Lanigan Scores Another Hard-Fought World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory At Independence Motor Speedway
Defending Tour Champ Finds Himself In Battle To Finish At Hawkeye State Track For Second Consecutive Year
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
INDEPENDENCE, IA – Aug. 5, 2013 – Wins don’t come easy for Darrell Lanigan at Independence Motor Speedway.
But they definitely come – as evidenced by his hard-fought march to victory in Monday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main that put him in the spotlight at the Hawkeye State track for the second consecutive year.
Lanigan, 43, of Union, Ky., battled forward from the seventh starting spot to take the lead from Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., on lap 37 and turned back a furious late challenge from local hero Chad Simpson of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, to secure his series-leading eighth triumph of the 2013 season.
Closely following his path he took to a narrow victory over Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., in last year’s WoO LMS feature at Independence, Lanigan couldn’t take a breath until the checkered flag finally flew over his Rocket Chassis machine.
“It was pretty tough out there,” said Lanigan, who earned $10,600 for his series-best 49th career win. “The track was just super-racy – and just to get the lead starting where we did, that was pretty good. Then we just had to hold on.”
Clanton, who led laps 14-36, overtook Simpson for the runner-up spot on a lap-44 restart and finished there, 0.860 of a second behind Lanigan. Simpson, who started from the pole position, settled for a career-best WoO LMS finish of third after leading laps 1-13 and having his late-race bid for victory stymied by the lap-44 caution flag that ultimately cost him second place.
Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., who scored his first-ever WoO LMS A-Main triumph on July 30 at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway, was steady from start-to-finish to place fourth in his first start at Independence. Outside-polesitter Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., completed the top five after rallying from the rear of the field because he pitted Larry Moring’s No. 1 on lap seven to check a vibration that he incorrectly thought was caused by a flat tire.
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Lanigan mastered the inside groove of the three-eighths-mile oval, using the lane to steady advance to the front. He swapped second place with Simpson twice before gaining control of the position on a lap-22 restart and rocketed by Clanton for the lead off the inside of turn four on lap 37 moments before a caution flag flew.
“We were really good in the bottom,” said Lanigan, who won for the first time since July 6 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (a span of six races). “We set the car up to traction up in the bottom and it definitely worked. We were really strong off of (turn) four on the bottom and got most of those guys coming off the corner.”
Clanton, 37, couldn’t stem Lanigan’s low-side charge.
“Darrell was just a little bit better on the bottom and snuck by me,” said Clanton, who hustled his Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car forward from the fourth starting spot. “I didn’t know I had to slow down that much in three and four (to run the inside). Maybe it would’ve been a different race if I did.”
Simpson, 34, emerged as Lanigan’s prime late-race threat. He sat third at the lap-37 caution flag, but he summoned some extra speed in his MasterSbilt car on the restart to pass Clanton and within two circuits was challenging Lanigan with high-side thrusts.
But just as Simpson appeared primed to make a final push for his first career WoO LMS victory, the race’s seventh and final caution flag, on lap 44, effectively snuffed out his hopes. He lost second to Clanton on the restart and never recovered.
“I didn’t need that last caution,” said Simpson. “I thought I had something for Darrell there at the end. He seemed to be slipping a little bit. He was riding the bottom down (in turns three and four) and I would get a heck of a run in one and two on him, but it is what it is. It’s our best Outlaw finish, so we’ll take it.”
Simpson did learn a valuable lesson from running with Lanigan and Clanton.
“I kind of screwed up the early part of the race and let these guys get by me,” said Simpson. “I didn’t drive hard enough. Once I followed them guys for a few laps I realized how hard they were driving and realized I had to push my stuff harder.”
Lanigan knew Simpson was chasing him late in the race, but he was confident enough to know that the Iowa driver would need to pull off a spectacular move to gain command.
“That top (lane) was way out there so really wasn’t worried too much about him,” said Lanigan. “I never did see him. I just ran my line and tried to be consistent.”
Both Lanigan and Clanton were able to find new life in the WoO LMS championship with their finishes thanks to the problems suffered by points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who followed a subpar qualifying effort (fourth place in a heat) with a rare DNF in the A-Main. Richards climbed to sixth place from the 13th starting spot in just 18 laps, but he spun in turn two on lap 22 while battling with Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., and stopped to bring out another caution on lap 37 due to a broken oil pump that left him with a 17th-place finish.
