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It was just one of those nights that fans, drivers, crews and officials dread on week #15 of the 2009 season. I would say the ghost’s and goblin’s were out, but that would be Halloween. I could say “April fools”, but that was 5 months ago. How about Friday the 13th? Nope, it was only the 4th. So we’ll just say it was a wild and crazy, full moon Friday night at the 3/8 mile speedrome for Mechanic’s Night.  The stands were packed and 71 machines were pit-side on the next to the last night of the season.  The air was cool, the full moon was bright (have I mentioned that it was a full moon yet?).

Leading off the action again this week was the Pure Stock 15 Lapper, which was arguably the best feature of the evening, and by far the most well behaved. The #14M of Matt Wallick and Point Champion Rich Schweitzer in the #84 were on the front row. Right off the bat the #21 of Phil Wade was able to dart his way out front from his 4th starting position with the #43 of DJ Hores glued to his back bumper. After a caution on Lap four after the #26 of Ricky Thomas stopped in turn two with mechanical problems, Wade would continue to lead when the first weird thing of the evening happened. Coming off of turn two on lap #8, Wade’s machine looped around and went directly to the infield with apparent mechanical problems. At the same time the new race leader Hores tried to avoid some debris in turn #3 just as the caution waved, but apparently he was unsuccessful and had to retire from the event. That magically put the #14M machine back to the top spot (that’s a slight of hand trick Criss Angel would have been proud of). After the restart, the Point Champ took several shots at the Wallick machine over the last six circuits, but was unable to pull the rabbit out of his own hat on this night. Following the New Philadelphia Ohio driver in the #14M was Schweitzer, Rex Frohnaple Sr., Dick Aubihl and Mike Powell rounding out the top 5 finishers.

That’s when the full moon took over and the wolves howling on top of the hill should have been a sign of the things to come. I think I even heard someone singing the Nightmare on Elm Street theme “one, two, buckle my shoe…” The #T1 of Randy Gray and The #65M of Mike Davis brought the carnage filled 20 lap TSMA Modified feature down for Chief Starter Keith Decker’s green flag. After the fourth attempt to start the event was successful, Davis was able to race his way out front with Gray close in tow. Thru the first four laps the field looked as though they may settle down, with the #7 of “The Batman” Scott Peltz working his way around Gray for the second position and the #D2 of Nolan Dalton charging from the 15th starting position inside the top 8. That’s when the #B55, #65 and #62 got tangled in turns three and four on lap six. Once we got the line-up set after a brief red flag period to sort out where everyone was suppose to be, I heard another person singing “…three, four, better lock the door…” The Caution flag would fly on laps 7, 11 and finally for the final time on lap 13. During that time Davis was able to maintain the top spot, Peltz in second, Gray in third and Dalton all the way up to fourth. Battles continued thru the field over the final six circuits, but Davis was just too strong. I’m sure that the Pilot of the #65M machine hopes for a repeat next week and a $1,000 check to boot. Following the Rayland Ohio driver in the Alltel Wireless, GRS Modified’s sponsored #65M was Peltz, Gray, Dalton and Bruce Takach. Mitch Basich in the #B55 machine was able to clinch the 2009 TSMA Modified Point Championship. Congratulations Mitch!

After a Jason Voorhees look alike was spotted near turn one uttering “kill, kill, kill…..ma, ma, ma” The third feature of the evening was the 250 Speedway Late Model twenty lap contest. Kevin Smith in the Black Deuce and Matt Mallett in the #42 brought the field to the line. I have no idea what the Guinness Book of World Records say about cautions in an event with only 5 cars, but I guarantee they challenged it. Smith and Mallett tangled in turn four on the opening lap, sending Smith to the tail after changing a right rear tire. Mallett was able to lead the event wire to wire and pick up another feature victory. Following the Byesville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar & Grill, Mallett’s Concrete sponsored #42 machine was Smith, Rick Carpenter, Mike Enos and Jason Stewart.

After catching a few head spinning re-runs of the Exorcist on the laptop, the Super Sport feature made its way onto the speedway. Starting on the front row for the 15 lap heavy weight tilt was the #10 of Tory Gibbs and The #11H of Jim Hess. With a solid top 10 finish, Hess would clinch the 2009 Championship, but he was looking to wrap it up in style. On the initial start, the #M-15, #2 and the #11TEEN got tangled up in turn four after Gibbs was able to slide out front. As the field lined up for the due-over, the #10 machine surprisingly pulled to the infield with apparent mechanical problems, moving the #78 of Randy Gray to the pole position. After the green flag waved for the third attempted restart, Hess was able to race out in front of Gray and Tim Fabian in the #M-88. On lap two the bad luck bug bit Gray as he, Deak Parsons (filling in for Glen Richea in the #77R) and Brad Ronshausen in the #3 piled up in turn one. The #77R was able to continue but had to pull pit-side on the restart with rear-end problems. After a spin by the 5th place runner Billy Hilliker in the #27B on lap six, Hess was able to hold off “Kid Rocket” Brock Burcher in the #07 to not only pay another visit to 250 Speedway victory lane, but capture the Super Sport Championship. Congratulation Jim! Following the Centerville Ohio driver in the Buffalo’s Bar & Grill, Pat’s Reloading LogoTek Vinyl Graphics, Larry Mason Paint, D&K Heating & Cooling and Dad’s Checkbook sponsored #11H was Burcher, Bob Nolan, Fabian and Paul Murray making his first appearance at 250 Speedway and coming from the 15th starting position, rounding out the top 5.

The Final feature of the evening was the 15 lap 4 Cylinder event. Bringing the field in for the green flag was the #EZ1 of Andy Parks and the #1C of Mike Linn. This division has the honor of having our closest point battle, Chris Seifert led Rex Frohnaple by 10 points coming in. I was hopeful that we would have no cautions so I could catch up on lost episodes of Tales from The Crypt before turning in for the evening, but why should this feature be any different than the others? Parks was able to race out front with the #88H of Randy Hahn applying the pressure in second. After a couple cautions the driver who now finds himself in second place in the point standings for the first time this year, Frohnaple in the #14F will be looking up out of a big hole now, as he spun his machine on lap two and experienced mechanical problems on lap ten that forced him to retire from the event. After the final restart, Parks was able to hold off Seifert in the #16C, who was able to pad his point lead with a runner-up finish. Frohnaple will now need some help from the Racing God’s to take the championship away from Seifert, but the good thing is, he still has a shot heading into the final event. Following the Coshocton Ohio driver in the #EZ1 was Seifert, Hahn, Hard Charger Jimmy Orr coming from the 20th starting position and Luke Freed rounding out the top 5.

In the Mechanic’s events, Ryan West was able to wheel the Mardis Racing #2 machine to victory in the Mod’s. Mike McElwain driving the Hores Racing #43 was able to hold off track photographer Gabe Pringle and a host of others to pick up the Pure Stock mechanic’s trophy. And finally, Michael Seifert driving the Seifert Racing #16C was able to out-duel track scorer Scotty Bush and pick up the victory in for the 4 Cylinders.

Next week is the final race of the 2009 racing season and the rescheduled TSMA sanctioned event at 250 Speedway. DJ Cline, winner of the first TSMA race and 30+ other Mod’s will look to take home the cool $1,000 prize in the 30 lap event. Pit admission will be $30 with Grandstand admission being $12. Camping will be permitted in the pit area after the event, so bring your tent and join us for the 250 Speedway Blowout!! This is your last chance to see the dirt fly at 250 before the snow flies!!