Smith bests stout field at Lincoln Park Speedway

Sunday, August 23, 2009

By CAREY FOX, For the Banner Graphic

PUTNAMVILLE -- The pits at Lincoln Park Speedway were full on Saturday night as 110 race cars unloaded for the evening's racing action.

There were 36 sprint cars on hand including veteran hotshoe, Jon Stanbrough, who hustled back from a runner-up finish in the Tony Bettenhausen 100 Silver Crown event on the Springfield mile earlier in the afternoon. Shane Hollingsworth also made the trip back to central Indiana for a run at a sprint car feature win at LPS.

With Paragon Speedway taking the night off, a number of their regulars joined the fray including Eric Smith, who ran second in a stacked heat race that included Billy Puterbaugh (fourth), Jon Stanbrough (fifth) and as well as Kenny Carmichael Jr. amongst others.

Stanbrough's finish left him one spot short of a transfer spot to the A-Main and sent him to a spot in the B-Main.

Stanbrough wasn't about to make the long trip back from Illinois and not make the show as he claimed the B-Main victory ahead of a hard charging Todd Kimmell, who beat out Jeff Wimmenauer to the line for the final transfer spot in the first 'B'. In the second race, Kenny Carmichael Sr. made the feature along with Ricky Williams.

Ray Humphrey claimed a heat race victory along with Seth Parker and Chase Stockon.

Shawn Krockenberger and Smith lined up in the front row for the feature ahead of Hollingsworth and Kent Christian.

At the wave of the green, Smith took the point followed by Krockenberger followed by last week's winner, Kyle Cummins.

Stanbrough, who started 17th in the field, began to work his way through traffic in a methodically charge to the front.

Smith was smooth in building a solid lead before Hollinsworth and Stockon got together in turn one to bring out the yellow and end both of their evenings.

On the restart, Smith again pulled out to a comfortable lead as Cummings grabbed the second spot as Mark Perry III joined the mix at the front. Kent Christian and Humphrey were holding down top-five positions ahead of Parker. Christian and Humphrey duked it out side-by-side for several laps as Christian had the bottom of the track hooked up with Humphrey riding the cushion at the top. Ahead of them, Perry and Krockenberger were putting on their own show in a battle for third.

Christian lost a couple of spots when he nearly got sideways coming out of turn four. Puterbaugh got past with a bold move past Christian and Humphrey on the bottom. Perry and Krockenberger were wheel to wheel, thrilling the crowd. Parker and Troy Link also joined the battle for a top-five spot, dogging Humphrey.

As Smith wound his way into lapped traffic, Cummins closed the gap with Perry waging a battle for third with Krockenberger and Puterbaugh who had come forward from 15th at the start.

A late caution reset the field and gave Cummins another shot at taking the lead, but Perry wasn't going to go away. He took the opportunity on the caution and dove under Cummins for the second position. However, he slipped off the track on the backstretch and Cummins re-took the position. Cummins then returned the favor by jumping the cushion off turn four as Perry grabbed second. Behind them, Puterbaugh was closing in ahead of Christian and the charging Stanbrough. Ricky Williams had flashed through the field from 20th starting position to ninth.

Up front however, Smith was holding fast to the lead as the white flag came out. Coming out of turn four, he caught a bit of a hole and hopped through the corner as Perry came roaring up behind him. However, Smith regained his momentum in time to cross the finish line in the top spot in the Personal Lawn Care, MS Rentals sponsored machine.

Perry stayed in second ahead of Cummins, Puterbaugh, Christian, Stanbrough, Krockenberger, Parker, Williams and Link.

In the modified feature, Brian Hayden wasn't about to give up his win streak without a fight.

BJ McCammon started on the pole alongside Hayden and the two raced door-to-door over the early laps of the race along with Bradley Sterrett and Paul Bumgardner. Travis Shoulders and Bumgardner were side-by-side for several laps as well before Bumgardner completed the pass.

Hayden meanwhile grabbed the lead coming off turn four as Sterrett and McCammon were battling for second position. Bumgardner worked his way into the fray alongside McCammon heading down the backstretch. Bumgardner slipped underneath McCammon and was alongside him for third before he jumped his wheel and the two cars became entangled in turn four.

A redflag stopped the race as wreckers got the two cars apart with McCammon's night ending with a flat tire and Bumgardner going to the back of the field.

On the restart, Hayden pulled out to a small lead over Sterrett with Shoulders in third-place ahead of Chad Combs and Jimmy Hayden and Chase Sterrett.

