Off_The_Wall

Well finally a dry Friday night (April 18) with no rain even though there were a few wet spots around we finally got the season underway after a loosing battle with ole Mother Nature.

If the first late model feature of the season at Kil-Kare is any indication of what the fans can expect to see it looks like it will be a show down between defending track champ Tim Allensworth and many time champ John Vallo. Vallo has teamed up with former competitor Gary Estes this year and will be wheeling the familiar #75 at both Kil-Kare and Columbus.

Allensworth lined up seventh in the feature while Vallo started sixth but it wasn't long, about five laps before Allensworth in his (remember Cushman) famous outside passing form was on the move. Lap seven showed him the leader on the scoreboard and he started to pull away from the field but in the meantime Vallo, who is also known for his outside passing was coming on strong. By the halfway point Vallo was within striking zone, on Allensworth's rear bumper. Vallo was sizing up the situation trying to figure out the best way to pass Allensworth as several times he was able to pull up alongside him on the outside but just could not pull off a pass. So look for the battle to resume Friday.

For young modified driver Caleb Rescher it will be a night he will long remember as he make a clean sweep first taking his first heat win and putting the icing on the cake by scoring his first feature win at K-K.

Though the mod field was a bit on the slim side the feature made up for the short field as four cars were in contention in the closing laps of the feature. Rescher took the lead at the start with Chad Poole who has returned in Paul Storer's mod holding down second and former late model driver Bill Burba was running third until he damaged the right front after a brush with the wall. With Burba out Jason Mahaffey and '06 champ Shawn Gray made it the four car challenge for the checker. Poole, who's father Carl was a longtime competitor and former KK champ claimed the runner-up money while Jason Mahaffey, who's father Don Sr. also was a K-K regular was a very close third and Gray was fourth in what you might call a blanket finish.

And where was defending champ Terry Humphrey, he ran a couple of weeks ago at Shady Bowl? Also missing was the potent 72 of Shawn Stroble. Reportedly Jack Black III has so called retired with his car up for sale. By the way it is one of the chariots that Lee Raymond use to drive, ya know the guy that drove with one hand. Yea I know, Jerry Stapleton does too. Hey, where was he?

Since Kim Dill has retired from modified driving the lone female left is Jamie Brenneman and I sure have to give her credit for her ability to run right with the guys. She claimed second in her heat after holding off the challenges of veteran Ray Muncy and was fifth in the feature. Wanna find Kim, check around the #14 of Jason Mahaffey.

Where are the sport stocks. I know, the season is young and some of the guys are warmer blooded individuals and are waiting for the air to heat up a bit before they make their debut. Of course Tom Williams doesn't mind one bit as he'll be looking for his second win this week. Csn hr do it, we'll find out Friday night.

One of these days Amber Sites, Earl & Peggy Isaacs daughter, is going to surprise the guys and pick up a feature win. Last season she almost pulled off the trick until the last lap and last week she led the until the halfway point and that is when the guys such as winner Aaron Harshbarger and Tim Haerr slipped by but, alas, she finished third. Anybody got any extra lead for her right foot? By the way, stop by the photo trailer and buy a couple of photos so Earl and Peggy can keep the #98 compact supplied with tires.

And on the subject of female drivers I noticed a lot of young guys taking note of the driver of the #7 KOIL Legend car during the pre-race on track meet the drivers. At fifteen years old she wheels her legend car like a pro. Was fifth in time trials, third in her heat, and a very respectable fifth in the feature. To learn more about her visit www.sloanhenderson.com,

Wall smackers, wow it hurts, especially in the ole pocketbook. In addition to the earlier mention of Bill Burba's brush with the wall Russ Bobb took a hard hit with a lot of right front damage in the heat event and Dick Dunlevy redesigned his right front after a visit with the turn one wall in the mod feature.

It will be fan appreciation night at Kil-Kare this Friday as a "thank you" to the fans that showed up and for those that may have stayed away for various reasons as admission will be just five dollars and it will be double points night for all divisions. So grab you neighbor, co-worker, or anybody you can get ahold of and bring them out to the track. Lets pack the place and then maybe Ricky will offer hot dogs for a buck the following week.