speed
Channel and will be broadcast, Saturday, April 24 at 3:00pm EDT. The Stacker2®
Xtreme DirtCar Series will next compete at the Auto Tire & Parts Race Park
in Benton,MO with a 50 lap - $10,000 to win event scheduled for Friday, April
30.
Stacker 2 Xtreme DirtCar Series Race Report For 4-17-04
Round 5-2004 Season-"Tar Heel State 50”"
New 311 Speedway-Greensboro (Madison),NC-1/2 Mile Oval
$42,000 Purse-$10,000 To Win-50 Lap Feature
Showing Finish Pos.,Start Pos.,Car #,Driver,Laps Completed,Reason Out (if
any) and Purse
1. (3) #99 Donnie Moran 50 Running $10,100
2. (1) #15B Brian Birkhofer 50 Running $ 6,100
3. (4) #28M Jimmy Mars 50 Running $ 3,100
4. (9) #53 Ray Cook 50 Running $ 2,500
5. (7) #32D Darren Miller® 50 Running $ 2,000
6. (2) # 7 Matt Miller 50 Running $ 1,900
7. (8) # 9 Billy Drake® 50 Running $ 1,600
8. (25) #71 Don O’Neal 50 Running $ 1,400
9. (5) # 0 Steve Shaver 50 Running $ 1,200
10. (6) #55 Jeep Van Wormer® 50 Running $ 1,100
11. (17) #15M Gary Mabe 50 Running $ 1,000
12. (15) #23 Patrick Sheltra 50 Running $ 950
13. (27) #9E Bill Elliott 50 Running $ 900
14. (22) #11 David Smith 49 Running $ 875
15. (13) #32 Larry Blankenship 49 Running $ 850
16. (23) #72 John Mason 49 Running $ 825
17. (10) #1H Billy Hicks 49 Running $ 800
18. (12) #88 Petey Ivey 48 Running $ 750
19. (21) #42 Doug Sanders 44 Running $ 700
20. (16) # 2 Dennis Franklin 44 Mechanical $ 700*
21. (20) #95 Buckshot Miles 40 Running $ 700
22. (19) #13 Johnny Stovall 22 Mechanical $ 700
23. (18) # 3 David Dick 22 Mechanical $ 700
24. (24) #20 Dan Breuer 22 Mechanical $ 700
25. (26) #45 Phil Gann 16 Mechanical $ 700
26. (11) #97 Dick Schiltz 11 Mechanical $ 700
27. (14) # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. 1 Accident $ 700*
Time Of Race: 45 Mins. 30 Secs.
Yellow Flags: Six-Laps 1, 11, 11(rs), 22, 22(rs), 44
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Two-M. Miller 1-5, Moran 6-50
GEMINI AUTO CARE CENTERS "Hard Charger of the Race": O’Neal
(advanced 17 positions)
LUCAS OIL "Rookie of the Race": D. Miller
Provisional Starters: Mason, Breuer, O’Neal, Gann, Elliott
Car Count: 42
RINGERS GLOVES "Fast Time Award": Pearson Jr. 16.732 secs. (New
Track Record)
Heat Race Winners: Mars, Moran, M. Miller, Birkhofer
"B" Main Winners: McCormick, Dick
YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINKS Dash Winner: Birkhofer
* denotes used back-up cars and gave up qualified starting postion. Pearson
Jr. was to have started 5th and started 14th, Franklin was to have started 11th
and started 16th.
