Published: April 14, 2008 11:22 pm            

BOWMAN: Cottle fastest in Gas City

Golobic snags his first feature win

Shane Cottle took home another feature win in the Contos Racing No. 4 entry in the season-opener Friday night at the Gas City I-69 Speedway.

Despite howling winds and plummeting temperatures, Cottle held off second-year driver Steve Ott to post the victory. The win might very well serve another, more important purpose too.

With the USAC Lucas Oil National Sprint Car Series converging on the track this weekend as part of a doubleheader, the Contos team might well have a leg up on the competition as the national points season kicks into high gear.

Surprisingly, there weren’t more of the big-name teams on hand to use the opening night as a test session of sorts. One driver who looks to be a force to be reckoned with this year, Damion Gardner, finished third. Casey Shuman and Mat Neely rounded out the top five.

Defending track champion Billy Puterbaugh Jr. was 12th and Scotty Weir 13th in his first time aboard the Edison Motorsports No. 10E car that Cottle will drive off and on this season. Ryan Pace made his return to the cockpit as well, claiming 14th. Local fans might remember that Pace suffered a broken neck in a violent flip at the Kokomo Speedway in 2006.

Tipton’s Mark Clark was 16th and Kokomo’s Josh Spencer 19th. Cottle, Travis Welpott, Gardner and Puterbaugh each won their respective heats while Daron Clayton captured the B-main aboard the Trucker’s 24-Hour No. 10C.

As has been the case more often than not the past five years, James Headley was victorious in the Street Stock feature. The many-time track champion started from the pole and topped second-place Shane Landis. Ryan Ramseyer was third and Joe Wiggins fourth. Josh Collis completed the top five.

Veteran Terry Hull was the victor in the Modified feature over former track champion Tommy Beezley. John Fosnaugh, Kevin McCarty and Travis Shoulders comprised the top five. Galveston’s Jerry Taylor claimed eighth and Kokomo’s Brad Heady 10th.

David Clark started inside the second row en route to his victory in the Thunder Car feature event over second place runner and pole-sitter Mike Frederick. Rick Ice was third, Ben Meyers fourth and Jacob Owen fifth.

As mentioned earlier, the track will host back to back USAC Lucas Oil National Sprint Car Series events Friday and Saturday. Races both nights should push off at 7:30.

Golobic wins out west

Shane Golobic, a semi-regular in 2007 at the Kokomo Speedway, earned his first career feature win Saturday night at the Ocean Speedway in California.

Golobic was a rookie cutting his teeth here in the Midwest last summer and was very competitive late in the season before returning to his home in California. The youngster had a stellar night that will last a lifetime, setting quick time, finishing third in his heat, and bagging the Trophy Dash before his feature win.

He held off a strong contingent of West Coast’s finest winged racers. Former World of Outlaw driver Jonathon Allard was second while the “King of California”, Brent Kaeding, was third. Evan Suggs was fourth and two-time defending USAC Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding was fifth. Former World of Outlaw Rookie of the Year Tyler Walker was seventh.

Short wins Bloomington opener

Bedford’s Brady Short made his return to his family-owned car a successful one Friday night in the season-opener at the Bloomington Speedway.

Short, a winner in 2007 at the Kokomo Speedway aboard Scott Benic’s No. 2B, held off defending track champion Jeff Bland Jr. to capture the win. Jon Stanbrough, a 30-time feature winner in 2007, was third and Dickie Gaines fourth. Ty Deckard rounded out the top five.

Dollansky, weather win at Eldora

Craig Dollansky and Mother Nature each scored wins over the weekend at the Eldora Speedway as the World of Outlaws made their first visit of 2008.

Despite threatening weather around the area Friday night, Dollansky managed to wrestle the lead from Joey Saldana on the 21st lap, then held on the remainder of the 30-lap event.

Two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz scratched his way to a second-place showing followed in the top five by Jason Sides, Kerry Madsen and Tim Shaffer. Shaffer earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after starting inside the 12th row. Steve Kinser was strong as well, starting 21st and finishing sixth.

Saturday’s finale was canceled due to the weather.

        

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