Auto Clearing Motor Speedway Results - Saturday, July 24, 2010

I know the night was supposed to be all about the Dakota Dunes Casino Western Canadian Super Late Model Championship series running the Black Sun 150. But how can you not open with a story about the most spectacular crash in the history of Auto Clearing Motor Speedway.

With 32 laps to go in the SKL Trailer Pro Truck division feature, the trucks were coming for green when all Hell broke loose. Mid-pack trucks suddenly slowed and Deb Newnham had no where to go, swinging into the wall to avoid hitting trucks in front of her. This left Scott Williams with no where to go and he hammered into the back of Newnham's truck and over top of her.

William's truck slammed into the catch fence about 9 feet above the track. The catch fence did its job though and suffered only a bent gate post and stretched cable. Newnham's truck ended up on its roof.

The Ambulance and track safety personnel raced for the scene as gas and oil could be seen pouring from Deb's truck. She's stuck in there though, hanging upside down in her five-point seat belt restraint system.

After a quick assessment that Deb was okay, safety and ambulance officials released her from the truck and helped her into the ambulance for a mandatory assessment.

An accident like this demonstrates the Saskatoon Stock Car Racing Association has all its safety procedures and equipment in place. It all works together, from the roll cage and safety plates in the trucks, to the five point restraint systems, the containment racing seats and the head and neck restraint systems. Pricing for these systems starts around $2,000, but the fact you can walk away from a crash like this makes it all worth while.

Vangool Hangs On For Win

It was almost like déjà vu as the Dakota Dunes Casino Western Canadian Super Late Model Championship Series was unfolding almost as it did three weeks ago. On June 26, the top five qualifying were #'s 77, 17, 55, 6 and 70. This time out the qualifying order was 17, 77, 6, 55 and 70. As race time approached, the full moon could once again be seen rising up over the riverbank horizon. As the big race approached it was 17 and 77 once again deciding whether to go for the bonus.

Qualifying fastest was Trevor Emond at 14.452 seconds. Vangool was next at 14.502, Chris Skelton was third at 14.540 and Jim Gaunt rounded out the top four at 14.658 seconds.

In Heat A, which was made up of the odd number finish order in qualifying, Trent Seidel took the checkered flag, initially earning him the inside pole position for the big race. Rookie Howard Crossman was second and Jeff Reimer was third.

In Heat B, made up of the even numbers from qualifying, Greg Vangool took the win and the initial outside pole position for the feature. Glen Hertzke was second and Dave Bone was third.

While race fans were entertained by the SKL Trailer Pro Trucks and Parts Source Mini Stocks, the late model teams were busy with finishing touches, getting their cars ready for 150 laps of excitement. Vangool and Emond had the extra burden of deciding whether to go for the bonus. Start at the back and win an extra $1,000 if you win the race.

The moment of decision came as the cars were lined up at the front for introductions. There was no hesitation as Emond announced he was going for the bonus. Vangool came up with every excuse under the full moon why he didn't want to go for the bonus. The fans urged him on, but were not successful. Vangool was staying put.

It was now up to the dice. The dice could move him anywhere from his outside pole position to inside fourth row (7th) to outside sixth row (12th). The roll came up a nine, starting him on the outside of the fourth row (8th). Pole was going to PJ Kondra, with Chris Skelton outside. The second row was made up of Chris Campbell and Dave Bone. Jeff Reimer and Glen Hertzke made up the third row.

Chris Skelton jumped out to the early lead, but that lead was short lived as differential problems sent him to his pit after only 13 laps. The lead was taken over for another short run of four laps by Jeff Reimer.

Trent Seidel found himself in the lead and he says he thought he was going to get it done as his car felt like a rocket. 23 laps later flames were seen coming from under Seidel's car. Caution flew a couple of laps later and Seidel was met by fire crews as the back end of his car was engulfed in flame. Trent's car was inspected and deemed safe to return to the race, but at the back of the pack as it was he who caused the caution, handing the lead over to Glen Hertzke.