SUMMARY – RINGERS GLOVES Time Trials:
Showing Car#, Driver, Residence, Sponsor, Chassis, Engine, Body Style, First
Lap, Second Lap, Fast Lap
1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL Lucas Oil/Dunn Benson Ford Rocket Larry
Wallace Taurus 17.256 16.732 16.732
99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH QPI Tools Dirt Ripper MasterSbilt SMS Engines
Monte Carlo 16.955 16.770 16.770
71 Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN A1Auto Salvage/Living Room Center Rayburn
Dickens Monte Carlo 17.191 16.853 16.853
15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA Double Eagle Racing Apparel MasterSbilt Pro
Power Monte Carlo 17.225 17.005 17.005
9 Billy Drake ® Bloomington,IL MasterSbilt Race Cars MasterSbilt Mulvain
Grand Prix 17.170 17.042 17.042
0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV Richard Construction/Bill Bland Rocket Malcuit Monte
Carlo 17.136 17.061 17.061
7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH McCullough Motorsports Rocket Russell Baker Grand
Prix 17.080 17.663 17.080
32D Darren Miller ® Chadwick,IL Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket Pro Power Taurus
17.093 17.102 17.093
28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI Stacker2/Heeg Well Drilling MasterSbilt Pro Power
Monte Carlo 17.115 17.101 17.101
53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC Dodge/Bill Elliott Racing MasterSbilt Gaerte
Intrepid R/T 17.343 17.204 17.204
28 Eddie Carrier Jr. ® Ona,WV Grover Motorsports/Engines,Inc. Rocket Grover
Taurus 17.357 17.249 17.249
97 Dick Schiltz Conover,NC Wrenchmaster Wright Clements Grand Prix 17.614
17.294 17.294
15M Gary Mabe Danbury,NC Edgecock Builder Supply Wright B&B Grand Prix
17.532 17.320 17.320
25 Shane Clanton ® Locust Grove,GA RSD Enterprises/SAE Parts Rocket Custom
Monte Carlo 17.344 17.410 17.344
55 Jeep Van Wormer ® Pinconning,MI Bayline Fire Protection Warrior Pro Power
Taurus 17.347 17.573 17.347
11 David Smith Inman,SC Hi-Bridge Automotive/Hamricks Wright Cornett Taurus
17.692 17.360 17.360
1H Billy Hicks Mt. Airy,NC Tobacco Special Racing GRT Buck Grand Prix 17.546
17.363 17.363
32 Larry Blankenship Mooresville,NC LB Drywall Rocket Hendrens Taurus 17.559
17.408 17.408
1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV Conley Enterprises Lazer G2 Emery Monte
Carlo 17.838 17.408 17.408
23 Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL Sheltra & Sons Construction Rayburn
Clements Grand Prix 18.671 17.442 17.442
20 Dan Breuer Sherill's Ford,NC LB Racing/Burnett Performance Wright Burnett
Grand Prix 17.606 17.452 17.452
H7 Phil Hall Mt. Airy,NC Mountain River Trucking Rocket Custom Monte Carlo
17.468 17.467 17.467
2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney,SC Nichols Racing Wright Clements Monte Carlo
17.523 17.485 17.485
3 David Dick Summerfield,NC D&D Grading/Simpson Oval Craft Rocket
Clements Grand Prix 17.531 17.489 17.489
S1 Scott Autry Autryville,NC L&M Convenience Store Warrior Pureyear Monte
Carlo 17.525 17.627 17.525
15 Jimmy McCormick Dobson,NC Dobson Trucking GRT Foley Taurus 17.574 17.989
17.574
95 Buckshot Miles Evans,GA Newby Racing Newman Clements Monte Carlo 17.576
18.132 17.576
72 John Mason Millersburg,OH Bert Transmissions Rayburn Malcuit Monte Carlo
17.582 18.024 17.582
9E Bill Elliott Dawsonville,GA Dodge/Coca-Cola MasterSbilt Gaerte Intrepid
R/T 17.595 18.051 17.595
21 Tony Hicks Mt. Airy,NC 89 Fun-n- Wheels GRT Clements Grand Prix 17.801
17.605 17.605
O0T Noel Tucker Mt. Airy,NC South Main Service GRT Clements Grand Prix 17.881
17.672 17.672
O0 Richard Smith Science Hill,KY Donnie Smith Auto Sales Swartz Cropper Grand
Prix 17.778 17.676 17.676
42 Doug Sanders Springwood,NC Allstate Mechanical/Starette Trkg. TnT Hendrin
Grand Prix 17.697 17.709 17.697
45 Phil Gann Mayodan,NC Gann's Race Cars & Parts Goliath M&M Monte
Carlo 18.215 17.735 17.735
88i Petey Ivey Union,SC Nichol's Communications GRT Clements Monte Carlo
18.529 17.818 17.818
5 Johnny Collins Jacksonville,FL Sheltra & Sons Construction Wright
Clements Grand Prix 20.122 17.840 17.840
13 Johnny Stovall Madison,NC Burnet Performance Stinger Burnett Grand Prix
17.868 17.888 17.868
79 Roger Lucas Benson,NC Visara International,Inc. Rocket Lucas Taurus 18.118
17.903 17.903
18 Neil Welch Mebane,NC Welch Auto Salvage Rocket Joyce Monte Carlo 18.781
17.925 17.925
10K Chris Knight Lawsonville,NC Tuscon Clarence's Steak House GRT Clements
Taurus 18.534 18.170 18.170
12W Gabe Wilson Waynesville,NC RFI/Hodge Auto Parts GRT Wilson Grand Prix
18.280 18.588 18.280
7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC Johnny B's Carwash MasterSbilt Lucas Taurus 19.136
19.082 19.082
Heat # 1 (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance To Feature): Mars, Pearson Jr., Drake, B.
