By
Scott Stine. Oxford, Michigan's Kevin Feeney overcame a veritable mountain of
challenges this weekend to win the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series Winchester
Speedway Family Night at the Races 30 lap A-main event.
First, Friday action was washed out after qualifying by very strong
storms which lasted well into Saturday morning. Then, Kevin's
sister-in-law was rushed to the Winchester hospital where she underwent
emergency surgery. She is recovering well at this time. Then there
was his record at the fabled high banks. And the nine race
rookies set to tackle Winchester, which was washed of rubber three
separate times this weekend. Separately, its enough to make any good
driver rethink his strategy. Combined, most would pack up and
leave.
But Feeney returned Saturday and qualified an impressive third fastest.
The rains came as the first heat race was less than a lap from green
flag action. Funnel clouds reported nearby sent many to the tunnel under
the speedway for a short time. The rains lasted well over thirty
minutes before subsiding. The track safety crews and push trucks circled
the speedway mercilessly drying the surface for racing. Even the
limousine on hand for the Famly Night fun got in on the act, taking fans
for a quick spin around the speedway. Trucks continued circling as the
track lights dimmed for the fireworks celebration. With the clock showing
after nine central time, the decision was made to scrub the heat races in
favor running just the featured event. The top six
qualifiers were inverted and the field set for the thirty lap main.
With the crowd standing and cheering for the 4-wide parade lap, the front row
of Denny England and Tim Cox paced the pack to the green where Cox took
the early lead on the outside. Second row Doug Berryman and Feeney
battled as Feeney's 98 moved into second position. Third row Hank Lower
and fast qualifier Jeff Bloom (14.001) kept things close throughout the
early going. It was Cox, Feeney, Lower, Berryman, England and
Bloom until Berryman's 1R entry was sidelined with mechanical ills.
A charging Bloom got around England as Cox's early lead was dwindling in
traffic to a surging Feeney. Just past the halfway mark the 40
of Cox encountered lap traffic racing and chose the top side of the
track as Feeney dove to the short way around. Feeny's line moved
first leaving Cox hung out to dry. From there it was Kevin Feeney
opening up his own gap, winning by just under two seconds in a race
which saw no caution flags. The race maybe the quickest ever
for a thirty lap event at Winchester, finishing just seven minutes after the
green flag whipped the wind.
A victorious Kevin Feeney was quick to credit Cox with racing him very clean in
the event, and was extremely happy to finally have a win at Winchester
Speedway. After thanking the fans for standing by in spite of
repeated weather delays, the celebration began in earnest with a very large
trophy presented for the race winner.
The staff of HOSS would like to thank
Charlie Shaw and his staff at Winchester Speedway for their hospitality and
patience in getting the show completed against mother natures wishes. The Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series returns to
action Saturday July 12 at the New Paris (IN) Speedway. More information
can be found at www.hossracing.com
.
Qualifying-26 Jeff Bloom, 14.001; 37-Hank
Lower, 98-Kevin Feeny, 1R Doug Berryman, 40-Tim Cox, 84-Denny England, 1-Scott
Seaton, 9-Mark Tarlton, 6 Ted Hines, 3- Steve Surniak, 7-Greg Wheeler, 28-John
Witter, 35-Aaron Pierce, 6H-Dave Hull, 27-Chris Jagger, 18-Dave Osborn,
06-Rodney Ziemek, 4-Cory Butler, 38-Ted Mckibben, 11-Tom Paterson, 4B-Baker.
Feature-98-Kevin Feeny, 40-Tim Cox,
37-Hank Lower, 26-Jeff Bloom, 84-Denny England, 9-Mark Tarlton, 28-John Witter,
1-Scott Seaton, 7-Greg Wheeler, 18-Dave Osborn, 3-Steve Surniak, 4B-Baker,
6-Ted Hines, 6H-Dave Hull, 4-Cory Butler, 11-Tom Paterson, 06-Rodney Ziemek,
35-Aaron Pierce, 27-Chris Jagger, 38-Ted McKibben, 1R-Doug Berryman
Top Ten in Points
1
Denny England 514
2
Scott Seaton 447
3
Doug Berryman 438
4
Aaron Pierce 429
5
Greg Wheeler 396
6
Mark Tarlton 377
7
Dave Hull 336
8
Jerry Caryer 329
9
Tom Paterson 306
10Don
Townsend 301