6/22/2007 Limaland Results

Darren posted a strong 3rd place finish at Limaland after winning the 3rd heat race to get into the feature. Darren hopes to ride this momentum to an even higher finish next weekend at Hartford and Knoxville.

Friday, June 22, 2007 - LimaLand Motorsports Park Front Row Challenge (Elwer Fence Sprints)
Elwer Fence Sprints heat winners were: Mike Brecht, Scott Carter, and Darren Long
Elwer Fence Sprints B-Main: 1) Jeff Williams 2) Ryan Grubaugh 3) Cory Seeling 4) Jim Dues 5) Jared Horstman 6) Andy Conley 7) Randy Fusi 8) Kyle Conaway 9) Brent Gehr 10) Bob Gehr 11) Nate Dussel 12) Dave Miller 13) Dallas Hewitt
Elwer Fence Sprints Feature: 1. Phil Gressman 2. Mike Brecht 3. Darren Long 4. Ron Blair 5. Rick Boughan 6. Tim Allison 7. Mike Miller 8. Mike Dussel 9. JR Stewart 10. Scott Carter 11. Cory Seeling 12. Jeff Williams 13. Kent Wolters 14. Andy Conley 15. Jim Dues 16. Dennis Yoakam 17. Jared Horstman 18. Dain Naida 19. Mike Dunlap

Race Recap:
Repeat winners have been hard to come by during the first half of the 2007 season at Limaland Motorsports Park. Ohio’s Quarter-Mile of Thunder is a racy bullring which has the ability to throw the drivers curveballs on a weekly basis. But this week, three race teams who have been very competitive found their way to victory lane once again. Twenty-nine cars were on hand in each of the three weekly divisions. Elwer Fence Sprints heat winners were: Mike Brecht, Scott Carter, and Darren Long. Ron Blair led the first start of the Elwer Fence Sprint feature race. Some contact deeper in the field caused heavy damage to Mike Dunlap’s machine and a complete restart ensued. Blair led just three laps before Phil Gressman surged to the point. Gressman kept the lead for six laps until Mike Brecht used the high line to execute a textbook pass for his turn at the front. The next 11 laps was the Mike Brecht show as he and Gressman sliced through lapped traffic. Another late race spin by Cory Seeling brought out the yellow. With just five laps to go, Gressman powered into turn one on the restart and pulled a classic slide job on Brecht to take the lead. Gressman was unchallenged on his way to victory number two for the year.

6/16/2007 Eldora Results

Darren got it going at a place he always runs well at. Darren ran the fastest hot lap and then qualified for the A-Main with a 4th place finish in first heat. Darren then posted a 4th place finish in the A-Main.

Results:
NRA Sprint Invaders - 27 cars
Fast Time: Darren Long - 14.393 seconds
Heat 1: Luke Hall, Cory Seeling, Tim Norman, Darren Long, Tim Allison, Scott Carter, Joe Bares, Kirk Jeffries, Rick Baughan,
Heat 2: Dustin Daggett, Phil Gressman, Jared Horstman, J. R. Stewart, Steve Erwin, Aaron Shaffer, Randy Fusi, Gary Fast, Mike Miller
Heat 3: Mike Brecht, Kent Wolters, Butch Schroeder, Mike Dussell, Ben Rutan, Ron Blair, Dennis Yoakam, Nick Muhlheim, Dave Miller
B-Main: Gary Fast, Mike Miller, Ron Blair, Scott Carter, Joe Bares, Rick Baughan, Dennis Yoakam, Nick Muhlheim, Kirk Jeffries, Aaron Shaffer, Randy Fusi, Dave Miller
20-lap A-Main: 1)Dustin Daggett 2)Tim Allison 3)Mike Dussell 4)Darren Long 5)Phil Gressman 6)Luke Hall 7)Mike Brecht 8)Kent Wolters 9)Tim Norman 10)Ben Rutan 11)J. R. Stewart 12)Mike Miller 13)Cory Seeling 14)Steve Erwin 15)Gary Fast 16)Joe Bares 17)Scott Carter 18)Jared Hortsman 19)Ron Blair 20)Butch Schroeder

