Shooter's Baer Field Speedway race report

Thursday, Aug. 9, the Shooter's Iceman Series headlined Baer Field Speedway's annual race, the International Truck and Engine Co. Gold Cup 100. This was the first time in its 15-year history that the Iceman Series ran on a weekday. Dave Kuhlman aboard his Monroe Asphalt/Right Tools/Zeillers Farm Market/HJ Prime Cuts/5 Point Embroidery/KMH Monte Carlo took the win. His third Iceman victory tonight made him the only multiple winner of the traveling circuit in 2001.

Baer Field's promoter, Tom Isch, again requested the Iceman series to count all caution flag laps during the first 75 laps, and then all green flag laps for the final 25 laps. This is contrary to the Iceman series normal procedure as they are noted for running 100 green flag lap races.

Jr. Hanley drew the pole position, with Kuhlman to his outside. Hanley's car owner, Larry Zent, spun in turn four bringing out the first of seven cautions. The field ran in side-by-side formation under caution for the first three laps. When they finally took the green flag, Hanley jumped into the lead, closely followed by Kuhlman. The pair ran in nose to tail formation before Hanley's car dipped into the dirt in turn two and got sideways. By the time the Canadian driver could recover, Kuhlman had taken the lead, which he would not relinquish.

Kuhlman set off on a furious pace, leading Hanley at times by a straightaway, while Hanley kept about a half straightaway ahead of third place.

The third place battle was a good one. The cars of Harold Fair Jr, Scott Baker, Scott Hantz and Joel Kauffman all vied for position. The quartet swapped spots while running nose to tail and side-by-side throughout the entire 100 laps. The battle continued until lap 96 when Hantz and Fair Jr 'sandwiched' the lapped car of Randy Triplett going into turn three. It didn't work and Fair Jr spun, bringing out the final caution of the night and relegating him to the rear.

Dave Kuhlman was able to hold off Hanley for the final four laps to take the win by several car lengths.

Notes:

Dave Kuhlman is on a winning streak. During the past 13 days Kuhlman has won three long distance races and the Gold Cup championship. The Howell, Mich. driver won the previous Iceman race at Central PA Speedway (100 laps) on July 29. He won the 150-lap Gold Cup feature at Flat Rock Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 4. Tonight he won the 100-lap Iceman race. Kuhlman dominated the three races that he won, leading 226 of a possible 350 laps. The championship was the Gold Cup, a four race series between Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways. "Gold Cup" must be special to Dave about now, since tonight's race was called the Gold Cup 100. "The car handled terrific, especially during the long green flag runs. I didn't want to see those last couple yellows come out. It cooled down my tires and the handling was off a little until they warmed up again, " said the driver of the Monroe Asphalt/Right Tools/Zeillers Farm Market/HJ Prime Cuts/5 Point Embroidery/KMH Monte Carlo. "I had to change the engine I ran at the Central PA race. I checked it out on Monday and it wasn't right, so I put in 'old faithful' my small engine. It's an older engine but it just keeps winning races." Kuhlman was also the fast qualifier of the race. The win vaulted Kuhlman within eight points of Scott Baker, the current points leader, with one race to go.

Jr. Hanley, from Campbellville, Ontario gave it a valiant try on the restart of the final caution, but was unable to pass Kuhlman for the lead. With his second place finish, the driver of the Big Rigs Monte Carlo has moved into second place in points, five behind Baker.

Joel Kauffman, 15, the youngest driver in the field finished third. It's his career best finish in four Iceman starts. "The car ran really well most of the race. I ran out of brakes in the last 10 laps. The brake pedal was going to the floor, but we finished in the top five, so it's a good night." said the driver of the LA West Luxury Vans Monte Carlo.

Scott Baker was racing for third place when he spun in turn two. Baker, who is sponsored by Sypolt Chevrolet/Tallmadge Asphalt/Excalibur Frame went to the rear but recovered to finish fourth in his red #11 Monte Carlo. The 1999 Iceman champion carries a five point lead over Jr. Hanley going into the final race at Sandusky.

Kyle Edwards started 13th and despite losing his brakes near the beginning of the race finished fifth. The driver of the LA West Luxury Vans/Bellman Oil Monte Carlo is currently sixth in points.

