Walters In True Championship Form With Mid-Season Win

by Spencer Lewis

In a sport so wrought with superstition, it’s not often a driver begins a season with anything that could be classified as a bold prediction.  In May 2008, Stompin’ Tom Walters did just that; He called it the “Drive for 25”, with 24 championships in the books, Walters was chasing his 25th, and he wanted it to be at Sunset Speedway. On Saturday July 19th, HF Smith Home Hardware brought us the 50 lap Late Model Mid-Season Classic; And Walters’ 47 was starting deep in the field. Dario Capirchio’s Christina’s Excavating sponsored 03 was the early leader, and held off a train of cars that included Walters and 2007 track champion Chris Morrow. Walters began his campaign for the lead at the first caution of the race; It was on the restart that the 47 attached itself to the rear bumper of the 03, waiting for an opening. After two laps of heavy pressure, Walters found his way by on the inside lane down the backstretch. The 47 was not challenged again until late in the race when Jason ‘Bam Bam’ Witty, in his Matco Tools sponsored 19, followed Walters to break away from the rest of the pack and form their own battle for the lead. In what could have arguably been the best battle the track has seen all year, Witty hounded Walters all over the race track for the final 15 laps. After countless attempts to loosen Walters in the corners, Witty found a line that worked for him and stuck his car on the high side of the track, in an attempt to make the pass. With the two cars side by side for an entire lap, Walters out-motored the young veteran Witty, and cruised home to yet another feature win. “With 15 to go, I radioed [my spotter] Stick and told him I have no more front brake” explained Walters in victory lane, “he said to just be smooth [Witty] can’t get you coming out of the corner. He bumped me a couple of times, but he’s racing for the lead just like I am, that’s all part of racing and I don’t mind it at all”.

In Fox’s Bakery and Deli Four Cylinder Road Runner action, ‘Hollywood’ Matt Henderson started inside pole and his Ultimate Custom Cycles 00 never left the lead. Henderson was briefly challenged by his Epic Motorsports team-mate ‘Smokin’ Joe Ireton; But even his stable mate couldn’t find the answer to Henderson’s lightning quick Honda civic. When asked what it feels like to return to a track he championed in 2007, and finish 1-2 with his team-mate, Henderson replied, “It’s awesome, I couldn’t ask for any more. I’m still racing part time for the rest of this year, but in 2009 the car will be back, with either myself or my son [Adam] driving”. In other Road Runner news, ‘Too Quick’ Kenny Britt was able to eliminate much of the points gap between himself a current leader Dave Burrows; Burrows suffered a severe allergy attack early in the afternoon, which almost saw him miss the night of racing altogether. Though Burrows gutted it out, it was evident he was not himself and it will be interesting to see how close these two drivers are once the points are posted later in the week.

Epic Motorsports appeared to be on a roll when it came time for the Fox’s Bakery and Deli Four Fun 20 lap feature race. The second verse was the same as the first, as Dan ‘Rover’ Nolan’s 00 started inside pole and was unchallenged for 20 laps as he cruised home to his first feature win of 2008, or so he thought. After post-race technical inspection, the 00 team was found to have illegal camber in the car, a rule that Nolan himself admitted to not knowing of. Upon the 00’s disqualification, Mike Robinson Jr’s Southland Log Homes 95 was awarded the feature win, followed by Ryan Stewart and Ethan Courneyea, who also won the Four Fun’s make-up feature from June 28th that ran prior to pre-race qualifying.

Sunset Speedway would again like to thank all it’s fans for coming out to support both our HF Smith Home Hardware Late Model 50 Lap Classic, as well as our Part Source Road Warrior Challenge $1,000.00 to win championship, which was taken by John Capirchio’s ridiculously quick 2004 Subaru STI.