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.