POWERS WINS MULDER’S AUTO MACHINE LATE MODEL LITE 50

Source: Bill Adams
Date: 08/27/2006

Saturday night was Mulder’s Auto Machine Night at ASA sanctioned Meridian Speedway. The Mulder’s Auto Machine Late Model Lites provided exciting racing action for their title sponsor.

Kale Freedman returned to his dominating form after completely melting down his engine on July 22nd. Freedman qualified with the quickest lap of 13.985. Freedman won his heat race a provided the fans with an outstanding run from the back of the pack to the front in the 50 lap feature event of the night.

The Madsen Brothers (Kurt and Dan), from the Salt Lake City Pro 4 division, made the tow to Meridian for a warm up to the Intermountain Pro 4 Challenge Series race scheduled for September 9th. The Madsen’s held the top 2 inside positions for the feature event. Dan Madsen took the early lead from the pole position. The race was just one lap old when Ron Hayes, starting outside front row, lost his steering and went hard into the water barrels in turn 1. The water barrels once again proved their worth when Hayes was able to walk away from the wreck. D. Madsen led the field back to the green flag with his brother on his tail. Rob Powers ran 3rd.

Freedman began his quest for the front on the 3rd lap moving from his 10th place starting position on the outside. Freedman moved to the outside grove and ran outside Shaun Tubbs for 3 laps for the 7th spot on the grid. K. Madsen running high out of the turns gave Powers the opportunity to slid under him on the 8th lap for the 2nd position while Freedman continued running on the outside moving into the 6th position on this same lap.

D. Madsen, running the same type of line around the ¼ mile oval allowed Powers to move under him for the lead on the 13th circuit. Two laps later D. Madsen lost the handle on his ride spinning in turn 4 bringing out the 2nd and final caution of the race. Powers lead the field to the green flag and quickly opened up a gap between him and the rest of the field. Freedman still running the outside grove moved past Jeff Hill into 4th spot on lap 36 and outside Joe Barton for 3rd on lap 39. On the next lap He took the 2nd spot from K. Madsen.

As the field completed the 41st circuit Freedman was behind Powers by 4.9 seconds. Freedman reduced the lead to 3.6 seconds on lap 44. With 3 laps remaining Freedman was even closer just 1.8 seconds back. Freedman cut that in ½ to .9 seconds as they received the white flag and the crowd was on their feet for the final lap. Powers was able to hold off Freedman for the win, but by just 2 tenths of a second. Powers said after the race, “My oil temperature was up around 300 degrees and I was coasting at the end. I saw nobody in my mirror and when I saw the scoreboard change to 55 (Freedman) in 2nd I knew I had to get on it but after coasting because of the oil temperature I could not get any momentum back.

Freedman increased his season points standing lead to 52 points over Joe Barton with two races left in the season.

Mulder’s Auto Machine Late Model Lite Results:
Qualifying: Kale Freedman – 13.985
Trophy Dash: Jim Baily
B heat: Dan Madsen, Rob Powers, Joe Barton, Kurt Madsen, Ron Hayes
A heat: Freedman, Jeff Hill, Matt Wolfkiel, Bailey, Shaun Tubbs
Feature Event: Powers, Freedman, Barton, K. Madsen, Kenny Chandler

Matt Elliot won his first main event in a Cingular Wireless Grand American Modified Saturday night. Elliot running in just his 2nd event in this division started the 40-lap race from the pole. Division point’s leader, Craig Bell, and quick qualifier of the night, Tim Elam were the only two drivers that had their cars set perfectly to run the outside groove. Both these drivers moved up from the rear of the field towards the front during the race. Bell hit bad luck on lap 20, running 3rd, he cut a tire down forcing him to pit. He returned to the track 1 min 37 seconds later 5 laps down. Elam however, moved from his 11th place starting spot and battled side by side with Al Colwell over the last 4 laps for the 2nd spot. Colwell nosed out Elam at the line for the second spot.

Cingular Wireless Grand American Modified Results:
Qualifying: Tim Elam – 14.413
Trophy dash: Bob wood
B heat: Jentry Pisca, Steve wood, Al Colwell, Jeff Goade, Travis Milburn
A heat: Chris Fenton, Bob Wood, Tony Ackerland, Bryan McDaniel, Craig Bell
Main Event: Matt Elliot, Colwell, Elam, Pisca, Ackerland

In the Idaho Super Stock Racing Association (ISSRA) Division Darvin Ackerland won his first main event of the season. Ackerland, running a limited schedule in the division this year, is always a treat when he is on the track in any division. Ackerland set the pace for the night qualifying quickest with a 14.874 second lap. In the 40 lap main event Ackerland finished second behind Charlie Ham Jr. A post race penalty (1 position) for rough driving passing Rick Baldwin for the lead on lap 19 gave the victory to Ackerland.

ISSRA Results:
Qualifying: Darvin Ackerland – 14.874
Trophy Dash: Dan Lowther
B heat: Tony Ackerland, Bob Cecil, Charlie Stout, Ray Bolinger, Travis Milburn
A heat: Dustin Stephenson, Lowther, Dale Bell, D. Ackerland, Charlie Ham Jr.
Main Event: D. Ackerland, Ham, Bell, Lowther, Rick Baldwin

Vern Bolinger won his first ever Impact Wireless Hornet Main Event in his brother Ray’s car. This car is very familiar to the fans at Meridian Speedway. Ray drove this car to the 2004 Hornet Championship and won 3 250-lap enduro’s in 2004 and 2005. Ray also drove to a 2nd place finish in the Easter Enduro earlier this year.

Impact Wireless Hornet Results:
Qualifying: Kevin Cracolise – 17.886
Trophy Dash: David Short
C heat: Camron Madsen, Shayana Amyx, David Winegar, Scott Winegar, Gene Meeks
B heat: Vern Bolinger, Michele Williams, Jason McNeil, Kirby Van Luven, Vernon Wright
A heat: Scott Woods, Short, Ben Ewing, Dan Ellibee, Scott Shoecraft
Main Event: Bolinger, Van Luven, Steve McCorkel, Shoecraft, Wright

In the Thunder Stock division Roy Cleaver drove to his 3rd consecutive victory.

Thunder Stock Results:
Heat: Roy Cleaver, Bill Lacy, Dean Haueter, Brandon Davis, Sheldon Weeks
Main Event: Cleaver, Davis, Lacy, Darrell Stogsdill, Haueter

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