CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Brian Steele found a tacky surface to his liking, and rode it to a flag-to-flag victory in Saturday night's Kentucky Vintage Racing Association feature at Clarksville Speedway.
It was the second career victory for Steele, both of the wins coming this year at the ΒΌ-mile
"They've got a heck of a track," Steele said after posing for victory photos outside Turn 1. "The old car was working good."
Chad Fritsche, who won KVRA's 50th race June 6 at
"I just got lucky and got a jump at the start," Steele said. "There was a little bit of black in the middle of the track and you could get a good bite."
Good enough that Steele was turning laps in the 14-second bracket, close to the speeds of the super late model cars, and packing the left front wheel most of the way down the straightaways on the Weaver Motorsports 1947 Plymouth No. W4. Steele credited chassis specialist Tony Russell for the set-up.
His teammate, Rex Rutter, chased Steele and Fritsche for four laps before cutting down the right rear tire on his 1947 Chevy No. W3. Rutter, who had a similar problem in the second heat race, ended up 12th.
Steele picked up his first victory on April 25 in the second of five visits to the north central
The 12-lap main event was the first feature after the intermission, during which the vintage sedans and coupes were lined up along the front straightaway and fans were invited out of the grandstands for a closer look at the cars.
Not long after the race ended, rain began to fall, eventually wiping out several races remaining on the program.
The two heat races served notice of the action to come later. Bailey held off a late charge by Kenny Brannon to win the first heat by half a car, with Brannon pulling alongside on the outside and falling just short of the victory. Steele won the second heat, with Fritsche chasing him.
Bailey drove the 1933 Chevy No. 89 usually driven by Johnny Moran after his 1929 Ford No. 29 suffered engine failure during warm-ups. Both Bailey Racing cars are powered by six-cylinder Ford engines.
SUMMARY
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Results of Saturday night's Kentucky Vintage Racing Association event at Clarksville Speedway, with car number, driver's name and hometown, type car, laps completed and reason out:
1. (W4) Brian Steele,
2. (40) Chad Fritsche,
3. (33)
4. (3) James Scott,
5. (89) Jason Bailey,
6. (61) Pat Halvorson,
7. (37) Steve Alexander,
8. (C9) Mark Davis,
9. (C8) Nick Alexander,
10. (88) Kenny Brannon,
11. (35) Luke Rutter,
12. (W3) Rex Rutter,
n (42) Dennis English,
n (29) Jason Bailey,
Margin of Victory: 1 car length.
Leaders: Steele 1-12.
Cautions: 1 (lap 11, debris T2)
FIRST HEAT: 1. Jason Bailey; 2. Kenny Brannon; 3. Pat Halvorson; 4. Luke Rutter; 5. Steve Alexander; 6. Mark Davis; 7. Nick Alexander.
SECOND HEAT: 1. Brian Steele; 2. Chad Fritsche; 3.
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