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Bill Poehler
BANKS, Ore. (August 23) - Casey Vitale hasn't done much racing this season since his foray into dirt late model racing on the east coast.
He made his season debut at 1/4-mile clay oval Sunset Speedway in Banks worth the effort Saturday night.
Vitale, of Lebanon, passed leading Jimmy Schram with 15 laps to go and went on to garner the $2,000 grand prize in the 67-lap T&G Thriller for the Coors Light Crate Engine Dirt Late Models.
Steve Moore of Scio started the night by setting fast time with a lap of 13.567 with Eric Sayre second fast, with Eric Sayre third fast and Jeff Brookshire fourth fast.
Joel Pagel, subbing for the injured Jason Johnson, was leading the first heat race when he tangled with newcomer Ron Hall of Willamina, giving the lead to Malcolm Lindberg. Schram and Kevin "Porkchop" Rodgers made their way past Lindberg and were battling for the lead over the final few laps before Schram went by for the heat race win.
Vitale won the second heat race from the fourth starting position with Moore in second, Billy Workman, Jr. in third and Branden Lindberg in fourth.
Jeremy Schram won the 10-lap last chance main event with Willie Sutton, Ron Hall and Malcolm rounding out the top four and taking the transfer spots into the A-Main.
Jimmy Schram took out into the lead from the pole position in the A-Main, but seventh-starting Vitale quickly made his way through the field into second by a debris caution on lap 40. On the restart, Vitale went after Schram, but couldn't make his way, and finally went by for the lead coming to the caution flag on lap 51 as Willie Sutton went around in turn three.
Vitale led the rest of the way with Jimmy Schram coming home second for a $1,000 payday, Jerry Schram in third for $750, Workman in fourth and Sayre in fifth.
Branden Lindberg finished sixth with B-Main transfer Jeremy Schram in seventh, Walters in eighth, Brookshire in ninth and Moore in 10th.
The Coors Light Late Models return Aug. 30 and their season concludes Sept. 6.
RACE SUMMARY:
Fast Time: Steve Moore 15.576
Heat 1: Jimmy Schram, Rogers, Jeremy Schram, Pagel, M. Lindberg, McHutchison, Biffle, Sutton, Hall.
Heat 2: Vitale, Moore, Workman Jr, B. Lindberg, Walters, Jerry Schram, Brookshire, Sayre, Puncochar.
Dash: Brookshire, Sayre, Puncochar, Moore.
Last Chance Race: 10- laps: Jeremy Schram, Willie Sutton, Malcolm Lindberg, Ron Hall, Joel Pagel, Ian McHutchison.
Main Event: 67- laps: 1) Casey Vitale 2) Jimmy Schram 3) Jerry Schram 4) Billy "the kid" Workman Jr 5) Eric Sayre 6) Branden Lindberg 7) Jeremy Schram 8) Greg "Hollywood" Walters 9) Jeff Brookshire10) Steve Moore 11) Scott Puncochar 12) Kevin "Porkchop" Rogers 13) Jeff Biffle 14) Willie Sutton 15) Ron Hall 16) Malcolm Lindberg
Hard Charger Award: Casey Vitale
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