FAST AND FURIOUS SGS MAINS TO LENGEL,BALLOCH
(12/31/09) Racing at Reading's short track Wednesday night was nothing less than a blur. The incredible fast pace set by the seven drivers in the SCORE USAC sprint/midget program and the relative lack of miscues finished the two 50 lappers in just a hour. And the competition? It was,typically,furious on the lightning-quick South Gate Speedrome that notched its 250th feature event this evening.
A pack of five drivers vied for the USAC sprint main honors in a race that could have gone to any one of them had only a few nuances been different. It was Mike Lengel, however,that snatched the victory in an error less effort over Chuck Heller in a tie -breaker. Heller's lone wreck during his first segment denied him the win as Dave Balloch earned third in a tight battle with Tim Musser,Sr. and Kevin Manspeaker.
As if the sprint contest,somehow,had to be topped,the USAC midgets took to the track with another epic event,the demeanor,of which,can only be described as torrid. Six of the seven competitors finished within a five point margin,the deciding factors in the results being the rather rare miscues. Balloch,with a clean slate,led Musser and Heller at the end to grab his third checkered flag in the division this season. A faultless Musser took the runner-up spot while Heller,again,succumbed to the tie-breaker for third.
DB
