Search
Close this search box.

• Lanigan Rallies For ‘Down & Dirty 100’ Win

092212 BerlinVL

Lanigan Executes Dramatic Late-Race Pass Of Moyer To Capture Keyser Manufacturing ‘Down & Dirty 100’ Presented by NAPA

Record-Setting Driver Celebrates Unprecedented Third 100-Lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series Win Of ’12 In Victory Lane Downpour At Berlin Raceway

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

MARNE, MI – Sept. 22, 2012 – Darrell Lanigan’s drive to victory in Saturday night’s Keyser Manufacturing ‘Down & Dirty 100’ Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Berlin Raceway was so dramatic, even he couldn’t hold back his excitement.

With rain pouring down on the Victory Lane celebration, the normally reserved driver from Union, Ky., was as pumped as the big crowd that watched him rally to overtake Billy Moyer for the lead on lap 95 and bag his unprecedented third 100-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series triumph of 2012.

“Unbelievable,” a visibly overjoyed Lanigan said after his WoO LMS record 15th win of the season. “Man, what a race! That car came on there at the end. I could just run wide open almost all the way around the racetrack.”

Lanigan, 42, appeared dead in the water after a lap-30 scrape damaged his Rocket car’s right-rear corner and dropped him from second to sixth, but he came alive with a late-race charge that carried him to a $20,650 win in the first dirt event since 1965 at the historic Berlin track. The renowned 7/16th-mile paved oval was covered with over 300 truckloads of clay for the big weekend of racing.

After pulling away from Batesville, Ark.’s Moyer following a lap-96 restart to win by 2.978 seconds, Lanigan had high praise for Berlin’s newly-laid track surface.

“That track was amazing,” said Lanigan, who recorded his record 41st career victory on the WoO LMS. “Man, we could race all over that thing. It was smooth and slick – just unbelievable.

“I think they need to do this to all asphalt tracks – put dirt on top of it, and once a year we’ll go racing.”

{vimeo}49997126{/vimeo}

Moyer, who turns 55 next month, advanced from the fourth starting spot to lead laps 23-94 but settled for a runner-up finish in his Victory Circle car. He couldn’t stick with Lanigan following the race’s final restart but managed to outrun Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who finished third in his Team Zero by Bloomquist car after starting from the outside pole and briefly slipping out of the top five midway through the A-Main.

Polesitter Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., led laps 1-22 but fell to fourth at the finish in a Kennedy Motorsports Capital Race Car that was plagued by left-front nosepiece damage sustained on lap seven while he was lapping former NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson Jr. Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., completed the top five in his Rocket car, which he started from the 23rd spot because he used a provisional after forfeiting his heat-race transfer position for weighing in light at the scales.

Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., finished sixth after starting 12th and climbing as high as second. He challenged Moyer for the lead just before the race’s first caution flag flew on lap 46 but he didn’t threaten again and faded after losing second to Clanton on lap 68.

Lanigan, who started ninth, experienced a fade of his own after his car sustained right-rear bodywork damage on the 30th lap as he overtook Clanton for second, but he was able to right his sinking ship in time to pull off another big-race triumph.

“We got going toward the beginning of the race and got to second and then I got my quarter-panel knocked up,” said Lanigan. “Man, I’m telling ya, I went from second to like sixth or seventh real quick. Then I had a caution (on lap 46) and (a WoO LMS official) straightened that quarter panel back out (as allowed by series rules), and man, it was back on again.

“I didn’t really know the quarter-panel was bent up like it was, so man, I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew I was terrible for some reason. They straightened it out and it was good again.”

More than good enough, in fact, to propel Lanigan forward in stirring fashion with the event winding down. He cracked the top five on lap 69, then passed Fuller for fourth on lap 86, Clanton for third on lap 89 and Eckert for second a couple circuits later.

The last driver on Lanigan’s hit list was Moyer, who succumbed to the Bluegrass Bandit’s assault on lap 95. Lanigan surged underneath Moyer rounding turns three and four and vaulted ahead off the corner.

