07/09/08 -
By JR KENNERUP
Kirkwood, NY…Just about three weeks ago at the first Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman Tour race at the Five Mile Point Speedway. Mike Loney had one of the fastest cars only to get taken out in an accident. On this night things went much differently for the veteran driver who calls Big Diamond Raceway his home track this year.
Loney started sixth and raced exclusively in the tacky bottom groove of the quarter mile historic oval. The success of racing in this groove allowed Mike to sneak under leader Justin Holland to take the lead on lap 17.
Loney would lead the remaining 23 laps to secure the $1,000 win but it wasn’t an easy win by any means. Loney had to first withstand the challenges of Holland to regain the lead. Then after Brad Alger moved into second on lap 21 he applied heavy pressure on Loney for the lead.
The final six laps of the race saw additional excitement being brought to the leading duo when former Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour champion Earl Paules moved into third. Paules who was racing at the track for the first time ever, was becoming quicker the longer the race wore on.
The three drivers went at it for the lead over the final three laps, sometimes going three wide in the spacious corners of the track. In the end Loney hung on to win by a half a car length over Alger who beat Paules to the line by inches for second. Brian Puckett started 24th and finished a fast closing fourth with early race leader Holland slipping back to fifth.
"The car was really hooked up in the bottom groove," said the winner. "Most of that hooked up credit goes to my engine builder Jeff Murray. I would like to say thank you to everyone including my sponsors that got me to Victory Lane tonight."
Qualifying for the 28 car field saw qualifying race wins go to Jeremy Vunk, Butch Klinger, Alger, and Matt Janczuk.
RACE REPORT RACE OF CHAMPIONS DART DIRT SPORTSMAN TOUR RACE No. 3 SOUTHERN TIER 40
FINISH: Mike Loney, Brad Alger, Earl Paules, Brian Puckett, Justin Holland, Mike Nagel, Jr., Jeff Crambo, Jeff Leslie, Billy Moyer, Jr., Matt Janczuk, Nick Petrilak, Joey Colsten, Les Gillette, Frank Doty, Damien Reynolds, Steve Yankowski, Jr., Jeremy Vunk, Shawn Walker, Butch Klinger, Ryan Stortini, John Stangle, Charlie Hendrickson, Jr., Chris Wood, Paul Rooney, Jamie Batzel, Mike Austin, Grant Hilfinger, Nick Rochinski.
NEXT RoC EVENT – SUNDAY JULY 27TH – UTICA ROME SPEEDWAY
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