Danny Bagwell Victorious in Series Debut at Watermelon Capital Speedway

Danny Bagwell Victorious in Series Debut at Watermelon Capital Speedway

Topics: Danny Bagwell

Danny Bagwell Victorious in Series Debut at Watermelon Capital Speedway

Bradley Carpenter/ISCARS PR
August 22, 2011

Gerchak leads Bagwell across the stripe (Photo credits Dale Roberts)

Danny Bagwell wins races 7 and 8 of 2011 ISCARS Season

CORDELE GA - ISCARS DASH Victory Lane had a familiar face in it once again this weekend, as Danny Bagwell won both races at Watermelon Capital Speedway. With his wins this weekend Bagwell now has a career total of 45 wins in DASH Series history, second all-time and only 16 wins away from being the leader of that record.

The ISCARS garage at Watermelon Capital Speedway welcomed newcomer, Nick Martin, who was making his ISCARS debut in a Danny Bagwell prepared car. Joey Jones returned to action after missing Dillon due to a last minute mechanical failure.

Qualifying looked to be the most interesting of the season as Watermelon Capital was much faster than the teams expected, causing a shuffle for the proper gearing. Eric Gerchak went out second and put his car on the pole at a 17.09. Gerchak’s time stood until the last car went out on the track, with Danny Bagwell behind the wheel. Bagwell laid down a lap of 16.98 and became the only driver to break in to the 16 second bracket.

The line-up for race one saw Bagwell on the pole followed by Gerchak, Todd Hawkes, Jones, Willingham, Brian Wallis, and Martin. There was racing action from the start as Bagwell and Hawkes had a scuffle coming off turn four on lap two. Nick Martin was forced into the pits, on lap 18, by a leak on his left rear tire. He was back onto the track at lap 22.

Bagwell got out to an early lead with Gerchak able to run him down by midway. As they battled for the lead, Joey Jones and Todd Hawkes swapped positions repeatedly over the course of several laps. A caution fell at lap 39 for debris in turn three. The green flag would come back out on lap 46 with Bagwell leading Gerchak, Hawkes, Jones, and Willingham. Willingham would come into the pits on the next lap though due to clutch failure.

On lap 48 Gerchak started falling off pace, and finally came into the pits at lap 52. After talking with Gerchak following the race Eric speculated a lifter failure on the motor. “We decided to retire the car in hopes of saving the engine,” commented Gerchak. This resulted in Gerchak losing valuable points in the Championship chase.

Caution number two came out on lap 55 as Brian Wallis, leader in the Rookie of the Year standings, spun and collected Todd Hawkes. Hawkes’ whole front hood and fenders were pushed to one side. He made a quick trip to the pits so his crew could pull the pieces from the car. The race would restart on lap 60 and would go green all the way to the end. Podium finishers for the first race were: Bagwell, Jones, and Wallis.

Danny Bagwell’s victory line draw inverted the top four finishing positions to set-up the starting order for race two. Your This placed Hawkes on the pole followed by Wallis, Jones, Bagwell, Martin, Gerchak, and Willingham. With sprinkles falling and a chance for storms in the area, race two was cut to a 40 lap shootout.

Todd Hawkes would lead the first 13 laps in his Suptech Ford Focus before being passed by Danny Bagwell who had passed Jones on lap 5. The only caution of race two would fall with less than ten laps to go.

Georgia native, Flagman Timmy Huston, would drop the green flag on lap 35 making it a 5 lap race to the end. Todd Hawkes drove his ‘nose bare’ Ford as hard into the corners, but couldn’t get the lead away from Bagwell.

Danny Bagwell and his Torbert Trucking Ford grabbed a second win for the evening and his 7th win of the 2011 ISCARS DASH Touring season. Hawkes finished in second followed by Jones, Wallis, Willingham, and Martin.

The next stop on the 2011 ISCARS DASH Touring schedule is Newport Speedway located in Newport, Tennessee. This will be ISCARS’ first time to the track and the race will be taking place on September 17, 2011.

For the most up to date information, results, and standings make sure to check out the ISCARS website www.iscarsonline.com; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ISCARS; and Twitter @ISCARSLive.

International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series (ISCARS) DASH Touring is sanctioned by the American Speed Association (ASA). To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® including the ASA Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit www.asaracing.com.