VA RACERS
07-05-2006, 12:51 PM
Blair Sets Winning Pace in Oklahoma City NCRA Late Model Feature
by John Rittenoure
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jay Blair drove into an early lead then outran Howard Willis in the closing laps to win the O'Reilly/NCRA Late Model Series presented by ICM/Ethanol A main before a near capacity crowd at State Fair Speedway on Monday.
Blair led all 30 laps and was never challenged although Willis did get with range after a lap 23 restart. Willis settled for second with Shawn Brassfield charging to third, Ronny Adams was fourth and Michael Coleman rounded out the top five.
"This is my first win here," stated Blair in victory lane. "I have never run here and we used a setup I used last night in Dallas. I had to be careful and not make any mistakes".
Blair moved off the pole on the start and was chased outside front row starter Sam Patrick. After a lap three yellow for Gary Gorby who stopped on the front stretch, Patrick continued to follow Blair until lap 14 when Willis got by. Willis, who started ninth row inside, worked his way into third on lap 11 but had a lot of ground to make up until the yellow waved on lap 12 for Jon Mitchell. Blair lost his straightaway lead on the restart and Willis seemed to get faster as the race wore on until a yellow on lap 23. After the restart Blair held his lead and Willis could not get close enough to challenge. Patrick, who had run second for much of the race, fell back during the final 15 laps of the race and ended up finishing sixth.
RESULTS
HEAT 1 (10 laps):
1. Jason Ingalls; 2. Jon Mitchell; 3. Ronny Adams; 4. Shawn Brassfield; 5. Michael Coleman; 6. Justin Guinn; 7. Brett LaFollette; 8. Jim Beaman; 9. Tony Osborn.
HEAT 2 (10 laps):
1. Jay Blair; 2. Gary Gorby; 3. Terry Melton; 4. Howard Moore; 5. Tom Lorenz; 6. Howard Willis; 7. David Ashley, Jr.
HEAT 3 (10 laps):
1. Sam Patrick; 2. Mike Little; 3. Gary Billings; 4. Brock Williams; 5. John Kuchar; 6. James Longpine; 7. Gerald Spurgeon; 8. Ronnie Warman.
A FEATURE (30 laps):
1. Jay Blair; 2. Howard Willis; 3. Shawn Brassfield; 4. Ronny Adams; 5. Michael Coleman; 6. Sam Patrick; 7. Howard Moore; 8. Jason Ingalls; 9. Tom Lorenz; 10. Jon Mitchell; 11. John Kuchar; 12. James Longpine; 13. Ronnie Warman; 14. Gary Billings; 15. Gerald Spurgeon; 16. Justin Guinn; 17. Brock Williams; 18. Terry Melton; 19. Brett LaFollette; 20. Jim Beaman; 21. Mike Little; 22. Gary Gorby; DNS: David Ashley, Jr., Tony Osborn.
by John Rittenoure
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jay Blair drove into an early lead then outran Howard Willis in the closing laps to win the O'Reilly/NCRA Late Model Series presented by ICM/Ethanol A main before a near capacity crowd at State Fair Speedway on Monday.
Blair led all 30 laps and was never challenged although Willis did get with range after a lap 23 restart. Willis settled for second with Shawn Brassfield charging to third, Ronny Adams was fourth and Michael Coleman rounded out the top five.
"This is my first win here," stated Blair in victory lane. "I have never run here and we used a setup I used last night in Dallas. I had to be careful and not make any mistakes".
Blair moved off the pole on the start and was chased outside front row starter Sam Patrick. After a lap three yellow for Gary Gorby who stopped on the front stretch, Patrick continued to follow Blair until lap 14 when Willis got by. Willis, who started ninth row inside, worked his way into third on lap 11 but had a lot of ground to make up until the yellow waved on lap 12 for Jon Mitchell. Blair lost his straightaway lead on the restart and Willis seemed to get faster as the race wore on until a yellow on lap 23. After the restart Blair held his lead and Willis could not get close enough to challenge. Patrick, who had run second for much of the race, fell back during the final 15 laps of the race and ended up finishing sixth.
RESULTS
HEAT 1 (10 laps):
1. Jason Ingalls; 2. Jon Mitchell; 3. Ronny Adams; 4. Shawn Brassfield; 5. Michael Coleman; 6. Justin Guinn; 7. Brett LaFollette; 8. Jim Beaman; 9. Tony Osborn.
HEAT 2 (10 laps):
1. Jay Blair; 2. Gary Gorby; 3. Terry Melton; 4. Howard Moore; 5. Tom Lorenz; 6. Howard Willis; 7. David Ashley, Jr.
HEAT 3 (10 laps):
1. Sam Patrick; 2. Mike Little; 3. Gary Billings; 4. Brock Williams; 5. John Kuchar; 6. James Longpine; 7. Gerald Spurgeon; 8. Ronnie Warman.
A FEATURE (30 laps):
1. Jay Blair; 2. Howard Willis; 3. Shawn Brassfield; 4. Ronny Adams; 5. Michael Coleman; 6. Sam Patrick; 7. Howard Moore; 8. Jason Ingalls; 9. Tom Lorenz; 10. Jon Mitchell; 11. John Kuchar; 12. James Longpine; 13. Ronnie Warman; 14. Gary Billings; 15. Gerald Spurgeon; 16. Justin Guinn; 17. Brock Williams; 18. Terry Melton; 19. Brett LaFollette; 20. Jim Beaman; 21. Mike Little; 22. Gary Gorby; DNS: David Ashley, Jr., Tony Osborn.