“Billy slipped up and little getting into three and left the bottom open,” said Lanigan. “Because I was fast through the middle of that corner, I was like, ‘Man, you’re in trouble now.’ I just put it in there and got by him.”

Moyer felt that Lanigan’s deciding pass was a bit aggressive, but he conceded that he was likely a sitting duck. The legendary driver found himself struggling during the final circuits after banging together entering turn one on lap 83 with the lapped car driven by Duane Treadwell of LaGrange, Ga.

“My car was really good until right there at the end,” said Moyer. “What happened that caused it to where (Lanigan) could even get in sight was when we got together with the 55 car and tore my right door up. It wasn’t the same car after that. There was a big hole in the door, and that must made the car a lot looser everywhere.

“(Lanigan) was a little better than we were at the end, yeah, but he could’ve passed me without running over me. Look at my left door – it’s caved in 12 inches.”

Lanigan’s victory pushed his 2012 WoO LMS earnings over the $300,000 mark and also virtually assured him of another $100,000 check for winning his second career tour title. With a 210-point over Eckert, Lanigan can clinch the championship by merely finishing at least 26th in the season’s four remaining A-Mains.

Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., finished seventh in Mark Richards’s Rocket Chassis house. He ran as high as fourth after starting 15th, but he slowed with a flat tire to bring out the race’s fourth and final caution flag, on lap 96, and rallied over the final tours.

Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., was a quiet eighth; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., limped home ninth after folding his car’s right-front bumper when he caught a hole in turn two while bidding for fifth place on lap 98; and Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y. completed the top 10.

The most high-profile contender to retire early from the 100 was Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who spun out of third place on lap 46 after he clipped an inside marker tire off turn two. He attempted to return after a pit stop but pulled off on lap 53 because his car’s bumper was folded under.

Thirty-two cars were signed in for the event, which was completed in one day after rain washed out Friday night’s scheduled qualifying program. Saturday’s show was run under a threat of rain but the showers stayed away until the skies opened just after Lanigan took the checkered flag.

Eckert was quickest in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, blazing around the D-shaped track in 15.433 seconds to earn his fourth fast-time honor 2012.

Heat winners were Eckert, Moyer and Coffey, and Ryan VanderVeen of Six Lakes, Mich., captured the B-Main.

The next action for the WoO LMS will come during NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI with a visit on Thurs., Oct. 4, to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, N.Y.

Results of WoO Late Model Series Keyser Manufacturing ‘Down & Dirty 100’ Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Berlin Raceway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

1. (9) Darrell Lanigan/100 $20,650
2. (4) Billy Moyer/100 $10,200
3. (2) Rick Eckert/100 $6,650
4. (1) Shane Clanton/100 $5,550
5. (23) Clint Smith/100 $4,550
6. (12) Tim Fuller/100 $3,550
7. (15) Brandon Sheppard/100 $2,800
8. (5) Dennis Erb Jr./100 $2,600
9. (8) Chub Frank/100 $2,850
10. (6) Vic Coffey/100 $2,650
11. (14) Mike Spatola/99 $2,450
12. (17) Duane Treadwell/97 $1,800
13. (24) Eric Spangler/96 $1,800
14. (22) Brad Harden/94 $1,700
15. (19) Ryan VanderVeen/94 $1,600
16. (11) Pat Doar/90 $2,130
17. (16) Rich Neiser/81 $1,610
18. (18) Bub McCool/57 $2,340
19. (7) Tim McCreadie/53 $2,170
20. (3) Kent Robinson/33 $2,050
21. (20) Tom Sprague Jr./25 $1,500
22. (10) Jeep VanWormer/11 $1,500
23. (21) Johnny Benson Jr./9 $1,500
24. (13) Curt Spalding/2 $1,550

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

Time of Race: 43 Mins., 19.976 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 2.978 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 46, 51, 58, 96)
Lap Leaders: Clanton (1-22); Moyer (23-94); Moyer (95-100)
Provisional Starters: C. Smith, Spangler
Rookie of the Race: McCool ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Spatola ($500)

