Denis first time OVDCA winner at Shady Bowl
Saturday, August 29th, 1998
Shadybowl Speedway
August 29 - Gary Denis, piloting the Hall Engineering #5C car owned by Chuck Engler of Bowling Green, picked up his first career OVDCA Dwarf win at Shady Bowl Speedway this past Saturday night. Denis, who has most recently driven dirt late models, adapted well to the unique asphalt oval, holding off the Sell's Firestone sponsored #5J of local favorite Mike Sell of West Liberty, and an impressive Buddy McBride, who was making his first Dwarf appearance of the year in the #89 Oak's Machine sponsored car. Some of the OVDCA's familiar names were missing, still repairing damage from the most recent visit to Shady Bowl, where Jeff Staggers, Mike Weisberg, Francie Salyers and Wayne Fitzpatrick got together in the feature. Only Fitzpatrick was able to return for the event. He was joined by several drivers making their first appearance at Shady Bowl for the '98 season, including Denis, John Miller, Tracy Fritter, Rick Brown, and Nelson Glick, who was filling in for son Jason, taking time off for the birth of his new child. Heat race one was a fight between Sell, and Bob Miller in the #111 Jaxports car he debuted at Columbus several weeks earlier. Miller held the lead for the first four laps, but conceded the lead and the win to Sell. Third place went to Fritter, making a rare asphalt appearance, with fourth to Greg Watson. Heat two was all Fitzpatrick, showing that he had returned to form after the wreck and would be a force to deal with in the feature. Denis gave chase, but had to settle for second. McBride ran a third, followed by Brown in fourth. The draw for the invert put Miller and Fritter on the pole, with Fitzpatrick lurking in the inside second row position. Fritter got the jump on the start, with Fitzpatrick taking over the second spot, followed by McBride, Miller and Denis. Fritters lead was shortlived however, as Fitzpatrick moved to the front on lap three. Sell was on the move, taking over the third spot on lap five, following Denis as he slipped into the second spot. Brown was also having an impressive run, breaking into the top five after starting eighth. Fitzpatrick appeared to be destined to pick up his first OVDCA feature win, as he steadily pulled away from the pack. However, much to the disbelief of the crowd, his car suffered electronic problems on lap nine, retiring to the infield, and handing the lead over to Denis. Denis held on for the victory, with the rapidly improving Sell taking second in his best run of the year. McBride, better known for his expertise on dirt tracks, never relinquished the third spot, followed by Brown and Miller. The OVDCA Dwarfs head into a doubleheader Labor Day weekend, with Attica Raceway Park on slate of Saturday, and a return to Shady Bowl on Sunday for the "Ohio Caverns Cup", recognizing the contributions of series sponsor Ohio Caverns to the OVDCA touring series.
Heat 1: Sell, B. Miller, Fritter, Watson, Carter, Bernard, J. Miller, Riddle.
Heat 2: Fitzpatrick, Denis, McBride, Brown, Hostetler, Bailey, Evans, Glick.
Feature: Denis, Sell, McBride, Brown, B. Miller, Hostetler, Watson, Evans, Bailey, J. Miller, Glick, Bernard, Fitzpatrick, Carter, Fritter.