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09-19-2011, 09:30 AM
One for Dad – Steve Hendren Wins the Bill Hendren Memorial
Lawndale, North Carolina – Steve Hendren spent many hours working the phones over the last 3 weeks building the cash and prize list for his father Bill’s Memorial race. On Friday night Hendren spent most of his time leading the very race he worked so hard to organize. In what can only be described as a “storybook” ending, Hendren won the 4 lap Dash for Cash and proceeded to lead all 40 laps en route to a $4000 payday. However, as Hendren told the crowd of 45 other drivers in the pre-race drivers meeting, he left the track without any cash and none of the many accumulated contingency prizes. “My goal is leave here with a racecar and a huge sense of pride.” Hendren said. Hendren pledged his cash winnings to Hospice of Rutherford County (NC) who had taken care of his late father before his death.
In preliminary action it was Brandon Umberger of Rural Retreat, Virginia taking overall fast time honors in Shell Racing Solutions Time Trials among the 46 cars on hand. Umberger’s lap of 18.403 seconds was just 0.014 quicker than young gun David Watts quick lap. To shake things up and create some excitement, Hendren and Cleveland County Speedway put together a unique format for the event which even included a non-qualifiers race for the 20 drivers who failed to make the feature. The field was broken into 5 groups and each driver toured the 4/10ths of a mile facility for 2 timed laps during Shell Racing Solutions Time Trials. Each group produced a fast time driver who was locked-in to the A-Main. The fastest 4 of the 5 also qualified for the dash. The remainder of the field competed in one of five heat races which transferred 3 drivers each to the A-Main. After the heats were completed the fastest driver from each group in time trials that didn’t transfer through the heat were granted starting spots and then one FASTRAK Racing Series points provisional filled out the field of 26.
Hendren drew first blood when he dominated the 4 lap Dash for Cash from his outside pole starting position. His win in the Dash also gave Hendren the pole position for the 40 lap A-Main. The five heat races saw Dennis Franklin, Jonathan Davenport, Steve Banal, Jeff Smith and David Smith score wins in the 8 lap prelims. The final preliminary event of the night saw Woodruff, South Carolina driver Owen Osteen overtake Douglas Davis in the early going and pick up the winner’s check in the 12 lap non-qualifiers event. Osteen started from the third position and led the final 11 laps en route to the $300 win. Osteen was followed by Shelby, North Carolina’s Douglas Davis, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina driver Noel Tucker, Gib Gibbons of Manning, South Carolina and Roger Pate of Inman, South Carolina.
At the drop of the green flag it was readily apparent that Hendren was a man on a mission. He jumped out to the early lead and pulled away leaving fellow front row starter David Watts and Brandon Umberger to battle in his wake. Hendren’s progress in the A-Main was only hampered by the 5 yellow flags that slowed the race. The most serious incident involved Union Mills, North Carolina driver Furman Parton when he slammed the right side of his brand new racecar into a utility tire in turn one. All four tires came off the ground but landed back on all fours. Parton’s racecar was completely destroyed but he was able to walk away completely unscathed due in part to Parton’s use of a head and neck restraint device.
Hendren absolutely decimated the field as he lapped up to the 8th position by the end of the 40 laps. “We had a really good car tonight and it was just meant to be. I think my dad would have been really proud of this race and all the people that had a part in it. I am very proud to be the winner. I need to thank all these fans for coming out and hanging here with us. And I really want to thank all of the drivers, car owners, sponsors and everyone who helped to make this race such a great success. We are looking forward to making next year even bigger and better.” an emotional Hendren said in his FASTRAK Victory Lane interview. Hendren's Lazer G2 Chassis is powered by a Hendren / GM 604 and sponsored by Mike's Custom Tanks, Parton Lumber, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance, Heintz Performance, R2C Filters and DirtWrap.
Veteran Dirt Late Model racer Ricky Weeks was scheduled to roll off from the 4th starting position but was unable to answer the call after suffering engine problems in the Dash for Cash. Brandon Umberger finished in the runner-up position and took over the lead of the FASTRAK Southeast / Mid-East Touring points. David Smith, who entered the event as the point leader ran as high as 9th in the race but struggled with an ill handling racecar and slid backwards over the last 20 laps. The FASTRAK Southeast / Mid-East Touring points will now come down to the final event this Saturday night at Wythe Raceway. The make-up of the rained-out Dirt Late Model Super Nationals will pay the winner $3000. For more information on the event or to get tickets or directions visit www.wytheraceway.com or to get series information visit www.fastrakracing.com
Official Race Results (pending tire testing)
1 – 29 Steve Hendren
2 – 54B Brandon Umbereger
3 – 04 David Watts
4 – 2 Dennis Franklin
5 – 70 Jeff Smith
6 – 2 Chris Steele
7 – 8 Steve Banal
8 – 25 Matt Long
9 – 57 Lee Cooper
10 – 01 Chris Ferguson
11 – 93 Donald Bradsher
12 – 77 Brian Connor
13 – 51 Chad Hale
14 – 11 David Smith
15 – 42 Doug Sanders
16 – K22 Kenny Peeples
17 – 444 Brian Ligon
18 – 88 Vic Chandler
19 – 15 Jonathan Davenport
20 – 8 Ron Parker
21 – 22 Jordan Dill
22 – 99 Jeff Cooke
23 – 6P Furman Parton
24 – 83 Jensen Ford
25 – 88 Trent Ivey
26 – 1 Ricky Weeks
Lawndale, North Carolina – Steve Hendren spent many hours working the phones over the last 3 weeks building the cash and prize list for his father Bill’s Memorial race. On Friday night Hendren spent most of his time leading the very race he worked so hard to organize. In what can only be described as a “storybook” ending, Hendren won the 4 lap Dash for Cash and proceeded to lead all 40 laps en route to a $4000 payday. However, as Hendren told the crowd of 45 other drivers in the pre-race drivers meeting, he left the track without any cash and none of the many accumulated contingency prizes. “My goal is leave here with a racecar and a huge sense of pride.” Hendren said. Hendren pledged his cash winnings to Hospice of Rutherford County (NC) who had taken care of his late father before his death.