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

1. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.433
2. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.939
3. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 15.998
4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.027
5. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.214
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.248
7. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.266
8. 89-Mike Spatola/Manhattan, IL 16.336
9. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 16.413
10. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.501
11. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.513
12. 1-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 16.532
13. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 16.602
14. 55-Duane Treadwell/LaGrange, GA 16.704
15. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.756
16. 111-Curt Spalding/Hartford, MI 16.796
17. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.919
18. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 16.937
19. 15-Rich Neiser/Fruitport, MI 16.952
20. 23V-Ryan VanderVeen/Six Lakes, MI 17.152
21. 10-Johnny Benson Jr./Charlotte, NC 17.154
22. 22-Doug Ausra/Dowagiac, MI 17.205
23. 15A-Phil Ausra/Dowagiac, MI 17.348
24. 27-Eric Spangler/Lake City, MI 17.401
25. 21s-Tom Sprague Jr./Muskegon, MI 17.483
26. 52x-Brad Harden/Ovid, MI 17.627
27. 20-Kody Weisner/Lima, OH 17.983
28. 51-Dale Sheehy/Twin Lakes, MI 18.105
29. 32-Ross Meeuwsen/Zeeland, MI 18.227
30. 66-Curt Mesman/Grand Rapids, MI 18.321
31. 3-Scott Wenell/Muskegon, MI 18.345
32. 71e-Pat Ehlert/Ovid, MI 18.926

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Eckert, Erb, McCreadie, VanWormer, Spalding, Neiser, D. Ausra, Sprague, Sheehy, Wenell (DQ) C. Smith

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Moyer, Clanton, Frank, Doar, Spatola, Treadwell, VanderVeen, P. Ausra, Harden, Ehlert, Meeuwsen

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Coffey, Robinson, Lanigan, Fuller, Sheppard, McCool, Benson, Weisner, Mesman, Spangler

B-Main (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): VanderVeen, Sprague, Benson, Harden, Smith, D. Ausra, P. Ausra, Spangler, Weisner, Sheehy, Mesman, Meeuwsen, Ehlert (DNS) Wenell

World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners:

Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 product certificate to 23rd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Eric Spangler
Armor All (one case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Billy Moyer
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Eric Spangler
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Vic Coffey
Comp Cams ($50 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Billy Moyer
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Mike Spatola
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Tom Sprague Jr.
Gravely ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 16th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Pat Doar
JE Pistons (one compete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 11th-place finisher or next highest w/decal – $285 value): Mike Spatola
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher or next highest w/decal – $285 value): Tom Sprague Jr.
Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher or next highest finisher): Rich Neiser
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Billy Moyer
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Curt Spalding
Ohlins Pole Award ($50 cash to fast qualifier or next highest w/decal): Rick Eckert
Quartermaster ($100 product certificate to A-Main winner or next highest w/decal): Billy Moyer
Quartermaster ($50 product certificate to 5th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Tim Fuller
Quartermaster ($25 product certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Ryan VanderVeen
Roush-Yates Performance Products ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Brandon Sheppard
Roush-Yates Performance Products (carburetor repair kit to 18th-place finish in A-Main or next highest w/decal – $100 value): Tom Sprague Jr.
Roush-Yates Lap Leader Award (one pair of Wiley X Sunglasses to driver who leads most laps in A-Main): Billy Moyer
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Billy Moyer
SuperFlow ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Brad Harden
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to 9th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Chub Frank
VP Racing Fuels ‘Nice Jugs Award’ (one VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main or next highest with decal – $30 value): Phil Ausra
WIX Filters ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Eric Spangler
Wrisco Aluminum (three sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner if decal displayed – $200 value): Darrell Lanigan
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 8th-place finisher in A-Main or next highest w/decal): Dennis Erb Jr.
XS ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Darrell Lanigan

2012 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Sept. 22 – 36 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):

