Dyer misses “Tail Gunner Challenge” by inches

(MT LAWN Aug 21, 2010) Joyce Dyer of Greenfield came from the back of the pack and just missed winning the “Tail Gunner Challenge” in the MC Auto Repair Hornet Division feature at Mt Lawn Saturday night.

Brian Slavey led from start to finish in the 20 feature event but had plenty of company throughout the entire race. Jeff Sorrell of New Castle moved into second place on lap 4, with Dyer in eleventh, and battled Slavey side by side over the next 11 laps. On lap 9 Keith Morris of New Castle got around Freddie Marlow of New Castle for third and set his sights on the leaders. Morris finally overtook Sorrell for second on lap 16 with Dyer running a distant fourth. Slavey and Morris, who had their share of on track problems earlier in the year, battled cleanly over the final 4 laps. As the cars took the white flag a blanket could have been thrown over the trio of Slavey, Morris and Sorrell with Dyer a couple of car length behind. On the final lap Dyer made a pass on Sorrell exiting turn one and then tried valiantly, going three wide down the backstretch, to get by both Slavey and Morris. As the checkered flag flew it was Slavey by a nose over Morris and Dyer had to settle for third just a two noses behind. Sorrell finished fourth followed by Doug Sorrell of Mooreland, Ryan Morefield of Cambridge City, Ryan Claborn of Cambridge City, point leader Brian Lewis of Indianapolis, Eric Evans of Greenfield and Marlow. Dyer set fast time at 19.766; Morris won the MC Auto Repair Dash for Cash with Josh Owens and Emily Henderson winning the heats. Joseph Jennings of Richmond was black flagged in the second heat for running more that .3 sec over his qualification time.

In Late Model action rookie Brock Anderson of Albany took off at the start of the 30 lap feature and looked like the class of the field for the first seven laps. On lap eight Eric Evans got around Anderson and led the rest of the way for the win. Scott Knepley of Greensboro moved into second on lap 9 but gave that spot up to Jeff Marcum of Morristown on lap 15. Marcum who had been battling ignition problems all evening had Evans in sight but Evans kept pulling away by about .1 a second a lap. At the end Evans had built a 4.1 second lead over Marcum who finished second followed by Knepley, William Mefford of Knightstown, Brandon Mefford of Spiceland, Ralph Lane of Greensburg, Joe Woodring of Muncie, David McConnell of Shirley making his first start of 2010, Anderson and Bill Pierce of New Castle. Fast time went to Marcum at 16.412; Knepley won the Razzles Dash for Cash and the first heat with the second heat going to Woodring.

Neil Marcum of Morristown won the Thompson Builders Thunder car feature making it 13 out of 14 wins for 2010. Marcum took the lead from Chris Bolyard of Rushville on lap 7 and went on to take the checkered of Andrew Walker of Sulphur Springs. Walker battled the Bolyard pair throughout the race and finally moved in the second with two laps to go. Adam Bolyard of Rushville finished third with Chris in fourth. Both Claborn cars driven by Eddie Claborn of Knightstown and Kevin Claborn of Cambridge City had problems and failed to start the feature. Kevin Claborn set a new track record at 17.502 besting his old record of 17.765 set back on June 26 of this year. Claborn won the Thompson Builders Dash for Cash and Marcum took the heat.

In Rookie Hornet action Street Drag King Scott Razor of New Castle won the 10 lap feature event followed by Scott Reese of New Castle, Jason Riddle of New Castle, Roger Clark of Shirley, Justin Mefford of Knightstown, Tyler Pierce of New Castle and Cory Slavey of New Castle.

Alex Bailey of New Castle upset Razor in the Street Drag finals. Bailey had beaten Bubba Lane of New Castle to reach the championship race.

Carl Colbert of Noblesville won the Central Indiana Mini Cup feature and heat.

Next week will be Fan Appreciation Night at Mt Lawn with all tickets $5 and with $1 hotdogs in the concession stands.