Submitted by Kris McKenzie
Pat Bliss in the Maples Beast/Ed Pink Ford was the class of the field at Ephrata Raceway Park on a warm pleasant evening, the first time in 2011 that rain was not a threat to wash out the program. A slim field of cars was on hand, weather a near perfect with temperatures in the mid 70s, with a hint of a breeze.
For the first time we saw the yellow number 12 Steve Hughes Beast/Fontana, but though Hughes and Churchill worked tirelessly all night long, they fell victim to a bound universal joint and could not correct the problem at the track. After twice breaking down on the tow to Ephrata, the Voss #45 unloaded with the new Gaerte motor, only to find steering problems besetting them. A couple of hours hard work, with the help of ex-car owner Carl Peter, and they were able to get the problem ironed out and participate in the race.
Rookie Cole Tupling, the last car to take a timed lap stunned the spectators with fast time of the evening, besting the always good qualifying Snake Livernash and Pat Bliss. Crutcher in the Voss #45 thrilled the fans when the 45 car went into a wild spin at the starting line at the completion of his first, and only qualifying lap.
During the trophy dash Pat Bliss spun and was struck by Snake Livernash who then pitted, Bliss restarted at the rear and when the green flag dropped Kris McKenzie in the Globe 45 car battled for all he was worth to gain the victory. On the last turn of the last lap he, Bliss and Tupling came through turns three and four side by side, Tupling on the bottom squeeked out the narrowest of wins over Bliss and McKenzie.
The single heat of the night went to third starting Bliss, with Tupling and Globe close behind.
Pole sitting Troy Globe got the jump when the green flag dropped in the main event, the 11 car was perfectly set up for this tricky oval and he pulled out to a four to six car lead over Bliss, they were followed by Tupling, Livernash, McKenzie and Crutcher. After eight or nine laps Bliss started to reel Globe in, and passed him on lap 15. The following lap, the 4 car of Tupling and 13 car of Livernash tangled coming out of turn four and both were hard into the front stretch crashwall. The brunt of the damage was to the Seidelman Hawk/Gaerte with the Livernash car experiencing a flat rear tire. At the restart the running order was Bliss, Globe, McKenzie, Crutcher, and Livernash. The finish order is shown below.
In the hotly contested Rookie battle both McKenzie and Tupling passed Steve Hughes who had held the point lead most of the young season. Sadly, promising rookie Bobby Dempsey was without a car and so dropped in the standings. Brian Crutcher, who had missed two races, looked good and steadily improved in The Voss #45 and is going to be a factor before the season ends.
Qualifying: Tupling, 13:770; Livernash, 13:854; Bliss, 13:989; McKenzie, 14:369; Globe, 14:602; Crutcher, 15:035; Hughes, no time.
Dash; Tupling, Bliss, McKenzie, Livernash
Heat; Bliss, Tupling, Globe, McKenzie, Livernash, Crutcher
main; Bliss, Globe, Livernash, McKenzie, Crutcher, Tupling.
Point Standings:
1. Bliss 588
2. Livernash 583
3. Margeson 530
4. Petter 468
5. McKenzie 465
6. Globe 452
7. Tupling 425
8. Hughes 401
9. Hoffses 391
10. Dempsey 256
11. Crutcher 222
12. Koepke 153
13. Bell 112
14. Franklin 105
15. Pirie 101
Rookie of the Year
1. McKenzie 465
2. Tupling 425
3. Hughes 401
4. Dempsey 256
5. Crutcher 222
6. Bell 112