Fritsche ends Davidson streak at PIR

By David Green on July 5, 2009 3:42 PM | 0 Comments

070509_Chad and Jake.jpg

Chad Fritsche poses with his trophy and young fan Jake Speer, 6.

 

PADUCAH, Ky. - Chad Fritsche wheeled the No. 40 Moore Motorsports 1940 Chevrolet to his second victory of the season Friday night in the 10-lap Kentucky Vintage Racing Association feature at Paducah International Raceway.

Fritsche took the lead on the fifth lap and held it to the finish, taking the checkered flag a half car length ahead of runner-up Dennis English.

His win ended a two-race winning streak by Dave Davidson, who started in the back of the 13-car field and worked his way up to fifth. Davidson had won five of the last six races at PIR since Sept. 19, 2008, and had won the last three straight at the 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval.

070509_Rex and Jake.jpgIt was the second career victory for Fritsche, of Puryear, Tenn., who got his debut victory in KVRA's 50th race June 6 at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway.

That victory came after a last-lap tangle with his car owner, Mark Moore, who lost the brakes on his No. 33 after leading from the start.

This one had no downside.

"This one feels a whole lot better," Fritsche said. "This is how it's supposed to feel."

Fritsche emerged from a scramble at the head of the pack coming off Turn 2 of the fifth lap. Rex Rutter, making his return to KVRA action after recuperating from injuries suffered in an off-track accident in April, saw Fritsche slip past on the inside.

(Rutter, above right, poses for pictures after presenting his third-place trophy to young race fan Jake Speer.)

"Rex just pushed up in front of James (Scott)," Fritsche said.

Rutter, who had led from the pole, agreed with that assessment.

"I'm aggravated at myself for letting the car slide up," he said. "I think I could've won it if I'd kept the car down. I was getting pretty good bite coming off down low. I went in too hard."

The yellow flag waved shortly after when Mark Davis spun in Turn 1.

"That caution had me worried," Fritsche said. "I didn't know who was behind me" on the restart.

It was English, a veteran with one KVRA win at Paducah on his resume.

"I thought I had a chance," English said. "I had a good run going. But I lost the mojo when the caution came out."

Scott scored a career-best fourth place finish.

Kenny Brannon got his first KVRA race victory by winning the first heat. Davidson charged from the rear and won the second heat.

 

SUMMARY:

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Results of KVRA Race No. 13, July, 2009, Paducah International Raceway, with car number in parentheses, driver's name and hometown, car, laps completed and reason out:

 

FEATURE (10 laps)

1.              (40) Chad Fritsche, Puryear, Tenn., 1940 Chevrolet, 10, running.

2.              (42) Dennis English, Palma, Ky., 1936 Ford, 10, running.

3.              (W3) Rex Rutter, Madisonville, Ky., 1947 Chevrolet, 10, running.

4.              (3) James Scott, Murray, Ky., 1936 Chevrolet, 10, running.

5.              (16) Dave Davidson, Henderson, Ky., 1933 Plymouth, 10, running.

6.              (33) Mark Moore, Murray, Ky., 1934 Chevrolet, 10, running.

7.              (61) Mark Davis, Mayfield, Ky., 1941 Ford, 10, running.

8.              (37) Mike Moore, Newburgh, Ind., 1937 Pontiac, 10, running.

9.              (88) Kenny Brannon, Paducah, Ky., 1939 Pontiac, 10, running.

10.          (C8) Steve Alexander, Murray, Ky., 1941 Buick, 10, running.

11.          (35) Richard Cook, Paducah, Ky., 1935 Plymouth, 10, running.

12.          (C9) Ed Adams, Murray, Ky., 1932 Chevrolet, 9, running.

13.          (W4) Brian Steele, Sturgis, Ky., 1947 Plymouth, 4, engine.

 

Margin of victory: ½ car length.

Leaders: Rutter 1-4, Fritsche 5-10.

Caution flags: 1 (Lap 5, spin T1).

 

FIRST HEAT (6 laps): 1. Kenny Brannon; 2. Richard Cook; 3. Mike Moore; 4. Steve Alexander; 5. Ed Adams; 7. Mark Davis.

 

SECOND HEAT (6 laps): 1. Dave Davidson; 2. Rex Rutter; 3. James Scott; 4. Chad Fritsche; 5. Brian Steele; 6. Dennis English; 7. Mark Moore.

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