1. Darrell Lanigan 5056
2. Rick Eckert 4846 (-210)
3. Shane Clanton 4664 (-392)
4. Tim McCreadie 4596 (-460)
5. Chub Frank 4586 (-470)
6. Clint Smith 4496 (-560)
7. Bub McCool 4458 (-598)
8. Vic Coffey 4382 (-674)
9. Tim Fuller 4276 (-780)
10. Pat Doar 4136 (-920)
11. Kent Robinson 4060 (-996)
12. Jack Sullivan 3474 (-1582)
13. John Lobb 2422 (-2634)
14. Jill George 2370 (-2686)
15. Mike Marlar 1966 (-3090)

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Gravely Tractors (Official Lawn Equipment), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), 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, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filter, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Longacre, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.

092212 BerlinLive

LIVE UPDATES 9/22: World of Outlaws Late Model Series At Berlin Raceway

MARNE, MI – Sept. 22, 2012 – The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is set to run a historic event tonight, contesting the Keyser Manufacturing ‘Down & Dirty 100’ presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Berlin Raceway.

A 7/16th-mile asphalt track that has been covered with over 300 truckloads of clay, Berlin is hosting its first dirt race since 1965. The complete WoO LMS program — time trials, heats, B-Mains and 100-lap A-Main paying $20,000 to win — is scheduled for tonight after last night’s qualifying card was rained out.

For live updates of all the news, pit notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ link below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to see the latest information.

Darrell does it again

11:15 p.m. – Darrell Lanigan is still in a rainy Berlin Raceway pit area, celebrating a victory in the ‘Down & Dirty 100’ that got even the normally reserved Kentuckian riled up.

In a race that saw a downpour hit just moments after the checkered flag, Lanigan pulled off a dramatic lap-95 pass of Billy Moyer to register his record 15th triumph of 2012. The $20,000 win marked his third in a 100-lap WoO LMS A-Main this season — another record.

‘Down & Dirty 100’ Finish: 1. Darrell Lanigan, 2. Billy Moyer, 3. Rick Eckert, 4. Shane Clanton, 5. Clint Smith, 6. Tim Fuller, 7. Brandon Sheppard, 8. Dennis Erb Jr., 9. Chub Frank, 10. Vic Coffey, 11. Mike Spatola, 12. Duane Treadwell, 13. Eric Spangler, 14. Brad Harden, 15. Ryan VanderVeen, 16. Pat Doar, 17. Rich Neiser, 18. Bub McCool, 19. Tim McCreadie, 20. Kent Robinson, 21. Tom Sprague Jr., 22. Jeep VanWormer, 23. Johnny Benson Jr., 24. Curt Spalding

Anticipation builds

9:20 p.m. – With the completion of the 12-lap B-Main won by Ryan VanderVeen (other transfers included Tom Sprague Jr., Johnny Benson Jr. and Brad Harden) and the addition of provisional starters Clint Smith and Eric Spangler, the 24-car A-Main field is set.

Scattered showers are still popping up across Michigan, so officials have moved the Down & Dirty 100 to first in the tonight’s feature lineup. The eight-minute horn has been blown and teams are making final preparations.

Down & Dirty 100 Lineup:

Row 1: Shane Clanton/Rick Eckert
Row 2: Kent Robinson/Billy Moyer
Row 3: Dennis Erb Jr./Vic Coffey
Row 4: Tim McCreadie/Chub Frank
Row 5: Darrell Lanigan/Jeep VanWormer
Row 6: Pat Doar/Tim Fuller
Row 7: Curt Spalding/Mike Spatola
Row 8: Brandon Sheppard/Rich Neiser
Row 9: Duane Treadwell/Bub McCool
Row 10: Ryan VanderVeen/Tom Sprague Jr.
Row 11: Johnny Benson Jr./Brad Harden
Row 12: Clint Smith/Eric Spangler

Starting spots set

9 p.m. – Shane Clanton drew the pole position for the 100-lap A-Main, but he’ll have some fast company on his right flank: Rick Eckert will start from the outside pole.

