The Gazette from Cedar Rapids, Iowa • 44

12b The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sun Sept 20. 1 998 Auto Racing I ASA: 2 straight for Eddy But hes back on the track after accident killed his crew chief in St. Paul i Ve started out kind of tight, but we kept getting it better and better and better. Winner Mike Eddy Its probably been the worst couple weeks of my life. You don know what an 18-year-old kid goes through when something like this happens Adam Petty About accidental death of his crew chief By Jeff Dahn Gazette sportswriter fheti faced with tragedy for the first time in his brief racing career, 18-year-old Adam Petty sought support and comfort from the same places hes always looked his family, his friends, his racing team, and most importantly, his religion.

Petty was racing in an American Speed Association event at St. Paul, Sept. 7 when his crew chief, Chris Bradley, was Petty said. I tell you what, I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy. Its probably the worst thing thats ever happened to me, and I hope its the worst thing to ever happen to me in my life.

His Spree Racing Team has stayed intact, and made the commitment to continue racing. Petty said it never occurred to him to do anything else. This is my life, he said. Ive already gone ahead and (devoted) 12 years of my life to this, and for me to quit racing cars would be out of the question. Im going to be here the rest of my life racing something, whether its ASA or Winston Cup, Im going to be doing something.

Hottest rookie Because of his famous surname, Adam Petty has been the ASAs most Adam Petty high-profile rookie driver Committed to this season. But hes been aut0 racing far from the most successful. ASA NOTEBOOK From page IB He (Eddy) got his Pontiac really, really wide, Miller said. I tried him inside, and I tried him outside but there was nothing I could do. I think I had the best car tonight.

If we would have been up front in the end, I dont think they would have caught me. St. Amant, the series points leader coming into the race, went a long way toward clinching his first national championship with his third place finish. His closest competitor in the title chase, Scott Hansen, had early problems and wast a factor. That didn't stop St.

Amant from going for the win. When you have a car thats as good as we had all day, its hard to lay back, he said. I ran pretty hard all night. Mike Miller definitely had the best car there in the end. We could have pushed the issue but a podium finish (top-three) is what we really needed.

Eddy started fifth in the 33-car grid, Miller started third and St. Amant was on the pole. A pole-sitter is yet to win an ASA race at the Downs. St. Amant captured the pole in record-breaking fashion, spinning a lap around the half-mile in 18.587 seconds (96.842 mph).

That shattered the previous ASA track record of 18.681 seconds (96.355 mph) set by Steve Carlson last September. The track was just perfect, St. Amant said. It was St. Amants tilth pole in 1998, his 12th front row start this season, his 18th career pole and his third pole in eight appearances at Hawkeye Downs.

St. Amant wasnt the first driver to break Carlsons record Saturday. That honor went to veteran Bob Senneker who got around the track in 18.677 seconds (96.375 mph). In all, 17 of the 33 drivers who participate in qualifying cracked the 19-second mark. St.

Amant and Miller duked it out over the races first 193 laps, with each enjoying time in the front. But the large crowd really rose to its feet when all the leaders went into the pits for fresh tires on lap 193 and the 18-year-old Petty stayed out. Petty stayed up front until his rubber began going away, and Eddy ducked underneath him and into the lead coming out of turn one on lap 229. We started out kind of tight, but we kept getting it better and better and better, Eddy said. The left-side tires seemed to be helping us more than right-sides, and when went in with about 100 laps left, we had four frsh tires.

We knew we were in iprefty good shape. Petty, who started 13th, held on for a fifth-place finish. It wasnt a super night for the local drivers in the field. Curt Martin of Independence ran 15th, Johnny Spaw of Cedar Rapids finished 21st, and Curt Beckler of Tiffin ran 27th. was brought on as crew chief.

The team has clicked. Although winless in 18 starts, Johnson had six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes before last nights race, including 13 top-lOs in a row. And he continues to learn. Every weekend, every racetrack, Im learning so much when I come out of there, Johnson said. I can put my finger on five or six things Ive picked up and learned everytime I get out of the car.

Amstutz sighting Jim Amstutz, the Indiana native who will take over for Larry Kemp as Hawkeye Downs Speedways new Director of Racing in 1999, was in attendance for Saturdays ASA activities at the track. Amstutz spent the last three years as manager of Angola Motor Speedway in Angola, so hes very familiar with the Pendleton, ASA. He said making sure the ASA continues to visit Hawkeye Downs will be a priority. There arent a lot of series that tour for tracks like this one, Amstutz said. NASCAR is getting so top-heavy, and even the trucks are getting away from little tracks like this.

The ASA is great to have here. Amstutz has already moved to Cedar Rapids and plans on shadowing Kemp at next weekends season-ending Quarter-Mile Championships. killed in an accident on pit road. Petty, an ASA rookie, had pitted for routine service, and Bradley was executing a suspension adjustment on the right front side of the car. After tire changes and refueling had been completed, the car was lowered from the jack and Petty pulled out of his pit stall, not realizing Bradley was still under the car.

