2003 May Valley Speedway Points Championship Determined

By Gloria Woller

September 26, 2003

With the cool weather and rain off in the distance, a perfect night for racing, following the National Anthem Grand Marshall for the evening, Katlea Beakley said, "Gentlemen, start your engines" and the green flag dropped. Hobby Trucks were first up for their Heat. #43 Cameron Austin took the checkered flag with #92 Keith Eldon Nidey in a close second. #7 Brad Westphal came back to win the Cash Dash.

With the rain really starting to come down, the Econo’s came out on the field for their first Heat of the evening. It was like "Anything Goes" revisited, cars skating around the track, rubbing paint with each other and say a friendly hello to the wall. #20 Brock Hall took first with #90 Mark Henz in second.

Ready for the action, the fans moved under the canopy, buzzing, and waiting to resume racing. Within 15 minutes, the green flag was back out and racing action continues with the Econos Heat #2. #68 Dale Barnes took first with #77 Dan Dewey in second. #20 Brock Hall won the Cash Dash.

Mini Stocks were next out on the track. In Heat #1, #7 Steve Hernandez took first with #40 Park Hawkins in second. Heat #2 went to #41 Marco Macias and #13 Nick Squires. The Mini Stock Cash Dash went to #40 Park Hawkins.

Hobby Stocks took to the field to start a string of mechanical problems for the night. #24 Seth Salisbury, tied for the Hobby Stock lead, was off the track early with a flat tire. #97 Jimmy Jenkins was in the lead when he experienced rear axle problems that brought him off the track in a smoke trail.

Super Stocks were last out on the track for the first half of the show. In Heat #1, #1 Fred Elliott matched #68 Brad Hopkins, lap for lap for first place. #1 Fred Elliott came out on top with #68 Brad Hopkins in second. In Heat #2, #86 Justen Beakley took first with #5 Andy Woller in second. The Cash Dash went to #68 Brad Hopkins.

It was the last points race of the season, and as tradition follows, much to their delight, it was Jr Fan Club appreciation night and time for the big prize drawings. The race fans and Jr Fan Club kids have really appreciated the generosity of the many May Valley Speedway Jr Fan Club sponsors. Special thanks to Ark Valley Auto Repair, Lamar Daily News, Wiley Oliver Sales, Big R, Dis and Dat Alterations, Mirastar, and Hernandez Racing Team. Winners were: Shanda Rhae Jenkins tractor, Kaitlea Beakley 24" bike, Kensey Jacobs Big Foot Remote Truck, Blake Robertson 26" bike, Kailyn Lane Big Tony Tiger, Sheyenne Spady $20 cash, Michael Spady, Match Box car city kit, Justin Lenox $20 cash, Tracie Wilk Zip Zap race cars, Tyler Harris 24" bike, Jorge Barrera tractor, Andy Egley Karoke Sing-along, Tessa Saisbury 20" bike, and Christopher Maggart tractor. Unfortunately, many other names were drawn but the Jr Fan Club member wasn’t present to win.

The second half of the show got off to a great start with a few flat tires and broken parts!! The race track’s surface couldn’t have been better or faster. The Trucks were out first for their Main Event. Early in the race, #25 Irl Hooper spun out, breaking his front steering. #90 Keith Nidey was off due to a flat tire but came back on several laps later. The best action was right there, on the track between #92 Keith Eldon Nidey and #43 Cameron Austin. #92 Keith Eldon Nidey held #43 Cameron Austin off for most of the race. In the end, #43 Cameron Austin came in first and #92 Keith Eldon Nidey in second and #7 Brad Westphal in third.

It was the Econos turn next out on the track for their Main Event. #20 Brock Hall, #22 Doug Lapar, #68 Dale Barnes were all off with mechanical problems at some point during the race. #77 Dan Dewey kept the crowd on their feet as he held several other cars off for first place. After a couple of fast breaks and quick maneuvers in and out of traffic, #77 Dan Dewey came in first with #73 Justin Rainwater in second, and #44 Ken Robins in third.

Mini Stocks took to the field and were plagued, just like the other classes, with a flurry of flat tires. Both #3 Jared Hays and #13 Nick Squire left the track with flat tires. A clean race in all, #40 Park Hawkins took the checkered flag with #29 Shawn Lopez in second and #41 Marco Macias in third.

The Hobby Stock Main Event proved to be the most exciting for drivers and race fans alike. Several laps into the event, #24 Set Salisbury got into the burm between turns 3 and 4 and rolled his car two complete turns. Seth, who popped out immediately saw his 2003 Championship vanish in ruins. Seth was all right but the sheet metal on his car told another story. It will take some work to get him back 100% for the two-day show this weekend. After #24 Seth Salisbury was righted and towed off the track, racing action got back into full swing. #97 Jimmy Jenkins was able to fix his rear-end problem and came back to take the checkered flag. #19 Keith Stegman was in a close second with #88 Raymond Dechant in third.

Super Stocks were last to take the track for the Season Championship at May Valley Speedway. Neck and neck they raced on the white flag lap. Flagman Brett Buxton had the checkered flag in hand as a pack of four cars screamed out of turn 4, pedal to the metal, for the checkered. Suddenly #86 Justen Beakley’s left rear tire made contact and climbed over #68 Brad Hopkins right front tire. Cars went flying. #67 Jeff Woller had been leading the race for about 15 laps by any where from a fender length to a car length and barely escaped. Unfortunately #72 Mike Nordyke didn’t make it through the chaos, crashing into Beakley in a cloud of steam. In the end, #67 Jeff Woller came out to take the checkered flag with #6 Joe Shoup in second and #68 Brad Hopkins in third.

Congratulations to these unofficial winners of the 2003 May Valley Speedway Point Championship. Mini Stock #41 Marco Macias, Hobby Truck #43 Cameron Austin, Hobby Stock #2 Phillip Munoz, Econo #20 Brock Hall, and Super Stock #5 Andy Woller.

Track promoter, Don Woller and his staff, want to take this time to thank all of the race fans, race car drivers, and track sponsors for their loyal support of stock car racing at May Valley Speedway and another great year of racing!! "Without you, racing would not be possible."