ISCARS Gives Fans a Show in the Music City |
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Topics: Wade Day
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ISCARS PR
October 10, 2005
The International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series (ISCARS) returned to the Music City Motorplex last Saturday for the first time since 1996.
The high banked five-eighths mile oval is steeped in stock car tradition having hosted the NASCAR Cup Series up until 1984 and the Busch Series on an annual basis until the event was moved to the Nashville Superspeedway a few years ago. Such notables as Darrell Waltrip and Sterlin Marlin launched their careers at the famous track. The facility also hosted the Brooks and Dunn Legends Shootout for several years. This series first visited the speedway in 1977. NASCAR star Michael Waltrip collected a win at the track in 1984 while defending his 1983 Series Championship.
ISCARS, in its first season as the sanctioning body for the thirty-two year old series, enthusiastically accepted the invitation to return to the famed speedway.
“The speedway’s President, Joe Mattioli, was one of the first promoters to call and schedule our series,” says ISCARS President Randy Claypoole. “Joe is one of the country’s most respected promoters and we appreciate his support.”
ISCARS driver Wade Day blistered the speedway with a fast time of 20.078 seconds and an average speed in excess of 112 mph to garner the top starting position. On the initial start, outside pole sitter Jake Hobgood outran Day exiting turn two to take the lead heading down the backstretch. Hobgood led the first 12 laps before driving too high into turn one. As his car slid through the turn, Day went high as Justin Hobgood dove low. Both had to slow dramatically to keep from hitting Jake’s car. Justin was able to gain the advantage on Day as the field scrambled toward the backstretch. The spin brought out the first of only four caution flags in the event.
The race was restarted on lap 19 with Justin Hobgood showing the way until Day passed him on lap 36. “Our car was really loose at the beginning,” stated Day.
ISCARS displayed a competition caution on lap 41 to give the teams a ten minute break to make adjustments.
Perhaps the biggest story of the day was Eric Wilson’s charge to the front from the rear of the field. Wilson backed his car into the wall during the first lap of his qualifying run. The team pushed the car to the garage and worked at a feverish pace to make repairs to the rear clip and had the car online for the start of the race. He steadily worked his way through the field putting his car in contention for the lead with three laps to go. “We needed two more laps and I think I could have won it,” said Wilson. “I really have to give credit to my team for pulling this one off.”
With the win, Wade Day made it two in a row having won the previous outing at Lonesome Pine Raceway. While Day dominated the latter stages of the event, it was not without challenge. Justin Hobgood was on his tail most of the way, and then the late challenge by Wilson. By winning, Day padded his points lead in the first ever ISCARS Championship battle.
Rounding out the top ten were Eric Wilson, Justin Hobgood, Joey Miller, Danny Bagwell, Mike Watts, Scott Weaver, Ned Combs, Mark Howard, and Danny Keaton.
Other Race Notes:
Mark Howard leads the Rookie of the Year points. Matt Lassiter had an impressive showing for his first career start. Only 15 out of 100 laps were run under the caution flag. The event marks two races in a row without an accident. Eleven cars finished on the lead lap. Jake Hobgood retired on lap 44 with overheating problems.
Next Race: Hickory Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 16th. ISCARS will run in conjunction with the annual Late Model invitational event known as Hickory’s Fall Brawl. For more information, visit the HMS website at hickorymotorspeedway.com.
This will mark the final event on the ISCARS 2005 schedule. ISCARS was scheduled to complete their season with a return trip to Shenandoah Speedway in Virginia. Following the July 22nd event at Shenandoah, the city imposed a sound restriction on the new facility. Track owner Jeff Vaughn stated that until an 80 decibel sound restriction could be met they would be unable to host the series. “Hopefully by next year the track will be able to work out an exception for special events,” says Claypoole. “The track has a lot to offer their county and will bring an obvious boost to the area’s economics with their camping facilities and racing events.”