Ladies and Gentlemen, I draw your attention to two Heroes-Racers Scott Seppe and Daniel Curry. Seppe ran into Curry on 7/6 and Curry was flown to the Hospital. Curry had surgery Friday and eschewed pain meds from Friday through Saturday morning so he could be discharged and make it to the Races! With his leg plated, screwed, knee rebuilt and casted, he came in a Double Cab Pickup to watch the Races and be there for his Wife and two daughters who were all racing.
Scott Seppe is always the first Racer to the gate, waiting for the speedway to open every week. Scott comes to race. He always wins a Season Top 5 in points just by showing up! Being the Racer who hit Daniel was a tough thing to deal with and Scott is stalwart. His only concern was for Daniel. Having them both back at the Speedway was the epitome of the culture of Racing.
Daniel paraded the Flag while Announcer Ric Ryder sang Our National Anthem and was given a standing ovation as our Racing schedule began. On to the Races!
First I met an Official, Andrew Van Ardsall, Mgr George’s Son. Then I discovered that George gave over his Street Stock to Walt Henry after George had a crash at Accord Speedway and Walt’s other Race Car was damaged beyond repair. A lesser Man might’ve just said “Oh well”. I admire George for his integrity. Walt had given his regular Race Car over to his son, All Star Slingshot Walter Henry IV for his Rookie year. I had the pleasure of sitting with Mr. Ken Richardson who went to HS with Racer #86 Daryl DeBetta (who unfortunately couldn’t be here tonight after a wreck last week), goes back to the White Lake iteration of the Speedway as a Racer ans Crew Chief and is a big Fan of Thunderbolt Skip LaPolt and the Late Racers Lightning Bolt LaPolt, Skip’s Brother and Gary O’Donnell, Racer Larry L.O.D O’Donnell’s brother. We had some lively and informative conversation throughout the evening. Ken told me of the modifications to the track since he raced in the Strictly Stock Class and mentioned a few big names from the era while he was also a Pit Stewart.
In the Enduro Race Jesse Palmateer races in memory of his Grandfather and Rookie Enduro Racer Ashley Peters-Blume is racing her Grandmother’s Cadillac! Walt Henry is continuing his legacy in honor of his Mom and near everyone is Racing for someone no longer with us. Conversely, I got stickers from someone who is FINALLY with us this Season, the Chairman, J.W. Gannon in his newly built Street Stock #876. Glenn, Enerson and Kevin Cargain are all in the house tonight with Glenn and Kevin, former Truck Racers in Tonight’s two Street Stock Events. It’s a whirlwind of whimsy that promises to be exciting!
First up is the Les Quick Memorial Race held over from last week. On the pole as the race resumed around 6 laps in are Glenn Cargain and Rookie Leland Ofelien. Three wide starts the race off! Cargain holds the lead, Henry driving a new gray #171 but the engine has an issue. Henry won the Purre Stock Feature at ACCORD Speedway last night! He saves it rounding a turn and no caution until Captain Morgan and Scott Seppe get together. Both pit and are out for this Feature.
On the restart Henry lost power out of turn two and was swamped while Cargain is still holding off Ofelien for the lead. Henry pitted and DNF while Tucker Katz saw an opening around lap 8 and tried for the lead over Ofelien and Cargain by diving down low into turn 4 but couldn’t complete the pass. Not one but two Racers! With just five laps left Cargain is holding off Ofelien while Ofelien, concentrating on gaining the lead is simultaneously holding off Katz like snuffing out a candle. Then Cargain picks up some real estate and cruises to his first Feature Win ever ahead of ofelien, Katz, Big Money Bob Sleight and the Chairman J.W. Gannon! I ran down to Victory Lane to congratulate Glenn. The first thing I did was asking him how the race was and he replied “Exhausting”, hos fire soot drenched in sweat. It was quite a race! We did Les Quick proud!
The Beginner Bandoleros always start the Show. Tonight it’s Tori Miller and Levi Houghtaling (in a new, undercoated Race Car) on the pole when the green flag dropped. In the front stretch Miller spun and Houghtaling missed her by fractions of an inch! Or millimeters, whichever you prefer. Dad Charlie said “my heart came up in my throat, and He (Levi) is that good”! Will that play out?
