Post by Mike on Aug 4, 2008 18:43:35 GMT -5
Dave Hess Jr. Bags Eighth Annual American Heritage Classic
(Peebles, Ohio) Brushcreek Motorsports Complex hosted the eight annual American Heritage Classic weekend on Friday August 1st and Saturday August 2nd. One of the much anticipated events in the southern Ohio area, the annual American Heritage Classic attracts many enthusiastic fans and drivers with the hopes of taking home a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. For the first six years the late model class headlined the unique event, with late model stars Don O'Neal, Mike Balzano and Jackie Boggs (4) taking home brand new American Heritage Harley Davidsons for their efforts. However, for the first time in the events history the open wheel modifieds headlined the unique event in '07, with Fort Frances, Ontario Canada's Steve Arpin taking home a new American Heritage Harley Davidson for his efforts.
The '08 American Heritage Classic week end kicked off Friday with a complete one day show headlined by a $1,000 to win modified race and the $1,000 to win legends World Cup. Sixty two modifieds signed in Friday, with hopes of taking home the $1,000 top prize and gaining some valuable track time before the week ends main event on Saturday night. Fast qualifier, Weasel Rhoads challenged Hanover, Indiana's Joey Kramer for the lead but came up one lap short when he suffered mechanical problems on lap forty 42. Kramer cruised over the final lap to pick up the 1,000 win.
Byron Stowe jumped out to the early lead in Friday nights legend World Cup before Tom Partin ran him down on lap six. New leader Partin suffered mechanical problems on lap nine and had to retire to the infield. Tony Steffen inherited the lead and held off a Byron Stowe to pick up the $1,000 feature win. In other action Friday night. Jamey Adams picked up the Bomber feature win, Taylor Grooms took the chevette/cylinder win and Gary Rowland picked up the trophy four cylinder dash.
For Saturday nights main event a stellar field of sixty one open wheeled modifieds signed in with the field being trimmed down to 26 for the feature. Dave Hess and Kent Robinson would lead the field to the green. Robinson emerged from turn one with Hess, Steve Arpin and Jared Landers in tow. Arpin moved by Hess on lap two and pressured Robinson over the next seven circuits, before moving to the point on lap ten.
Now in front Arpin would have his hands full with Hess who also was able to move by Robinson on lap ten. The duo ran side by side over the next two circuits, before Hess managed to wrestle the lead back from Arpin on lap thirteen. The action was slowed for the first time on lap fourteen when the caution waved for Josh Morrow. On the restart, Arpin would challenge Hess for the lead. The two ran side by side until Arpin would gain an advantage on lap sixteen. The action was slowed for the second time when the caution waved for Don Adams, who had slowed to a stop on the backstretch with a flat tire.
On the restart, Arpin and Hess battled for the lead while back in the field Joey Kramer had began his charge toward the front. Arpin lead for the next sixteen circuits, while Kramer worked his way to third. The action was slowed with a lap thirty two caution. On the restart, Hess and Kramer battled for second while Arpin held the point. Tenth starting Joey Kramer found himself in second on lap thirty four. As the trio came through turn two on lap thirty four they were three wide with Kramer on the outside Arpin in the middle and Hess on the bottom. Arpin held a slight advantage as he pushed up the track Kramer dove to the inside of Arpin splitting Arpin and Hess to momentarily take the lead. But Arpin would get a run off the high side in turn for and motored pass Kramer to be credited with leading the lap.
Arpin held the point over the next five circuits as Hess and Kramer swapped positions with each other. Hess and Kramer would move by Arpin on lap forty one. Arpin and Kramer would swap positions with each other over the next two circuits, before Kramer would settle in second for the next eight laps. Arpin would regain second on lap fifty one. By now the leaders had been working lapped traffic with leader Hess building a slight advantage over Arpin and Kramer. Arpin would mount one last charge at front runner Hess but came up just short. When the checkered flag waved it was Hess who had managed to win himself and the lucky fan that was paired with him new Harley Davidsons. Following Hess across the line were Steve Arpin, Jacob Hawkins, Joey Kramer, and Jarred Landers rounding out the top five.
In other action Saturday night, Jerry Bowersock held off Weasel Rhoads to pick up the late model feature win. Tony Steffen held off Tom Partin to pick up the legend feature win and Gary Rowland picked up the trophy 4 cylinder win.
Brushcreek Motorsports Complex will August 9th off. Action returns to the 1/3 mile speed plant on Saturday August 16 with a regular race and enduro. For more information on Brushcreek Motorsports Complex visit their web site at www.brushcreekmotorsports.com or call the track office at 937-544-3344.
Brushcreek Motorsports Complex is located 3 miles south of Peebles, Ohio on OH 41. Directions: from Cincinnati, OH take 1-275 to OH-32 East. to OH-41turn right onto OH-41. From Columbus, OH take 1-270 to US-23 South to OH-32 West to OH-41 turn left onto OH-41. From Athens, OH take OH-682 S. Merge onto OH-32 W to OH -41 turn left onto OH-41.