Kent Robinson drew the third starting spot for the feature, Billy Moyer will go from fourth, Dennis Erb Jr. picked fifth and Vic Coffey grabbed sixth.

With the redraw conducted at the WoO LMS trailer to save time with rain still a threat, Coffey could only shake his head and stomp off in anger after drawing the worst number in the bucket. He had said moments earlier that he picked a number six twice recently when he had a fast car and made the redraw and was hoping to avoid that fate tonight.

Coffey’s poor draw means he’ll have to work a little harder to win his coveted first-ever WoO LMS A-Main. He’s currently winless in 142 career feature starts on the tour.

He’s fast

8:30 p.m. – Rick Eckert continued to blaze around Berlin Raceway in heat action, winning the first of three 10-lap preliminaries. His fast lap of 15.709 seconds was the quickest single circuit of the heats.

Billy Moyer and Vic Coffey also emerged victorious in heat races, putting both drivers in the redraw for the top-six starting spots in the ‘Down & Dirty 100.’ Joining the three heat winners for the draw will be heat runners-up Dennis Erb Jr., Shane Clanton and Kent Robinson.

The biggest news of the heats was the disqualification of Clint Smith, who lost his apparent fourth-place finish in the first prelim because he weighed in light at the scales. His DQ moved Michigan’s Rich Neiser into a transfer spot.

Mike Spatola, meanwhile, was the victim of the qualifying races’ most notable scramble. He was running third with two laps remaining when he got caught up behind the slower asphalt Late Model driven by Berlin track champ Ross Meeuwsen and nearly lost control of his machine on the homestretch, allowing Chub Frank and Pat Doar to slip by and finish third and fourth, respectively. Spatola settled for a fifth-place finish.

Complete heat finishes can be seen here.

Still looking good

7:40 p.m. – Rick Eckert stamped himself as a favorite this weekend by timing fastest in three of four practice sessions on Thursday. He showed in tonight’s Ohlins Shocks Time Trials that he’s only gotten faster.

With a blistering circuit of 15.433 seconds, Eckert earned his fourth fast-time honor of 2012. He stopped the clock more than a half-second faster than Billy Moyer, who timed second-fastest at 15.939 seconds.

Vic Coffey was third-fastest at 15.998 seconds, proving again that he excels on big racetracks. Dennis Erb Jr. timed fourth at 16.027 seconds and Shane Clanton was fifth at 16.214 seconds.

For full results from time trials, click here.

Going faster

7:10 p.m. – WoO LMS hot laps revealed a Berlin track surface that has picked up speed from Thursday’s open practice. With more moisture in the speedway thanks to overnight rain and a largely overcast afternoon, Dennis Erb Jr. was quickest tonight at 15.892 seconds — nearly a full second faster than the top lap on Thursday.

Rick Eckert, who was fastest in three of the four practice sessions on Thursday, timed second-fastest in tonight’s hot laps at 15.946 seconds. Billy Moyer was third-fastest (15.984), followed by Darrell Lanigan (16.009) and Vic Coffey (16.018).

Ohlins Shocks Time Trials are now underway…

Couldn’t miss this

7 p.m. – Johnny Benson Jr. – a former NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series champion and Sprint Cup Series regular – grew up watching his father win six titles at Berlin Raceway and was once part of the track’s promotional team. So even though he hasn’t been a dirt racer for nearly three decades, there was no way he was going to miss the speedway’s historic return to dirt this weekend.

A native of nearby Grand Rapids, Mich., Benson (pictured below) secured a ride in Michigan driver Dave Hartman’s dirt Late Model to actively participate in the ‘Down & Dirty 100.’

“The reason I wanted to do this is because it’s Berlin Raceway,” said Benson, a 49-year-old who calls Charlotte, N.C., home. “I’ve supported this track for many, many years, and I still come up here and race the (asphalt Super) Late Models a few times a year. I thought being able to be part of the dirt history here is pretty neat.”

