Jeep Van Wormer wins at Eldora

Rossburg, OH - Saturday, April 18, 2009 saw my 1st trip of the season to the famed farmland in Western Ohio known as Eldora Speedway. This trip also opened my eyes to importance of having GPS as race fan. As I traveled south down I-75, just before Bowling Green traffic came to a grinding halt. After a consultation with my Iphone and a short detour on a Saturday afternoon through the college town of Bowling Green, I was back on the Interstate and on my way. R@%N and interstate backup's are the bain of the short track racing industry across the country. Whether it's orange cones or a Celica burnt to a crisp sitting on the shoulder, these are the things I can never remember when I am jonesing for a race in the middle of a Canadian winter.

As I pulled into the parking lot, that familiar exhilaration of a night of springtime racing without the forecast of rain hit my brain. This was my first trip to the Big E since this same race one year ago. Brian Ruhlman had scored that victory in the American Late Model Series event. The UMP modifieds and the Eldora stock cars shared the card this year as well. 123 cars in the pits, 46 late models and 48 mods. The first thing to greet me was the under construction hospitality suites. Although I have never been to Knoxville Speedway, they appear to have the same look as the Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Nothing that interferes with the track, no shadows cast onto the track, they have plenty of room for them. The traditionalists will argue its not the same, "it's like Nascar", but if thats what is going to make you stay home, then go right ahead. I spend almost all of my time at the track in the infield, so I won't miss the gravel they know occupy in turn three. Racing is grimy, dirty, sweaty, loud and sometimes disappointing, but many of us wouldn't have it any other way. As for how this will impact where people can sit in turn three I am unsure. My thoughts are that the people in the suites aren't there for the races anyway. It is meant to help the track with their sponsorship, help out local companies with advertising and thanking their customers. If they happen to create a few new fans, then thats great.

A pleasant suprise during this trip was seeing 5 of the 123 cars present were Canadians. 3 of whom are regulars at South Buxton Raceway, where I have been the track photographer for the last 2 seasons. Justin Coulter would win his B-main in his bright red 5c Bob Pearce modified to make the A-main. Tim Richardson would finish 5th in his B-main and miss the transfer. After running 2nd most of his heat and knocking down the frontstretch wall he would end up 5th in that race as well. Wallaceburg's Chris Ross, who races in the US the majority of the season would struggle in his heat race after contact with another car in turn 2, after some repairs he would start on the tail of his B-main and finish 3rd. Through a provisional he made it in to the feature, and would pull off early and coming home 20th. Brothers Mark and Dale Glassford would race at Attica the night before and stay over for a full weekend of racing. Both drivers had never even been to Eldora before and were excited to race on the historic half mile. Mark finished 10th, and Dale would finish 6th in the 4th heat of the night. When it came time for there B-main, Mark wound up in 7th, and Dale in 4th. Since the B-mains only took the top 2 cars, that meant the #60 and #90 were parked for the night. This allowed them to not only do some racing but also take in the A-main as fans.

When it came to the A-main, Jeep Van Wormer would work his way from 16th place to 1st and take home his 3rd consecutive win.