Murdick First in Kodiak Memorial
Dave Murdick, current points leader and former champion, scored his first career BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour win in the Kodiak Memorial held at Tri-City Speedway. The race honored the late Bob “Kodiak” Graham, a long-time Modified car owner and father of former speedway co-owner Mike Graham.
“I am sure glad to get that monkey off my back,” said Murdick. “Winning a Mod Tour race has been a goal of mine for a long time” he added with a sigh of relief.
The night started poorly for the veteran racer from Slippery Rock, PA. Murdick had a sure heat race win slip through his fingers when he broke a gear in his quick change on the last lap of the race. He limped across the finish line in fourth, though, good enough to give him a position in the Tour’s top-twelve re-draw format.
His team went to work and replaced the gears and Murdick hoped for the best.
Lady luck then smiled on him, as he drew the coveted number two position for the feature event. That put him outside Kevin Hoffman.
With the track in excellent and tacky condition, Murdick overpowered Hoffman’s small block at the drop of the green. Rex King, Sr. followed Murdick closely, taking the same high line off turn two to sweep into second on the opening lap.
King kept the pressure on Murdick through the early stages of the thirty lapper. Murdick maintained his momentum on the high side, allowing King an open bottom groove. However, the two-time Tour champion was never able to pull beside Murdick. Meanwhile, Hoffman ran a solid third, with Tommy Kristyak nipping at his heels. Just behind them, Kevin Bolland, Brian Swartzlander and Brad Rapp were locked in a three-car battle for fifth, constantly swapping positions.
A rash of yellow flags gave King Sr. many chances to overtake Murdick. However, Murdick was up to the challenge every time. “He could get good runs on me on those starts,” Murdick explained, “but I could drive away from him once we were able to complete a couple of laps.”
On a lap seven restart, Brian Swartzlander blasted from fifth to third as the field raced through turns one and two. Now the three-time and defending Tour champion was starting to challenge King, Sr. for second.
A few laps later, current DIRTcar Northeast Regional and Tri-City points leader Jeremiah Shingledecker got a flat tire. He slowed going down the backstretch and stopped entering turn three. Although Shingledecker was able to make it to the pits for a fresh tire, he was penalized a lap for causing an intentional yellow. After making a few more circuits, he retired from the action, much to the disappointment of the partisan crowd.
An incident on the lap 15 restart caused quite a stir amongst the crowd. With the field rounding turn four slowly, several of the lead cars got jammed. Kevin Bolland, then racing in fifth, spun out and was initially sent to the rear of the field. However, the decision was overturned when it was discovered that the green flag had not waived to restart the race. Bolland resumed his starting spot and maintained that position until lap 25 when he moved into third.
At the checkers, it was D. Murdick by a couple of car lengths over King, Sr. Bolland, Swartzlander and Joe Crawford rounded out the top five. Rapp, Rex King, Jr., Kristyak, Dean Pearson (from eighteenth), and Mark Frankhouser completed the top ten.
Heats were won by Swartzlander, King, Sr. and Gary Smoker.
A special dash for the heat race winners was added to the program, courtesy of Atkinson Fire Safety Equipment, Lernerville Speedway and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. In a surprise move, the racers started three-abreast. Swartzlander took the win.
There was no B Main.
The Red Bear Hand Cleaner “Clean Move of the Race Award” was conferred on Brian Swartzlander for his exciting move on the lap 7 restart.
The next BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour event will be on July 25, 2009, at Tyler County Speedway, Middlebourne, WV.
For more information check our website at www.modifiedtourinc.com.
The BRP Modified Tour ’09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Keizer Racing Wheels, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Red Bear Hand Cleaner, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker, and Randy Myers, the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
Official Order of Finish: BRP/Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour (Round 5): Tri-City Speedway: 30 Laps: July 5, 2009
1. Dave Murdick $2,000; 2. Rex King, Sr. $1,200; 3. Kevin Bolland $775; 4. Brian Swartzlander $650; 5. Joe Crawford $500; 6. Brad Rapp $420; 7. Rex King, Jr. $400; 8. Tommy Kristyak $380; 9. Dean Pearson $360; 10. Mark Frankhouser $330; 11. Mike Turner $320; 12. Brian Sadler $310; 13. Jeff Miller $300; 14. Carl Murdick $290; 15. Ryan Hall $280; 16. Kevin Green $260; 17. Randy Chronister $240; 18. Kevin Hoffman $230; 19. Gary Smoker $220; 20. Ron Eperthener, Jr. $200; 21. Andy Preist $210; 22. Jeremiah Shingledecker $205; 23. Steve Feder $200; 24. Jim Rasey $200; 25. Del Rougeux, Jr. $200; 26. Rich Whitney $200; 27. Tommy Mattocks $200; 28. Mike Miller $200 (disqualified too light). DNS (all $100): Randy Beltz; Rick Ryder.