Bradley, 40, died of his injuries at a St. Paul hospital. The accident devastated Petty, the son of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty, and the grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Its probably been the worst couple weeks of my life, Petty said Saturday while preparing for last nights ASA ACDelco 300 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway. You dont know what an 18-year-old kid goes through when something like this happens.

Petty skipped the ASA event at Jenner-stown, last weekend to attend Bradley's funeral. It gave him time to regroup and gave others time to offer assistance. "The good Lords been with us, and I cant thank Wayne (Moeckel), the chaplain for ASA, enough for what hes done for us, That honor belongs to 23-year-old Jimmie Johnson, a former off-road competitor from El Cajon, who recently moved to the Milwaukee, area. Before Saturday nights ACDelco 300, Johnson stood third in the ASAs national points standings and had the Pat Schauer Rookie of the Year award all wrapped up. Thats not bad for a guy who first got behind the wheel of a stock car exactly one year ago this month at Hawkeye Downs.

I come from an off-road background running mainly on the West Coast, Johnson said. Ive been on the dirt, beating and banging over bumps, through the desert and across stadium floors, so I had never been on an oval track until I came here last year. Johnson ran the last three ASA races of 1997 and the Herzog Motorsports team solidified over the winter when Howie Lettow Spaw accepts a Challenge C.R. driver going full-time to REMAX Challenge Series Moines. It doesnt mean Spaws days are over at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, however.

six-time Late Mode track racing The champion will run a schedule similar to what Dudley Fleck did this year, meaning hell race the REMAX Series entire schedule, but return Friday nights to the Downs when the two schedules dont conflict. "The way I look at it, were probably only going to miss five or six races out here next year," Spaw said. "Were going to be out of contention for the track championship, but were still going to run out here as much as can. Spaw said he may also run three or four ASA races again next year. By Jeff Dahn Johnny Spaw of Cedar Rapids was concentrating strictly on ASA racing Saturday, but in a couple of weeks that focus will change.

Spaw has secured a full time ride on the NASCAR REMAX Challenge Series for the 1999 season, and will debut his ride during Octoberfest at LaCrosse (Wis.) Fairgrounds Speedway the weekend of Oct. 8-11. "Thats going to be our fulltime deal, starting next year," Spaw said Saturday. He will be driving a car owned by John Lundberg of Des Add 10 5 quarts si Vaivulmt Oil FiAr luM (if required) Better UNEURS7RESULT a. IJIOISLOF Expire, 9W98J Rl Prlta 127 DuraBlend K4pangin4clianir longer Ridgca bum-rt I Pm ion tattod wttfi Dura-Bend are I mori ran twc as clean I Add 99 Disposal faa SHDKiBa sraoins 4 1 4 shocks $nn duty msiiun 33 PASSENGER SMALL CAR LIGHT mUGIZ Ti Iheavv llWGHUAmiK ih! INSTALLED 2091 1 2 SHOCKS 12 STRUTS 5,000 Mile 1 4 STRUTS INSIALLEO 2591 Mot VahK-ie Ahgnmant add! I i naadad Erpt'as 92698 MIBDIillJIT iOFF MBNA 400 Lineup for today race (11 30 mjrt TNN at Dover Downs International Speedway with car number dnver type of car and flualifyinfl speed in mph 1 (6) MV Martin Ford 155 966 2 (2) Rusty Wallace Ford 55 723 3 30) Demke Cope Pontiac J55 481 4 (16) Kevin Lepage Ford 155 5 (18i Mohtiy Lsbonte Pontiac 155 380 6 (24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 455 367 7 (43) John Andretti 155 2 39 8 (9) Jeny Nadeau Ford l55 092 9 (90) Dick Tricne Ford 454 992 10 188) Dale Jarrett Ford 164 69 11 (10) Ricky Rudd Ford 454 859 12 (28) Kenny town Ford 164 8 32 13 1 1 Steve Park Chevrolet JM 785 14 1 00) Buckshot Jones Pontiac 154 699 15 7) Geoff Bodme Ford 164 tub 16 (94 1 Matt Kenseth Ford 454 487 17 22) Werd Burton Pontiac 154 440 1R 1 46 Jph Green ffievrotet J54 281 19 (42i Joe Nemechek Chevrotel 154 1 16 20 3 1 1 Me Skinoer Chevrolet 154 103 21 tl3) Ted Musgrave ford 454037 22 (44, Kyte Petty Pontiac 164 024 23 36 1 Ernie Irvar Pontiac J53 079 24 5 Terry latxxde Chevrotet 1 53 846 25 26 1 Johnny Beeson lord 153 846 26 '91 1 Todd Bodm Chevrolet 164 209 27 1 99' Jeff Burton Ford 163 787 28 (121 Jeroroy Meyfwwj ford J53 767 29 (31- Ken Schrader Chevrolet 153 70 30 1 2 3) Aroroy Spencer ftj J63 636 31 1 1 Bnf! Bixftne for 161 590 32 0i Mv-haei Wrtnp ford 1M485 33 36 Dane) Waftnp P-oner 153 36 34 ftj i Kenny waaece ford 153 315 35 (40 Sftedv Ctaet 153 278 7 (7) Jeff Purvift Chevrolet 200, 414 190 8 (17) Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 199 $16 590 9 (28) Ricky Craven Chevrolet.

