Mt. Lawn: Claborn gets first feature win

July 10, 2006 11:40 am

— Eddie Claborn of Cambridge City took the lead from David McConnell of Shirley on Lap 18 and went on the win his first feature of the year in the Motion Motors Late Models at Mt. Lawn Speedway Saturday night.
McConnell started on the pole and had designs on a repeat of his win three weeks ago, but Claborn had other ideas.
Terry Cater of New Castle jumped to second on Lap 2, but faded quickly with a very ill handling race car finally dropping out on Lap 9. McConnell stretched his lead, but a yellow on Lap 13 caused by Eric Evans of Greenfield bunched the field giving Claborn a chance to line up along side McConnell on the double file restart.
McConnell held off Claborn to lead the next four laps until another yellow caused by the spin of Scott Hinshaw and William Mefford in the short turn.
On the ensuing restart, Claborn out-gunned McConnell down the backstretch to take the lead a lead he never gave up. The drama was far from over however when Scott Knepley of Greensboro moved to second on Lap 22 and started to reel in Claborn.
Over the last five laps, Knepley put heavy pressure on Claborn but just didn’t have enough time to make a pass. McConnell held on for third followed by Ralph Lane of Greensburg, David Fox II of Markleville, Scott Runion of Mooreland, Hinshaw, Mefford, LJ Lines of Dunreith and Bill Clark of Rushville.
Knepley set fast time and locked up the NAPA qualification challenge over Lines and Fox. Lines took the dash with Lane and Runion winning the heats.
Jason Thompson of Wilkinson led the final two laps of the Big-O Tire Thunder feature to win for the third time in 2006. Drew McConnell of Shirley started outside pole and took the lead from Paul Starks of Fortville coming out to the big turn on Lap 1. Brian Morrow of Selma moved from eighth to first after eight laps and built a large lead on the rest of the field. Johnny Fugate of Cambridge City moved the second on Lap 13, but could not close the gap on a charging Morrow. Thompson moved into second on Lap 19 and set sail for Morrow who had a quarter of a lap lead. Morrow had some trouble getting around lapped traffic giving Thompson just enough time to take the win.
Morrow finished second followed by Kevin Claborn of Cambridge City, Fugate, Ray Evans of Greenfield, McConnell, Mark Burton of Shelbyville, Michael Zambos of Middletown, Jameson Owens of Greenfield and Chris Bolyard of Rushville.
Claborn took the dash with Bolyard and Fugate winning the heats.
The Dependable Drywall Hornet feature went to Jeremy Chamblis of Middletown. Chamblis started 11th and quickly moved to the front on Lap 5 of the 30-lap event. Ryan Claborn of Cambridge City put the heat on Chamblis over the final eight laps, but could not make a pass for the lead.
Claborn finished second followed by Keith Morris of Mt. Summit, Chris Oldham of Shirley, Chris Jennings of Richmond, Mike Vaccaro of Middletown, Joyce Dyer of Greenfield, Cody Rhinhart of Carthage, Jessee Casperson of Muncie and Michael Roberson of New Castle.
Fast time went to Donnie Matthews of Indianapolis with Claborn claiming the dash while Matthews and Rhinhart won the heats.
In the Loop D’ Loop Jerry Small of Arcadia came out on top after taking the lead from Chris Jennings on Lap 7. Jennings’s left rear wheel suffered damage on a Lap 3 in a mix-up at the loop and finished the races with a wheel that would not turn. Morris finished third followed by Vaccaro, Dyer, Casperson, Rhinhart, Roberson, Matthews and Oldham.
On Friday night, the UMRA Midgets made their first appearance to Mt. Lawn for the 2006 season. Eric Fehrman of Portland picked up the feature win beating Japanese driver Yasuyoshi Yamamoto by three car lengths. Yamamoto did capture a heat race, which brought him his first racing victory in the United States. Fehrman won the dash and a heat with the other heats going to Terry Goff and Joey Paxson. Thirty-three midgets showed up for the first of three asphalt shows the UMRA midgets will run at Mt. Lawn in 2006.
Chris Bolyard of Rushville set fast time in the Pro Thunders, but Eric Evans won both the heat and the feature. Mike Vaccaro of Markleville set fast time in qualifications for the Hornets and picked up a heat win. The second heat went to Scott Tungate with Jeremy Chamblis of Markleville winning the feature. Joyce Dyer of Greenfield took second in the feature followed by Tungate. Jerry Small of Arcadia, Cody Rhinhart of Carthage, Daniel Pierce of New Castle, Mark Dalworth of Middletown, Vaccaro, Chris Oldham and Josh Gulley.
The USAC Midgets return Wednesday with racing starting at 7 p.m. On Saturday Late Model, Thunders, Hornets and Mini Cups return to action with racing starting at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 on Wednesday and $9 on Saturday.