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Edition

USA

SCRA Manzanita 98-11-07

SPRINT CAR RACING ASSOCIATION KIRBY WINS HALL OF FAME CLASSIC by Robert Mayson PHOENIX, AZ., November 7 -- The Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) was in action Saturday night at Keith Hall's Manzanita Speedway for ...

SPRINT CAR RACING ASSOCIATION KIRBY WINS HALL OF FAME CLASSIC by Robert Mayson PHOENIX, AZ., November 7 -- The Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) was in action Saturday night at Keith Hall's Manzanita Speedway for the running of the "Hall of Fame Classic." For the fourth time this season, Mike Kirby drove the Brad and Nancy Geurin / Geurin's Moble Home Service No. 5 Stinger to an impressive 30 lap victory at Manzy. It seemed only fitting that Kirby, who leads all drivers in career SCRA victories at Manzanita, would win on a night when the "Master of Manzy", Lealand McSpadden, was being honored as the only 1998 inductee to the Arizona Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Although the win helped keep Kirby's championship hopes mathematically alive, he's still the first to concede this year's point chase to Richard Griffin. "Griffin's going to win it, which is fine because he deserves it," Kirby said after collecting a series high tenth win of the season. "This has been the best year I've ever had, so I'm happy. I just want to finish the year out on a good note." Plagued recently by DNF's and poor finishes, Kirby's team finally elected to abandon their new car and go back to the car that they enjoyed so much success with earlier in the year. "We just got tired of struggling with the other car," said Kirby. "That other car just doesn't fit my rear end. I think we'll stick with this car for the remaining two races and see how it plays out." After winning a record eighth JE Pistons Dash, Griffin started on the pole for the feature race with Kirby to his outside. Kirby got the jump at the drop of the green flag and lead Griffin, J.J. Yeley, Troy Cline and Rodney Argo at the completion of the opening lap. The red flag was out two circuits later after Rick Byler made contact with Mike English and slammed into the concrete wall in turn two. Byler was not hurt in the subsequent flip, but his car was severely damaged. With Kirby continuing to hold the lead on the restart, Argo slipped by Cline for fourth in turn one. Argo would only enjoy the position briefly after a mammoth bicycle in turn three on the same lap dropped him to ninth. Argo would later retired to the pit area after stopping on the racing surface and bring out a lap seven caution flag. Kirby maintained a comfortable lead once racing resumed and his lead later grew thanks in part to Yeley's pressuring of Griffin for the second spot. Ironically, both Griffin and Yeley slowed nearly simultaneously on lap 18. With the yellow flag again waving, Griffin headed to the work area to have a left rear torsion arm repaired. Yeley limped in as well with a flat right rear tire. Griffin returned to earn an eleventh place finish. Although not good enough to clinch the driving title, Griffin did secure an unprecedented fourth straight SCRA Owners Championship for Ron Chaffin. Yeley also returned and was nothing short of spectacular. Driving the Arizona Race Mart No. 2J Extreme, Yeley thrilled the crowd as he charged his way back to the front after restarting in the 17th position. Yeley would eventually gather a fifth place finish. Cline fearlessly chased Kirby in the races final laps, but in the end his Haas CNC Machine Tools No. 11 Meli was not able to challenge for the lead and would have to settle for second. Rip Williams drove the Sharon Jory / John Jory Corporation No. 3 Stinger to a third place finish ahead of Cory Kruseman in the Harlan Willis / Selway Machine Tool No. 45 Okie. In qualifying, Troy Rutherford won the Sander Engineering Fast Time Award with a 1/2 mile time of 18.971. Tony Jones flipped hard during time trials and was taken to a local hospital for observation. _________________________________________________________________ RACE #34 HALL OF FAME CLASSIC, MANZANITA SPEEDWAY - PHOENIX, AZ Date of Race: 11/7/98 SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS 1. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Lloyd. 41 , 18.971 2. Troy Cline, Hawthorne CA, Cline 11 , 19.077 3. Rodney Argo, El Segundo CA, Argo 19 , 19.099 4. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, Gardner Jr. 96 , 19.139 5. Jordan Hermansader, Long Beach CA., Gardner Jr 93 , 19.220 6. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3 , 19.291 7. J.J. Yeley, Phoenix AZ.,Yeley 2J , 19.292 8. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 19.303 9. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, Geurin 5 , 19.364 10. Mike Boat, Peoria AZ, Sertich 92 , 19.415 11. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, G.T. Racing 76 , 19.418 12. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45 , 19.423 13. Marc Hart, Ventura CA, Hart 15 , 19.459 14. Ed Patterson, III, Oakview CA, Patterson, Jr 56 , 19.459 15. Eric Wilkins, Peoria AZ, G&N Motorsports 35 , 19.478 16. Jerry Coons, Jr, Tucson AZ, Coons, Sr 12A , 19.498 17. Rick Byler, Phoenix AZ, Byler 03 , 19.528 18, Gary W. Howard, Fontana CA, Lloyd 34 , 19.563 19. Rusty McClure, Ashland OH, Alexander 89 , 19.574 20. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Priestley 7 , 19.640 21. Bob Ream Jr, Glendale AZ, Taylor 61 , 19,663 22. Jay Drake, Canyon Country CA.,Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 19.670 23. Casey Shuman, Tempe AZ, Clark 78 , 19.723 24. Ricky Johnson, Phoenix AZ., Johnson 51A , 19.746 25. Verne Sweeney, Lomita CA, Sweeney 98 , 19.857 26. Charlie Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ., Morales 8AZ, 19.899 27. Patrick Sallaway, Phoenix AZ, Carsten 91 , 19.927 28. Rick Hinrichsen, Lakeside CA,, Core Mtrsprts. 22 , 19.983 29. Danny Ent, Big Bear City CA, Ent Racing 81 , 20.074 30. Paul Beregszaszy, Glendale AZ, Bereg Racing 54 , 20.086 31. Brian Venard, Tustin CA, Venard 97 , 20.180 32. Justin Marvel, Indianapolis IN, Gaunt Const. 40 , 20.376 33. Steve Paden, Downey CA, Ruth 25 , 20.461 34. Dan Olson, Phoenix AZ, Leon 42A , 20.961 35. Brian Moetes, Lafayette IN, Martin 34A , 29.066 36. Tony Jones, Corona CA.,Cowherd Racing 48, No Time

