Post by LMR on 05/25/14 at 11:14pm
American Late Model Series
Eldora Speedway
May 25, 2014
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Miller captures exciting ALMS win in Johnny Appleseed Classic at Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, OH (May 25) – Sunday night’s Johnny Appleseed Classic by Miller Lite was a story of repeat wins, redemption and a near photo-finish as the 104 entrants used the entire 90’ width of Eldora Speedway with Matt Miller (Sunoco American Late Model Series) Jim Nier (NRA Sprint Invaders), Jeff Babcock (UMP DIRTcar Modifieds) and Paul Pardo (Eldora Stock Cars) capturing the main event victories.
By virtue of his second heat victory, Matt Miller started on the outside pole of the 25-lap ALMS finale, and when the green flag dropped he was out front and sailing.
With a comfortable margin being built up over the field, all eyes were focused on the battle behind him, as the balance of the field used every inch of the clay surface to provide some of the fiercest racing seen in years.
Duane Chamberlain had his hands full holding back Brad Neat, Jeep VanWormer, Kent Robinson, while Wayne Chinn, and Scott James soon joined the fold. As Miller began threading himself through lapped traffic on lap 10, tough luck fell upon runner-up Chamberlain, as a right rear flat sidelined him to the pit area.
By this time, VanWormer had moved into third ahead of Neat, Chinn and Robinson; but with the Chamberlain departure that set him side-by-side with Miller on the double-file restart. Miller again got the jump on the green as VanWormer got engaged into a four car battle with Neat, Robinson and Chinn that set the fans into a frenzy.
After shaking them loose on lap 17, the chase was on, with VanWormer reeling in Miller lap after lap. With three laps remaining, VanWormer moved into contention to challenge for the lead; often pulling alongside down the back chute. A late charge for VanWormer to wrestle the lead from Miller was thwarted by a lapped car that Miller used to his advantage and registering yet another ALMS victory at Eldora in the final tune-up before the June 5-6-7 Dirt Late Model Dream by Ferris Mowers.
VanWormer finished a tight runner-up, followed in order by Robinson, Neat and Jeff Babcock who came on strong in the later stages.
A-Main
1 2 3 Matt Miller
2 7 55 Jeep Vanwormer
3 3 7R Kent Robinson
4 4 16 Brad Neat
5 5 1 Jeff Babcock
6 10 83 Scott James
7 9 95J Jerry Bowersock
8 16 1WC Wayne Chinn
9 19 15 Jon Henry
10 8 M14 Brandon Thirlby
11 6 1N Casey Noonan
12 22 9R Curtis Roberts
13 13 11S Rusty Schlenk
14 17 49 Brian Ruhlman
15 15 75 Dusty Moore
16 14 15A Phil Ausra
17 18 21B Rich Bell
18 21 B4U Brad Eitinear
19 20 36 Matt Irey
20 11 33S Aaron Scott
21 1 20C Duane Chamberlain
22 12 87 Richard Neiser
B-Main
1 1WC Wayne Chinn
2 49 Brian Ruhlman
3 21B Rich Bell
4 15 Jon Henry
5 36 Matt Irey
6 B4U Brad Eitinear
7 9R Curtis Roberts
8 21 Tony Musolino
9 92S Cody Scott
10 8A Rob Anderzack
11 6 Jonathan Davenport
12 00K Chris Keller
Heat #1
1 20C Duane Chamberlain
2 16 Brad Neat
3 55 Jeep Vanwormer
4 83 Scott James
5 11S Rusty Schlenk
6 1WC Wayne Chinn
7 49 Brian Ruhlman
8 15 Jon Henry
9 6 Jonathan Davenport
Heat #2
1 3 Matt Miller
2 1 Jeff Babcock
3 M14 Brandon Thirlby
4 33S Aaron Scott
5 15A Phil Ausra
6 36 Matt Irey
7 21B Rich Bell
8 9R Curtis Roberts
9 00K Chris Keller
Heat #3
1 7R Kent Robinson
2 1N Casey Noonan
3 95J Jerry Bowersock
4 87 Richard Neiser
5 75 Dusty Moore
6 21 Tony Musolino
7 B4U Brad Eitinear
8 92S Cody Scott
9 8A Rob Anderzack
