ALLSTAR: Harford Results 98-05-28

All Star Sprint Race Results - Hartford Speedway, Hartford, SD - Thu 5/28/98 -

Kevin Eckert

HARTFORD, SD - Joey Saldana earned the win in Thursday’s All Star sprint card at the Hartford Speedway. It was the fifth time this season that Saldana steered the Steve Mox Foxco-Chevrolet Stealth to an All Star victory. Hartford’s first nationally-sanctioned sprint car show in nine years also marked the first All Star appearance in South Dakota. The occasion was organized by Ross Shattuck, who crewed for Saldana a year ago.

"Roscoe took a big gamble to bring us up here," Saldana remarked. "I hope he made some money." Shattuck’s initial promotion pulled a reported 5,000 people.

Saldana established a new track record of 11.673, then inverted himself fourth by a pill draw. Mox mechanic Daryl Tate tweaked the car to trace the top of a very dry third-mile. Saldana jumped upstairs to reach runner-up, then dipped underneath Dean Jacobs to claim a lead that he never surrendered.

Hartford’s 30 lap grind was slowed by two yellows and halted by a pair of reds. The first stoppage occurred on the opening lap when Kenny Hansen tipped on his side. Hansen’s Maxim was so lightly damaged that he rejoined the field. Doug Clark’s second red flag was more serious. Frankie Kerr was defending fifth place from Judi Bates when they touched wheels entering turn three of lap six. Both cars flipped hard, and a hush fell over the crowd when Scott Jones slid into the carnage. Kerr refused an ambulance ride and walked back to his trailer. Kerr’s Brown powered Eagle was destroyed, as was the HG Maxim of Bates, who drover 26 hours from Pa. to S.D. after losing a car at Flag City Sunday.

After spins by John Lambertz and Scott Whitworth, the race settled down. Saldana was able to lap cars by running wide until the surface began to change.

"It started taking rubber down low and everybody else was running there too," Saldana pointed out. "Traffic was horrible. I thought I showed some of those guys enough of a wheel to get a break, but a lot of them wanted to race me."

Keith Kauffman was able to mount a challenge when Saldana became buried in backmarkers. Near the end, however, Saldana was able to shake free and preserve the $4,000 win. "We got close, Kauffman, pilot of Warren Johnson’s Doemelt-Gaerte, said. "But that’s not a win."

The Jacobs brothers, Dean and Kenny, crossed the finish line third and fourth. Dean actually warmed the Kriner engine in Kenny’s car when his brother was delayed at the Cleveland airport. Chad Mellenberndt managed fifth, receiving $100 extra from Smith Resort for a top ten local car finish. Marlon Jones and Chuck Swenson scored sixth and seventh, trailed by Leonard Lee, track champ Gregg Bakker and GMP Rookie of the Year candidate Brian Smith.

All star president Bert Emick was pleased with the event. "It’s a long way," Emick explained. "The farthest we’ve ever come. But we’ll be back if they want us. The drivers say it’s a nice place to race."

The United Expressline heat fell to Dean Jacobs, the Southwest Expressline heat to Kenny Jacobs and the Southwest Glass heat was won by Jason Wendt. D. Jacobs won the Commercial Truck & Trailer Dash with Bates the United Expressline B Main winner.

