Another Shady Bowl Win to Pendleton
Saturday, July 11th, 1998
Shadybowl Speedway
July 11 - Going out in style, Chad Pendleton was the feature winner at Shady Bowl Speedway in what may be one of his last appearances in a dwarf car. Pendleton is expected to debut in the new Sam's Rentals sponsered late model sportsman at Columbus Motor Speedway on July 18.
The unique program at Shady Bowl featured the ARCA Pro Fours, dwarfs, and go karts, along with the regular classes of sportsman, mini stocks, and pro stocks. A special promotion by Mike Sell's Firestone of West Liberty, brought out dozens of Harleys, which were on display at the track. The night started off with a bang for Bill Hostetler, making hard contact with the outside wall in hot laps. Hostetler, still recovering from a hand injury from the previous weekend, was not injured, but the car was done for the night.
Heat one featured a battle between Wanye Fitzpatrick and Jeff Staggers, who traded the lead several time over the course of the eight-lap race. Fitzpatrick put the Accurate Fabricating/MSP/Hall Electronics sedan out front for the win, followed by Staggers, Mike Sell, Mark Bernard, Max Evans, and Rob Leiaff. Pendleton took the win in heat two, followed by Bob Miller, Greg Watson, Keith Bailey, Mike Rector, Bill Vargo, Robin Pendleton, and Mike Weisburg.
Fitzpatrick and Sell drew the front row for the feature. Fitzpatrick got the jump at the flag, followed by Miller, Staggers, Watson, and Sell. On lap two Sell and Watson tangled, with Sell coming to rest on top of Watson's left front tire. Rector was unable to squeeze by, collecting Sell, ending the night for both. Miller and Fitzpatrick battled after the restart, swapping the lead on laps four and five, until Pendleton was able to pick off both on lap six. Staggers and Miller then swapped positions several time for third, as Fitzpatrick staked his claim for second. R. Pendleton and Weisburg were making their move form the back of the pack, after both suffered suspension damage in the heats. By lap ten the pair had moved into fifth and sixth behind the leaders. Staggers made his move past Fitzpatrick on lap thirteen for second, as the leaders began to lap the back of the pack. A spin by Watson on lap seventeen slowed the pace, giving the field one more shot at Pendleton, but the #21 sedan held on for feature win number four at Shady Bowl this year, and number six for the 1998 season. Staggers and Fitzpatrick continued to swap positions in the final laps, with Staggers finishing just ahead of Fitzpatrick at the line. Miller ended up fourth, with Weisburg coming out ahead of R. Pendleton in their battle, taking fifth and sixth respectively. Long haul award winner Bill Vargo from Wheeling, WV took seventh in his first visit to the track, after fuel delivery problems in the heat. Bernard, Watson, and Bailey rounded out the top ten.
Heat 1: Fitzpatrick, Staggers, Sell, Bernard, Evans, Leiaff.
Heat 2: C. Pendleton, Miller, Watson, Bailey, Rector, Vargo, R. Pendleton, Weisburg.
Feature: C. Pendleton, Staggers, Fitzpatrick, Miller, Weisburg, R. Pendleton, Vargo, Bernard, Watson, Bailey, Evans, Leiaff, Rector, Sell. DNS - Hostetler