The extent of Benson’s dirt Late Model experience includes three years of competition at Michigan’s Thunderbird and I-96 speedways at the start of his racing career; starts at Missouri’s Sedalia and I-55 ovals 12 years ago; and a start in Hartman’s car five weeks ago at Michigan’s Thunderbird Raceway “to see if I wanted to come do this.” As a result, he’s not expecting his familiarity with Berlin to be much of an asset tonight.

“I was figuring that from at least knowing the facility, you’d kind of know what you had to do to get around the track (on dirt),” said Benson. “But there’s nothing about driving around here that’s anything I thought it was gonna be. It’s very different. When you’re out there the appearance looks the same, but obviously, the way these cars drive, you’re not gonna drive the track the same. They got (inside) tires out there so we can’t run where we’d normally run on asphalt, especially in four.”

092212 Benson

Ready to go

6:25 p.m. – A field of 32 dirt Late Models is signed in for action, which will begin with hot laps momentarily. UMP Modifieds are currently on the racetrack for a practice session.

Sun has been poking out intermittently over the past several hours. There will be cool autumn conditions after sunset, but it’s looking more and more like precipitation will avoid Berlin Raceway.

Trying the dirt

4:55 p.m. – Ross Meeuwsen has won four of the last five Super Late Model championships on Berlin’s asphalt, including the 2012 crown. The 54-year-old from Zeeland, Mich., has never raced on dirt in his 22-year career, but with clay covering his hometrack he’s decided to get dirty tonight — with his Port City pavement car, no less

Meeuwsen decided to give the WoO LMS event a shot after checking out Thursday’s practice session. He brought his car here this afternoon and conferred with tour tech director Jim Harrah concerning its legality. Harrah determined that he could enter the action with a limited amount of changes to his car.

The most noticeable difference between Meeuwsen’s car and a typical dirt Late Model is its weight. Normally 2,700 pounds, he’s been able to get it down to 2,580 pounds by removing lead — still nearly 300 pounds above the minimum WoO LMS weight. His car also has a windshield; he said he’s going to try running hot laps with it before deciding if he’ll continue.

Meeuwsen borrowed four tires from Chub Frank to start the night. He said if he “somehow” makes the A-Main field, he’ll buy some new rubber.

092212 AsphaltRacer

Itching to race

3:20 p.m. – It’s been a long week for WoO LMS teams that stayed on the road following last weekend’s Belle-Clair/I-55 doubleheader in the St. Louis area. They want to race — now. No one is relishing the possibility of staying two more days to run on Monday night, the raindate that has been established for tonight’s program because Berlin Raceway can not operate on a Sunday.

The Clint Smith, Tim Fuller and Vic Coffey teams all arrived in the Grand Rapids, Mich., area on Monday, parking at Keyser Manufacturing in nearby Coopersville, Mich., to work on their cars. Every WoO LMS team has been in the Berlin pit area since Thursday except Bub McCool, who pulled in on Friday after skipping Thursday’s practice session.

Members of several teams were able to get out and about last night by finding rides to a nearby casino and local restaurants, breaking the monotony of hanging out in their haulers in the pit area.

All systems go

3:05 p.m. – Saturday dawned with widespread doubt about the likelihood of tonight’s program being run as planned due to a dire weather forecast, but hopes for ‘Down & Dirty 100’ action are raising by the minute. No more than a couple drops of rain have fallen on Berlin Raceway today as the bulk of the precipitation has pushed to the south. In fact, a large swath of blue sky has opened up over the pit area and teams are working on their cars in preparation for the start of hot laps at 6:15 p.m.

