Speed worshipers gather at Capitol

June 21, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

WILLOW - There's something special about Sunday.

Every weekend the parking lot slowly fills. Choruses echo in the distance as performers warm up their pipes. The faithful exchange friendly greetings as they settle into their seats.

Then with a gentle wave of his arms the choir begins to sing and worshipers sprang to their feet with joy as the day's program begins at the church of speed.

The persistent threat of rain was not enough to keep the congregation from gathering at Capitol Speedway for Sunday's races.

Mark Lightfoot was left praying for assistance from the racing gods after the engine in his 1969 Ford pickup lost oil pressure during the warm-up laps.

"The pressure gauge just plunged," Lightfoot said. "The truck was running up until that point. I think the oil pump died."

Without good oil pressure Lightfoot was forced to park his truck and hang up his helmet, joining the spectators in the stands.

"At least I get to spend the day at the track," Lightfoot said. "I could be at work today."

Lightfoot was not the only driver the gods frowned upon. Before the trophy dash races were over for the six divisions, four others saw their day of racing go up in smoke.

"I guess there is a plague of breakdowns today," Lightfoot said, as he watched the third car go up in smoke. "We need to do something to appease the racing gods to put an end to this."

J.R. Enman offered up his hobby class stock car as a sacrifice, as it burst into flames after taking the green flag during the trophy dash. Satisfied by the offering, the gods allowed the rest of the day to continue without major engine trouble.

It wasn't all curses and engine trouble at the track. Competitors in the 300 sprint car division enjoyed the blessings of the race gods.

Saturday's rain had firmly packed the track surface and that led to a series of record- setting times in the division.

Jeff Wallace began the day as the track record holder with a time of 15.54 seconds. The two competitors who qualified before him had beaten his time, before he quickly reclaimed the top spot.

"I didn't know their times," Wallace said. "I just went out and tried to go as fast as I could."

A malfunction with the timing device on his first qualifying attempt meant he would have to make another run. During his second attempt Wallace shaved .3 seconds off his old record, reclaiming the fastest lap.

Wallace wasn't finished yet. During the Trophy Dash he improved his record again, lowering the top time to 15.10 seconds.

David White set a new qualifying record in the stock class and David Brunner established a new mark in the mini-stock class. In all six, drivers surpassed previous fast lap records.

"The track conditions were just perfect," said Robert Watkins, who set a new lap record in the sportsman class. "It is nice and firm and grips really good. It's really fast and that is just how I like it."

The closest racing of the day came during the hobby class trophy dash, when fifth-place qualifier Collin Mingo made it to the track in time to replace one of the top four qualifiers who had tire trouble on the first lap. Mingo, who had his engine hood off when the tire problem occurred, made it onto the track in time to take the green flag. He finished third in the race.

Darrell L. Breese may be reached at 352-2267 or email at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.

Capitol Speedway Racing

Sunday, Willow

Sportsman: Trophy Dash - 1) Robert Watkins, 2) Jay Irving. Main Event - 1) R. Watkins, 2) J. Irving.

Stock: Trophy Dash - 1) David White, 2) David Meyer, 3) Guy Hamilton, 4) Ralph Gobert. Main Event - 1) G. Hamilton, 2) Richie Christenson, 3) D. White, 4) D. Meyer, 5)Shannan Adrian, 6) R. Gobert. 7) Evan Terstegge.

Mini-Stock: Trophy Dash - 1) Dale Brummer, 2) Dan Rodrigue, 3) Greg Markee, 4) John Keller. Main Event - 1) D. Rodrigue, 2) G. Markee, 3) J. Keller, 4) Jack Bussing, 5) Billy Miller, 6) G. Rice, 7) D. Brummer, 8) Billy Christenson.

300 Sprints: Trophy Dash - 1) Jeff Wallace, 2) Cheryl Troutman, 3) Jerry Mitchell, 4) Charles Goodenough. Main Event - 1) Brad Cutway, 2) C. Troutman, 3) C. Goodenough, 4) J. Wallace.

Hobby Stock: Trophy Dash - 1) Jeff Garrett, 2) Tommy Porter, 3) Collin Mingo. Main Event - 1) Tommy Porter, 2) Karen Keller, 3) J. garrett, 4) C. Mingo.

Pick-up trucks: Trophy Dash - 1) Brad Cook, 2) Ron Williams, 3) Michael Gallager, 4) Millie Wade. Main Event - 1) B. Cook, 2) M. Gallagher, 3) R. Williams, 4) M. Wade.