Special to www.teamvlr.com by Starnes

ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA (April 1, 2012)- VLR would invade Speedway City in Adelaide, Australia for the first time in DTR2 history this past weekend in one of the biggest races in series history. Things would kick off with qualifying as thirty-eight drivers unloaded their high powered dirt late models for the chance to put their car in victory lane.

 

 

After thirty-five drivers had qualified it would be VLR_JW walking away with fast time after running a lightning quick 12.64 lap around the 1/4 mile clay oval. We would line up 4 heat races out of qualifying taking the top 2 places out of each.

Heat race #1 lined up first to get things under way for the night. first row inside would be BLS_DB with the outside being XCR_Greezy. Inside row 2 would be VLR_Woods and outside row 2 was pole sitter VLR_JW. Row 3 would be Mav outside row 3 BLS_Jsn. Inside row 4 would be BLS_34 outside row 4 DoIt94,and starting rear of this heat would be BLS_F1yer.

This heat race would set the tone for the night as VLR_Woods and VLR_JW would battle side by side for most of this race with BLS_F1yer quietly working his way up thru the field after qualifying a dismal 33rd. In the end it would be VLR_Woods coming across the finish line in 1st followed closely by VLR_JW. BLS_F1yer would come home with a solid 3rd place finish followed by Mav, XCR_Greezy, DoIt94, BLS_34, BLS_Jsn, and finishing last would be Erie, Pennsylvania driver BLS_DB who had pulled off the track early with motor problems.

BLS_F1yer after the heat said "If I would have had a few more laps I could of been right there in the mix of things, but I am happy with a solid 3rd place finish to get us set up for the B Main."

Heat race #2 would roll out on the track next with a stacked field. Inside row 1 VLR_Brad outside VLR_Mcgee. Inside Row 2 VLR_Shock outside JFR_A2D. Third row inside IFRT_RB outside DS5. Fourth row inside XCR_Opeth outside BLS_Kev,and starting last in this one would be Chzburger, who was attempting his first career start at VLR.

At the drop of the green it would be VLR_Brad and VLR_Mcgee taking off and setting the pace for this heat, but soon JFR_A2D and VLR_Shock would catch them both and slip by putting VLR_Brad and VLR_Mcgee back to 3rd and 4th. The rest of the field would try to catch these four drivers, but would run out of laps. JFR_A2D would come across the line first followed by VLR_Shock, VLR_Brad, VLR_Mcgee, IFRT_RB, DS5, BLS_Kev, XCR_Opeth, and Chzburger.

During a post race interview with VLR_Shock he had some interesting words for JFR_A2D he said "I let A2D pass me because figured it would be best just to hold off and get us both in the A Main since he was faster."

Heat 3 would roll out next with JFR_97 on the pole outside BLS_BW. Inside row 2 JFR_17 outside BLS_Wheel. Inside row 3 McFly34 outside XCR_Geisler. Inside row 4 Squirrel outside Fogs, and starting last Smokey97. JFR_97 and BLS_BW would jump out to an early lead but would be caught a short time later by JFR_17 and BLS_Wheel putting both of them back to third and fourth, respectively.

While Running side by side with JFR_97, BLS_BW would push his car a little too hard into the corner letting XCR_Geisler by him putting BW back to 5th. JFR17 and BLS_Wheel would run side by side in the closing laps but it would be JFR17 walking away with the win.

After the race JFR_17 told reporters "It was fun running side by side with Wheel I can't believe how close the finish was. We were side by side at the line it was an intense race."

The last heat race of the night would roll out next with Starnes on the pole outside of him ERL_Ralphy. Inside row 2 JFR_Jim outside ERL_BBS. Inside row 3 Jon outside Hoots. Inside row 4 IFRT_14 outside XCR_81, and starting last would be S&S22.

This heat would have some close racing the entire race with Starnes and Ralphy running side by side for 5 laps before Ralphy would get loose letting JFR_Jim and ERL_BBS by him. JFR_Jim would catch Starnes a lap later and running side by side with him for 6 laps. At the line it would be Starnes by seven hundredths of a second over JFR_Jim followed by ERL_BBS, ERL_Ralphy, IFRT_14, Hoots, S&S22 and jon. XCR_81 had tire difficulties early in this one and would not be able to finish the race.