Hicks, Mabe, Breuer, Stovall, Sanders, Elliott, Wilson, NS-Autry
Heat # 2 (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance To Feature): Moran, Shaver, Cook,
Blankenship, McCormick, Gann, Ro. Lucas, Hall, T. Hicks, Clanton, Ra. Lucas
Heat # 3 (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance To Feature): M. Miller, Van Wormer, Franklin,
Ivey, Miles, Welch, Tucker, Conley, O’Neal, Carrier Jr.
Heat # 4 (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance To Feature): Birkhofer, D. Miller, Schiltz,
Sheltra, Dick, D. Smith, Mason, Collins, R. Smith, Knight
"B" Main # 1 (15 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Mabe, Stovall,
Sanders, Breuer, McCormick, Elliott, Clanton, Ro. Lucas, Gann, Wilson, Ra.
Lucas, T. Hicks, NS-Hall
"B" Main # 2 (15 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Dick, Miles, D.
Smith, Tucker, Mason, O’Neal, Carrier Jr., Collins, R. Smith, Conley, Welch,
NS-Knight
YJ STINGER EXTREME ENERGY DRINK Heat Winners Dash (4 Laps-Finish Determines
First Two Rows Of Feature): Birkhofer, M. Miller, Moran, Mars
2004 Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series “YJ STINGER CUP” Point Standings
(after 4-17-04)
1. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 845
2. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 845
3. #15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA 749
4. # 1 Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL 738
5. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 725
6. #71 Don O’Neal Martinsville,IN 687
7. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 673
8. # 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney,SC 667
9. # 9 Billy Drake® Bloomington,IL 644
10. # 0 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 633
11. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC 618
12. #25 Shane Clanton® Locust Grove,GA 601
13. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr.® Ona,WV 596
14. #32D Darren Miller® Chadwick,IL 580
15. #55 Jeep Van Wormer® Pinconning,MI 564
16. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 532
17. #1x1 Sonny Conley New Martinsville,WV 472
18. #23 Patrick Sheltra Indiantown,FL 462
19. #T31 Shane Tankersley Morgonton,GA 455
20. #00 Richard Smith Science Hill,KY 444
21. #A1 Duke Whiseant® Texarkana,AR 389
22. #10 Pete Parker Kaukauna,WI 381
23. #70 Jeff Smith Dallas,NC 321
24. #7C Jim Curry® Norman,IN 320
25. #64 Sean Cosgrove Catharpin,VA 320
2004 Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series “LUCAS OIL Rookie of the Year”
Point Standings (after 4-17-04)
1. # 9 Billy Drake Bloomington,IL 644
2. #25 Shane Clanton Locust Grove,GA 601
3. #28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Ona,WV 596
4. #32D Darren Miller Chadwick,IL 580
5. #55 Jeep Van Wormer Pinconning,MI 564
6. #A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana,AR 389
7. #7C Jim Curry Norman,IN 320
8. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE 313
9. #58 Garrett Durrett Simsboro,LA 304
10. #33 Al Purkey Coffeyville,KS 302
11. #70 Jeff Choquette West Palm Beach,FL 240
12. #30 Mark Voigt Alhambra,IL 240
13. #1X Scott Pounds Seymour,TN 160
2004 Stacker2® Xtreme DirtCar Series Feature Winners (after 4-17-04)
1. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 2
2. #32D Darren Miller Chadwick,IL 1
#72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 1
#28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 1
