Tri City race report 2001-06-17

All Star Sprint Results - Tri City Speedway - Sun. 6/17/01

DEMPSEYTOWN, PA - Greg Wilson scored an emotional first career All Star win Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway. Wilson became the 15th All Star winner this year in 19 races in the All Star sprint 30-lap All Star vs. NCRA Eastern Showdown final feature, worth $5,000.

"I tell you what, I've been hoping and praying a long time. Me and Hamp (owner Bob Hampshire) have been working hard in the shop and it's been four or five year since he's won one of these. All my life as a kid growing up I wanted to win one in Hamp's car. To win an All Star race is like winning the Indy 500," Wilson stated as tears of joy flowed down his face. "I have a hard time being patient when the track takes rubber like this," Wilson recalled, then he explained his race winning pass. "To be behind (Danny) Smith you learn a lot. He was trying to get by lapped cars and slipped up a bit and you have to be there to take advantage and we were there. My American Race Tires didn't let us down tonight." Wilson's Maxim utilized an engine built by Hampshire.

Smith started on the ButlerBuilt Hot Seat pole in the John Baker No. 4 with Wilson alongside in the Hampshire No. 63. Jerrod Hull in Guy Webb's No. 51 and Chad Kemenah in Jim Harble's No. 15 made up row two with Kenny Jacobs in the Jacobs/Honecker No. 6 and Jason Johnson in Jack Elden's No. 22 in row three.

Smith was the initial leader, with Wilson second and Hull tucking in for third. Smith pulled out to a 2/3 of a straightaway lead by lap four, and the leaders ran the low groove of the black and slick surface single file. By lap eight, Smith entered lapped traffic, allowing Wilson to move right in on his back bumper. On lap 10, Smith bobbled slightly and Wilson stuck his nose under the leader, but he could not get by. Wilson remained patient and stalked Smith as Johnson applied heavy pressure to Hull. Johnson took over third on lap 15 from Hull and made it a three car nose to tail freight train in the lead. Kenny Jacobs passed Hull for fourth on lap 19 as the top three remained the same. On lap 22, Wilson found his chance as Smith slipped from the low groove slightly, and Wilson ducked under and into the lead.

Lap 24 saw the only caution of the race as Mike Wagner spun, collecting Jerrod Wilson and Jarod Larson. The leaders narrowly missed the pileup. Hull had to pit to change a flat tire under the yellow, dropping him from fifth place.

With a clear track ahead, Wilson pulled away as first Johnson then Jacobs got around Smith, whose car began getting noticeably looser. Johnson closed in on Wilson the last lap as lapped traffic loomed, but Wilson won easily.

"We started sixth and had to spot those guys a few spots," Johnson said of second. "We had a shot at it with six to go and Greg drove away from us and he deserved to win."

Jacobs ended third, with Smith hanging on for fourth, ahead of Lance Dewease and Chad Kemenah. Greg Hodnett finished seventh, winning the Team Simpson Racing Lucky Seven award ahead of Travis Rilat. Ed Lynch, Jr. in ninth earned the $100 TW Metals nightly bonus ahead of Fred Rahmer who started 12th.

The K-T Equipment heat went to Rod George, the JB Enterprise Racing Products heat to Mike Woodring, the Crown Battery heat to Brian Ellenberger and the Engler Machine & Tool heat fell to Jarod Larson, B Main. Jason Johnson captured the Haulmark Dash and fast time for Johnson was worth 1,000 quarters, courtesy of Dick Anderson's Carriage City Car Wash.