Bolland Tops Mountaineer 40 at Tyler County
By Lou Long
Kevin Bolland captured the Mountaineer 40 at Tyler County Raceway. It was the first visit for the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour to the West Virginia track affectionately called the Bullring.
“What an awesome track,” Bolland exclaimed as he climbed from his car. He was taken a bit by surprise by the track preparation, as he and many others were expecting a heavy track with a cushion. However, heavy rains the night before did not allow the track crew the opportunity to get more moisture down into the surface. That suited Bolland just fine, thank you very much, as he is well known for his mastery of smooth, dry surfaces.
“We had a good baseline set-up from the shop,” Bolland said. “We made a few tweaks during the night, and here we are.”
The fans gave the Big Block Modifieds a rousing send-off as Bolland and Joe Crawford were joined by Ron Smoker and recent high school grad Brad Rapp leading the field in a four abreast pace lap.
Bolland grabbed the lead in turn one, but a caution for debris gave Crawford a second chance. This time, Crawford wrestled the lead away from Bolland, as Rapp, Smoker and Russell King were giving chase.
Crawford, who has been hot since returning from a serious arm injury in a shop accident early in the season, held command throughout the early stages of the race. However, Bolland was contantly nipping at his heels.
The yellow flew on lap seven for Mike Miller. On the restart, Crawford held the point, with Bolland, Smoker, Rapp and Russell King close behind.
As the leaders began working in heavy traffic, Bolland kept the pressure on. He got his chance on lap nineteen, when the leaders sandwiched a lapped car coming through turn four. Bolland used the inside line to take the lead, and Crawford was fighting back on the high side in turns one and two when the caution flew again.
That gave Bolland the point and a clear track when racing resumed. Following Bolland and Crawford were Smoker, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Russell King.
Shingledecker was now the man on the move. After starting seventh, he worked his way into third by lap 25. His march to the front ended on lap 35, however.
The final twenty-one laps spun off without a caution, as the mighty mods blasted around the finely manicured track. Although Bolland and Crawford were separating themselves from the rest of the pack, the action though the field was hot and heavy.
Russell King navigated through the maze of lapped cars to take third, while his father, Rex, and Smoker were in a dogfight for the next two positions.
At the checkers, it was Bolland with a comfortable margin over Crawford. Russell King snagged third in his brother’s car after suffering a horrendous wreck the night before. Smoker nipped Rex King at the wire for fourth. The next five were Kevin Hoffman, Rapp, Del Rougeux, Jr., Rick Hall and Chris Schiffer.
Heats for the twenty-six car field went to Russell King, Bolland and Shingledecker. There was no B Main.
BRP/Hoosier Tire Mod Tour Finish: 1. 777 Kevin Bolland; 2. 25 Joe Crawford; 3. 56 Russell King; 4. 62R Ron Smoker; 5. 65 Rex King; 6. 00 Kevin Hoffman; 7. 11R Brad Rapp; 8. 20D Del Rougeux, Jr.; 9. B4 Rick Hall; 10. 7 Chris Schiffer; 11. 61 Dave Murdick; 12. 13 Lenny Leibold; 13. 4S Jerry Shaffer; 14. 96 Mike Turner; 15. 8F Doug Fleeger; 16. 37MD Jeremiah Shingledecker; 17. 3 Chanda Leibold; 18. 4 Jeff Shaffer; 19. 17M Skip Moore; 20. X Jeremy Paup; 21. 72 Mike Miller; 22. 66 J. R. McGinley; 23. 6X Gary Rankin; 24. 27R Dave Reges; 25. 6 Carl Murdick; 26. 83 Brian Swartzlander (DNS).