1999 OVDCA/Ohio Caverns Touring Series Results
Saturday, April 10, 1999
Jackson Speedway
Jackson, Ohio
Triplett Winner of OVDCA Opener at Jackson Speedway
April 10 � Randy Tripplett of Parkersburg, WV kicked off the 1999 Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association season at Jackson Speedway in much the same fashion as he closed out 1998 � taking the checkered flag in feature race action. Tripplett was also victorious in the final 1998 OVDCA event at Midway Speedway. As was the case last fall, Tripplett�s victory at Jackson did not come easily, as he had to contend with a strong performance by Reed Rutter of Logan, OH and Tracy Fritter of Zanesville, OH.
The event marked the OVDCA/Ohio Caverns Touring Series� first appearance at the Jackson Speedway, located in southeast Ohio approximately 60 miles from of Columbus. Conveniently located for many area competitors, the race drew cars from West Virginia, Kentucky and throughout Ohio. The facility is quickly developing into a hotbed of welterweight car activity, with weekly 600cc mini-sprint and 250cc micro sprint classes, along with the monthly OVDCA Dwarf shows. The Buckeye Mini Sprint Association was also in action at the track, and has made Jackson Speedway its home facility for �99.
Early race action saw Tripplett work his way through the field to take the win in heat race one, with 1996 OVDCA series champion Kelly Moore of Burlington, KY hot on his heels. Heat two saw Jason Glick victorious, running his first dirt race since last June at Eldora. Fritter had a very strong run in the heat until a late race spin, but recovered to take second place. It appears that Fritter is sending notice that he will be a factor to contend with this season in the Extreme Motorsports sponsored sedan.
Tripplett drew the lucky number one pill for the feature lineup, and with rookie Jason Eddy on the outside pole, led the field to the green. In the scramble for position on lap one, Tripplett took control of the lead, with Fritter, Eddy, Moore, and Wayne Fitzpatrick fighting for the second position. By lap four Tripplett and Fritter had pulled out to a slight lead, with Moore, Fitzpatrick, Eddy and Rutter in a tight pack just behind. Caution flew on lap five as Rutter spun on the backstretch, collecting Fitzpatrick. Both were able to continue, and once Rutter assumed his spot on the tail, the green flew again, only to have Shawn Stevens spin, collecting Bob Miller. As action resumed, the front pack again gave chase to Tripplett, with Eddy dropping off the pace shortly thereafter, having made a strong positive impression in his first appearance. Moore was the next frontrunner to experience mechanical woes, as he dropped back several spots on lap 14. At this point it became obvious that Rutter was on a tear, having recovered from his spin to work his way back to fifth position. Rutter passed Toby Boetcher for fourth on lap 15, and working the outside groove, passed both Fritter and Fitzpatrick on lap 18. The final two laps were a shootout, with Rutter high and Tripplett running low. Rutter pulled ahead at the white flag, but Tripplett moved higher down the backstretch, and Rutter ran out of room in a shower of sparks against the backstretch wall.
Tripplett took the checkered, while Rutter hung on for second after a tremendous drive. Fritter was third, with 1998 OVDCA/Ohio Caverns Touring Series champion Fitzpatrick in fourth, sending notice that he will be tough on the dirt tracks this season. Boetcher, Moore, Glick, Bill Hostetler, Max Evans, and Stevens rounded out the top ten. Interestingly, the winner ran Hoosiers, second place Rutter used McCrearys, and Fritter switched to Cobra highway compound tires for the feature. Despite a short general attendance crowd on this cold and rainy night, the OVDCA and Jackson Speedway made good on the full purse, paying $300 to win, $50 to start and paying $20 tow money to those who broke in the heat races.