Summary:
ROSSBURG, OH (June 16) -- Late race heroics proved to be the key to success Saturday night at Eldora Speedway, as Dustin Daggett (NRA Sprint Invaders), Todd Sherman (UMP Modifieds and Jeff Babcock (Advance Auto Parts Stocks) rallied to victory lane in night number two of the University of Northwestern Ohio Buckeye Double Play.
Points earned Friday night at Limaland Motorsports Park were combined with those earned Saturday at Eldora to determine the respective Buckeye Double Play champions.
Tim Allison’s victory Friday night at Limaland, combined with Eldora’s runner-up to Daggett clinched him the NRA (National Racing Alliance) Sprint Invader title, while Sherman’s victory, coupled with a fourth the night before, assured him the UMP (United Midwestern Promoters) Modified crown. Babock earned the Stock Car championship based on Eldora’s win and a third at Limaland.
When Saturday’s NRA main event took the grid and Tim Allison was shown as the polesitter, the veteran railbirds figured the real race would be for runner-up and beyond. Among the all-time leading feature winners at Eldora, Allison is always a threat.
As expected, when the green flag dropped, he was out in front and flying, leaving the balance of the 20-car field to do battle.
Immediately behind him were Mike Dussell and Daggett in their own battle, while Darren Long and Tim Norman waged a contest of their own, as well. Long disposed of Norman by the second tour of the one-half mile clay oval, but had quite a bit of distance to make-up to gain upon the front trio.
The fast paced race was slowed on lap 5 as Ron Blair came to a stop on the front stretch, yet on the restart, Allison again began to blow away from the field. However, Dussell discovered a new groove during the caution period and used that to his advantage to reel in Allison. He slid under him coming off of turn two on lap 12 and pulled into the lead; a lead he was to hold for two laps before Jared Horstman stopped on the track to draw yet another caution flag period.
On the restart, Allison used one of his patented moves to re-inherit the lead which looked to be lasting. Daggett had other thoughts, and with four laps to go, shot past Dussell for the runner-up spot. While time appeared to be against him, Daggett was determined and with each of the closing laps, inched closer and closer.
As the white flag appeared, Daggett made a last ditch effort by diving into turn one, and made it stick, as a surprised Allison slid to the high side. Daggett powered to the victory, with Allison and Dussell in pursuit. Long and Phil Gressman completed the top five, but directly behind them, Luke Hall earned his sixth place finish the hard way, as he blew a tire and barrell rolled his Sprinter across the finish line. Some six flips later, Hall was resting alongside the front stretch concrete wall. Although the car was severely damaged, Hall escaped injury.

6/15/2007 Limaland Results

Darren struggled with a dry track that made it very hard to handle his car but he still finished 8th in the A Main. Darren hopes to improve on this performance at Eldora tomorrow.

EFI-NRA Sprint Invaders B-Main 1. Dennis Yoakam 2. Dain Naida 3. Mark Hery 4. Nick Mulheim 5. Mike Miller 6. Brent Gehr 7. Bob Gehr Sr. 8. Bob Gehr Jr. 9. Jared Horstman 10. Nate Dussel 11. Randy Fusi 12. Kyle Conaway 13. John Hawk

EFI-NRA Sprint Invaders A-Main 1. Tim Allison 2. Luke Hall 3. Mike Brecht 4. Mike Dussel 5. Dustin Daggett 6. Kent Wolters 7. Phil Gressman 8. Darren Long 9. J.R. Stewart 10. Dain Naida 11. Mike Miller 12. Dennis Yoakam 13. Scott Carter 14. Tim Norman 15. Jeff Williams 16. Ron Blair 17. Rick Boughan 18. Mark Hery 19. Nick Mulheim 20. Mike Dunlap

Recap: Friday night at Limaland Motorsports Park marked the first leg of the inaugural Buckeye Double Play. The evening saw the usual Limaland suspects joined by invaders from Eldora Speedway who came to the famed quarter-mile to be in the running for part of the $9,000 Buckeye Double Play point fund between Limaland and Eldora on Saturday night. EFI-NRA Sprint Invader heats went to Phil Gressman, Mike Dussel, and Dustin Daggett. The EFI-NRA Sprint Invaders 25-lap feature started with Mike Brecht and Kent Wolters on the front row. In turn four as the field got up to speed, Ron Blair and Mike Dussel came together but were both able to get back going. Once under green, Brecht took the early lead. On the fourth circuit Tim Allison powered to the lead on the high side. Six laps later Wolters got Allison for the lead on the low side. As the race passed the halfway mark, Allison began to pressure Wolters in heavy lapped traffic. In turns three and four on lap seventeen Allison got the lead from Wolters just before he did a quick 360 and continued. From there “Mr. Excitement” masterfully guided through traffic and held off a charging Luke Hall to take the win.