Richards’s woes shrunk his points lead to 48 over Clanton and 64 over Lanigan with 13 events remaining on the 2013 WoO LMS schedule.
Seven caution flags slowed the A-Main. Aside from Richards and O’Neal (slowed on lap seven), other drivers who brought out cautions were Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa (spun between turns one and two on lap one); Clay Fisher of Dewitt, Ark. (stopped on lap four); Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa (slid over the turn-one bank on lap 20); and Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (stopped on lap 44).
Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., registered an eventful sixth-place finish driving the Team Dillon car normally steered by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ty Dillon. After time-trialing on seven cylinders due to a broken rocker arm, the former WoO LMS struggled in the A-Main until a mid-race pit stop for a setup change propelled him from the rear of the field to the verge of a top-five finish.
Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., finished seventh after running fifth for much of the distance. Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., placed eighth, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., finished ninth and McCool rounded out the top 10.
Thirty-two cars were entered in the event, which was run on schedule despite heavy storms that deluged the Independence area early Monday morning.
Ohlins Shocks Time Trials were split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ groups, with the first half competing for starting positions in heats 1-2 and the second half racing against the clock to align heats 3-4.
Chad Simpson turned the overall fastest lap in qualifying, clicking off a circuit of 13.865 seconds in Group ‘B.’ It was his fourth career WoO LMS fast-time honor and marked the third consecutive year that he has set fast time at least once on the tour.
Heat winners were Clanton, Feger and Chad Simpson – all driving cars numbered 25 – and Satterlee. The B-Mains were captured by Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and Fisher.
The WoO LMS is idle until heading to Michigan for a doubleheader weekend on Aug. 16-17. Winston Speedway in Montague, Mich., will host the NAPA Auto Parts 50 Presented by Keyser Manufacturing on Fri., Aug. 16, and Merritt Raceway in Lake City, Mich., will present the NAPA Auto Parts 50 Presented by All-Star Performance on Sat., Aug. 17.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Independence Motor Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (7) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $5,600
3. (1) Chad Simpson/50 $3,500
4. (3) Gregg Satterlee/50 $2,600
5. (2) Don O’Neal/50 $2,000
6. (17) Dale McDowell/50 $1,750
7. (6) Jason Feger/50 $1,450
8. (11) Tim Fuller/50 $1,850
9. (9) Brandon Sheppard/50 $1,200
10. (10) Bub McCool/50 $1,800
11. (12) Rick Eckert/50 $1,700
12. (19) Chub Frank/50 $1,550
13. (24) Eric Wells/50 $1,750
14. (15) Curt Martin/50 $950
15. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,400
16. (22) Tyler Bruening/50 $850
17. (13) Josh Richards/37 $1,420
18. (5) Bobby Pierce/33 $750
19. (23) Tim McCreadie/22 $1,380
20. (8) Chris Simpson/21 $700
21. (25) Jason Rauen/14 $700
22. (18) Clay Fisher/3 $700
23. (20) Dillon Wood/3 $700
24. (16) Kyle Bronson/1 $700
25. (21) Morgan Bagley/1 $1,250
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 37 Mins., 53.727 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.860 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 7 (laps 1, 4, 7, 20, 22, 37, 44)
Lap Leaders: Chad Simpson (1-13); Clanton (14-36); Lanigan (37-50)
Provisional Starters: McCreadie, Wells (WoO); Rauen (track)
Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Chad Simpson ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
Group ‘A’
1. 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, GA 13.907
2. 25F-Jason Feger/Bloomington, IL 13.927
3. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 13.963
4. 32s-Chris Simpson/Oxford, IA 13.978
5. b5-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 14.014
6. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 14.064
7. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 14.068
8. 18W-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 14.152
9. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 14.159
10. 41-Dale McDowell/Chickamauga, GA 14.165
11. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 14.183
12. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 14.200
13. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.320
14. 40-Joel Callahan/Dubuque, IA 14.352
15. 51-Matt Furman/Columbus, OH 14.422
16. 78-Rick Wendling/Hazelton, IA 14.585
Group ‘B’
1. 25-Chad Simpson/Mt. Vernon, IA 13.865
