1998 OVDCA/Ohio Caverns Touring Series Results
Saturday, April 18, 1998
Attica, Ohio
Pendleton Returns to Victory Circle at Attica
April 18th - The Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association returned to action
on the high banked dirt oval of Attica Raceway Park, as the OVDCA/Ohio
Caverns Touring Series joined the All Star Sprint cars for the Coors
Nationals event. The forecast for a 100% chance of rain did not dampen
the spirits of the competitors or fans, as the sprint cars and dwarfs
battled on the beautifully prepared race surface. For the second time in
the '98 season, young Chad Pendleton defeated all challengers, but his
way to the top was much tougher this week. Bo Wiley took home another
second place finish, while Wayne Fitzpatrick had a career best dirt
track finish in third. Tracy Fritter and Greg Watson rounded out the top
five.
Pendleton was once again in Bill Hostetler's car, as a replacement
motor for his own ride had not been completed. Drawing the third
starting spot for the first heat, Pendleton was quickly along side Wiley
for a spirited six lap duel. As the leaders swapped the front position,
Watson and Fitzpatrick staged a close battle for the third spot just
behind. Pendleton edged Wiley for the win at the checkered, while
Fitzpatrick held off Watson for third. Heat two was all Jeff Staggers,
as he ran off from the four car pack of Ike Carter, Mike Rector, Mike
Weisburg, and Scott Botkin.
The dwarfs followed an incredible All Star feature, which saw Frankie
Kerr edge fourteenth starter and race leader Kelly Kinser for the win on
the last lap. Staggers and Fitzpatrick drew the lucky front row
positions for the OVDCA/Ohio Caverns feature, and lead the field down to
the green on a track that had grown slick from two days of Sprint Car
racing. Pendleton quickly moved from his fifth starting spot to
challenge Staggers and Wiley for the early lead, while Fitzpatrick,
Fritters and Watson fought for position just behind the leaders. A
yellow due to a lap five spin by Watson slowed the field, and Wiley was
caught jumping the restart. Staggers and Pendleton picked up their
battle, as Wiley and Watson worked their way back through the field,
only to be delayed by a second yellow when Weisburg lost an oil line.
Shortly after action resumed in the fifteen lap feature, Wiley was again
back on Staggers bumper in third, and Watson had worked his way back to
contention in sixth. As the laps clicked down the positions remained
unchanged, despite the tight and exciting battles being waged.
Pendleton held on for the win, as Staggers pulled off on the last lap,
handing second to Wiley. The three way duel for third went to
Fitzpatrick, as Fritter and Watson settled for fourth and fifth. Mike
Rector had a strong run in sixth. Max Evans, Scott Botkin, Shilo Miller
and Staggers rounding out the top ten.
The dwarfs return to asphalt for the first of three visits to the
historic 1/3 mile oval of Columbus Motor Speedway on April 25th.
Pendleton holds a fourteen point lead over Wiley in the 1998 OVDVA/Ohio
Caverns points chase, with Staggers, Fitzpatrick and Evans rounding out
the top five.
Heat One: Pendleton, Wiley, Fitzpatrick, Watson, Fritter, Bernard,
McDonough, Engle.
Heat Two: Staggers, Carter, Rector, Weisburg, Botkin, Evans, S. Miller,
B. Miller
Feature: Pendleton, Wiley, Fitzpatrick, Fritter, Watson, Rector, Evans,
Botkin, S. Miller, Staggers, Carter, Weisburg, Bernard, Engle, B.
Miller.