In preliminary action it was Brandon Umberger of Rural Retreat, Virginia taking overall fast time honors in Shell Racing Solutions Time Trials among the 46 cars on hand. Umberger’s lap of 18.403 seconds was just 0.014 quicker than young gun David Watts quick lap. To shake things up and create some excitement, Hendren and Cleveland County Speedway put together a unique format for the event which even included a non-qualifiers race for the 20 drivers who failed to make the feature. The field was broken into 5 groups and each driver toured the 4/10ths of a mile facility for 2 timed laps during Shell Racing Solutions Time Trials. Each group produced a fast time driver who was locked-in to the A-Main. The fastest 4 of the 5 also qualified for the dash. The remainder of the field competed in one of five heat races which transferred 3 drivers each to the A-Main. After the heats were completed the fastest driver from each group in time trials that didn’t transfer through the heat were granted starting spots and then one FASTRAK Racing Series points provisional filled out the field of 26.
Hendren drew first blood when he dominated the 4 lap Dash for Cash from his outside pole starting position. His win in the Dash also gave Hendren the pole position for the 40 lap A-Main. The five heat races saw Dennis Franklin, Jonathan Davenport, Steve Banal, Jeff Smith and David Smith score wins in the 8 lap prelims. The final preliminary event of the night saw Woodruff, South Carolina driver Owen Osteen overtake Douglas Davis in the early going and pick up the winner’s check in the 12 lap non-qualifiers event. Osteen started from the third position and led the final 11 laps en route to the $300 win. Osteen was followed by Shelby, North Carolina’s Douglas Davis, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina driver Noel Tucker, Gib Gibbons of Manning, South Carolina and Roger Pate of Inman, South Carolina.
At the drop of the green flag it was readily apparent that Hendren was a man on a mission. He jumped out to the early lead and pulled away leaving fellow front row starter David Watts and Brandon Umberger to battle in his wake. Hendren’s progress in the A-Main was only hampered by the 5 yellow flags that slowed the race. The most serious incident involved Union Mills, North Carolina driver Furman Parton when he slammed the right side of his brand new racecar into a utility tire in turn one. All four tires came off the ground but landed back on all fours. Parton’s racecar was completely destroyed but he was able to walk away completely unscathed due in part to Parton’s use of a head and neck restraint device.
Hendren absolutely decimated the field as he lapped up to the 8th position by the end of the 40 laps. “We had a really good car tonight and it was just meant to be. I think my dad would have been really proud of this race and all the people that had a part in it. I am very proud to be the winner. I need to thank all these fans for coming out and hanging here with us. And I really want to thank all of the drivers, car owners, sponsors and everyone who helped to make this race such a great success. We are looking forward to making next year even bigger and better.” an emotional Hendren said in his FASTRAK Victory Lane interview. Hendren's Lazer G2 Chassis is powered by a Hendren / GM 604 and sponsored by Mike's Custom Tanks, Parton Lumber, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance, Heintz Performance, R2C Filters and DirtWrap.
Veteran Dirt Late Model racer Ricky Weeks was scheduled to roll off from the 4th starting position but was unable to answer the call after suffering engine problems in the Dash for Cash. Brandon Umberger finished in the runner-up position and took over the lead of the FASTRAK Southeast / Mid-East Touring points. David Smith, who entered the event as the point leader ran as high as 9th in the race but struggled with an ill handling racecar and slid backwards over the last 20 laps. The FASTRAK Southeast / Mid-East Touring points will now come down to the final event this Saturday night at Wythe Raceway. The make-up of the rained-out Dirt Late Model Super Nationals will pay the winner $3000. For more information on the event or to get tickets or directions visit www.wytheraceway.com or to get series information visit www.fastrakracing.com
Official Race Results (pending tire testing)
1 – 29 Steve Hendren
2 – 54B Brandon Umbereger
3 – 04 David Watts
4 – 2 Dennis Franklin
5 – 70 Jeff Smith
6 – 2 Chris Steele
7 – 8 Steve Banal
8 – 25 Matt Long
9 – 57 Lee Cooper
10 – 01 Chris Ferguson
11 – 93 Donald Bradsher
12 – 77 Brian Connor
13 – 51 Chad Hale
14 – 11 David Smith
15 – 42 Doug Sanders
16 – K22 Kenny Peeples
17 – 444 Brian Ligon
18 – 88 Vic Chandler
19 – 15 Jonathan Davenport
20 – 8 Ron Parker
21 – 22 Jordan Dill
22 – 99 Jeff Cooke
23 – 6P Furman Parton
24 – 83 Jensen Ford
25 – 88 Trent Ivey
26 – 1 Ricky Weeks