As the Race continues Levi is just ahead of an invader #32 Johnny Lane! Then #4 Tori Miller spun out of turn 4 and gets clipped by Miller who couldn’t avoid him. Lane and Houghtaling take the last restart and Houghtaling has his hands full picking his lane and keeping (An actual) Lane behind him! On the last lap Lane chopped down Houghtaling out of turn one but lost it out of two and Houghtaling went on the Victory Lane, the first of the two Boys to be there tonight.
Not to be out done by his little brother, Easton Houghtalin who, in reality doesn’t think like that pairs up with one of the Smiths, Alyson Smith. Dad Charlie said Easton feels ready for a Street Stoch but Dad, not so much knowing Easton has the talent and Dad, remembering his own Rookie year as a Street Stock Racer is aware that it could be expensive so Easton has found work to pay his way in. At 15yo!
Off the Hop brother Smith, Jordan rallies behind Houghtaling for P2. Not long after the 4 file out as Houghtaling, Jordan, Boogie Bauernfiend and Alyson Smith. This continues with Easton Houghtaling joining his brother in Victory Lane after a Feature Win green to checkered!
There were just two Dirt Mods tonight and a repeat of last week between Ed The Magician Dachenhausen and Jaime Yannone. These two were neck and neck every time they race. This time at lap 5 Dachenhausen gained some real estate to an easy win over Yannone who DNF at lap 8 of 15 laps. That I think was a smart move since there was nothing to lose, why spend out the Race Car? Props to both Racers who bring talent to the Class and always make bigger races exciting.
Similarly the 4cyl Mod Feature was run with just two Racers-Jerry Kingetter and Tisha Curry. I approached Tisha and Kylee and thanked them for their loving support through the week their Dad Daniel was in the hospital and for all three showing up to race today in support of his recovery. Kingetter had the faster car and easily won the Race.
Then there were two (more). Sisters Kylee and Emily Curry took to the Track in the 4cyl Novice shootout with younger Sis Kylee taking the checkered for the second time over older Sis Emily but not easily.
Six BMS Mods hit the track for their Feature race headed by Mike Dudtka and Lightning Bolt Skip LaPolt. Dudtka, LaPolt and Dachenhausen take command far ahead of the Field. Then on lap 8 LaPolt broke and pitted, then returned.. A few laps after the restart Mike, Dachenhausen and Wile E. Coyote Cote are P1,2 and 3. The story remains the same but near the end Dachenhausen pulls something from up his sleeve and makes a move to take the lead from Dudtka and to win his second Feature of the Night followed by Dudtka, Cote, Lapolt and Fred Nees. Bill Deak Sr is sore from his car falling on him last week in the pits and bruised some ribs. He did well.
Ten cars were signed on for the Street Stock Race and we give 3 courtesy laps to Racers who pit or don’t make the entrance. We were waiting for J.W. Gannon who made the call by a Cat’s whisker! On the pole are Bob Sleight and Kevin Cargain. At the drop of the green calamity ensued on the front stretch when Kevin Cargain lost control and spun 180 with Race Cars scattering to avoid him. 4 ended up in the infield and Tucker Katz pitted with a bad right rear wheel. It was swapped out and back he came but it was evident the axle was bent severely. I heard an air gun under yellow and I think they tried replacing the axle but weren’t fast enough and the 84 DNF. It really took some phenomenal driving for this not to be a catastrophe.
Kevin Cargain pitted and returned. Walt Henry was flagged off for a dragging rt front fender. During the courtesy laps we went red. That gave Henry time to cut off the sheet metal. There must’ve been more wrong because it took a long time and Walt hadn’t returned. Prior to the Feature the Races were halted for a Medical Emergency. An 82yo Man had a Heart Attack down in front of me after the INEX Bando Feature and the stands were evacuated for his safety and privacy. At that time I went to the Pits and watched Walt fix his engine by replacing a weak fuel pump, something I’ve changed on 350 GM engines dozens of times. Oil seeps behind the diaphragm weakening it and eventually it tears. There’s a rod between the pump lever and the camshaft that usually falls and makes it more difficult to get it in the right place in order to seat the pump. Get it wrong and you’ll break the pump. Walt had his Pit Crew helping. They also changed the spark plugs. I told him to be careful with it because the car was going to be a rocket! Would I be right?
