Plymouth,
Ind. (September 1, 2002) -
Snapping a 22-race winless streak,
Scott Hantz won at Plymouth Speedway in the Aker Plastics / Braun Auto
Group 150. Hantz, inherited the lead position on lap 70, after first
position Bobby Parsley went spinning after contact with Brian Ross on
the main straightaway. Hantz capitalized on a golden opportunity to
win event number eight of his Sunoco Super Series career and the first
since on July 14, 2001 at Illiana Motor Speedway. This was Hantz's
third victory in four Sunoco Super Series events at Plymouth Speedway.
"I thought we were
going to have load up after practice. We broke a push rod and it
messed up the lifter in the motor. We got it fixed and it held up
for the race," said race winner Scott Hantz. "Brian (Ross) was
tough tonight, but he got into Bobby (Parsley) and that helped me
out," added the 2000 series champion and rookie of the year.
At
the drop of the green flag, outside front-row starter Bobby Parsley
got a superb start, cruising into the lead position. At the
beginning of the event, Hantz, Joel Kauffman, Brent Downey and Brian
Ross all chased the number 21 Chevrolet of Parsley.
The
initial 50 circuits were raced under green flag conditions with
Parsley setting a torrid pace putting several cars a lap down. Ross
made an early surge to the top of the leader board. The two-time
series champion passed Kauffman on lap nine for third and then on
the 24th circuit, Ross advanced to second,
getting by Hantz. As Parsley was stuck in lapped traffic, Ross was
able to pull behind him and then ducked underneath Parsley to grab
the top spot. But then first-timer John Dalziel spun in turn three
and the first caution waved on lap 50 from series flagman Keith
Ousley.
Parsley
was placed back in first position since a lap wasn't completed since
Ross passed him. The green flag reappeared and then quickly the
yellow flag was displayed again for debris on the racing surface.
Then on lap 69, on green conditions, Parsley exited turn four and
was then bumped from behind by Ross. Parsley ended up spinning
backwards and on top of a concrete barrier in the infield. The early
race leader lost two laps making repairs.
This
chain of events handed the lead to Hantz, as Ross was forced to
start on the tail of the lead lap competitors for causing Parsley to
spin. Under green conditions, Hantz was able to solidly hold the
first position with Kauffman, Kenny Tweedy, Junior Hanley and Evan
Jackson comprising the top five just shy of the halfway distance.
After
restarting in ninth position, Ross made an exciting show for the
fans, charging to the lead pack the remaining 75 circuits. The
Plymouth, Ind., resident passed Andy Ponstein on lap 84 for eighth
and then on the 90
th go-around he took seventh
from Jim Crabtree Jr. Just past the 100-lap mark, Ross got around
fast qualifier Evan Jackson and then Kenny Tweedy to move into the
sixth position.
As
Hantz continued to show the way up front, Ross was able to slowly
work his way up the top five charts. He passed Jeff Lane on the 122
nd
circuit to grab fourth place. Ross then began closing the gap on
15-time event winner Junior Hanley. The remaining 15 circuits, they
battled for third position. At the checkers, Hantz finished ahead of
Kauffman with Hanley holding on for third position. Ross took
fourth-place honors with Jeff Lane finishing fifth after starting in
the 11th slot.
Evan Jackson
recorded his first career pole and was the fastest of 24 cars to
earn the Tobacco Depot Fast Qualifier Award. Jackson of Muncie,
Ind., toured the .375-mile oval in13.593 seconds / 99.316 mph. Jeff
Lane was the winner of the Lane Automotive/K&N Performance Filters
Hard Charger, finishing in fifth position after starting in 11
th
spot. Andy Ponstein was the Hubler Group/Blake Carburetion Rookie of
the Race. Jeff Lane and Scott Wolfe were the winners of the Goodyear
Performance Awards. Scott Wolfe was the winner of the Sweet Move the
Race.
