07/29/08 -
VERNON, NY - Brad Alger made a last-lap pass to win Sunday night's Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman race at Utica-Rome Speedway.
Pole sitter Casey Williams was the early leader of the 40 lap Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman Series event, only to have outside pole sitter and current RoC point leader Brad Alger take over on lap five. Alger would open up a large lead, and as lap 10 was scored, he was being chased by Williams, Jim Rothwell, Chris Hile, and Jason Rood. Alger’s luck changed on lap 16 however, as he slowed with a left rear flat. When he ducked into the pits to change the tire, Rothwell was the new leader of the race.
At the halfway point of the race, Rothwell had control of the event with Williams still running in the runner up spot with Matt Janczuk, Jeremy Vunk, and Alger now back into the fifth spot with a new tire. Alger’s charge back the front wasn’t over there, as slipped into fourth by lap 23 and then into third on lap 25. For the next handful of circuits, Alger worked over Vunk for the second spot, finally taking on lap 32. As the field took the white flag, Rothwell seemingly had the race in the bag until turn four, where he jumped the cushion. Alger dashed by Rothwell for the position and the $1,000 payday while Rothwell barely nipped Vunk at the line for second. Williams and Janczuk rounded out the top five.
RACE OF CHAMPIONS DART DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (40 LAPS)- BRAD ALGER, Jim Rothwell, Jeremy Vunk, Casey Williams, Matt Janczuk, Jason Rood, Mike Loney, Jack Miller, AJ Filbeck, Frank Doty, Charlie Henderson, Justin Holland, Rob Hile, Jamie Batzel, Steve Way, Chris Hile, Tim Nye, Jeff Leslie, Bill Trexler Jr., Todd Fey, Mike Button, Craig Pope, Steve Yankowski, and Damien Reynolds. DNS- Nick Rochinski
|
