Todd Andrews Captures Eckl Memorial for Second Time
August 3, 2007
(E. Smethport, PA)
Todd Andrews became the first two time winner of the Stephanie Eckl Memorial last night at McKean County Raceway. Andrews picked up the thirty lap Stephanie Eckl Memorial and also became a guaranteed starter for the ULMS Woodhull Late Model Reunion next Saturday at Woodhull Raceway. Andrews had to win the hard way, coming from twelfth in the field and using a few lucky yellows along the way. His win will no doubt make him one of the top contenders for the possible $20,000 that is up for grabs at the MCR Fall Classic in late September at MCR.
The roaring thunder of the United Late Model Series rolled onto the facility for the second time of the year. The super late models were gunning for $2000 in the Stephanie Eckl Memorial and outsider, Luke Hoffner and defending ULMS champion, Bob Close were the front row starters. Hoffner got the quick jump on Close at the start as the US Air Force machine of Dutch Davies put Close back to third as lap one was completed. As lap two was going into the books, Bob McMillen would get crossed up resulting in a two-car accident with Bump Hedman and Kirk Bradley. Bradley received the worse of it and was done for the night. Davies restarted the field and David Scott was already making his presence as he charged from seventh to third by lap three and the very next lap put Hoffner back to third. Boom Briggs and Close were in a battle for fifth as lap five clicked off the board. Entering the picture on lap eight was Todd Andrews who started twelfth and he was now in fifth as he battled Hoffner and Close for fourth. As lap ten clicked off the board, Davies was checking out and David Scott brought out the yellow when his right rear tire went apart and left debris in turn one. This put Boom Briggs on the outside of Dutch with Close, Andrews and Hoffner rounding out the top five. Again, Davies jetted away just like one of the US Air Force fighter planes as Briggs was tried to keep up. Close, Andrews and Hoffner waged in a torrid three way battle and at the halfway point, Andrews finally went around both Hoffner and Close to move into second. A pair of yellow on lap 16 and 17 kept the field tight. Davies again set sail and left the field in his wake as Briggs and Andrews duked it out for second and Close and Hoffner kept their battle for fourth alive. Andrews would take his black #42 to second on lap nineteen but only to see Briggs get it back on lap twenty. As the duo charged down the back stretch, Andrews had a car length on Briggs as they entered turn three and the hard charging, high groove running Briggs, jumped the cushion and spun to bring out the final yellow of event. That was the last thing Dutch Davies wanted to see as his huge lead disappeared again.
Davies refired the field in the middle of turn 3 and tried to distance himself from Andrews. Andrews kept Davies in his crosshairs. As Andrews looked low to get by Davies, David Scott was rim riding his way back to the front and with five to go, found himself in sixth position and coming to the front fast. Andrews went to the top of the track at the same time and on lap twenty-six would put his black #42 Andrews Auto Salvage, Rayburn chassis to the front for the first time of the event and put a car length over Dutch. Close was still third holding off Hoffner and Chad Valone was in fifth as the trio kept the bottom groove closed off, but that played into the hands of Scott who was running the top side and with three to go moved into fourth and with two to go moved around Close for third, but he ran out of time to catch the two leaders. As the double checkers flew for Andrews, Davies followed him to the line by a few car lengths, with Scott, Close and Luke Hoffner just edging Chad Valone at the line by a few feet for fifth. Heat winners were: Scott, Davies and Boom Briggs.
RESULTS:
Bernheisel Race Cars, Inc and Magnum Graf-x Heat #1:
David Scott, Todd Andrews, Bob Close, Bob McMillen, Kirk Bradley, Greg Oakes, John Lobb
Close Racing Supply and Lias Tire Heat #2:
Dutch Davies, Chad Valone, Luke Hoffner, Paul Briggs, Chris Farrell, Dick Barton, Ed Connor
Hoosier Tire - Mid Atlantic and Cousin Designs Heat #3:
Boom Briggs, Jeff Hoffman, Bump Hedman, Chad Ruhlman, Rick Isadore, Darrell Bossard, Jason Dupont.
Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic Contigency: Todd Andrews
Lias Tire – Contingency – Bob Close
United Late Model Series Stephanie Eckl Memorial: 1) TODD ANDREWS, 2) Dutch Davies, 3) David Scott, 4) Bob Close, 5) Luke Hoffner, 6) Chad Valone, 7) Chris Farrell, 8) John Lobb, 9) Bump Hedman, 10) Darrell Bossard, 11) Jeff Hoffman, 12) Boom Briggs, 13) Paul Briggs, 14) Bob McMillen, 15) Jason Dupont, 16) Ed Connor, 17) Rick Isadore, 18) Greg Oakes, 19) Chad Ruhlman, 20) Kirk Bradley, 21) Dick Barton (DNS)