2. 22-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 14.07
3. 45-Curt Martin/Independence, IA 14.072
4. 32-Bobby Pierce/Oakwood, IL 14.101
5. 1-Don O’Neal/Martinsville, IN 14.11
6. 40B-Kyle Bronson Tampa, FL 14.167
7. 16-Tyler Bruening/Decorah, IA 14.208
8. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 14.223
9. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 14.318
10. 1w-Dillon Wood/New Smyrna Beach, FL 14.32
11. 98-Jason Rauen/Farley, IA 14.397
12. 21d-Dan Stone/Thompson, PA 14.399
13. 99-Clay Fisher/Dewitt, AR 14.502
14. 22M-Charlie McKenna/Clear Lake, IA 14.618
15. 93-Jay Johnson/W. Burlington, IA 14.619
16. 5M-Mike Fryer/Freeport, IL 15.565
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Clanton, Lanigan, Sheppard, Richards, Frank, Bagley, McCreadie, Furman
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Feger, Chris Simpson, McCool, C. Smith, McDowell, Wells, Wendling, Callahan
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Chad Simpson, O’Neal, Fuller, Martin, Fisher, Rauen, Bruening, Johnson
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Satterlee, Pierce, Eckert, Bronson, McKenna, Fryer, Stone, Wood
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): McDowell, Frank, Bagley, Wells, Furman, Wendling, Callahan, McCreadie
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Fisher, Wood, Bruening, Fryer, Johnson, McKenna, Stone, Rauen
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Bub McCool
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Dale McDowell/Tyler Breuning
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Joel Callahan
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Darrell Lanigan
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Chad Simpson
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Shane Clanton
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 5th-place finish): Shane Clanton
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Shane Clanton
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Gregg Satterlee
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Gregg Satterlee
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Dale McDowell
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Jason Feger
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim Fuller
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Tyler Bruening
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Curt Martin
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Tyler Bruening
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Chris Simpson
QuarterMaster ($25 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McCreadie
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Chris Simpson
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Jason Rauen
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Shane Clanton
Reliable Painting Award (one free tire): Bub McCool
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 5 – 34 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 4694
2. Shane Clanton 4646 (-48)
3. Darrell Lanigan 4630 (-64)
4. Rick Eckert 4546 (-148)
5. Tim McCreadie 4362 (-332)
6. (tie) Eric Wells 4310 (-384)
6. (tie) Tim Fuller 4310 (-384)
8. Chub Frank 4240 (-454)
9. Bub McCool 4196 (-498)
10. Morgan Bagley 4188 (-506)
11. Clint Smith 3968 (-726)
12. Scott James 2046 (-2648)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.
LIVE UPDATES 8/5: World of Outlaws Late Model Series At Independence Motor Speedway
INDEPENDENCE, IA – Aug. 5, 2013 – A Midwest swing that began back on July 26 ends tonight for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series a a visit to Independence Motor Speedway.
A three-eighths-mile oval that is the only Iowa track on this year’s WoO LMS schedule, Independence is hosting the national tour for the third consecutive year. Josh Richards (2011) and Darrell Lanigan (2012) are past winners of the 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event.
For live blog-style updates including news, notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ button below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to read the latest information.
Back on track
10:30 p.m. CT – Darrell Lanigan ended the Midwest swing in fine fashion, coming from the seventh spot to win the 50-lap A-Main.
Lanigan passed Shane Clanton for the lead on lap 37 and turned back a late challenge from local favorite Chad Simpson to register his series-leading eighth victory of the season.
Clanton, who led laps 14-36, settled for second place after overtaking Simpson on a lap-44 restart. Simpson scored a career-best WoO LMS finish of third, Gregg Satterlee was steady from start-to-finish to place fourth and outside-polesitter Don O’Neal charged from the rear of the field after pitting on lap seven to finish fifth.