I couldn’t stand it any longer and just as i headed to the pit gate to see if Walt was going to miss the call to return he zoomed back onto the field! PHEW! He made it with only seconds remaining! The cause was when Walt was leading momentarily and got swamped out of turn 2 when he was enveloped in a three wide situation. It’s only lap three.
Sleight and Ofelien take command after the red restart. Henry went from dead last to 4th in two laps! I guess I was right. Chairman Gannon pitted and returned. Ofelien gains the lead over Sleight, then over Henry who has made it to P2 already. Henry was about to overtake Ofelien but was trapped behind a lap car and Ofelien got an advantage. That dissolved quickly and Ofelien the Rookie was left to hold off the Veteran Henry for the rest of the race. Ofelien made it to the checkered followed by Henry, Sleight and Glenn Cargain. Rest assured the future of our sport is in good hands with the Young Racers.
13 Cars entered the Enduro. 6 finished. Richard Smith pitted for a DNF. On the first lap Kingetter hit #7, one of the “Prestige Boys” after Jerry was ganged up on right away by a group of Racers. I will never condone that behavior no matter who it is. I’m ashamed of antics like that. Tempers fly. I get that. I’ve seen Racers be targeted. Oftentimes week after week. Sometimes Racers are banned. This has been a pain the the 4cyl Class since my first day in June 2017 and likely well before that. I want you all to check yourselves. If you target someone I’m going to be on it. Now I’ll get off my soap box. Jesse Palmateer was leading for the first eight of 76 laps with $776 to win. The best I could do is try to keep track of who DNF.
The #93 Nick Schiebe, a Camaro, one of two full chassis cars dropped into the infield, steaming. Then after about 15 minutes he re entered the race. The other is Miss. Ashley Peters-Blume racing Grandma’s donated and gutted Cadillac.Nick Schiebe is Ashley’s main squeeze. It wasn’t long before the heavy body bearing down on the left front in the turns started eating the tires and must’ve become a bear to control. Ashley made teo forays into this Race, her first Race was two weeks ago in our last Enduro and DNF both times. Look for my interview with her in theracingtimes.net in my Featured Column Women in Racing some time in the future.
Charles Weslowski’s rt front is bottoming on every turn, grinding away sheet metal and who knows what else. Richard Smith had laid claim to P2 until he DNF. Jesse Palmaterr held onto the lead from the get go. Weslowski’s car must’ve gotten lighter as whatever was dragging ground away until it was gone and then he took the lead over Palmateer. At Lap 69 with 7 laps to go it was Weslowski, Palmateer, Schiebe, 00, 08.
That’s my two bits. I’d like to congratulate the Bethel Mgt for the Safety Eqpt upgrade, Big thanks to all the People and First Responders who attended the Medical Emergency including Our Own EMTs and Mobile Medic. The 50/50 Raffle was dedicated the Daniel Curry. JW Gannon, Walter Henry IV and Leland Ofelien passed Helmets. The Winner of the 50/50 from the Pits who wished to remain anonymous donated his winnings to Daniel for a grand total of $1206! I also need to recognize the Culture here at Bethel Speedway. Scott Seppe is alone here. He got a flat in an incident and pitted. The entire Pits rushed to his aid. With the speed and coordination of a NASCAR Pit Crew, with love for Seppe after last week’s accident, changed that tire and sent him back out so quickly it was as if he never left the Track! Just like last week when Bill Deak Sr’s car fell on him and everyone rushed over, lifting the car off of him! We are so very proud of you all.
Stay safe everyone. We hope to see Daryl DeBetta back very soon. Until we meet again, keep those wheels turning!
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