Reporters talked to Starnes after this race he had the following to say "Man that was a fun race I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to make it over here for this race. My car was nowhere near ready but after we unloaded the car myself and the crew had some help from VLR_Shock getting this #77 car ready to race tonight."

After the heat races all the drivers had a short break before the C, B,and A Main races were lined up. Many of the drivers would go to the grandstands to sign autographs and meet the Austrailian fans who attended this race. The crowd was very thrilled to meet some of their favorite drivers who flew nearly 10,000 miles to put on a show for the Aussie's.

JFR_Faschek attended the race, but after a deal fell through to drive a late model for an Australian Race Team at the last second, the Kentucky driver began giving free piggy back rides to some unlucky kids. Many kids were seen screaming and trying to run away from Faschek.

After intermission series officials would line up two C Main Features taking only the winner out of both. C main number one would have XCR_Greezy walking away with the win. C main number two would have IFRT_RB coming across the line first.

The B main would then come rolling out on the track and we would take the top 2 to the A Main. It would be BLS_F1yer and VLR_Brad transferring to the A main. We would take a small five minute break after the B main to give F1yer and Brad time to catch their breath and make a couple of changes.

We found J-Mac in a team hauler revving the motor during this break and when confronted about this he said "I am going to win the hauler races! First one back to Adelaide."  We aren't sure what he was thinking, but the officials were able to start getting the A main lined up.

Inside row 1 VLR_JW outside JFR_A2D. Inside row 2 BLS_18 outside VLR_Woods. Inside row 3 VLR_Shock outside JFR_17. Inside row 4 JFR_Jim outside Starnes. Inside row 5 BLS_Flyer and outside VLR_Brad.

At the drop of the green it would be VLR_JW who jumped out to the early lead with JFR_A2D,BLS_Wheel,and VLR_Shock nipping at his heels. JW would run by side with A2D and behind them would be a three way battle for third between BLS_Wheel, VLR_Shock, and VLR_Woods.

Contact between JW and A2D would allow Shock and Wheel to catch up to them rapidly. Suddenly everyone was on their feet as the top four drivers came out of turn 2 four wide and somehow didn't wreck. More contact between A2D and JW would let Wheel and Shock slip by both of them and take over the top two spots.

While the ever so quiet BLS_F1yer worked his way through the field would catch this group of cars after several mishaps while racing with JFR_17 following him to 4th. VLR_JW quickly got back by VLR_Shock and the race out front would have the already estatic crowd on their feet as BLS_Wheel and VLR_JW would run side by side for the next ten laps.

Contact between A2D and VLR_Woods would send A2D and JFR17 to the rear. BLS_F1yer would eventually catch VLR_JW in the closing laps and after some hard racing these two made some contact allowing F1yer to slip into the 2nd spot.

BLS_Wheel would go on to take the checkereds at this first ever race in Australia followed by BLS_F1yer, VLR_JW, VLR_Woods, VLR_Shock, JFR_Jim, JFR17, Starnes, and Brad after the contact with A2D he had a flat tire and pulled off the track to watch this incredible race and would take home a tenth place finish.

The crowd was very pleased with this race and very thankful that these drivers made the decision to show up for this race that took place far from the drivers home land.

After the race the Australian police had to be called in after BLS_F1yer and VLR_JW parked out on the track and went to yelling at each other and things escalated into a full blown brawl after JW tried to run over F1yer on the front stretch. After this happened and things cooled down between the two drivers reporters would catch up with both drivers.

F1yer said "I followed him for 20 plus laps,he blocked me every lap and a little contact between us two got him loose and I slipped by it's that simple!"

JW said "Man I was running my line and next thing I know F1yer drove straight through me I don't know what he was thinking but that is bull[bleep]! [bleep] Australia!"

Next week the drivers have a little time to rest as the drivers head back across the ocean to Volusia Speedway Park in the sunny state of Florida for a non points battle before continuing at Volusia the next week in a points swing as VLR_Shock tries to keep his narrowing lead in the standings with just five races remaining.