Speedweek Tula round 3 results

The "Fredericktown Flash" Strikes in Tulsa COMP Cams ASCS Speedweek Go

TULSA, Okla. (July 12, 2004) - Tim Montgomery took advantage of Garry Lee Maier's late misfortune to become the third different winner in as many events thus far on the 12th Annual COMP Cams American Sprint Car Series Speedweek, topping Monday night's 30-lap feature at Tulsa Speedway.

Montgomery was running third when Maier tangled with a lapped car in turn three on the 23rd lap. The Fredericktown, MO, native charged past Tim Crawley on the restart to snare the lead, then raced to his first career O'Reilly ASCS National Tour presented by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores and Classic Trailers feature triumph.

"My car was a little too tight to run the top, so we worked the bottom and just hoped the guys ahead of us bobbled a little," Montgomery commented in victory lane. "Lapped traffic can be tricky on a track like this, that was an unfortunate break for Garry Lee. Sometimes lapped traffic works in your favor and sometimes it doesn't. Tonight, it worked out well for us."

The main event got off to a rough start when second row outside starter Joel Howard slid into the turn one railing and flipped. On the ensuing restart, Natalie Sather, after utilizing a provisional starting position, flipped wildly off the third turn embankment. Howard rejoined the race after Sather's tumble, while Sather emerged shaken but otherwise uninjured.

With the pair of red flags out of the way, Crawley and Darren Stewart led the field to the green flag. The duo battled wheel-to-wheel on the opening round, with Crawley holding a slight edge upon the completion of the opening round. Sixth-starter Maier then joined in on the dicing for the point, with the trio waging a fierce battle for the lead until Maier took command on the fourth round.

Following a Joel Howard turn two spin after five rounds, Maier led the way with Crawley, Stewart and third-starter Montgomery in tow. Maier had amassed nearly a half straightaway lead by the 15th round, as Montgomery had disposed of Stewart for third and was challenging Crawley for second.

Racing through heavy traffic, Crawley and Montgomery had closed to within five car-lengths of Maier by the 20th round. Three rounds later, Josh Howard's mount suddenly lost power in turn three, directly in front of Maier. Maier was unable to avoid sliding into Howard, with the entangled pair bringing out the race's final caution.

Montgomery pulled even with Crawley through turns one and two on the restart, then took the lead for good entering turn three. Montgomery raced to nearly a half straightaway advantage over the final rounds to secure the victory aboard the Wesmar-powered Donnie Cooper Racing No. 23x Maxim.

Crawley assumed the COMP Cams ASCS Speedweek point lead by finishing second, with Stewart a close third. Zach Chappell crossed the stripe in fourth, with Jan Howard out dueling Jamie Passmore for the fifth position.

Passmore settled for sixth, with Gary Wright advancing from 13th to seventh at the stripe. Sean McClelland raced from 14th to eighth, with 20th-starter Travis Rilat and 18th-starter Cody Branchcomb completing the top ten.

Crawley, Passmore, Maier and Joel Howard topped heat race action, with Jason Martin winning the 12-lap B Main.

Terry Gray's night came to an end after a turn one flip in his heat race. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Kelly Angelette both scratched after heat action as well with engine woes.

12th Annual COMP Cams ASCS Speedweek Round 3 Results:

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. Tim Crawley, 2. Darren Stewart, 3. Gary Wright, 4. Sean McClelland, 5. Mike Ward, 6. Marshall Skinner, 7. Natalie Sather, 8. Earl McDoulett, Jr.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. Jamie Passmore, 2. Zach Chappell, 3. Larry Neighbors, 4. Dale Howard, 5. Cody Branchcomb, 6. Kevin Risley, 7. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 8. Terry Gray.

Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. Garry Lee Maier, 2. Foster Landon, 3. Tim Montgomery, 4. Jimmy Taylor, 5. Travis Rilat, 6. Toby Brown, 7. Kevin Battles, 8. Kelly Angelette.

Fourth Heat (8 Laps): 1. Joel Howard, 2. Jan Howard, 3. Nick Smith, 4. Josh Howard, 5. Jason Martin, 6. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 7. A.G. Rains, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr.

B Feature (12 Laps): 1. Jason Martin, 2. Cody Branchcomb, 3. Marshall Skinner, 4. Travis Rilat, 5. Mike Ward, 6. Kevin Risley, 7. A.G. Rains, 8. Toby Brown, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr., 10. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 11. Natalie Sather, 12. Earl McDoulett, Jr., 13. Kevin Battles. DNS: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Terry Gray, Kelly Angelette.

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. Tim Montgomery, 2. Tim Crawley, 3. Darren Stewart, 4. Zach Chappell, 5. Jan Howard, 6. Jamie Passmore, 7. Gary Wright, 8. Sean McClelland, 9. Travis Rilat, 10. Cody Branchcomb, 11. Jason Martin, 12. Garry Lee Maier, 13. Dale Howard, 14. Foster Landon, 15. Nick Smith, 16. Josh Howard, 17. Jimmy Taylor, 18. Larry Neighbors, 19. Joel Howard, 20. Marshall Skinner, 21. Natalie Sather.

O'Reilly ASCS National Tour Points (Top Fifteen): 1. Gary Wright 2,416, 2. Travis Rilat 2,398, 3. Darren Stewart 2,326, 4. Zach Chappell 2,318, 5. Garry Lee Maier 2,220, 6. Toby Brown 1,987, 7. A.G. Rains 1,789, 8. Jimmy Taylor 1,729, 9. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1,669, 10. Natalie Sather 1,583, 11. Cody Branchcomb 1,416, 12. Shane Stewart 1,102, 13. Jason Martin 1,058, 14. Tony Bruce, Jr. 1,053, 15. Chuck Swenson 944.

12th Annual COMP Cams ASCS Speedweek Points (Top Ten): 1. Tim Crawley 436, 2. Gary Wright 428, 3. Zach Chappell 424, 4. Travis Rilat 420, 5. Darren Stewart 400, 6. Cody Branchcomb 384, 7. Nick Smith 380, 8. Dale Howard 370, 9. Garry Lee Maier 354, 10. Marshall Skinner 344.

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