Photo Finish to Staggers at Shady Bowl
Saturday, August 1st, 1998
Shadybowl Speedway
August 1 - Jeff Staggers and Jason Glick thrilled the Shady Bowl crowd, as they battled to a photo finish in the OVDCA feature. The scorer's decision awarded the win to Staggers, who came from behind on the last lap to edge Glick at the line.
Heat one featured a battle between Bill Hostetler, Mike Weisberg and Wayne Fitzpatrick, with Weisberg taking the lead from Hostetler on lap five and holding on for the remaining three circuits. Fitzpatrick took third, ahead of Max Evans, Keith Bailey and Mark Bernard.
Heat two was paced at the start by Greg Watson, who gave way to Mike Sell on lap two. Sell was then challenged by Bob Miller, Jason Glick, and Jeff Staggers, as Watson fell of the pace with a broken axle. Glick made a big move on lap six sweeping past both Miller and Sell and into the lead. Staggers was able to pass Sell for third on the last lap, while Ed Barok finished fifth.
Staggers established himself as the man to beat on the first lap of the feature, as Glick and Miller gave chase. Weisberg, Fitzpatrick and Hostetler ran just behind. Positions behind the leader continued to be swapped throughout the next fifteen laps, until Staggers attempted to pass the lapped car of Bailey, and went off the inside of the track, allowing Glick to take the lead. Staggers held on for second, and gave chase in the remaining three laps. Miller, Fitzpatrick, Hostetler and Weisberg continued to battle just behind the leaders. Staggers made is last ditch effort coming out of turn four, and was able to pull even at the line with Glick. As the crowd chanted " #37?.#37?#37" the scorers awarded the win to Staggers. Miller came home third, with Fitzpatrick and Hostetler rounding out the top five.
Heat 1: Weisburg, Hostetler, Fitzpatrick, Evans, Bailey, Bernard.
Heat 2: Glick, Miller, Staggers, Sell, Barok, Watson.
Feature: Staggers, Glick, Miller, Fitzpatrick, Hostetler, Weisburg, Sell, Evans, Bernard, Bailey, Barok, Watson.