Lucky Bob's Fall Classic - Vernon Farms Super Speedway

Round 3 of 16

October 5, 1998

KAEHNY COVERS FIELD IN LUCKY BOB'S FALL CLASSIC

-Record-setting win from the po/e-

wauwatosa, WI (Oct. 5th, 1998) - Veteran driver Jim Kaehny spent much of last week sick and resting. Apparently the rest did him good. Kaehny shattered records on his way to a 12-lap victory in the sixth-annual Lucky Bob's Fall Classic race here at Vernon Farms Super Speedway last week. The 150 laps his Swift Ford turned in qualifying smashed his own previous record. The New Berlin, Wisconsin native proceeded to win his heat race and set a record in the Final with 381 laps on a night that saw him win every point possible while never facing a serious challenge on the track.

"I have to thank my owner John Baas," said Kaehny, who collected over 30 (thousand) dollars for winning from the pole for the first time this season. "I asked him for some new equipment I felt we needed to win and he gave it to me." It was Kaehny's 13th career win and 12t,h career pole, moving him past Dave Austin and into second place in the all-time standings in that category.

Finishing a dozen laps back with an under powered Mercedes but a great handling package was Phil Cianciola, who maintained his points lead after three races. "I had everybody beat in the corners, but I couldn't keep up on the main straight. We just didn't have the horses for this track," explained Cianciola. The defending series champion continued his early-season streaking as well. Cianciola is the only driver to have not only made all three Final Four's, but also be on the podium at all three races and win all three heat races he has been in.

Chad Sorce and Ev Kamikawa found themselves in a mighty battle to make the podium in third place, with Sorce finally securing the position by just a lap. The difference may have been a mid-race pit stop mistake by Kamikawa, who was black-flagged for exceeding the pit lane speed limit. The extra stop gave Sorce enough cushion to hold off Kamikawa who said, "That was just driver error. Two weeks ago the crew messed up. I guess the team is going to have to work on pit stops." The Ferrari finished fourth.

Track owner John Baas' comment was, "I can't believe I didn't make this Final." He didn't, settling for fifth place after qualifying fourth. His Swift chassis, Firestone tire combination had nowhere near the handling of his partner Kaehny, and Baas spent much of the night familiarizing himself with corner workers.

Sixth place honors went to the pilot of the Harley-Davidson-sponsored machine, Tom Spehert, who made the grid for the first time this season and gathered eight points for the effort. Not far behind was rookie driver Mike Prelozni, who gave the new Eagle chassis the first championship points ever by finishing seventh.

There was only one car to DNF all night, and that was Dan Margetta, who becomes the new all-time DNF leader with 15. Margetta put the Miller Lite ride second on the grid and seemed to have one of the fastest cars in his heat race. But just past the midway point of his heat, Margetta suddenly and violently lost control of the car in the first turn, otherwise known as Kaehny Corner. His Reynard Ford went crashing off a wall, leaving Margetta temporarily unconscious from the impact. He was released from the infield care center a short time after the crash, extremely frustrated and seemingly near tears as he said, "I can't believe this happened. How could that happen? All I need is a little luck. We had one of the fastest cars here tonight."

Phil Marich brought up the rear of the small field of nine, failing to make the grid by 17 laps.

After three of 16 races this season there have now been three different pole winners and three different race winners. Kaehny moves to second place in the points standings now, just four points behind Cianciola.

After back-to-back oval races, the series make its first stop of the season on a street course next, traveling to Indianapolis for the Deercross Indy Challenge on Saturday, October 17th.

RACE PREVIEW: THE PARMA FALL CLASSIC

0    WHAT: The 5th annual PARMA Fall Classic

0    WHERE: Vernon Farms Super Speedway      Wauwatosa, WI

0    WHEN: Thursday Oct. 1st, 6:30 p.m.

0  DEFENDING CHAMPION:  Phil Cianciola

0    DEFENDING POLESITTER: Jim Kaehny

0    TRACK LAYOUT: Tri-Oval, super speedway

0    RACE LENGTH: 20 min.

0    RACE RECORDS: Qualifying- 141 laps  Jim Kaehny      1997

Race-      330 laps  Phil Cianciola    1997

0  RACE #: 3 of 16

0  NEXT EVENT: The Deercross Indy Challenge

Saturday, Oct. 17th

Deercross         Indianapolis, IN

0    INSTANT REPLAY

The PARMA-sponsored race was moved to the big tri-oval last season, where Jim Kaehny set the standard by blowing away the competition in qualifying. He jumped from the pole position into a solid lead and seemed to have things in hand before a racing incident with Chad Sorce put him out and dropped the victory into the hands of Phil Cianciola. The podium was completed with the now-retired Rick Osterbrink in second and Chad Sorce in third.

THE PARMA FALL CLASSIC HISTORY

Year Race Winner      Pole Winner

1994 JOHN SHEA PHIL CIANCIOLA

1995 DAVE AUSTIN DAVE AUSTIN

1996 JIM KAEHNY PHIL CIANCIOLA

1997 PHIL CIANCIOLA    JIM KAEHNY

Things to watch for this year...

Last season there were two races held at this track. Phil Cianciola won them both and has to be considered a favorite. However, this is one of those races that no one has ever been able to repeat as a winner. John Baas made the Final Four last year and it is his home track. Speed will again be key at this big farm spread.

S/otCART Racing Series

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