199 46 485 10 (27) Michael Waltnp Ford 199 47 185 11 (16) Phil Parsons, Chevrolet 199 $6 010 12 (2?) Ken Schrader Chevrolet 199 $10 235 13 (14) Kevin Lepage Chevrolet 199 $9 860 14 (9) Shane Hall Chevrolet 199 $9 760 15 U5) Tim Fedewa Chevrolet 199 $15 136 16 (3) Joe Bessey Chevrolet 199 $14 160, 17 (391 flijfcby Mlllin Jr Chevrolet 199 $7 635 18 (13) Glenn Allen CftevroMt 198 $8 610 19 )24f Mike Dmon Chevrolet 198 48 560 20 36) Jason Keller, Chevrolet 198 $8 960 21 (40) Mark Krnfh fhevroiel 198 $6 710 22 (18 (Ibotl Sadler Chevrolet 197 $12 925 23 (21 Mark Green Chevrolet 197 $8 4(j0 24 (32) Casey Atwood Chevrotet 197 $7 375 75 (33) Ahtpe Lew Ford 19? $7 550 26 29 Biatse Aieiarde Chevrolet 194 $6 575 27 i35 Lyndon Amk Chevrolet 194 $5 JfJ0 28 34, Rich 8rk)e Ford 1 79 erne fang 1 7 45 29 42r Joey McCarthy Chevueet 176 handivif $5 245 30 38 Jeff Krrh Chevrolet 169 crash $6 445 31 (37) HeoTwe Sjier Chevrolet 167 crash $8 196 32 (4 3 Tracy Leslie Chevrolet 161 crash $6 1 70 33 (19i Patty Move jrd 160 e4ne fatty $6 145 34 frjtjpy Lrtion Ponhac IS handftr $7 120 35 (26) Dart Reende Ford 155 crash $6 095 36 (31 1 Ed Berner Fvd 146 $7 070 37 (30 Randy Lae Chevrolet 1 26 artn farte $12 545 38 (6) Andy Santame Chevrolet 170 feaMrod $6 020 39 (4) Satrar BJftka Chewcvet 92 ftteereig $6 020 40 2 3 Oawd Oeen Chevrolet 90 handn4 111 570 41 8 Bjcflahof rete Pnrtha 27 crash 4 7 020 42 (5 D.k Trie Chevrolet 1 crash OSj 43 20 Daw Jarre" fcrnl 1 crash $5 120 I Regular Price I I Limit 1 coupon I per purchase DISALIGN Exptraa provisional 43 (3) Date Earnhardt, Chevrotet, provisional LONE STAR BOO Uneup for today IRL event (3 KCRGI on the 1 5miie Texas Motor Speedway with qualifying position car number, name chassisengme and speed 1 (11) Bitty Boat. DaliareAurora. 225 979 mph 2 (1) Tony Stewart DaliareAurora 224 869 3 (8) Scott Sharp DiiiaraAurora 224 551 4 (28) Mark Divnnre DaiiaraAurora 224 299 5 (35) Jeff Ward forte Aurora. 224 06 6 (6) Davey Hamilton DaiiaraAurors 223 677 7 1 4 Scott Goodyear ForcaAurora 2 22 77 2 8 (77) Stephan Gregnee DaliaraAurora 222 332 9 (51 1 Eddie Ciieever Jr DaliaraAurora 22? 266 10 (14) Kenny Brack DaliareAurora 222 186 11 (43i Dave Steele Force Aurora 222 049 12 (97, Grng Ray DaKareAutora 221 921 13 (30) Rau( Boesei Force Aurora 221 429 14 tlO) John Paul Jr force Aurora 221 366 15 (16) Marco Greco force Aurora 221 33 16 (3) Robhw Bum Daera Aurora 220 85 17 (52) Rohtry Unser 0 force -Aurora 220 823 18 23i Robedo Guerrero force Infinrti 220 489 19 (91) Buddy Uher DaHaraAurora 220 417 20 (18) Steve Knapp force Aurora 218 898 21 (12) Buz; Catkin DaHaraAurora 218 42 22 (40) Or Jerk Mm Dai arairfkwti 217 558 23 (99 Sam Sctvrwjt DaHaraAurora. 217 243 24 81) 6ni Twer DaHaraAurora 216 867 IB (BB) Oaaaia BaacMar, DaAara Aama, 21 III (CaMI Itacto Taan artry art af Cart 26 (19) Stan Wastes Ry 4 Scon Ateora 212 7 07 3J.

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