Harold Fair Jr's season is one he probably doesn't want to repeat. Mechanical gremlins have kept the defending series champion from repeating last year's successes. Despite spinning out on 96 the driver of the Ray Printing/Royal Truck and Trailer/Lefthander Monte Carlo still was able to finish seventh, his best Iceman finish of the year. He is tied in points for seventh with Mike Hennessy and Randy Triplett with 100 points.

Scott Neal finished seventh in his first career Iceman start tonight. The Middletown, Ind. driver plans to also compete at Sandusky in the Iceman 200-lap race on Saturday, Sept. 2. "My car was way too loose at the beginning of the race, but after becoming involved in the wreck on lap 47 it improved. The crew was able to adjust the air pressure and although the car was still a little loose, it ran much better," said the driver of the Total Roof/4-Star Auto Place/Kip Jones Pro Paint Monte Carlo.

Glenn Gault's Orange Blossom Special was not running up to its usual standards. The Hubbard, Ohio driver suffered handling problems throughout the night and brought his American Title & Trust/Gault Heating/Tabone's Snow King Monte Carlo home ninth. Gault dropped to third place in points, one point behind Jr. Hanley and six points behind the leader, Scott Baker.

Aaron Hulings finished ninth, his third top 10 finish of the season. His J&T Machine/Northwest Car Star/Motor State Distribution Taurus is in 10th place in points.

Larry Zent had a time of it tonight, bringing out two of the seven caution flags. Zent, who owns Jr. Hanley's car, brought out the first caution with a single car spin and also was involved in Doug Ehret in another spin. Zent's Big Rig Monte Carlo finished 10th.

Rookie Corner: Brad Perry was the Rookie of the Race this week with an 11th place finish. Perry, from Tipton, Mich., received the Penske Hard Charger Award moving up 10 positions in his Atlas Coco Tools/Castle Windows/Pinpoint Information Systems Monte Carlo. Perry trails Randy Triplett by five points in the Rookie of the Year battle with one race remaining... Finishing 12th was Randy Triplett. The Parkersburg, W.Va. driver started 14th tonight in his Wendy's/Pennzoil 10 Minute Lube Center Monte Carlo... Art Rozane finished 15th aboard his MCM Management Grand Prix. The Toledo driver dropped out on lap 88 while running 10th because of overheating problems... Jeff Carnacchi was running in 12th when he was involved in an accident on lap 47. The car of Jason Mignogna spun in front and slid into the path of Carnacchi's Tri-Chem Corp./Concrete Floor Treatments Monte Carlo. The New Boston, Mich. driver suffered a broken radiator and bent bars and was through tonight.

Other drivers involved in the accident that ended Carnacchi's and Mignogna's night were: Kale Azstolas who was making his first Iceman start and is sponsored by Miller Lite/Tico Racing Engines/Concept Cars; Tim Wilcox's Bear 98.6/Performance Signs Monte Carlo and Doug Ehret's Auto Trader Magazine Grand Prix. Mike Hennessy drove over the top of the third turn banking to miss the accident and retired seven laps later with suspension damage.

Scott Wolfe aboard his Rug Doctor/Ringle Plating Monte Carlo; Terry Fisher in his Powerscreen/Hot Country 96.3/Harlow Ent. Grand Prix; Scott Hantz driving the EMF Corp. Monte Carlo all made their first Iceman start of the 2001 season. Rick Everidge, also attempted to run his first Iceman race of the season but suffered engine woes in hot laps and was unable to compete.

Shooter's Iceman Series Race #6 Baer Field Speedway Thursday, Aug. 9

Dave Kuhlman, Jr Hanley, Joel Kauffman, Scott Baker, Kyle Edwards, Harold Fair Jr, Scott Neal, Glenn Gault, Aaron Hulings, Larry Zent, Brad Perry, Randy Triplett, Scott Wolfe, Art Rozane, Terry Fisher, Mike Hennessy, Jason Mignogna, Kale Azstolas, Jeff Carnacchi, Tim Wilcox, Doug Ehret, Dave Puffers, Scott Hantz Rick Everidge (DNS)

-Iceman-