 |
| |
Junior Hanley Holds Off Scott Hantz at Angola
 Angola,
Ind. (July 4, 2002) -
Fending off the late challenge from 2000
series champion Scott Hantz over the final portion of the event,
Canadian Legend Junior Hanley scored his second victory of the 2002
season in the Sunoco Super Series. Hanley, drove the Rick Cole
Enterprises / Big Rigs Truck and Trailer Maintenance Chevrolet to
victory in the Hargus Mullins Memorial Firecracker 150 at Angola Motor
Speedway on Thursday, July 4.
"The
car was working very good tonight. It took the car four or five laps to
get going. After that it was good," said Junior Hanley in victory lane.
"We had a hell of a race at the end with Scott (Hantz). He was driving
it in and I was driving it in and we never touched," said Hanley with
the battle with Scott Hantz.
 At
the start of the 150-lap event, inside-front row starter J.R. Roahrig
jumped into the early lead with Matt Hagans, Todd Oliver, Scott Hantz
and Brent Downey making up the front of the pack. On the fifth trip
around, Hantz sailed into third spot, passing the number 99 Sunoco Ford
of Oliver.
On the
12th circuit, second-place runner Matt Hagans spun
entering turn three, which advanced Hantz into the runner-up slot behind
Roahrig. When racing resumed, Hantz began to pressure Roahrig for the
race lead to the delight of the crowd.
 As
the two leaders battled for first position, 15th
place starter Junior Hanley charged to the top of the leader board. He
bypassed Kauffman on lap 41 for eight and then two laps later got by
Downey for seventh. Hanley then took sixth from Terry Fisher on the
lap-45 mark.
After
a quick caution, Scott Hantz had trouble coming to speed and lost second
place to Oliver with Hanley again gaining positions, this time past
Eddie Van Meter and rookie Andy Ponstein. Roahrig began to build a
healthy cushion on Oliver, but it was erased by caution on lap 60.
Completing the pass on lap 71, Hanley moved into second getting around
Hantz and Oliver. Hantz and Hanley battled side-by-side before Hanley
pulled off the move to advance to second place. A lap later, Hantz
passed Oliver for third position as Ponstein also got around Oliver.
 On
the 90th circuit, Eddie Van Meter spun, which
bunched up the front of the pack. At the lap-100 mark, Hanley dove
underneath Roahrig and muscled his way into the lead position. On the
114th trip around the .375-mile oval, Hantz drove
on the outside of Roahrig and was able to return to second place.
 The
last 35 laps of the event, race leader Hanley and charging Hantz put on
an awesome display as they battled for the race victory. On several
occasions, Hantz pulled on the outside of Hanley as they raced
side-by-side lap after lap. The final caution waved with 13 laps
remaining. On the restart Hantz returned to the outside groove on lap
142. The two drivers continued to battle side-by-side for the lead. On
the 147th circuit, Hanley cleared Hantz. At the
checkers, Roahrig, Kauffman and Ponstein followed Hanley and Hantz.
Brent
Downey earned the Tobacco Depot Fast Qualifier Award. Downey toured the
.375-mile oval in 14.273 seconds / 94.584 mph. Junior Hanley was the
winner of the Lane Automotive/K&N Performance Filters Hard Charger,
finishing in first position after starting in 15th
slot. Fifth-place finisher Andy Ponstein was the Hubler Group/Blake
Carburetion Rookie of the Race. Halney and Bull Baker were the winners
of the Goodyear Performance Awards. Hanley was the winner of the Sweet
Move the Race. J.R. Roahrig was the awarded lap leader bonuses from Acro-Tech
Manufacturing and Everidge Motor Sales
|
|
|