A-Main Finish: 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Shane Clanton, 3. Chad Simpson, 4. Gregg Satterlee, 5. Don O’Neal, 6. Dale McDowell, 7. Jason Feger, 8. Tim Fuller, 9. Brandon Sheppard, 10. Bub McCool, 11. Rick Eckert, 12. Chub Frank, 13. Eric Wells, 14. Curt Martin, 15. Clint Smith, 16. Tyler Breuning, 17. Josh Richards, 18. Bobby Pierce, 19. Tim McCreadie, 20. Chris Simpson, 21. Jason Rauen, 22. Clay Fisher, 23. Dillon Wood, 24. Kyle Bronson, 25. Morgan Bagley
A-Main set
9:10 p.m. CT – The 25-car A-Main field is complete after the running of the two B-Mains. Dale McDowell won the first over Chub Frank and Morgan Bagley, while Arkansas racer Clay Fisher earned his first-ever WoO LMS prelim victory in the second over Dillon Wood and Tyler Breuning.
WoO LMS provisionals have gone to Tim McCreadie, who has struggled in the follow-up to his USA Nationals triumph on Saturday night, and Eric Wells. Iowa’s Jason Rauen has also been added to the field as a track provisional.
The IMCA Modified B-Mains are currently taking place, but they are drawing to a close so the eight-minute horn to line up the WoO LMS A-Main is moments away from being blown.
A-Main Lineup:
Row 1: Chad Simpson/Don O’Neal
Row 2: Gregg Satterlee/Shane Clanton
Row 3: Bobby Pierce/Jason Feger
Row 4: Darrell Lanigan/Chris Simpson
Row 5: Brandon Sheppard/Bub McCool
Row 6: Tim Fuller/Rick Eckert
Row 7: Josh Richards/Clint Smith
Row 8: Curt Martin/Kyle Bronson
Row 9: Dale McDowell/Clay Fisher
Row 10: Chub Frank/Dillon Wood
Row 11: Morgan Bagley/Tyler Breuning
Row 12: Tim McCreadie/Eric Wells
Row 13: Jason Rauen
Hoping to use his broom
8:55 p.m. CT – Chad Simpson kept himself in line for a perfect night after drawing the pole position for the 50-lap A-Main. If he can pull off his first-ever WoO LMS triumph, he’ll accomplish the rare feat of sweeping an Outlaw program — fast, heat win and feature victory.
Don O’Neal will start second in the A-Main, two days after registering a runner-up finish in the USA Nationals. He’s another driver in search of his first career WoO LMS win.
Gregg Satterlee will start third, followed by Shane Clanton, Bobby Pierce, Jason Feger, Darrell Lanigan and Chris Simpson.
The twin 12-lap B-Mains (transferring three from each) are now underway.
Heat Race Notes
8:20 p.m. CT – Heat winners were Shane Clanton, Jason Feger, Chad Simpson and Gregg Satterlee…. Apparently ’25’ is running wild tonight – Clanton, Feger and Simpson all have that number on their car…. Six of the 11 WoO LMS regulars ended up racing together in the first heat. The only non-Outlaws in that prelim were Brandon Sheppard, who won last Thursday night’s WoO LMS A-Main at Cedar Lake Speedway, and Matt Furman…. Showing some uncanny consistency with lap times, the fastest circuit turned by each of the heat winners was in the 14.2-second bracket…. WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards had a rare off-night in time trials and managed just a fourth-place finish in his heat…. Dillon Wood thought an engine problem that developed during qualifying would force him to switch to a backup car, but his crew fixed the malady before the fourth heat. He then ended up in a tangle with Dan Stone that sent both drivers to the pit area with damage, including a shredded right-rear tire on Stone’s car. When Wood rolled past Stone’s trailer in the pit area after the incident, he revved his motor and flipped the bird to the Pennsy driver known as ‘Big Brother.’… WoO LMS rookie was late to the line for the second heat because his crew was working on a broken rearend piece after time trials. The rearend continued leaking after the prelim so his team has pulled out their backup car….
Complete orders of finish from the heats can be viewed by clicking here.
Quick Hawkeye
7:45 p.m. CT – Mt. Vernon, Iowa’s Chad Simpson was the overall fastest qualifier in time trials, turning a lap of 13.865 seconds in Group B to earn his fourth career WoO LMS fast-time honor. It marked the third consecutive year that he’s registered at least one WoO LMS fast time.
Shane Clanton was fastest in Group A with a lap of 13.907 seconds.
For full results from time trials, click here.
