gave Michels six main event triumphs during his second season in the SLM division.
Heartache befell former SLM point leader Tony Green, who entered the twin-50s with a 14-point advantage over Michels. Green, who drove his family-owned # 89 Chevy Monte Carlo, was the fastest qualifier in separate laps to determine lineups for both mains. The inversion for the first 50 had him on the pole and the inversion for the second 50 had him scheduled to start tenth.
Green led the first three laps and circuits six through 47 in the first 50. Entering the first turn on lap 48, with a five to 10-yard lead over Michels, Green's right front tire blew when "the cord separated" and sent his car into the outer wall. His heavily damaged car was unable to start the second 50.
SLM driver James Bruncati offered popular Green the use of his backup Taurus while Kevin Vernon offered Green his Chevy for the second 50. However, Green declined the generous offers because his team didn't have funds to repair any damage done to a loaner car. Green's father explained later a serious crash in turn one two weeks ago cost the team $11,000 to repair. He added they don't have funds for repairs after the crash Saturday and their season may be finished.
Green dropped to third place in points, 72 behind Michels with 50 points available per race (200 maximum). Ben Walker, who lost a car in the same crash with Green on August 3, was absent Saturday also for lack of funds.
The first SLM 50-lap race had 24 cars on the grid, including three backup cars for title hopefuls. Green led the first three circuits and lap six-47 from the pole. Second starter Tommy Fry led laps four and five. Michels inherited the point when Green hit the wall and ended his race and season because of his depleted racing budget. Bruncati, Loverock, Fry and Tim Woods III rounded out the top five as 18 drivers finished, with 14 on the lead serial.
The second 50 had a ten-car inversion and Brent Reynolds paced the first three laps from his outside front row starting position. Michels led the final 47 laps. Woods finished second and later complained over the PA system about Michels' driving. Fans booed his critique. "I guess he didn't like my restart," (lap 24 after a caution) Michels said. They shook hands and agreed to disagree before departing the finish line interview area.
Bruncati, Kazuto Yanagawa and Reynolds completed the top five. Thirteen of 20 starters finished and 11 ran all 50 laps.
A three-car collision in the second SLM 50 on the front straight during lap 20 sidelined sixth-running Shawn Calderwood, Dan Moore and Taka Mizuki, who was dazed briefly. However, Mizuki, from Nagoya, Japan, climbed from his car just past the starting line and walked to an ambulance for a precautionary checkup. The impact tore off the back of Calderwood's car and the right side of Mizuki's passing car. |