Hayden maintained the lead, but it was shrinking with five laps to go as he nursed the Cyclone Custom Products, Ottawa Instant Homes, Indiana Open Wheel sponsored machine through the final laps with a broken rear end.

Hayden stayed on the gas however and was able to hold onto the point through the last couple of laps to win his third straight feature at LPS ahead of Bradley Sterrett, Shoulders, Combs and Roger Cary. Bumgardner came back through the field for sixth ahead of Chase Sterrett, Josh Fagg, Paul Wright and Tres Mehler.

In the UMP Super Stock feature, Kris Starks started on the pole and was holding onto a small lead ahead of Chris Hillman as the two entered lapped traffic. Starks chose the high line, but was held up by a lapped car as Hillman dove underneath late in the feature to take over the lead after an exciting battle for the lead. Kenny Carmichael Jr. held third-place ahead of Jake Byers and Slick Griffin late in the race.

With four laps to go there was a caution that set the stage for the charge to the finish line.

On the restart, Hillman continued to hold onto the lead the rest of the way for the victory in the Mooresville Citizen's Bank, Kay Hardwood Floors, Red Barrell Liquors No. 11 powered by a Williams Precision Engine.

Starks maintained second followed by Carmichael Jr., Byers, Griffin, Joe Starks, Travis Heramb, Doug McCullough, Mark Dickerson and Anthony Walker.

In the final feature of the night, Dustin Shoulders gained the lead in traffic and was able to hold off a late challenge from C.J. Bryan at the wire. Josh Fagg came home a close third ahead of Chad Nolte and Ron Smith. Jordan Almanza was sixth followed by Josh Settles, Tony Cochnour, Ron Wallen Jr. and Dale Lewis.

A regular show of sprint cars, modifieds, super stocks and bombers is on tap for this weekend at LPS.

Lincoln Park Speedway

Sprint car feature

1. Eric Smith, 2. Mark Perry III, 3. Kyle Cummins, 4. Billy Puterbaugh, 5. Kent Christian, 6. Jon Stanbrough, 7. Shawn Krockenberger, 8. Seth Parker, 9. Ricky Williams, 10. Troy Link, 11. Michael Severs, 12. Ray Humphrey, 13. Rick Vaughn, 14. Cam Schafer, 15. Kenny Carmichael Sr., 16. Michael Fischesser, 17. Dene McAllan, 18. Todd Kimmell, 19. Shane Hollingsworth, 20. Chase Stockon

B-main winner: Jon Stanbrough, Kenny Carmichael Sr.

Heat winners: Ray Humphrey, Seth Parker, Kyle Cummins, Chase Stockon

UMP Modified feature

1. Brian Hayden, 2. Bradley Sterrett, 3. Travis Shoulders, 4. Chad Combs, 5. Roger Cary, 6. Paul Bumgardner, 7. Chase Sterrett, 8. Josh Fagg, 9. Paul Wright, 10. Tres Mehler, 11. Dan Lewellen, 12. Albert Gardner, 13. Carlos Bumgardner Sr., 14. Karl Roethemeier, 15. Roger Mills, 16. Jimmy Hayden, 17. B.J. McCammon, 18. Phil VanSant, 19. Doug Bryant Jr., 20. Kenny Carmichael Sr.

B-main winner: Roger Cary

Heat winners: Bradley Sterrett, Kenny Carmichael Sr., Brian Hayden

UMP Super Stock feature

1. Chris Hillman, 2. Kris Starks, 3. Kenny Carmichael Jr., 4. Jake Byers, 5. Slick Griffin, 6. Joe Starks, 7. Travis Heramb, 8. Doug McCullough, 9. Mark Dickerson, 10. Anthony Walker, 11. Joe Whisler, 12. Randy Newport, 13. Dennis Morgan, 14. Larry Babbs, 15. Mike Callahan, 16. Jim Moore, 17. Matt Jordan, 18. Gary Archer, 19. Raymond Crone, 20. Michael Conner

Heat winners: Kenny Carmichael Jr., Travis Heramb, Jake Byers

Bomber feature

1. Dustin Shoulders, 2. C.J. Bryan, 3. Josh Fagg, 4. Chad Nolte, 5. Ron Smith, 6. Jordan Almanza, 7. Josh Settles, 8. Tony Cochnenour, 9. Ron Wallen Jr., 10. Dale Lewis, 11. Barry Hicks, 12. David Burkett, 13. Bradley Crone, 14. Cullen Sandusky, 15. David Wallen, 16. Chuck Walden, 17. Josh Presley, 18. Richard Watkins, 19. Sean Yakel, 20. Ryan Freeland