Weston Dominates Circle Track Nationals at ORP

9/22/2007

            The O’Reilly USA Modified Series traveled to O’Reilly Raceway Park for the 1^st ever Circle Track Nationals this weekend.  Qualifications took place on Friday afternoon with 34 modifieds taking laps in for their opportunity to make the Main Event and a chance at the $2500 win money.  Cicero, IN native Jeff Weston posted the fastest time of the day with a 23.807 just beating out points leader Bob Curry of Plainwell, MI.  Franklin, IN’s Joe Asxom, sailed to victory in the Fast Dash with Tim Taylor of Indianapolis, IN collecting the Heat Race win.  John Gearhart of Angola, IN grabbed the O’Reilly USA Modified Qualifiers Race.  At the conclusion of activities on Friday, mechanical problems among other issues had caused several cars to either work all night to change motors or just pull the plug on the weekend’s events. 

            The Circle Track Nationals Main Event for the O’Reilly USA Modified Series took to the track Saturday evening with 31 cars making the call.  Some drivers jumped in alternate rides while others just sat and watched the show.  Originally only 28 cars were supposed to start the event, but the Circle Track National Staff opted to start all 31 that made the call on Saturday.  The drivers were eager to begin as the parade lap featured an amazing 4 wide formation to the surprised crowd.  As the leaders brought the field out of turn 4 for the start Fast Qualifier, Weston took advantage of the situation and rolled to a 4 car advantage going into the first turn.  Greenfield, IN driver, Damon Breedlove, settled in for second with Tony Dager of Spencerville in third.  The red flag dropped with only 5 laps in as Josh Truxall of Minerva, OH clipped the wall coming out of turn 2, cutting a fuel line and resulting in the car being engulfed in flames.  The ORP Track Crew quickly responded and assisted the driver in escaping the car.  Just 7 laps later a multiple car incident brought the red out once again.  Taylor and the last event winner at ORP, Kyle Jones, of Springfield, OH got together coming out of turn 4.  Taylor bounced off the outside retaining wall as he flew in the air sideways directly in front of the grandstands and then slid to the inside wall and coming to inside of turn 1.  Taylor was transported to a local hospital for observation.  Several other cars spun to avoid the mishap, notably Brad Springer of Hudson, IN who came into the event only 17 points behind point leader Curry.  Springer was left to park his modified in the pits with steering problems. 

            The Main Event was originally scheduled for 50 laps but was shortened to 30 due to the extensive red flags decided by the Circle Track Nationals Staff and Crew.  With only 18 laps to go it would be a battle for the finish as Harold Scott, of New Castle, IN worked his way up from his 5^th row starting spot to battle Knightstown, IN driver LJ Lines for the 4^th position.  When the checkered flags waved Weston was the victor with Breedlove in second and Dager third.  Scott used the outside groove to collect 4^th by only a quarter panel over Lines in fifth.  Award Winners for the event included Nick Clemens of Mount Morris, MI taking the AllStar Performance Hard Charger Award by advancing 14 positions.  Truxall was given the LEAF Racewear Hard Luck Award.

            The next event scheduled for the O’Reilly USA Modifieds is a non-points event at Winchester Speedway October 12-14 in conjunction with the 36^th Annual running of the Winchester 400.  Visit www.winchesterspeedway.com for details about the entire weekend of activities.  For more information about the O’Reilly USA Modified Series log on to www.usamodifieds.com.