A caution in lap 55 bunched the field up and a short chase took place once green was given and Trevor Emond took over the top spot in lap 59, a spot he wouldn't five up until the eventual race winner Vangool took over in lap 127.

Heartbreak For Heintz

Parts Source Mini Stock driver Kenny Heintz is having fun. The 16 year old second year racer just wants to win races. There's the possibility of a championship at the end, but that's just a by-product. He's out for the thrill of racing night after night.

Only a couple of races ago Heintz and 2008 champion Todd Jalbert were tied in the points chase, but since then Jalbert has been running strong. Heintz was hoping tonight would be the night he would pick up his second feature win, but the tire kings wouldn't let that be.

Taking the green in third after a caution, Heintz lost his right front tire. Since he left his NASCAR crew at home, changing the tire cost him five laps (still not bad at 18 second laps) and an eighth place finish. Todd Jalbert took the feature win in his Sponge Car Square Tire Honda. Jim Barnsley was second and Frank Vangool was third.

Earlier in the evening, Jim Barnsley picked up the heat win, with Todd Jalbert second and Frank Vangool third. Jalbert made it a perfect night with a win in the Qualifier as well, Heintz took second and Barnsley followed in third.

Trucks More Than a Crash

With the spectacular crash cleaned up in the SKL Trailer Pro Truck 50 lap feature, the trucks got back to the fantastic racing we are used to seeing.

The race started out badly for the #33 of Scott Williams. Taking the lead early, it was evident he was leaking fuel and he was sent back to his pit to have his fuel cap checked in lap 7. Tony Mikilcuk inherited the lead from Williams, which gave him a chance to be ahead of the cars involved in the lap 18 crash that took out the trucks of Williams and Newnham. Other than a one lap first place crossing for Scott Lucas, Mikulcik hung onto the lead until Ken Ross got by him in lap 41.

Lap 47 had Mikulcik back into the lead, which he'd take to the checkered flag. Ken Ross was second and Scott Lucas picked up third. Earlier, Mikulcik picked up the Heat race win as well, with Ken Ross second and Rick Kucher third.

Rylan Utigard had a great race as he took the early lead and hung on for the Qualifier win. Ken Ross was second and Bill Zubrecki was third. Race fans may wonder where Alex Leschenko was. He was here, but in a rented truck. The engine of the #01 imploded during practice on Thursday, leaving Alex on the outside looking in. Wade Wohlford just happens to have a second truck (that is for sale) and rented it to Alex.

Alex obviously didn't drive the rental with the same aggression he does his own truck, leaving him off the podium for the night.

Complete standings and points results are always available at
http://http://speednetdirect.com/results.php?track_id=8311

Individual lap times posted at http://http://acmstiming.ca

Next week we move to Friday night racing with the SKL Trailer Pro Trucks running the Caron Motor Sports 100, joined by the Budget Car and Truck Rental Street Stocks and Cooper Tire Thunder Stocks. Front gates open at 6:00pm with the first green flag at 7:05pm

Complete Results:

SKL Trailer Pro Trucks
Heat Race:
1. #9 Tony Mikulcik
2. #67 Ken Ross
3. #38 Rick Kucher
4. #33 Scott Williams
5. #49 Shantel Firth
6. #27 Scott Lucas
7. #01 Alex Leschenko
8. #18 Bill Zubrecki
9. #8 Andrew Clewes
10. #14 Wade Wohlford
11. #1 Debra Newnham
12. #93 Neil Schneider
13. #19 Rylan Utigard

Qualifier Race:
1. #19 Rylan Utigard
2. #67 Ken Ross
3. #18 Bill Zubrecki
4. #27 Scott Lucas
5. #33 Scott Williams
6. #38 Rick Kucher
7. #9 Tony Mikulcik
8. #01 Alex Leschenko
9. #14 Wade Wohlford
10. #8 Andrew Clewes
11. #49 Shantel Firth
12. #1 Debra Newnham
13. #93 Neil Schneider (DNS)

