MSA Hales Corners race notes

David O'Neal claims backyard MSA win at Hales Corners.

Hales Corners, WI - David O'Neal marked his second Midwest Sprintcar Association Feature win in his own backyard at Hales Corners Speedway Friday, August 9th. K.J. Skelton's lead in the points chase has slipped to 28 points over Troy Hepfner.

Jerry Ski jumped out from the outside of the front row to take a nice early lead, only to have the lead erased after a pair of early race cautions. With the return to action, Dean Erfurth stuck with Ski as the two opened up a lead on Frank Firari and Joe Wipperfurth.

With 15 laps in the books, Ski went looking in the high groove for better traction only to have Erfurth drive by him. Two laps later, Ski patiently slipped back by Erfurth to retake the point, O'Neal had picked his way up to the third spot with Hepfner in tow.

With just five laps to go and the leaders into lapped traffic, O'Neal pressured his way past Ski with Hepfner charging on the outside in three wide action. The final caution of the race flew on the 23rd lap clearing out the lapped cars.

The final green white checker laps had O'Neal comfortably claiming the win with Ski placing second and Hepfner finishing third and picking up KSE Hard Charger honors advancing nine spots. O'Neal, who hails from Greenfield, said after the race, "I didn't know Ski was leading until I looked at the scoreboard during that late race caution, and this was so nice winning in my own backyard". Erfurth and Firari rounded out the top five.

Jeremie Hedrick followed in the sixth spot with Tim Haddy seventh. Chris Wiser, Al Schlafer and Skelton would round out the top ten. The race marked the first time in MSA history that two father and son teams started the Feature, as both the Uttech's and Schlafer's took their spots in the starting grid.

The first of two Triton Trailers B-Mains was green to checker Lance Fassbender, Father and son team followed with Dan Uttech finishing second and the elder Jim Uttech Sr. rounding out the top three transferring to the Feature. The second B-Main had Skelton jumping out from his front row starting spot to walk away with the win, followed by Paul Geib and Keith Olejnik.

In the Hepfner Race Products first heat, Troy Wondra retook the lead from Hedrick for the win, Hedrick settled for second. Erfurth won the second heat sponsored by JB Enterprises, Doug Schenck was second.

Hepfner battled by rookie Bill Taylor in the MPD third heat for the win, Taylor settled for second. The B & B Oval Track Products sponsored fourth heat had Danny Schlafer charging on Haddy coming out of turn 4 for the photo finish win, Haddy scored second. Time Trials were not held so the Wisconsin PC Fast Time Award was not handed out.

Next week, the MSA heads for The Raceway at Powercom Park in Beaver Dam on Saturday August 17th, followed by a newly scheduled special appearance on Tuesday August 20th when the MSA joins the regular program at Powercom Speedzone in Oshkosh. For all of the latest standings, results, pictures and more, visit the MSA website at www.msasprints.com.

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