Official Press Release-Results HOSS @ Baer Field Speedway

9-25-04

Cameron Dodson Blitzes HOSS at Baer Field

By Scott Stine. Cameron Dodson of Greenfield, IN, climbed the fences to celebrate winning the 30-lap CCR Insurance feature Saturday night. The MARC Times Invitational was his first Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series/ Marathon victory. Driving the Dick Myers 8m Mopar, the prodigy pilot rounded early leader Hank Lower with a daring three wide pass in turn two to lead the tenth lap. From there he was never seriously challenged as Denny England, Brian Lay, Tim Cox, and Hank Lower rounded out the top five. Earlier in the day Dodson whacked the track record of 14.55 down to a paltry 14.137 seconds.

Said Dodson of the win, “This is really great for all of us. Dick Myers has an awesome racecar and we learned a lot practicing yesterday. Troy (Hollingsworth) set the car up and it worked well.” The talented teen thanked sponsors Hoosier Tire, The Joie of Seating, Olson Paint and Body, Weld Wheels, and Benic Enterprises, among others.

The Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series and Dick Beebe’s MARC Times News magazine joined forces to bring the Invitational to Baer Field Speedway Saturday, September 25. The HOSS sprints filled the pits alongside modifieds, stock cars and mini stocks. Friday was the practice day and many teams took time to try different things in preparation for Saturday’s payday.

Saturday mornings calm was diffused quickly as teams amassed at the entrances. The gates opened at 8 am and Hotlaps began at 10 am. The pit area was jammed with racecars and people working furiously as the weather had changed overnight. Qualifying began at 1 pm and with the pleasant temperatures and high sky the track surface seemed unwilling to surrender a fast lap. Jimmy Taylor of Mansfield turned the fast lap early in his “V” numbered sprinter. In fact, he and Brian Lay were the only two timed in the 14-second bracket. Cameron Dodson took to the track and on his first lap broke the track record with a 14.415 second lap. The record didn’t last even the long as his second circuit broke the beam a 14.137!!! Dodson walked off with the Indy RV Center fast qualifier award for the effort.

The heat race program was stretched to four events to accommodate better racing. The top four cars transferred to the feature, and the remaining cars went to the B main.

In the first heat, Jonathan Kettlewell (98) of Englewood, OH, lined up beside Chris Jagger (27). At the green Jagger darted to the lead and held it until Dodson moved by on lap 3. Moments later Denny England’s 84 and Kettlewell connected spinning both and damaging two very fast racecars. With four cars remaining the race was checkered and all advanced. The second heat paired the 14d (Julian) of Rick Baker with Jason Fuller (Kenens 35). Baker took command and was never caught by Jimmy Taylor with Jerry Caryer (75c), and Joe Rebman (77) also transferring. The third heat saw Dale Wood (46) beside Ron Koehler (10). Wood outdistanced Koehler into turn one and held the lead throughout the eight-lap race until Brian Lay got by for the win. The third fastest qualifier was followed by Wood, Chris Hettinger (33), and Jimmy McCune (Durnwald 19). Sam Davis (43) and John Witter (28) made up the front row of the fourth heat race. Davis and Witter both ran well until Hank Lower (37) took the lead and went on to win. Behind Lower were Tim Cox (D&B 40), Michael Tarlton (9) and Sam Davis, who edged Sondi Eden (Batts 6) for the last transfer spot.

The B-main rolled out late in the afternoon and everyone wondered what the difference in temperatures would do for the sprint cars. Denny England, repaired after his heat race tango, and Doug Berryman would be the first row to find out. Two drivers not accustomed to seeing a B-main, the pair scampered away at the green flag. Tom Paterson (11) held third place over Jason Fuller until late in the race when the car was pulled into the infield. The dramatics allowed Koehler to rise to fourth and the field was set for the Feature.

The feature did indeed roll off around 9 pm, and the long day of racing did little to quench the fire these drivers bring to the races. Hank Lower and Jimmy McCune occupied the front row with Joe Rebman and Denny England behind. Tim Cox and Brian Lay were in the third row and Jimmy Taylor and Cameron Dodson completed the eight-car inversion.

The green flag whipped the wind as Lower deposited McCune into second. Twenty sprint cars flew around the corners and bent the wind on the straight-aways as drivers jockeyed for racing room on the half-mile speedway. Dodson worked his way from eighth to fifth early with textbook passing. He was second by lap eight and went to work on the veteran Lower. Lower, who had his own lap cars to get around. The tension mounted as Lower rounded lap cars with Dodson poised to strike at Lower. Dodson surged deep into turn one outside of Lower who was himself preparing a pass. Dodson latched the Mopar 8m to the top of the track and swept by for the lead. On lap thirteen the caution flag flew for Joe Rebman who had spun to avoid lap car contact. Dodson again packed air between himself and the field, cruising throughout the remaining laps. 2003 HOSS champ Denny England worked his way to second but never could get his guns on the red 8m. At the checkers it was Dodson, England, Lay, Cox, Lower, Taylor, 2004 HOSS Champion Greg Wheeler, McCune, Berryman, and Hard Charger Michael Tarlton. An ecstatic Dodson was quickly joined by his family and crew in CCR Insurance Victory Lane celebrations.

Results 9-25-04 Baer Field Speedway

Qualifying: 1-#8-Carmon Dodson NTR-14.137; 2-#V-Jimmy Taylor; 3-#45-Brian Lay; 4-#40-Tim Cox; 5-#84-Denny England; 6-#77-Joe Rebman; 7-#19-Jimmy McCune; 8-#37-Hank Lower; 9-#81-Dave Baumgartner; 10-#75C-Jerry Caryer; 11-#1R-Doug Berryman; 12-#6-Sondi Eden, 13-#7-Greg Wheeler; 14-#11-Tom Paterson; 15-#33-Chris Hettinger; 16-#9-Michael Tarlton; 17-#27-Chris Jagger; 18-#35-Jason Fuller; 19-#10-Ron Koehler; 20-#28-John Witter; 21-#98-Jon Kettlewell; 22-14D-Rick Baker; 23-#46-Dale Wood; 24-#43-Sam Davis; 25-#38-Ted McKibben; 26-#67-Chuck Dagg; 27-#62-Eric Curry

Heats-Top 4 Transfer to A-main

Heat One-8-Dodson, 27-Jagger, 7-Wheeler, 81-Baumgartner, 98-Kettlewell, 84-England

Heat Two-14D-Baker, V-Taylor, 75-Caryer, 77-Rebman, 35-Fuller, 11-Paterson, 38-

McKibben

Heat Three-45-Lay, 46-Wood, 33-Hettinger, 19-McCune, 1R-Berryman, 67-Dagg, 10-Koehler

Heat Four-37-Lower, 40-Cox, 9-Tarlton, 43-Davis, 6-Eden, 28-Witter, 62-Curry

B-Main-Top 4 Transfer to A-Main

84-England, 1R-Berryman, 10-Koehler, 35-Fuller, 28-Witter, 98-Kettlewell, 67-Dagg, 11-Paterson, 38-McKibben, 62-Curry, 6-Eden

Feature-8-Dodson, 84-England, 45-Lay, 40-Cox, 37-Lower, V-Taylor, 7-Wheeler, 19-McCune, 1R-Berryman, 9-Tarlton, 77-Rebman, 33-Hettinger, 14D-Baker, 75C-Caryer, 35-Fuller, 43-Davis, 27-Jagger, 46-Wood, 81-Baumgartner, 10-Koehler

Lap Leaders-1- 9-Hank Lower; 10-30-Cameron Dodson