Results of WoO Late Model Series Keyser Manufacturing ‘Down & Dirty 100’ Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at Berlin Raceway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):

 

1. (9) Darrell Lanigan/100 $20,650

2. (4) Billy Moyer/100 $10,200

3. (2) Rick Eckert/100 $6,650

4. (1) Shane Clanton/100 $5,550

5. (23) Clint Smith/100 $4,550

6. (12) Tim Fuller/100 $3,550

7. (15) Brandon Sheppard/100 $2,800

8. (5) Dennis Erb Jr./100 $2,600

9. (8) Chub Frank/100 $2,850

10. (6) Vic Coffey/100 $2,650

11. (14) Mike Spatola/99 $2,450

12. (17) Duane Treadwell/97 $1,800

13. (24) Eric Spangler/96 $1,800

14. (22) Brad Harden/94 $1,700

15. (19) Ryan VanderVeen/94 $1,600

16. (11) Pat Doar/90 $2,130

17. (16) Rich Neiser/81 $1,610

18. (18) Bub McCool/57 $2,340

19. (7) Tim McCreadie/53 $2,170

20. (3) Kent Robinson/33 $2,050

21. (20) Tom Sprague Jr./25 $1,500

22. (10) Jeep VanWormer/11 $1,500

23. (21) Johnny Benson Jr./9 $1,500

24. (13) Curt Spalding/2 $1,550

 

* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses

 

Time of Race: 43 Mins., 19.976 Secs.

Margin of Victory: 2.978 Secs.

Yellow Flags: 4 (laps 46, 51, 58, 96)

Lap Leaders: Clanton (1-22); Moyer (23-94); Moyer (95-100)

Provisional Starters: C. Smith, Spangler

Rookie of the Race: McCool ($250)

WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Spatola ($500)

 

Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):

 

1. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 15.433

2. 21-Billy Moyer/Batesville, AR 15.939

3. 32c-Vic Coffey/Caledonia, NY 15.998

4. 28-Dennis Erb Jr./Carpentersville, IL 16.027

5. 25-Shane Clanton/Fayetteville, GA 16.214

6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 16.248

7. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.266

8. 89-Mike Spatola/Manhattan, IL 16.336

9. 7R-Kent Robinson/Bloomington, IN 16.413

10. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.501

11. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.513

12. 1-Brandon Sheppard/New Berlin, IL 16.532

13. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 16.602

14. 55-Duane Treadwell/LaGrange, GA 16.704

15. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 16.756

16. 111-Curt Spalding/Hartford, MI 16.796

17. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.919

18. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 16.937

19. 15-Rich Neiser/Fruitport, MI 16.952

20. 23V-Ryan VanderVeen/Six Lakes, MI 17.152

21. 10-Johnny Benson Jr./Charlotte, NC 17.154

22. 22-Doug Ausra/Dowagiac, MI 17.205

23. 15A-Phil Ausra/Dowagiac, MI 17.348

24. 27-Eric Spangler/Lake City, MI 17.401

25. 21s-Tom Sprague Jr./Muskegon, MI 17.483

26. 52x-Brad Harden/Ovid, MI 17.627

27. 20-Kody Weisner/Lima, OH 17.983

28. 51-Dale Sheehy/Twin Lakes, MI 18.105

29. 32-Ross Meeuwsen/Zeeland, MI 18.227

30. 66-Curt Mesman/Grand Rapids, MI 18.321

31. 3-Scott Wenell/Muskegon, MI 18.345

32. 71e-Pat Ehlert/Ovid, MI 18.926

 

Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Eckert, Erb, McCreadie, VanWormer, Spalding, Neiser, D. Ausra, Sprague, Sheehy, Wenell (DQ) C. Smith

 

Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Moyer, Clanton, Frank, Doar, Spatola, Treadwell, VanderVeen, P. Ausra, Harden, Ehlert, Meeuwsen

 

Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Coffey, Robinson, Lanigan, Fuller, Sheppard, McCool, Benson, Weisner, Mesman, Spangler

 

B-Main (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): VanderVeen, Sprague, Benson, Harden, Smith, D. Ausra, P. Ausra, Spangler, Weisner, Sheehy, Mesman, Meeuwsen, Ehlert (DNS) Wenell

Which Schedule Would You like to Print?

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO.png

Which Schedule Would You like to Add to Your Calendar

2022_CASE_LMS_LOGO