Iowa boys ready
7:15 p.m. CT – Two Hawkeye State racers started the night strong, timing among the top-five fastest drivers in hot laps. Chad Simpson topped the practice speed chart with a lap of 13.770 seconds and Independence’s own Curt Martin was fourth-fastest at 14.043 seconds.
Tim McCreadie was second-fastest at 13.991 seconds as he looks to carry his USA Nationals victory momentum to Iowa. Darrell Lanigan, who won last year’s WoO LMS show here, was third-fastest at 14.010 seconds and Jason Feger was fifth-fastest at 14.063 seconds.
Ohlins Shocks Time Trials are now on the track. The qualifying is split into two groups, with Group A competing for spots in Heats 1-2 and Group B going for positions in Heats 3-4.
Solid field
6:20 p.m. CT – With tonight’s drivers’ meeting underway at the WoO LMS trailer, 32 cars are signed in for action. Accenting the 11 WoO LMS regulars on hand are such challengers as Brandon Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Dale McDowell (driving the Team Dillon No. 41 usually steered by Richard Childress’s grandson Ty Dillon), Bobby Pierce, Jason Feger, Gregg Satterlee, Dan Stone, Chad and Chris Simpson, Jason Rauen, Charlie McKenna, Clay Fisher and Kyle Bronson.
Milestone
5:55 p.m. CT – When Pennsylvania’s Gregg Satterlee won last Tuesday night’s WoO LMS A-Main at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway, he made a bit of history. He became the 50th driver to win a WoO LMS feature since the national tour was restarted in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner.
Satterlee and his chief mechanic, former WoO LMS Crew Chief of the Year Robby Allen, remained on the road after the USA Nationals to compete in tonight’s program. He’s one of two Pennsylvania drivers making a first-ever start at Independence, joining two-time WoO LMS career winner Dan Stone.
Fans of Dan
5:45 p.m. CT – The WoO LMS stop at Independence is always a big deal for Danny White, Rick Eckert’s second crewman. He’s from Dubuque, Iowa, just an hour east of the track, so tonight’s program provides him a rare opportunity to see some familiar faces.
White’s family and friends decided to show their support of the smiling mechanic this year by printing up bright-orange ‘Dan Fan’ t-shirts, complete with photos of White on both the front and back.
There’s no word, though, if the ‘Dan Fan’ t-shirts will end up being sold at the WoO LMS merchandise trailer…..
Old school
5:40 p.m. CT – Chris Simpson, who along with his brother Chad rank as Iowa’s top hopes for victory in tonight’s action, arrived at the track a short time ago in a very conspicuous way. He left his huge hauler at his shop and made the half-hour tow to Independence with an open trailer.
According to Simpson, he often uses his open trailer for shows close to home. He decided to use it tonight as well after having a DOT issue with his big hauler last week near Independence while on his way to Cedar Lake Speedway.
Date with a doctor
5:15 p.m. CT – With tonight’s program representing the last of 11 straight days on the road for most of the WoO LMS teams, everyone is ready to head home. No one, however, has more mixed emotions about returning to their residence than Bob Miller, the crew chief on Rick Eckert’s car.
Considering that Miller had to spend several hours in a New Richmond, Wis., hospital last Friday because he experienced a gall-bladder attack during the USA Nationals, he certainly wants to get home to his family doctor for further treatment. But since that means he’ll have to undergo surgery to remove his gall bladder, the prospect of going home has its downside as well.
Miller, of course, wants to take care of his gall-bladder malady — Friday’s attack was actually his second this summer; in late June he had to go to a Canadian hospital when he was stricken on the way to a WoO LMS event at Brighton (Ont.) Speedway — so he’s scheduled to visit his doctor on Wednesday morning. He’ll likely have surgery soon after that and hopes he’ll be recovered sufficiently to do his tire-prep duties during the next WoO LMS swing on Aug. 16-17 in Michigan.
Ready for racing
4:35 p.m. CT – Independence Motor Speedway was struck by an intense thunderstorm this morning around sunrise — winds whipped trees (several were knocked down in town) and about an inch of rain fell in a short period of time — but all systems are go for tonight’s action. Skies are brightening at this very moment and radar indicates that the threat of rain has subsided.
The track crew has to do a bit of extra work on the racing surface thanks to the rain and there’s some large collections of water in the infield, but the pit area is surprisingly dry in the wake of the downpour.
