By Eldon & Oleva Butcher
Owensboro, KY (March 12-13, 2004) The special pre-season Bluegrass Bash II for UMP Open Wheel Modifieds was held Friday night and Saturday at the Windy Hollow Speedway. Paul Wilmouth of Parkersburg, WV, won the $5,000 posted prize after taking the 40 lap nightcap. The usual late model competitor made the most out of the seat time in the Hassy Chassis Modified. Wilmouth started on the outside row of the feature after winning the second heat. At the drop of the green he shot into the lead and there he stayed.
Wilmouth had built up a straightaway lead when everyone headed into the infield for the mandatory five minute pit stop. Eighteen of the original 26 starterstook their position to restart the second half of the feature. Once again Wilmouth got away while the race behind him tightened for the remaining top five spots. The competition was tough with only the top two finishers from seven heat races and six consolation events able to make the field for the Bash!
Defending UMP National Champion Ricky Arms of Moss, TN, held off a strong last lap bid from Jeff Leka to finish second. Arms had started on the pole while Leka of Buffalo, IL, had made significant gains after starting 12th on the field. Arms' car showed extensive damage to the left rear from an incident some 15 laps earlier. Joey Jenson and Craig Thatcher represented the Wissota states well with fourth and fifth place finishes. Hoosier Matt Boknecht was sixth. A dozen states were represented by the field assembled.
Arms best represented the 85 qualifiers with a lap of 18.259 around a drying 3/8 mile D-shaped oval. He also won the first qualifying heat handily. Other heat winners in addition to Arms and Wilmouth were Tim Dierlam, Curt Rhodes, Jenson, Thatcher and Boknecht. Todd Robinson, Mark Ford, Jimmy Guidry, Vic Vandergriff, Paul Miles and Josh Harris returned to the tricky oval to win the consolation events.
Local Owensboro driver Ricky Rudd out drove the field to win the Quick Six and the added $250 prize. He had also been second quickest in time trials. However, like most of the top six qualifiers, Rudd met with hard luck as the program continued through the afternoon and into the evening. Rudd started ninth in the feature and fought his way up to third before a left front ball joint broke forcing him out of the race. Teammate Paul Miles experienced the same problem during his heat race. After repairs, Miles did make the show with a consy win.
Tim Dierlam also ran as high as third in the feature. The Chandler, IN, driver and third fast qualifier won his heat while ignoring the effects of a broken rear shock but could not complete the feature. Curt Rhodes won the fourth heat after qualifying fourth quick. The other two top-six qualifiers failed to transfer to the feature. The top six were not locked into the feature field under the format established for the Dash.
Only 3 of the 15 preliminary events were completed without the need for a yellow flag. The feature was slowed 9 times due to caution periods. The Duce was truly Loose at the Bluegrass Bash II and very few competitors left the Hollow this day untested or unmarked!
Owensboro, KY (March 12-13, 2004) The special pre-season Bluegrass Bash II for UMP Open Wheel Modifieds was held Friday night and Saturday at the Windy Hollow Speedway. Paul Wilmouth of Parkersburg, WV, won the $5,000 posted prize after taking the 40 lap nightcap. The usual late model competitor made the most out of the seat time in the Hassy Chassis Modified. Wilmouth started on the outside row of the feature after winning the second heat. At the drop of the green he shot into the lead and there he stayed.
Wilmouth had built up a straightaway lead when everyone headed into the infield for the mandatory five minute pit stop. Eighteen of the original 26 starterstook their position to restart the second half of the feature. Once again Wilmouth got away while the race behind him tightened for the remaining top five spots. The competition was tough with only the top two finishers from seven heat races and six consolation events able to make the field for the Bash!
Defending UMP National Champion Ricky Arms of Moss, TN, held off a strong last lap bid from Jeff Leka to finish second. Arms had started on the pole while Leka of Buffalo, IL, had made significant gains after starting 12th on the field. Arms' car showed extensive damage to the left rear from an incident some 15 laps earlier. Joey Jenson and Craig Thatcher represented the Wissota states well with fourth and fifth place finishes. Hoosier Matt Boknecht was sixth. A dozen states were represented by the field assembled.
Arms best represented the 85 qualifiers with a lap of 18.259 around a drying 3/8 mile D-shaped oval. He also won the first qualifying heat handily. Other heat winners in addition to Arms and Wilmouth were Tim Dierlam, Curt Rhodes, Jenson, Thatcher and Boknecht. Todd Robinson, Mark Ford, Jimmy Guidry, Vic Vandergriff, Paul Miles and Josh Harris returned to the tricky oval to win the consolation events.
Local Owensboro driver Ricky Rudd out drove the field to win the Quick Six and the added $250 prize. He had also been second quickest in time trials. However, like most of the top six qualifiers, Rudd met with hard luck as the program continued through the afternoon and into the evening. Rudd started ninth in the feature and fought his way up to third before a left front ball joint broke forcing him out of the race. Teammate Paul Miles experienced the same problem during his heat race. After repairs, Miles did make the show with a consy win.
Tim Dierlam also ran as high as third in the feature. The Chandler, IN, driver and third fast qualifier won his heat while ignoring the effects of a broken rear shock but could not complete the feature. Curt Rhodes won the fourth heat after qualifying fourth quick. The other two top-six qualifiers failed to transfer to the feature. The top six were not locked into the feature field under the format established for the Dash.
Only 3 of the 15 preliminary events were completed without the need for a yellow flag. The feature was slowed 9 times due to caution periods. The Duce was truly Loose at the Bluegrass Bash II and very few competitors left the Hollow this day untested or unmarked!
