Perry Celebrates Emotional Victory At Baer Field Speedway

8/3/2007

            International Truck hosted the 10^th Annual International Gold Cup at Baer Field Speedway on Friday Night in front of a record number of fans including one of the best Fireworks shows in the midwest.  Tom Isch and the entire staff at Baer Field  Speedway along with the numerous volunteers from International assisted in making this one of the biggest and best events of the year.  With 33 O’Reilly USA Modifieds making the trek to the Fort Wayne, Indiana facility, only 24 would start the A Main later in the evening. The night started off with Brian Nester of Edon, OH setting fast time with 18.410.  Bud Perry of Edgerton, OH grabbed a Fast Dash victory while Fort Wayne, IN favorite Jeremy Wallen took home the gold in the Heat Race.  The B Main would transfer 6 into the A Main while sending the rest home for the weekend.  2007 Lincoln Electric Rookie of the Year Contender, Jonathan Martin of Fort Wayne took the early lead and clenched his spot in the A Main with a victory.  Other drivers who transferred into the A Main included Indianapolis, IN driver, Mike Hadley Jr., New Castle, IN father and son duo of Harold and Rodney Scott along with Fort Wayne natives James Krueger and Scott Coe.

            When the O’Reilly USA Modifieds took to the track for their 50 Lap A Main Event Greenfield, IN’s Damon Breedlove and Tony Dager of Spencerville, IN made up the front row.  Dager would lead the pack around the ½ mile track for the first lap of the evening with Breedlove having to battle Fort Wayne, IN native Cory Setser for the second spot.  Setser worked his way around for second with fast qualifier Brian Nester looking to the inside of Breedlove to take over third.  The entire first half of the event would see numerous changes in positions, but Dager would lead at halfway with a great battle for second between Setser and Nester.  Bud Perry, driving his late father’s #10s and Edgerton, OH driver Jason Dietsch quietly worked themselves up to battle their way into the top five with 20 laps to go.  Perry cruised by Nester and Setser and turned his sights on the top spot.  Dager tried his best to fend off Perry as they came out of turn 2 but Dager slowed on the top of the backstretch coming out of turn 2.  Perry moved around Dager while the rest of the top 4 followed, Dager regained power and settled into fifth position.  Perry held on for the win with Setser finishing in second and Dietsch working his way up to third.  Nester and Dager finished in fourth and fifth respectively. 

            It was a very emotional victory lane celebration as the Perry Family joined Bud for the presentation of the trophy.  “This car was fast and I really wanted the win” Perry said.  Track Promoter, Tom Isch said  “Bud won this one for Stan!” as the family was getting their pictures taken on the front stretch.  Other awards for the evening went to Rodney Scott with the AllStar Performance Hard Charger Award by advancing 12 positions and the LEAF Racewear Hard Luck Award went to Dan Frazier of Portage, MI.  A very special Thank You goes out to Steve and Sheree Ellis and their excellent staff of official as this event marked the 7^th time in 9 races that a B Main had to be scheduled due to car count.  In a time that many series are seeing car counts dwindle the O’Reilly USA Modifieds are growing in popularity and excitement. 

            The O’Reilly USA Modifieds head to O’Reilly Raceway Park on Saturday August 11 with the Sam Pierce Chevrolet 50 on UAW Night at the Races.  Earlier this season 45 Modifieds joined the series at ORP for a very exciting race that found Tony Dager in victory lane.  For more information visit www.usamodifieds.com for the latest news and information on the O’Reilly USA Modified Series.