By WMRA
In what has to be one of the best races of the year so far Evan Margeson scored another victory, this time at Monroe, where WMRA had not appeared in at last eight or more years.A dozen midgets signed into the pits, with welcome late arrivals, Jeremiah Franklin and Dave & James Pirie filling out the field. This was the first 2011 appearance with WMRA for both visiting Canadians. Referee Jeff Johnson had a busy night as Pit Boss as Joe Krieger was unable to make the race due to attending a Memorial Service for a friend who died overseas in the service of our Country.
Hot laps saw a scary moment as Ben Petter climbed a wheel of a slower car, became airborne, but eventually came down safely with repairable damage. In qualifying several cars missed a lap due to being out of order for qualifying as well as mechanical problems that reared their ugly heads! The highlight for all though was when one of the last cars out, Ben Petter set fast time for the evening. All cars in attendance participated in qualifying and received official times.
There were no Trophy dashes for any of the different classes of cars that raced, due to a large field and there being six different clubs participating. Races for all venues were cut short, as was the WMRA main event, being reduced from 35 to 25 laps, even before the first green flag was waved.
In the first of two heat races Bobby Dempsey, in the Dixon #44 took the lead on the second lap from his third starting position and finished up front, followed by fourth starting Cole Tupling, Kris McKenzie was third. The fast heat started without scheduled pole sitter Troy Globe because the initial start of the fast heat saw contact between Globe and Petter, Globe pitted, thus not being an official starter when the race was completely restarted, but Petter was able to continue. The top three were Bliss, Margeson, and Livernash.
Now for the main event of the night, MItch Hoffses was quick at the start and jumped into the lead as the field was going into turn one when the green flag was dropped. He was followed by Bliss, Margeson, Petter, Globe, Livernash, McKenzie, Dempsey, Franklin, Tupling, Pirie, and Hughes. On lap six Margeson assumed the lead, and on lap seven Petter made his way into second, and battling behind him were Hoffses, Bliss, Livernash, Globe, Tupling, Dempsey, McKenzie, Franklin, Pirie, and Hughes. The 11 car of Troy Globe exited on lap nine with heating problems, Tupling, McKenzie and Dempsey were battling for sixth spot all through the race when the 44 car of Dempsey exited the speedway and retired to the pits with motor trouble. With six laps to go, the hard charging Ben Petter, who had been giving Evan Margeson all he could handle in the battle for the lead, tried to dive in under the 50 car going into turn one, seeing he was about to make contact, Petter hit the brakes hard and spun rather than hitting the 50 car. The field restarted and the crowd was treated to a fantastic and exciting charge by Petter in the red and yellow Beast/Esslinger which had been numbered 21 for the 2011 season, in memory of Grandpa Bill. He passed high, he passed low, he passed going into corners, he passed coming out of the turns, down the straight, he was on a charge, six laps and he was back in second place and chasing the leader again as the checkered flag dropped, thus ending a memorable and exciting, race as the crowd roared their approval. Winner of the Bob Gregg memorial race for 2011, Evan Margeson drove in his usual fast, smooth, and flawless style to garner his 29th WMRA feature win!
But, there is a rookie battle too. Four of the six who are going for the title were in competition, and this evening Cole Tupling of Okanogan, WA was the lead racer of that group, with a hard fought 6th place finish in the main, right behind him was Kris McKenzie, not making it an easy fight. Steady and hard working Steve Hughes in the Churchill #79 Challenger/Nissan got a creditable tenth place finish, while Bobby Dempsey had dropped out of the race on lap seventeen. As an aside, Rod Churchill numbered his midget 79 because the car was built in 1979, and it is considerably older that many of the drivers competing today!
Two past Champions were at the track, just watching. For the first time since his retirement, many time champion Rick Moss renewed old friendships while wandering through the pit area. In the grandstand were two time Champion Mark Atkinson, his Dad Greg, and the family. It was good to see all of these people back at the track!
Qualifying: 1. Ben Petter, #21 - 16:930. 2. Evan Margeson, #50 - 17:095. 3. Snake Livernash, #13 - 17:168. 4. Pat Bliss, #98 - 17:327. 5. Mitch Hoffses, #5 - 17:439. 6. Troy Globe, #11 - 18:137. 7. Bobby Dempsey, #44 - 18:335. 8. Cole Tupling, #4 - 18:357. 9. Kris McKenzie, #41 - 18:427. 10. James Pirie, #39 - 20:157. 11. Jeremiah Franklin, #39 - 20:157 12. Steve Hughes, #79 - 21:599.
1st Heat: Dempsey, Tupling, Mckenzie, Franklin, Hughes, Pirie.
2nd Heat: Bliss, Margeson, Livernash, Petter, Hoffses, Globe DNS.
Main Event: Margeson, Petter, Hoffses, Bliss, Livernash, Tupling,
McKenzie, Franklin, Pirie, Hughes, Dempsey, Globe.