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BLOOMINGTON, IN (November 7, 2010)- WFO_ICE used a caution midway through the ‘BLS-Trax 60’ at the newly remodeled Bloomington Speedway to pick up his second win in the last three races at VLR after going winless the past two years.

“I think I’ve got a second, first, and a first my last three times out,” said the late-season standout WFO_ICE. “I knew I was gonna have a good car, but I didn’t think it was good enough to win, by any means.

“I just kinda put something together right before we started, and went from there. I made a few adjustments throughout the night.”

ICE pulled off the win in what ended up being one of the best races of the season, as he ran second to BLS_DblZro for the first 27 laps before a caution came out and derailed DblZro's chances.

DblZro continued to lead after the restart by virtue of the Delaware-file restart that put him on the front row by himself. However, WFO_ICE made a charge and DblZro would run out of room on the track with twenty to go and go off-course, damaging any shot he had to pull off a colossal upset.

“With the guys that come here, anytime you get a win it feels good,” said an awed, but apologetic WFO_ICE. “I wasn’t real happy with the way I won it. I know I kinda nudged VLR_18 off the track, and DblZro said I kinda got him a little bit. I don’t like to race like that and I sure don’t like to win like that.

“They both seem to be OK with it, though, and I can’t give my spot to two people, I guess.”

With DblZro out of the way, ICE still didn’t have it easy as VLR_18 crossed the line right behind him, just 0.14 seconds behind the Tahlequah, Ok. driver.

An army of dtr2 veterans followed ICE and VLR_18 to the checkered flag in positions 3-7 – in order, BLS_F1yer of Hickory, N.C., who crossed the line just .12 behind VLR_18; VLR_Shock; 7th starter VLR_McGee of Spartanburg, S.C.; Doit 87 of Topeka, Ks; and WFO_Jus8x of Cumberland, Md.

It was one of ICE’s best career wins, as he out-dueled some of dtr2’s most talented drivers after working his way by BLS_DblZro. Despite starting on the pole, ICE lead just two laps before BLS_DblZro cleared him on the high line of this two groove track.

ICE never gave up despite the 00 appearing to be faster, and he stuck right with DblZro, who was trying to win it for his local fans in his home state of Indiana. By lap 40, though, DblZro’s chance for the upset and first career win at VLR took a major hit, and he’d end up in ninth with a DNF.

“I don’t wanna take one like that,” stated ICE. “I didn’t think I got him on my screen but he can have it if he wants it. I certainly don’t want to win one like that (getting into another driver).”

With the impressive results the past several races, ICE closed the gap to just fourteen points between he and VLR_Shock in the point standings heading into the last five races of the season in a heated battle for third. ICE made it clear that he was just focused on winning at this point in the season, though.

“I think I’ll do decent (in points),” said ICE. “I’m kinda like everyone else, I’m not here to get third in points. If I get it, great, but that was never my goal.”

While a championship at VLR was certainly at the top of his goals, ICE was generous with how his current season here at VLR has graded out.

“I’d say it’s about a B+ or A- for VLR,” chuckled ICE. “Historically I don’t run real well here (at VLR), and I’m starting to figure out these wetness and have some decent runs.”

Brookfield, Wi. driver VLR_18 had a shot at WFO_ICE, but the sixteen-year old phenom was unable to make the move in the closing laps of the fast paced event at the quarter-mile short track.

“It was a great run’” said VLR_18, who gained two points on BLS_F1yer in his bid for four straight championships. “I was behind early by qualifying crappy, but I was able to overcome that and I thought it was a good finish.”

VLR_18 was closing quickly on the top two drivers before the caution was brought out after he started in fifth, but it didn’t seem likely that he would have time to catch BLS_DblZro if he could get by WFO_ICE.

“I was happy with a top three even without the restart, so it was just a bonus on the restart. I was being careful not to get taken out or anything, just staying up there.

“I thought I had a shot at the win but it just didn’t work out. I thought the racing was great (for the first time on the new surface at Bloomington). It was difficult to pass, I’ll say that, but you just gotta pick your moves right. It was a great race.”

“I’m looking forward to Florence next week,” said VLR_18, who now sits just two points out of the points lead. “I’ve ran well there, I don’t know just looking to get back in victory lane, hopefully.”

Points leader BLS_F1yer drove his way from dead-last to earn a strong third place run after the mid-race caution helped him continue his march to the front that would come up just over two car lengths short of victory lane.

“To come from the B and start last I was happy with a top five,” said a happy BLS_F1yer. “To get a top three was just a better bonus. The tracks so hard to pass on I didn’t think I’d get in the top five.

“I was watching them (WFO_ICE and VLR_18) the whole time. Even when I was racing with VLR_Shock I was trying to keep an eye on them to see how far ahead they were. I mean they ran like that the whole time. I pretty much figured once I got by VLR_Shock, that was gonna be it, because I didn’t want to mess them up since they were having a good race.

“I still wanted to be up there in case anything happened.”

The victory by WFO_ICE was his second on the season and his sixth all time at VLR since he began racing here in 2007. A very emotional ICE summed up his feelings in victory lane after the race.

“I’d just like to say that I am elated with joy, he he!”

Finishing in positions 8-10 were Texas driver JR, BLS_DblZro, who faltered after going off track and ending what was looking to be a monumental upset for the local driver, and WFO_Stealth of Illinois.

Twenty-three drivers entered the first race by VLR at the newly resurfaced track in southern Indiana.

WFO_ICE made it a full clean sweep after qualifying on the pole with a blistering 10.68 lap time.

Heat winners were WFO_ICE, BLS_DblZro, and VLR_Shock. VLR_McGee and Doit 87 were victorious in their fifteen lap B Mains.

VLR returns to action next week for the North/South 60 at Florence Speedway in what is always an exciting show at the half-mile track in Union, Ky.
For more information on the VLR tour, visit www.teamvlr.com

Top 10 Results of VLR Late Model series BLS Trax 60 (Finishing Position/Start/Driver):

1. (1) WFO_ICE
2. (5) VLR_18
3. (10) BLS_F1yer
4. (6) VLR_Shock
5. (7) VLR_McGee
6. (8) Doit 87
7. (4) WFO_Jus
8. (3) JR!
9. (2) BLS_DblZro
10. (9) WFO_Stealth
 
Time of Race: Unknown
Margin of Victory: 0.14 Secs.
Rookie of the Race:  JR!
SuperClean Fast Time Award: BLS_F1yer 10.65
SuperClean Hard Luck Award: BLS_DblZro