New Paris next for HOSS Pavement Posse, plus fireworks!

The Marathon Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series charges into New Paris (IN) Speedway Saturday night July 10 for its annual event at the unique quarter mile oval of asphalt. Heading the HOSS pavement kings with wings will be Ron Koehler and Greg Wheeler who are tied for the point lead midway through the 2004 campaign. Koehler, the 2001& 2002 HOSS points champ finished second here last year to Doug Berryman after dominating the non stop 40 lap dash. Wheeler has won one time in 2004 and has redefined his pavement prowess after years away dirt track racing. New Paris’ 2003 saw Wheeler’s white and red 7 car start in the fourth position only to careen to twelfth on the opening lap, then tear back through the pack to finish fifth! In 2004 the driver who advances the most positions takes home the Julian Construction Hard Charger award. For sure, New Paris HOSS/Marathon racing action happens only once a season but the excitement lasts all year long. In addition, New Paris Speedway will have its July 4 celebration fireworks display, which was rained out earlier.

The Speedway in New Paris, Indiana, today runs only the fendered stock car and late model classes on its weekly racing card. However, until the 80’s open wheel racing had plenty a place in the New Paris Speedway schedule. The cutdown coupes to the wild supermodifieds raced the weekends away here. Now, the HOSS winged sprint cars whip the open wheel wind in the tradition set all those years ago. Among the drivers expected to race Saturday night will John Witter of Mishawaka. Witter’s blue car carries an orange 28 but races without the right side bodywork around the driver. John remembers how New Paris used to look when fans could see what the driver was doing and keeps that spectacle alive in his own racecar. The facility itself is a lesson in compromise as the straightaways lead to very different corners. Turns one and two are tighter and the exit allow the driver to drift out along the backstretch. Turn three appears inviting only to close off in four as the front stretch wall sits squarely in the preferred upper exit line! Fans who sit nearby no longer flinch when cars bounce off the wall just a few feet away but will be on their heels as the HOSS field bolts to the green flag!!

Gates open at noon, qualifying begins at 4 and Racing at 7:00 P.M. For more information www.hossracing.com or www.newparisspeedway.com.

Speaking of Points…..

Koehler and Wheeler are tied for the point lead, but Rick Baker is just seven behind in third. Baker finished second in the opening race at Salem this year and has been consistent in the Julian construction backed 4B racer. The First Lady of speed Sondi Eden is fourth and has nothing to prove but does so anyway every time she wheels the yellow number 6 into the battle. Finishing fourth at Salem and capturing a heat race win at Plymouth is credence for her leading the 2004 IMPACT Rookie of the Year Points. Not one to give up at half time is another rookie Michael Tarlton. The Tarlton name has gone around New Paris many times but this time the new generation of Albion outlaws will be in the red and white 9, sponsored by Pulver‘s Paving and Busche Enterprises among a host of others. Come out early for qualifying just to hear the announcer try to fit all of the sponsors into two laps!! Fifth in points, Michael has run well at every event and will contend be the season ends. Doug Berryman is sixth in points despite missing the opener at Salem. Doug dramatically broke the track record (est.11.880) at New Paris in 2003 after spewing smoke and flames from the yellow 1R Rebman Truck Service machine just moments before. He then capped the performance by winning the feature. Look for Berryman to defend last year’s accomplishments with even more outstanding efforts. John Witter is seventh, just two points behind Tarlton. Most recently winning the second HOSS South Bend event in 2003, Witter’s Bi-County Trailers Sales, Just Neon, Quick Time Racing Apparel sprinter will be looking to extend his margin over Jerry Caryer in the purple 75C entry. Fifth at Mansfield two weeks ago and ninth last Friday in Iowa, Caryer needs just a small break to boost him into the top five in points. Thirteen behind with 223 points is Tom Paterson. The Argos engineer is backed by Jenkins Automotive and convincingly claimed heat race checkers at Plymouth in May. The 11 car will be one to watch on the shorter New Paris track. One point behind and rounding out the top ten is Joe Rebman. 2004 has been a coming out party for the Buckeye Bandit, a title bestowed upon him by one of the very top competitors in the USCS, the southern states series. Rebman, in the black 77 Rebman Truck Service car scored his first HOSS feature win in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Friday on July 2 and though still a teen continues to accelerate his learning curve in the winged sprint cars. Sitting just outside the top ten is another HOSS teen. Dale Wood won his first HOSS heat of his career last weekend as well. Eleventh in points but gaining skill and confidence, Wood has the blue 46 Suspension Spring Specialist car pointed toward the front.