SUPERTRAPP HEAT 1 1. Bob Ream Jr, 2. Rick Byler, 3. Marc Hart, 4. Mike Kirby, 5. Troy Rutherford, 6. Jordan Hermansader, 7. Steve Paden, 8. Danny Ent, 9. Verne Sweeney,

SHAVER RACING ENGINES HEAT 2 1. Troy Cline, 2. Jay Drake, 3. Rip Williams, 4. Ed Patterson, III, 5, Charlie Davis, Jr, 6. Paul Beregszaszy, 7. Dan Olson, 8. Gary W. Howard, 9. Mike Boat,

KSE PRODUCTS HEAT 3 1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Rusty McClure, 3. Eric Wilkins, 4. Rodney Argo, 5. Jeremy Sherman, 6. Casey Shuman, 7. Brian Venard, 8. Patrick Sallaway, 9. Brian Moetes,

SYSTEM ONE HEAT 4 1. Jerry Coons, Jr, 2. Richard Griffin, 3. Mike English, 4. Cory Kruseman, 5. Rickie Gaunt, 6. Ricky Johnson, 7. Justin Marvel, 8. Rick Hinrichsen,

JE PISTONS PASSING MASTERS DASH 1. Richard Griffin. 2. Mike Kirby. 3. J.J. Yeley, 4. Troy Cline. 5. Rip Williams. 6. Rodney Argo. 7. Marc Hart, 8. Cory Kruseman.

B FEATURE 1. Jeremy Sherman, 2. Troy Rutherford. 3, Rickle Gaunt. 4. Ricky Johnson. 5. Casey Shuman. 6. Danny Ent. 7. Patrick Sallaway. 8. Brian Venard. 9. Justin Marvel. 10. Rick Hinricbsen. 11. Paul Beregszaszy. 12. Dan Olson. 13. Brian Moetes. 14, Charlie Davis, Jr. 15. Jordan Hermansader,

A FEATURE 1. Mike Kirby.2. Troy Cline, 3. Rip Williams. 4. Cory Kruseman. 5. J.J. Yeley. 6. Jerry Coons, Jr. 7. Ed Patterson, III. 8. Jay Drake. 9. Jeremy Sherman, 10. Rickie Gaunt. 11. Richard Griffin. 12. Marc Hart. 13. Mike English. 14. Eric Wilkins. 15. Ricky Johnson. 16. Casey Shuman. 17. Danny Ent. 18. Troy Rutherford. 19. Patrick Sallaway. 20. Bob Ream Jr. 21. Rodney Argo. 22. Rick Byler. Laps Led: Kirby 1-30 Note: Rusty McClure scratched prior to the start of the main event

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