Mars scores first win of 2000

BARBERVILLE, FL (Feb. 16, 2000) - Jimmy Mars led all the way to win the American Late Model Series Super Late Model feature Wednesday night during the 29th Winternationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

Mars, from Elk Mound, Wis., started his ParkerStore/Rocket Chassis No. 1 from the outside of the front row, took the lead at the waving of the green and led all 30 laps for the victory. Although there were three caution periods, Mars was not heavily challenged by his competitors.

The third caution came with three laps remaining, but Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who moved into second place on the fourth circuit, was unable to put any move on the leader. Francis was test-driving the Rocket Chassis house car and had to settle for second, giving car builder Mark Richards a one-two finish.

Donnie Barnhart of North Little Rock, Ark., the previous night's winner, placed third ahead of Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind. Rick Aukland of Fargo, N.D., whose car was the fastest qualifier of the 65 late models on hand for the evening's events, rounded out the top five.

"My car was definitely awesome," Mars said. "I have to thank my brother Chris for getting this car ready tonight."

Mars jumped in front of pole sitter John Tindal on the opening lap. Francis moved past O'Neal and Jeep VanWormer on the third round, and then got by Tindal on the restart after a lap-three caution.

Barnhart moved into third place on the eighth go-round.

When the leaders encountered slower traffic on the 18th circuit, Francis quickly closed the gap on Mars.

"For awhile I was being conservative in traffic," Mars said. "Then I saw how good my car was and just kept running hard."

Francis continued to hound Mars through traffic until the yellow flag was waved with three laps to go when Steve Barnett of Franklin, Ind., stopped with a flat right rear tire while running among the leaders. Mars held on through the restart to score his first victory of the Winternationals.

"I can't thank Mark Richards with Rocket Chassis enough," Mars said. "The car was just awesome."

Finishing sixth through eighth were Terry Neal of Ely, Iowa, Kevin Gundaker of St. Charles, Mo.; and Tindall, from Fancy Farm, Ky. Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., came from the 21st starting spot to place ninth ahead of Randy Boggs of Grayson, Ky., who started 22nd.

RESULTS

Sunoco American Late Model Series

Feature (30 laps):
1. 1m, Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis.
2. 1F, Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
3. 11, Donnie Barnhart, North Little Rock, Ark.
4. 71, Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
5. 12, Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
6. 70N, Terry Neal, Ely, Iowa
7. 11G, Kevin Gundaker, St. Charles, Mo.
8. 7, John Tindal, Fancy Farm, Ky.
9. 5, Ronnie Johnson, Chattanooga, Tenn.
10. 17, Randy Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
11. 10, Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
12. 6m, Ray Merrill, Sumwerin, Ark.
13. 3j, Jeff Martin, Midlof, Ill.
14. 55, Jeep VanWormer, Pinconning, Mich.
15. 28. Chuckie May, Allen, Ky.
16. 89, Steve Barnett, Franklin, Ind.
17. 64, Dan Leatherman, Muskogee, Okla.
18. 51, Ricky Walters, Laurel, Miss.
19. 1cj, Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
20. 777, Mac Alexander, Molton, Ala.
21. 96, Terry English, Benton, Ky.
22. 7H, Phil Hall, Mount Airy, N.C.
23. 21, Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
24. a1, Duke Whiseant, Texarkana, Ark.

Fastest Qualifier (65 cars): Rick Aukland, 18.200 seconds.

First Heat: 1. John Tindal, 2. Rick Aukland, 3. Pete Parker, 4. Randy Boggs, 5. Dale Ball, 6. Eddie Pettyjohn, 7. Rod Patterson, 8. Joe Izzo, 9. John Hill, 10. Sammie Halcomb, 11. Juan Grino.

Second Heat: 1. Jimmy Mars, 2. Billy Moyer Jr., 3. Jack Boggs, 4. Ray Merrill, 5. Terry English, 6. Justin Paxton, 7. Scott Martin, 8. Ryan Gorey, 9. Donnie Tudor, 10. Jeanie Mitchell, 11. Leonard Baker.

Third Heat: 1. Jeep VanWormer, 2. Steve Barnett, 3. Chuckie May, 4. Jeff Martin, 5. Ronnie Johnson, 6. Billy Faust, 7. Dale Nelson, 8. Lee Devashier, 9. Roy Mitchell, 10. Greg Walters, 11. Rick Eckert.

Fourth Heat: 1. Steve Francis, 2. Ray Walters, 3. Duke Whiseant, 4. Dan Leatherman, 5. Jeff Walker, 6. Carnell Parker III, 7. Sherry Heckenast, 8. Steve Lurvey, 9. Dan Walden, 10. Ronny Adams, 11. Jeff Riddell.

Fifth Heat: 1. Don O'Neal, 2. Mac Alexander, 3. Phil Hall, 4. Kenny Pettyjohn, 5. Brian Stinson, 6. Ryan Dauber, 7. Steve Lampley, 8. Randy Woodling, 9. Bill Bartells, 10. Rick Williams, 11. Mike Bechelli.

Sixth Heat: 1. Donnie Barnhart, 2. Terry Neal, 3. Kevin Gundaker, 4. George Scheffler, 5. Chris Wilson, 6. Don Sturgeon, 7. Brandon Kinzer, 8. Joe David Turner, 9. Eric Dauber, 10. Lee Thomason.

First Consolation: 1. Dan Leatherman, 2. Randy Boggs, 3. Eddie Pettyjohn, 4. Jeff Walker, 5. Joey Izzo, 6. Carnell Parker III, 7. Sherri Heckenast, 8. Dale Ball, 9. Steve Lurvey, 10. Rod Patterson, 11. John Hill, 12. Dan Walden, 13. Juan Grino. DNS: Sammie Halcomb, Ronny Adams, Jeff Riddell..

Second Consolation: 1. Ray Merrill, 2. Terry English, 3. Justin Paxton, 4. Ryan Dauber, 5. Randy Woodling, 6. Donnie Tudor, 7. Robbie Witmer, 8. Ryan Gorey, 9. Scott Martin, 10. Steve Lampley, 11. Brian Stinson, 12. Kenny Pettyjohn. DNS: Jeanie Mitchell, John Remy, Mike Bechelli.

Third Consolation: 1. Ronnie Johnson, 2. Jeff Martin, 3. George Scheffler, 4. Billy Faust, 5. Lee Devashier, 6. Greg Walters, 7. Eric Dauber, 8. Brandon Kinzer, 9. Lee Thomason, 10. Rick Eckert, 11. Dale Nelson, 12. Chris Wilson, 13. Don Sturgeon, 14. Joe David Turner, 15. Roy Mitchell.

(Courtesy of Whowon.com)
(Photo by Neal Miller of Photo Finishes)