Results
August 4thGoldstream Gazette and the Q 100.3fm present Demo Cars,
Demo Trucks, Mini Figure 8’s and Claimer
Smokin’ Joe Takes Win “Head-On”
Smokin’ Joe Liberatore took the win in a most dramatic fashion and in a very tuff Demo Car Feature Event Saturday at Western Speedway. It was a night of dynamite hits, roll over’s, and “clean sweeps” in just about all races that included the Crazy Figure 8s, Demo Cars, Demo Trucks, and Claimers.
Dennis Smith built a new car, after writing off his last car last race, and won the “Best Appearing” award with his “Killer Bunny” complete with ears and bright pink paint job. He then captured a win in the Figure 8 Trophy Dash and his Heat race. He started dead last in the Feature Event and kept himself out of trouble and used patience and driving ability and wound his way through crashes and traffic and won this race giving him a “clean sweep” and his first Main event win at the speedway. Shawn Young and J.J. Taylor crossed the line in second and third respectively.
Barry Morrison also had a good night of racing as he won the Demo Truck Trophy Dash and placed first in the Demo Truck Feature after a tuff battle with Bill Shire and Dave Cates. Cates got to the inside of Morrison with nine laps gone and actually took the lead but after taking the lead Cates cut down a front tire and had to come into the pits. Morrison was able to continue and grabbed the win and then to complete his night took the win in a very entertaining boat race. Five trucks and one car entered the event and after ten minutes of spins and crashes, Morrison was declared the winner with boats, or what were once boats, left all around the speedway. The win in the Feature event also garnered the Darcy Kemp Memorial Trophy for the Demo Truck driver.
The outstanding performances by Morrison in the truck series and Dennis Smith in the Figure 8 Series was overshadowed by the performance and the dramatic way Smokin’ Joe Liberatore captured the Feature event win in the Demo Car Series. Earlier Joe took the Trophy Dash and the win in his heat race getting out to a quick jump each time.
Kevin Knight held the pole for the start of a twenty lap Feature with Joe starting 8th and Doug Richens starting last in a field that included Jim Young, Marty and Keith Hansen, and George Haywood always contenders and always fast. It took Joe just five laps to work himself into first followed by Mark Cresswell and Marty “McFly” Hansen. On lap 8, Joe had to pit for a flat tire giving the lead to Mike Noyce with Mike Makow now running in the second spot. The fireworks started on the eleventh lap with Marty Hansen leading Jim Young. Three drivers, not in contention but all bumper to bumper, crossed the line with pole sitter Knight caught in the middle. As they entered turn one very low, Kevin caught the grass flipping his car into a complete roll over bringing out the red flag. Emergency crews raced to the driver’s aid but Kevin was out waving to the 3500 plus fans that entered the stands. He wanted to restart but an oil fire under the hood quickly doused that idea.
On the restart, Hansen led Richens, Haywood and Smokin Joe who had returned to the race and worked his way to the fourth spot. One lap later the yellow came out as Noyce came to a stop on the front stretch. Richens got a good jump on the restart and so did Joe going one – two as Keith Hansen took out Marty Hansen on the green flag. Over the next few laps, racing was very intense between Hansen, Liberatore, and Richens. On the final lap Richens caught up to Joe and as the two drivers accelerated for the checkered flag, and locked together, Joe drove head long on into the raised cement barrier just across from the starters box. He careened across the track slamming hard into the front stretch wall and backed across the track again coming to rest at the pit entrance on turn one. No one watching, on the raised platform, was injured as many scattered including this writer. Joe got out of his badly damaged Monte Carlo suffering with just a headache after one of the most devastating hits seen in a long time. Richens was also unhurt. Joe actually crossed the line a few inches ahead of Richens followed by Haywood in the third spot.
With this victory Liberatore also claimed a “clean sweep” on one of the most successful nights the popular driver has had in some time in this very tuff series. He used a post race interview to promote fund raising and upcoming events for the “Cops for Cancer” tour, to thank the many fans for their continued support, and his concern for the well being of one Doug Richens.
The finale of the night featured the entertaining boat race. Bill Shire had the biggest boat to start but many hits by the other competitors, hits into the walls, and slamming into other debris on the track reduced the boat to a few scraps of fiberglass. As mentioned earlier Barry Morrison won the honors on this night.
Photos and Story by Ken Keating,
Illusion Photography
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2007
CLAIMER DASH: Matt Verhagen; Dennis Stewart; Chris Broughton; Mike Dash
DEMO CAR DASH: Joe Liberatore; George Haywood; Mel Jeffries; Mike Makow
DEMO TRUCK DASH: Barry Morrison; John Holliwell; Aasen Baker; Dustin Dash
MINI FIGURE 8 DASH: Dennis Smith; Aaron Propp; Brandon Giles; Kyle Ridley
CLAIMER HEAT 1: Paul Verhagen; Keith Salter; Steve Begg; Morgan Giles
CLAIMER HEAT 2: Erik Fournier; Chris Broughton; Bill Lushaw; Brian Wakelin
DEMO CAR HEAT 1: Marty Hansen; Jim Young; Mel Jeffries; Mark Cresswell
DEMO CAR HEAT 2: Joe Liberatore; BillyStidston; Doug Richens; George Haywood
DEMO TRUCK HEAT: Bill Shire; Aasen Baker; Dave Cate; Barry Morrison
FIGURE 8 HEAT 1: Dennis Smith; Shawn Conarroe; Brad Watkins; J J Taylor
FIGURE 8 HEAT 2: Aaron Propp; Kyle Ridley; Shawn Hitchings; Gennifer Isles
CLAIMER MAIN: Erik Fournier; Chris Broughton; Mike Dash; Matt Verhagen; Paul Verhagen
DEMO CAR MAIN: Joe Liberatore; Doug Richens; George Haywood; Keith Hansen; Marty Hansen
DEMO TRUCK MAIN: Barry Morrison; Aasen Baker; Dustin Dash; Dave Cate; Bill Shire
FIGURE 8 MAIN: Dennis Smith; Shawn Young; J J Taylor; Gennifer Isles; Aaron Propp
BOAT RACE WINNER: #73 Barry Morrison