6/8/2007 Waynesfield Motorsports Park Results

Darren got his engine back and back on the track after sitting the last couple races out but stuffed it in the fence in the heat race which made for a disappointing night.
Race Results:
Heat 1 1 Phil Gressman 2 Ron Blair 3 John Hawk 4 Dustin Keegan 5 Kirk Jeffries 6 Dustin Dinan 7 Aaron Moloney 8 Jimmy Oglesbee
Heat 2 1 Mike Dussel 2 Mike Miller 3 Tim Allison 4 Dennis Yoakam 5 Mark Hery 6 Jim Dues 7 Kyle Conaway 8 Scott Carter 9 Darren Long
Heat 3 1 Dale Blaney 2 Bryan Sebetto 3 Jared Horstman 4 Chad Gullett 5 Dennis Ward Jr 6 Andrew Bowsher 7 Nate Dussel
Heat 4 1 Mike Brecht 2 Jeff Williams 3 Dwain Leiber 4 Mike Dunlap 5 Kent Wolters 6 Rick Boughan 7 Brent Gehr 8 Bob Gehr Jr
B-Main 1 Kirk Jeffries 2 Dustin Dinan 3 Mark Hery 4 Scott Carter 5 Kyle Conaway 6 Randy Fusi 7 Aaron Moloney 8 Jimmy Oglesbee 9 Jim Dues
B-Main 2 1 Kent Wolters 2 Dennis Ward Jr 3 Rick Boughan 4 Bob Gehr Jr 5 Brent Gehr 6 Nate Dussel
Feature 1 Dale Blaney 2 Phil Gressman 3 Mike Dussel 4 Mike Miller 5 Tim Allison 6 Ron Blair 7 Jared Horstman 8 Bryan Sebetto 9 Mark Hery 10 Jeff Williams 11 Mike Dunlap 12 Kent Wolters 13 Chad Gullett 14 Dwain Leiber 15 Kirk Jeffries 16 Dustin Keegan 17 Mike Brecht 18 John Hawk 19 Dennis Ward Jr 20 Dennis Yoakam

Race Summary:
In its short history Waynesfield Motor Sports Park had never held a sanctioned race on the ¼ mile track. That all changed Saturday when 2-Time All Star Circuit of Champions title winner Dale Blaney took the Ron Hammons owned 360 to his second win of the weekend.

The 360 sprints of the EFI/NRA Invaders kicked off the night and this would be the first trip to Waynesfield for many of the teams. Preliminary action would see Phil Gressman, Mike Dussel, Dale Blaney, and Mike Brecht taking heat race wins; and Kirk Jeffries and Kent Wolters winning the two B-Mains. As the feature pushed off, 305 driver Dustin Dinan could not get his motor to fire and was forced to surrender his spot to first alternate Mark Hery. At the drop of the green flag, pole sitter Mike Dussel took the early lead over former teammate Mike Brecht, with Phil Gressman right behind. Mike Miller and Dale Blaney traded slide jobs to round out the top-five.

On lap seven, Mike Brecht flipped his second place car in turns three and four while taking the high line just under the wall. This would bring out the red flag and this was the only slow down of the show. After the restart, Mike Dussel would pull out a large lead, but with the help of heavy lapped traffic, Phil Gressman and Dale Blaney closed the gap fast in the final few laps. On the back stretch with just two laps to go, the Gressman car got under and then around the race-long leader. Unfortunately for Gressman, he was not able to enjoy the lead for long. Going into turns three and four on the last lap the "Tall Cool One" Dale Blaney used the high side to snatch the lead and win from "Fast" Phil. "This is a really nice place that has a lot of room for us to race," said the Two Time All Star Champion. "With the way that the track was tonight, it was hard to get off the top with my Appraisal Specialists, Texas Roadhouse car. I had a night off from 410 racing so I brought my car owner George Fisher down here and used this as a test for the Speedweek show.”

6/1/2007 Limaland Results

Darren sat out of the action for the 2nd straight race because of his motor problems but he hopes to be back in action this coming weekend.

Friday, June 1, 2007 - LimaLand Motorsports Park 8th Annual Steve Brown Memorial Race (Elwer Fence Sprints)

Elwer Fence Sprints B-Main: 1) Tim Allison 2) John Hawk 3) Mike Dunlap 4) Scott Carter 5) Andrew Bowsher 6) Nate Dussel 7) Jimmy Oglesbee 8) Bob Gehr 9) Randy Fusi

Elwer Fence Sprints Feature: 1. Mike Brecht 2. Mike Dussel 3. Luke Hall 4. Phil Gressman 5. Ron Blair 6. Mike Dunlap 7. Rick Boughan 8. Scott Carter 9. Jeff Williams 10. John Hawk 11. Tim Allison 12. Corey Seeling 13. Jim Dues 14. Brent Gehr 15. Kent Wolters 16. Mike Miller 17. Jared Horstman 18. Dale Blaney 19. Andrew Bowsher 20. Dennis Yoakam

Race Recap:

The Elwer Fence Sprints took to the famed high-banks next and before one lap could be completed; Dennis Yoakam flipped in turn four and brought out the red flag. Yoakam, who has been having a feast or famine year, suffered his third flip of the year. A complete restart followed and Mike Brecht, dove to the bottom and waved goodbye to the rest of the field. His closest competitor was Mr. Consistency, Mike Dussel. But Dussel could only get close to Brecht during the two caution flag periods. Brecht commented, “The way the track has been this year, I knew we were going to have to be fast on the low-side. My crew did an excellent job setting up my car.”

Your next chance to be part of the celebration of 72 years of racing action is next week when Limaland Motorsports Park presents Meet the Drivers Night. The Professional Computer Company Modified, Bud Thunderstock and Elwer Fence Sprint drivers will be signing autographs for the fans starting at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and racing on America’s premier quarter-mile begins at 7:30 p.m.