Indiana Speedweek round two results

Erb Captures Second Round Of Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek

May 5, 2004 -- Dennis Erb outlasted a determined effort by Gary Johnson and then outran Randy Korte to the checkers to claim the second round of Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, IN, on Wednesday evening. The Northern Allstars Late Model Series victory moved Erb to third in the Indiana Speedweek points, as Korte and Don O'Neal are deadlocked at the top of the standings after finishing second and third.

Starting third in the Northern Allstars Late Model Series 30-lap main event, Erb grabbed the lead on the backstretch when Frank Coomer slid high in turn two on the start. While Erb ran cleanly in front, Brad Barrow, Johnson and Wes Steidinger fought for second. A tangle on lap 7 bunched the field, setting the stage for a classic racing duel. Restarting second, Johnson moved to the top groove and quickly began to challenge for the lead. For the next ten laps, Erb and Johnson ran literally door handle-to-door handle. Although Johnson was able to pull ahead at times, Erb reclaimed the lead as they passed the flagstand. On the 15th circuit, Johnson finally seized the lead as they exited two, only to see the yellow caution light before he made it into turn three.

A lap after the restart, Johnson again passed Erb on the backstretch. But on lap 19, he slid high into the loose dirt above turn two and Erb charged past on the inside. This time Erb was able to build a dozen car lengths advantage. A couple laps later, both Korte and Don O'Neal hustled under Johnson and he slipped to fourth. Korte was able to close within six car lengths of Erb, before running out of laps.

Later, Erb admitted that after watching the track, he committed to running the middle or the bottom. "I figured if I stayed in my lane I'd be all right. I was hoping that the top wouldn't stay good the whole race." The Carpentersville, IL, racer said that he plans to run the majority of the season with the Northern Allstars series. His #28 Rayburn chassis is sponsored by Petroff Towing.

With brilliant second place runs in both of the Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek events that have been run this year, and O'Neal's third place finish following Sunday's win at Tri-State Speedway, Korte and O'Neal top the point charts. Erb is only five points out of the lead heading into the final two events, at Bloomington and Brownstown Speedways this coming Friday and Saturday.

Results: Twin Cities Raceway Park, North Vernon, IN; 5/5/04

Fast qualifier: Greg Johnson, 14.404
Heat 1: Frank Coomer, Wes Steidinger, Scott Graham, John Gill
Heat 2: Dennis Erb, Jammie Wilson, Mike Bowersock, Mike Jewell
Heat 3: Brad Barrow, Don O'Neal, Shawn Negangard, Ed Dixon
Heat 4: Greg Johnson, Randy Korte, Steve Casebolt, Steve Barnett
Consy 1: Steve Sheppard Jr., Mark Voigt
Consy 2: Patrick Sheltra, Brian Shirley

Feature (30 laps): 1. Dennis Erb, 2. Randy Korte, 3. Don O'Neal, 4. Greg Johnson, 5. Wes Steidinger, 6. John Gill, 7. Mike Jewell, 8. Shawn Negangard, 9. Brian Shirley, 10. Brad Barrow, 11. Steve Barnett, 12. Jammie Wilson, 13. Steve Casebolt, 14. Mike Bowersock, 15. Mark Voigt, 16. Scott Graham, 17. Kevin Claycomb, 18. Rohn Moon, 19. Steve Sheppard Jr., 20. Patrick Sheltra, 21. Frank Coomer, 22. Ed Dixon

Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek Points: 1. Don O'Neal and Randy Korte 115 (tie), 3. Dennis Erb 110, 4. Brian Shirley and Wes Steidinger 95 (tie), 6. Kevin Claycomb 94, 7. Steve Barnett 93, 8. Rhon Moon 91, 9. Jammie Wilson 89, 10. Shawn Negangard 84

Friday night, the third leg of Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek will take the green flag at Bloomington Speedway. The program also includes UMP modifieds and super stocks. Bloomington Speedway is located three miles south of Bloomington, east of SR 37, on Fairfax Road. Ticket prices are $15 general admission and $25 pits. Hot laps will start at 6:30 with racing at 7:30 pm. More information is online at www.bloomingtonspeedway.com or phone (812) 824-7400 (track).

Friday is Hometown Online Night at Bloomington Speedway. Seymour, IN's Hometown Online is sponsoring the Hometown Online Challenge, paying a $250 bonus if a driver wins the late model features at both Bloomington and at Brownstown on Saturday. A provider of computer and internet services for home and business. Hometown Online's products include wireless internet, broadband DSL, dialup access, home and business networking support and website hosting.

Featuring the Northern Allstars Late Model Series, Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek boasts a $4,100 point fund sponsored by UMP and Hoosier Tires and pays $2,000 to the Speedweek champion. Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek concludes Saturday at Brownstown Speedway. Each 30-lap feature will pay $2,000 to win and $200 to start. The point fund will award second through fifth in points: $1,000, $600, $300 and $200.

Saturday's finale at Brownstown Speedway will conclude the Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek and crown a new champion. Saturday's program is sponsored by Bob Poynter Ford in Seymour, the family dealer for all Ford products.

2004 Indiana Dirt Late Model Speedweek
May 2 Tri-State Speedway*DON O'NEAL*
May 5 Twin Cities Raceway Park*DENNIS ERB"
May 7 Bloomington SpeedwayBloomington, IN
May 8 Brownstown SpeedwayBrownstown, IN

More information about the Northern Allstars Late Model Series is available at www.northernallstars.org. Series sponsors include Hoosier Tire Midwest, Rocket Chassis, Citgo Racing Fuel, Peterson Aluminum, Dyers Rods, K-Motion Valve Springs, Mastersbilt Race Cars, GRT Race Cars, Competition Graphics, Kinser Custom Printing, Hypercoils, Allstar Performance, PPM Racing Products, Champ Pans, Bert Transmission, SpeedNet Direct, Scott Performance Wire, Sunoco Race Fuel.3 Shamrocks Web Design, Stealth Racing Carburetors, FS Fuel 24 and Negangard Enterprises.

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