UNION, KY (April 8, 2011)- VLR_18 finally brought the prestigous North/South 60 trophy home to the Union in VLR's fourth race at the 1/2 mile clay oval known as Florence Speedway, which is ironically located in Union, Ky.
With the largest crowd on hand at Florence Speedway in several years, VLR_18 wowed the crowd with impressive moves to get to the front and win after starting midpack.
VLR_18, 16, of Brookfield, Wi., pulled away after passing WFO_Rainman for the lead early in the race, and his most serious challenge after taking the lead was dealing with heavy lap traffic towards the end. He was able to beat teammate VLR_Shock of Crossville, Tn., by 0.65 seconds after the lap cars helped Shock cut the deficit in half over the last fifteen laps.
The win was the first for the four-time defending VLR champion in the young season, and it positioned VLR_18 to make a run for a fifth-straight title after an uncharacteristically slow start in the first two races.
“As long as I was racing tonight I thought I could win,” VLR_18 said in victory lane. “After the first two races I kinda had to (go for a win), so it was a good race.”
VLR_Shock set the fast time in qualifying for the first time this season after qualifying second each of the first two races. He earned the pole for the feature after winning his heat but didn't lead long after WFO_Rainman slid past him on lap two. VLR_Shock eventually recovered and finished second but couldn't catch the lightning fast VLR_18 machine.
VLR_911 of Batesville, Ar., pulled off his best career finish at VLR and earned the hard charger award in the process by storming through the pack to finish third after starting in seventh. Points-leader BLS_Superman of Knoxville, Tn. had another good finish as he moved from eighth to fourth by the end of the race.
The win for VLR_18 was worth $25.00, the biggest of his storied career, and it made him the third different winner in three races in what is shaping up to be the most competitive season in VLR history.
“I had fun, it was really, really hard to pass,” said 18, who had never won at Florence until tonight. “This is probably the biggest win I've had in a while...it's one that I needed. I'd like to thank Dodge and the US Army for their support."
VLR_Shock fell to third early in the race after contact with WFO_Rainman, but charged back to second - at Rainman's expense, before trying unsuccessfully to run down VLR_18.
"Rainman kinda got me and so after that he kinda ruined my shot at a win," said VLR_Shock about his battle with Rainman. "I was racing him hard after (he got me), and he was mad after the race, but he shouldn't expect to race me like that and not expect to be raced back the same way.
"By the time I got going again, I was already so far behind it didn't much matter (about trying to catch VLR_18). I knocked off a second in the last 10 or 15 laps thanks to lap traffic, but it still would have been hard to catch and pass him."
VLR_911 was all smiles after his career-best third place finish. Due to his main job of working on an oil rig, 911 is unable to run the full season at VLR and was pleased to get a good finish before he heads back to the Gulf.
"It's more fun coming out racing with the fellers," said VLR_911 about the competition. "I had to work the bottom a little more than I wanted to tonight to get around some people, but I made it happen on the bottom a little bit.
"I got a good start and got on the bottom, and passed a couple guys. Fell behind my teammate VLR_McGee and pulled away. It's always good to see the team on top (referencing a VLR 1-2-3 finish), and I'm waiting for some more good races like that."
BLS_Superman drove a good race under the South's banner despite doubts about his future as a BLS member related to the unexpected retirement of BLS head-man F1yer on the Friday before the race. Superman came home fourth but was dissapointed with the end result that allowed VLR_18 to close in on him in points.
"It was alright, I didn't have the best car," said the Knoxville Knockout BLS_Superman. "I just didn't have it tonight. The first of the race everyone was washing up high in three and four and I was just letting out early and sticking right on the bottom. That's where I passed most the cars at.
"I guess I can't complain. We just dropped all our sponsors and getting ready to find some new ones."
BLS_42 of Sparta, Mi. represented the North, and showed his second place finish last week at Kentucky Lake was no fluke as he made his second ever A Main at VLR again this week and earned his second straight top 5. Starkville, Ms. driver Kamikaze picked up his best career finish with an impressive sixth place run while representing the Confederate states, followed by the North's BLS_v6 of Kokomo, In., in seventh.
Another North driver brought home eighth with BLS_34 representing Vineland, NJ with a good finish. The South's VLR_McGee of Spartanburg, SC finished in ninth after an early spin knocked him out of fourth place. The field was rounded out by North driver WFO_Rainman of East Moline, Ill., who actually lead several laps before a wreck ended his chance at a good finish.
A field of 24 drivers from as far south as Biloxi, Ms., and as far north as Winona, Mn., showed up for the event, which was run on a warm evening in the growing town just south of Cincinatti, Oh.
VLR_Shock earned fast time honors after clocking around the track in a mind-blowing 11.29 seconds to earn his first pole award of 2011 at VLR. Shock's qualifying program is top notch so far this season, but he's still searching for his first win.
Heat winners were VLR_Shock, WFO_Rainman, and Kamikaze. The evening’s B-Mains were captured by VLR_911 and BLS_Superman.
The VLR dirt tour will continue it's midwest tour next Sunday at the Brownstown Speedway for the Jackson 50, an event that has become another crown jewel to win at VLR over the past couple of seasons. VLR_JW and BLS_F1yer are the past winners of this event.
For more information on the VLR series, please visit www.teamvlr.com
Top 10 Results of Team VLR North/South 60 at Florence Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver:
1. (4) VLR_18
2. (1) VLR_Shock
3. (7) VLR_911
4. (8) BLS_Superman
5. (10) BLS_42
6. (3) Kamikaze
7. (9) BLS_Jsn
8. (6) BLS_34
9. (5) VLR_McGee
10. (2) WFO_Rainman
Time of Race: 11 Mins., 23.68 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.648 Secs.
Rookie of the Race: IFRT_67r
Qualifying Results:
1. VLR_Shock/Crossville, TN 11.29
2. WFO_Rainman/East Moline, IL 11.31
3. Kamikaze/Starkville, MS 11.31
4. VLR_18/Brookfield, WI
5. BLS_42/Sparta, MI
6. BLS_34/Vineland, NJ
7. BLS_Superman/Knoxville, TN
8. VLR_Mcgee/Spartanburg, SC
9. VLR_DW/Whitney, TX
10. BLS_Dustin/Hindman, KY
11. BLS_DeadBolt/Erie, PA
12. VLR_911/Batesville, AR
13. 4H/Hindman, KY
14. WR/Ocean Springs, MS
15. VLR_BG/Kennesaw, GA
16. VLR_99x/Manhattan, KS
17. IFRT_67r/????
18. IFRT_Jim/Winona, MN
19. Woods/Ocean Springs, MS
20. DS5/Brookfield, WI
21. XCR_B58/Bullhead City, CA
22. Tuck/Stearns, KY