Time Trials: 1. Joey Saldana, Mox 17, 11.673; 2. Frankie Kerr, Shoff 23s, 11.972; 3. Keith Kauffman, Johnson U2, 11.980; 4. Dean Jacobs, Ashworth 92, 12.044; 5. Kenny Jacobs, Hughes 94, 12.256; 6. Leonard Lee, Lee 16L, 12.270; 7. Jake Peters, Peters 57, 12.284; 8. Justin Henderson, Henderson 83, 12.323; 9. Judi Bates, Mourar 121, 12.461; 10. Chuck Swenson, Swenson X, 12.528; 11. Kenny Hansen, Handen 4, 12.569; 12. Brian Smith, Smith 2+, 12.603; 13. Chad Mellenberndt, Mellenberndt 69, 12.609; 14. Scott Jones, Jones 13, 12.624; 15. Gregg Bakker, Bakker 11x, 12.626. 16. Marlon Jones, Jones 6, 12.652; 17. Scott Whitworth, Tall Corn 96, 12.674; 18. Jason Wendt, Wendt 16w, 12.702; 19. Dave Ekern, Ekern 11, 12.740; 20. Gary DeWall, DeWall 16, 12.783; 21. John Lambertz, Lambertz 12L, 12.929; 22. Matt Richard, Richard 3, 12.994; 23. Terry Reilly, Reilly 69, 13.141; 24. Randy Rosenboom, Rosenboom 14R, 13.319; 25. Steve Ballenger, Ballenger 2, 13.518; 26. Chuck McGilliuf, McGilliuf 101, 13.613; 27. Chad Radel, Radel 25, NT.

United Expressline Heat (10 laps): 1. D. Jacobs 2. Mellenberndt 3. Saldana 4. M. Jones 5. Peters 6. Swenson 7. Ballenger 8. Ekern 9. Richard.

Southwest Expressline Heat (10 laps): 1. K. Jacobs 2. S. Jones 3. Hansen 4. Kerr 5. Whitworth 6. Reilly 7. DeWall 8. Henderson 9. McGilliuf. Southwest Glass Heat (10 laps): 1. Wendt 2. Baker 3. Kauffman 4. Lee 5. Lambertz 6. Smith 7. Rosenboom 8. Bates 9. Radel. United Expressline B Main (12 laps): 1. Bates 2. Swenson 3. Henderson 4. Ekern 5. Smith 6. Richard 7. DeWall 8. Rosenboom 9. McGilliuf 10. Radel 11. Reilly 12. Ballenger.

Commercial Truck & Trailer Dash (4 laps): 1. D. Jacobs 2. Saldana 3. Kauffman 4. Kerr 5. K. Jacobs 6. Jones. A Main (30 laps): 1. Joey Saldana 2. Keith Kauffman 3. Dean Jacobs 4. Kenny Jacobs 5. Chad Mellenberndt 6. Marlon Jones 7. Chuck Swenson 8. Leonard Lee 9. Gregg Bakker 10. Brian Smith 11. Matt Richard 12. Gary DeWall 13. Kenny Hansen 14. Justin Henderson 15. Jason Wendt 16. Dave Ekern 17. Chuck McGilliuf 18. Randy Rosenboom 19, Scott Jones 20. John Lambertz 21. Scott Whitworth 22. Frankie Kerr 23. Judi Bates 24. Jake Peters.

Western Pa Speedweek Set

PONCE INLET, FL - The All Star sprint invasion of five Pennsylvania tracks for the start of the 6th annual $120,000 Western Pa. Outlaw Sprint Speedweek starts Wed. June 10 at Mercer Raceway Park where there has never been a repeat winner in All Star competition.

The Jacobs brothers are set to display their version of a sibling rivalry when Dean, currently fourth in points, tries to become the first repeat All Star winner at Mercer. To accomplish this, he must beat brother Kenny, currently second in points.

On Thurs. June 11, the All Stars do battle with the best of the Central Pa. drivers at Port Royal Speedway where the Pa. Posse has recorded victories in all seven previous All Star events there, with Lance Dewease the dominant driver.

Keith Kauffman, trying to break into the top five in points, can’t wait to get to Lernerville Speedway on Friday, June 12 where he has three previous All Star wins. Pittsburgh’s Pa. Motor Speedway shows nine different past All Star winners, with only Ed Lynch, Jr. able to repeat.

The Speedweek finale will come at Tri City where $5,000 awaits the winner. All Star hot shows Jacobs, Joey Saldana, Frankie Kerr and Kevin Huntley will try to beat local driver Bob Felmlee, who has already visited victory circle there. -30-