|
Ben Shelton
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (April 9) - For the second time in as many nights, the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series saw a first time winner in victory lane as 16 year-old, Sikeston, Missouri driver, Austin Rettig, won a thriller by 0.040 seconds over Billy Moyer Jr. on an emotional night at Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas).
Seven years ago Saturday, Austin Rettig lost his older, 13 year-old brother, Nathan in a freak, recreational four wheeler accident. On Saturday night, Austin raced with a heavy heart and his brother at his side as he claimed his first Super Late Model win in breath-taking fashion.
Rettig commented in victory lane, "I just know that Nathan was just there with me the whole way, and this win is for him. Dad told me yesterday that I was going to win on Saturday night, but to actually do it just means so much. This one is definitely for Nathan."
Thirty Super Late Models entered the event, and for the first time in the history of the tour, time trials were utilized to set the starting grid for heat race action. It was Kuntz & Company Rookie of the Year contender, Shane Harris, who powered his #0 GRT to the fast time award, but it was Bill Frye and Billy Moyer Jr., who earned the front row for the 35 lap, feature event via their heat race wins. They were followed to the green flag by fellow heat race winners, and second row starters, Dewaine Hottinger and Austin Rettig.
Early in the event it was Moyer Jr., who flexed his muscle as he jumped out to a straightaway advantage over Frye, Rettig, Hottinger, and Jamie Dacus. Moyer Jr. would see his lead erased on lap 5 for a multi-car accident in turns three and four. On the ensuing restart, Moyer Jr. motored away from the pack, while Frye and Rettig battled side-by-side for the second spot. As the top three held their own battle, a driver on the move was seventh starting, Johnny Virden, who moved into fourth by lap eight.
Random cautions dotted the running order over the next several laps before the caution flag flew on lap 31 for debris on the track as second place runner, Bill Frye, ducked into the pit area for the second night in a row with a flat tire in the closing laps. He would rejoin the tail, and the top five running order included Billy Moyer Jr., Rettig, Virden, Brandon Smith, and Dacus.
As the race went green for the final time Rettig pulled alongside Moyer Jr. and the duo would battle side-by-side for the lead for the next three laps as they exchanged the top spot. Coming to the white flag, Moyer Jr. inched ahead and looked to be on his way to the win before his car slightly pushed in turn four coming to the checkered flag, allowing Rettig to get one final run on the low side. Rettig's final run would be just the trick as he would score the win by 0.040 seconds as the crowd went wild. The top five in the final running order included Moyer Jr., Virden, Dacus, and Gary Christian.
The Rocket Chassis First Heat was won by Bill Frye with Dewaine Hottinger winning the RacingJunk.com Second Heat Race, while Billy Moyer Jr. won the Woodco Inc. Third Heat Race, and Austin Rettig won the Racing Head Service Fourth Heat Race.
The twin b-mains were won by Jon Mitchell and Kyle Beard.
Series provisionals were utilized by Jon Kirby and Terry Henson.
Gary Christian was the recipient of the Larry Shaw Race Cars Hard Charger Award after advancing from his 15th starting spot to a 5th place finish.
The Quarter Master Hard Luck Award went to Bill Frye, who had to endure a flat tire inside the final laps of the race for the second night in a row..
COMP Cams Super Dirt Series - April 9th, 2011
Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas)
Feature Results
1. Austin Rettig (Sikeston, Missouri)
2. Billy Moyer Jr. (Batesville, Arkansas)
3. Johnny Virden (Russellville, Arkansas)
4. Jamie Dacus (Lakeland, Tennessee)
5. Gary Christian (Broken Bow, Oklahoma)
6. Dewaine Hottinger (Russellville, Arkansas)
7. Clay Fisher (Dewitt, Arkansas)
8. Ian Samuel (Harrisburg, Arkansas)
9. Kyle Beard (Trumann, Arkansas)
10. Brandon Smith (Floral, Arkansas)
11. Bill Frye (Greenbrier, Arkansas)
12. Jon Mitchell (Texarkana, Texas)
13. Jon Kirby (Russellville, Arkansas)
14. Ross Camponovo (Clarksdale, Mississippi)
15. Mark Stephens (Arlington, Tennessee)
16. Shane Stephens (Arlington, Tennessee)
17. Shane Harris (Sheridan, Arkansas)
18. Keith Lawson (Houston, Arkansas)
19. Terry Henson (North Little Rock, Arkansas)
20. Allen Murray (San Antonio, Texas)
DNS: Curtis Cook, Ziggy Mendoza, Mike Carr, Jeff Sloan, Thomas Dacus, TJ Hughes, Wesley Crutchfield, Ricky Vandergriff, Chris Williams, Terry Gray
Entries: 30 Representing Six States (AR, MO, OK, TX, TN, MS)
Heat Winners: Bill Frye, Billy Moyer Jr., Dewaine Hottinger, Austin Rettig
JFR Graphics Pole Sitter: Bill Frye
Quarter Master Hard Luck Award: Bill Frye
Larry Shaw Race Cars Hard Charger: Gary Christian (15th-5th)
COMP Cams Top Performer: Austin Rettig
Cautions: 5
Red Flag: 0
Leaders: Billy Moyer Jr. (1-32, 34); Austin Rettig (33, 35)
The COMP Cams Super Dirt Series will take the upcoming weekend off from racing before returning to action in a pair of co-sanctioned events with the MARS Dirt Car Series at Batesville Motor Speedway (Locust Grove, Arkansas) on Friday, April 22nd and at West Plains Motor Speedway (West Plains, Missouri) on Saturday, April 23rd. Visit www.COMPDirt.com for more information.
The COMP Cams Super Dirt Series is sponsored by and would like to thank all of their sponsors including- COMP Cams, Hoosier Racing Tires, Kuntz & Company, RacingJunk.com, Larry Shaw Race Cars, Quarter Master, GRT Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, Woodco, Inc., JFR Graphics, RiceTec, ROCKHARD Powdercoat, Inc., Mark Martin Auto Group , NEA Supergas, MSR Mafia.com Marketing Services, Tobacco Town Inc., Racing Head Service, Boomland, BSB Manufacturing, Five Star Bodies, Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar Pizza, speedliquidators.com, Schoenfeld Headers, Powerhouse Products, and FSR Racing Products.
For the latest information on the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series, please visit www.COMPDirt.com .
|
