Sammy Swindell
Odessa, Mo. (October 3, 1981) — Sammy Swindell took the high road Saturday night at the I-70 National Speedway on his way to victory in the World of Outlaw winged sprint car 40-lap feature race.
“I try to run the same spot on the track every lap and the high groove is always the fastest on this track,” said the Memphis, Tenn., racer. Swindell earned $4,500 for his quarter-lap victory over second place Jon Stevenson of St. Paul, Minn.Swindell jumped into the lead from his front-row starting position on the first lap. For the next 12 laps, Swindell had to hold off the challenge of his brother Jeff.
On lap 13, Doug Wolfgang, Sioux Falls, S.D., moved into second place to challenge Swindell. Wolfgang, who started in the middle of the 24-car field, was aided by a yellow flag on lap 9 when Jerry Potter, Kansas City, rode the fourth-turn wall.
Wolfgang’s run for the front spot was short-lived when he dropped out of the race on lap 16 with a flat, left rear tire. Wolfgang’s loss was Jeff Swindell’s gain as he moved back into second.
Sammy and Jeff Swindell ran 1-2 until lap 34 when Jeff Swindell pulled into the pits with a flat, right-rear tire. Stevenson moved into second while Jeff Swindell pulled to the rear of the pack, having changed tires.
Sammy Swindell withstood Stevenson’s charge for the next six laps to pick up the win. Stevenson’s car slowed on the last lap and his engine let go after the checkered flag.
Jeff Swindell worked his way up from the rear to finish third, followed by Randy Smith, Norwalk, Iowa, and Rick Weld of Kansas City.
“The car felt comfortable the whole race,” Swindell said. He later learned that the strap holding the fuel tank had broken.
The qualifying heat races were won by Wolfgang, Ken Schrader of Fenton, Mo. and Weld. The 12-lap B-feature went to Scott Ritchart of Lincoln, Ill.
Results –
1. Sammy Swindell
2. John Stevenson
3. Jeff Swindell
4. Randy Smith
5. Rick Weld
6. Cliff Woodward
7. Bobby Marshall
8. Gary Scott
9. Gordy Lamb
10.Tom Corbin
11.T.J. Giddings
12.Jack Ziegler
13.Cliff Blundy
14.Roger Hurst
15.Todd Bishop
16.Ken Schrader
17.Scott Ritchart
18.Doug Wolfgang
19.Terry Smith
20.Bob Thoman
21.Ken Chapman
22.Jerry Potter
23.Ronnie Daniels
24.Bob Williams
No comments:
Post a Comment