Thursday, April 6, 2023

1985 - Blaney wins Granite City ‘Outlaws’ event







Granite City, Ill. (April 6, 1985) – Dave Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, reached a milestone Saturday night as he won his first career World of Outlaws sprint car feature at Tri-City Speedway.

But it was 12 hours later before Blaney was able to celebrate his victory.

Saturday night’s program of Ron Shuman's Easter Extravaganza show was run as the preliminary segment of the scheduled weekend doubleheader after Friday’s original opener was rained out. However, when Sunday’s card also fell victim to the moisture, Saturday’s results were declared official and Blaney had his first WoO feature win.

Blaney had to survive three flips and an hour rain delay during the 20-lap main event. The 22-year-old led the opening four circuits around the big half-mile clay oval before Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio, took over for two rounds. After the rain delay, Blaney pushed his way back into the lead and left the pack behind at the finish.

Blaney won $3,950 in becoming the fifth different winner in as many World of Outlaw races this season.

Hewitt earned the runner-up position and won $2,250 after starting on the pole. Sammy Swindell of Bartlett, Tenn., claimed third and earned $1,815.

Series’ point leader Steve Kinser of Bloomington, Ind., finished fourth and Bobby Davis Jr., of Memphis, Tenn., rounded out the top five.

Bobby Allen of Hanover, Pa., established a new track record in qualifying, touring the track in 19.49 seconds. Scott Ritchhart, Rodney Ritter, Steve Kinser and Jeff Swindell were heat winners while Rocky Hodges scored the victory in the B-main.

Ritchhart, of Lincoln, Ill., turned over during a five-car pileup on the start of the feature with Ronnie Daniels of Memphis, Tenn., flipping during a second-lap melee. Brad Doty of Fredericksburg, Ohio, flipped in turn three prior to the rain delay.


Results –


1. Dave Blaney
2. Jack Hewitt
3. Sammy Swindell
4. Steve Kinser
5. Bobby Davis Jr.
6. Ron Shuman
7. Tim Green
8. Danny Smith
9. Jeff Swindell
10.Tod Bishop
11.Terry Gray
12.Rodney Ritter
13.Scott Ritchhart
14.Rich Vogler
15.Jac Haudenschild
16.Brad Doty
17.Rocky Hodges
18.Ronnie Daniels
19.Danny Lasoski
20.Steve Butler
21.Bobby Allen
22.Mark Kinser


No comments:

Post a Comment