Pendleton Takes Another OVDCA Shady Bowl Feature
Saturday, May 30th, 1998
Shadybowl Speedway
May 30 - Chad Pendleton, in the Sam's Rentals #21 sedan, picked up his
second OVDCA feature event win at Shady Bowl Speedway this weekend,
giving him three victories for the 1998 OVDCA/Ohio Caverns Touring
Series season. Rookie Mike Weisberg, in the Rolling Steel #73 sedan,
sent notice that he would be someone to contend with the remainder of
the season, finishing fourth in the feature. Bill Hostetler, in the
Midwest Distributor/West Liberty Lumber entry had his best finish of the
year in second, with Jason Glick in the Ameristop/Paula's Pizza overcame
carburetor problems in his heat to finish third.
Several new dwarf cars debuted for the event, as Scott Riddle's #36 was
out for the first time after being totally rebuilt over the winter.
Jason Glick was in his new Pro Chassis, while Gordon Wallace was in the
#84 Pro previously owned by Jim Seidel. The team has plans to enter a
third car, the sedan previously driven by Glick, for Jeff Layton in the
near future. Chuck Engle made his first visit to an asphalt track, and
had his second car along, but did not enter it. The new car is a Dwarf
Car Co. "Hurri-cain", the first new model from the company since John
Cain and sons bought out former partner John Proctor. Spence Stearns
continued to sort out his car, which debuted at KC last week after being
radically re-designed over the last two years.
Pendleton took the checkered in heat one, with a good battle between
Mark Bernard, Max Evans and Greg Watson just behind. Heat two went to
Hostetler, with Wayne Fitzpatrick, Scott Botkin and Weisberg staging
another good battle.
The feature lined up with Bernard on the pole, with Pendleton outside.
At the green Pendleton jumped into an early lead, and never looked back,
as Hostetler, Bernard, and Botkin gave chase. On lap two Botkin's car
sent up a shower of sparks, and turned directly into the outside turn
four wall. Scott was not injured, but the car was done for the night.
Glick was forced to start in fourteenth after dropping out of the heat,
but quickly moved into contention, moving to fifth by lap 5. Weisberg
was also on the move from his eighth starting spot, moving to 6th by lap
5. Fitzpatrick found his way past Bernard for third. By lap eight Glick
had found his way past Hostetler for second, with Fitzpatrick and
Weisberg rounding out the top five. The remainder of the twenty lap
feature was caution free, with Pendleton continuing to stretch out his
lead. Glick and Hostetler gave chase, but could not reel the leader
in. Hosteteler was able to find his way past Glick for second on lap
14, while a tight pack formed behind the top three. Fitzpatrick led the
pack, with Weisberg, Bernard, Watson and Max Evans nose to tail behind.
Weisberg would not be denied, taking the fourth spot from Fitzpatrick on
lap 19. Pendelton took the checkered, followed by Hostetler, Glick,
Weisburg and Fitzpatrick. Bernard, Watson, Evans, Rector and Engler
rounded out the top ten.
Pendleton's victory kept him solidly in front of the point's chase with
354 points. Fitzpatrick remained in second with 284, while Watson moved
into third with 240. Staggers dropped to fourth after taking a week off
with 224, and Botkin rounds out the top five with 206. The OVDCA/Ohio
Caverns Touring Series takes a couple weeks off, with the United Dwarf
Car Racing Association's Dirt Nationals on tap for June 13th, with the
OVDCA returning to action on June 19th at Attica Raceway Park, and
returning to Shady Bowl on June 20th.
Heat One: Pendleton, Bernard, Evans, Watson, Bailey, Rector, Riddle,
Miller
Heat Two: Hostetler, Fitzpatrick, Botkin, Weisberg, Stearns, Engle,
Glick, Wallace
Feature: Pendleton, Hostetler, Glick, Weisberg, Fitzpatrick, Bernard,
Watson, Evans, Rector, Engle, Riddle, Botkin, Bailey, Miller, Stearns,
Wallace.