SKL Trailer Feature Race:
1. #9 Tony Mikulcik
2. #67 Ken Ross
3. #27 Scott Lucas
4. #38 Rick Kucher
5. #18 Bill Zubrecki
6. #19 Rylan Utigard
7. #14 Wade Wohlford
8. #8 Andrew Clewes
9. #01 Alex Leschenko
10. #49 Shantel Firth
11. #1 Debra Newnham
12. #33 Scott Williams
13. #93 Neil Schneider (DNS)

Parts Source Mini Stocks:
Heat:
1. #41 Jim Barnsley
2. #4 Todd Jalbert
3. #77 Frank Vangool
4. #62 Kenny Heintz
5. #1 Scott Barrand
6. #7 Darnell Schick
7. #2 Colin Puttick
8. #82 Jonathan Neufeld
9. #69 Kim Regier
10. #00 Curtis Regush
11. #43 Cody Rogers
12. #11 Alex Heintz

Qualifier:
1. #4 Todd Jalbert
2. #62 Kenny Heintz
3. #41 Jim Barnsley
4. #2 Colin Puttick
5. #1 Scott Barrand
6. #7 Darnell Schick
7. #77 Frank Vangool
8. #69 Kim Regier
9. #82 Jonathan Neufeld
10. #43 Cody Rogers
11. #11 Alex Heintz
12. #00 Curtis Regush

Parts Source Feature Race:
1. #4 Todd Jalbert
2. #41 Jim Barnsley
3. #77 Frank Vangool
4. #7 Darnell Schick
5. #82 Jonathan Neufeld (DQ)
6. #1 Scott Barrand
7. #43 Cody Rogers
8. #11 Alex Heintz
9. #00 Curtis Regush
10. #62 Kenny Heintz
11. #69 Kim Regier
12. #2 Colin Puttick (DQ)

Dakota Dunes Casino Super Late Model Championship Series
Qualifying:
Pos. No. Name Time
1. 17 Trevor Emond 14.452
2. 77 Greg Vangool 14.502
3. 6 Chris Skelton 14.540
4. 55 Jim Gaunt 14.658
5. 70 Trent Seidel 14.663
6. 14 Glen Hertzke 14.683
7. 5 Jeff Reimer 14.785
8. 38 Dave Bone 14.868
9. 56 Howard Crossman 14.960
10. 69 PJ Kondra 14.974
11. 79 Darrel Vallie 15.031
12. 44 Trevor Hannay 15.047
13. 20 Ken Campbell 15.094
14. 47 Chris Campbell 15.115
15. 38X Jon Teppin 15.121
16. 88 Jason Gervais 15.169
17. 09 Doug Bienia 15.318
18. 39 Christoph Ludlage 15.352
19. 00 Tony Lambert 15.407

Heat A:
1. #70 Trent Seidel
2. #56 Howard Crossman
3. #5 Jeff Reimer
4. #17 Trevor Emond
5. #6 Chris Skelton
6. #79 Darrel Vallie
7. #38X Jon Teppin
8. #20 Ken Campbell
9. #09 Doug Bienia
10. #00 Tony Lambert

Heat B:
1. #77 Greg Vangool
2. #14 Glen Hertzke
3. #38 Dave Bone
4. #47 Chris Campbell
5. #69 PJ Kondra
6. #55 Jim Gaunt
7. #44 Trevor Hannay
8. #88 Jason Gervais
9. #39 Christoph Ludlage

Black Sun 150 Main Feature Race:
1. #77 Greg Vangool
2. #17 Trevor Emond
3. #14 Glen Hertzke
4. #38 Dave Bone
5. #55 Jim Gaunt
6. #39 Christoph Ludlage
7. #5 Jeff Reimer
8. #56 Howard Crossman
9. #70 Trent Seidel
10. #79 Darrel Vallie
11. 38X Jon Teppin
12. #47 Chris Campbell
13. #88 Jason Gervais
14. #44 Trevor Hannay
15. #20 Ken Campbell
16. #09 Doug Bienia
17. #69 PJ Kondra
18. #6 Chris Skelton
19. #00 Tony Lambert

Release Prepared By Richard Woodvine, Media Relations Director
Saskatoon Stock Car Racing Association Auto Clearing Motor Speedway