June 1, 2001
With the threat of rain again in the area, Doug and the team stayed close to home for tonight's racing. The Gas City I-69 Speedway was the choice for the 4S. Thirty-five modifieds signed in to race. Heat races were run with heat one going to the 79D of John DeMoss over the 225 of Jesse Bitterling. Heat two went to the 0 of Lee Hobbs over the 8Z of Oren Zook. The third heat went to the 7H of Elvin Herschberger over the 37 of J.D. Francis. Doug lined up third in the fourth and final heat behind the 12 of Don Mull. At the green the outside line took off and Doug dropped in behind the 40 of Terry Hull and the J52 of Jerry Ruefer for third place. All the excitement in the race came at lap 5 when a transformer blew and the track lights went out. The red flag stopped the cars on the front stretch for 45 minutes while repairs were made. Hats off to the Gas City track management for getting the lights back on so quickly. When the racing resumed, Doug immediately passed the J52 of Ruefer and went after Terry Hull. The laps ran out before the 4S could get there and Doug settled for second.
An eight inversion put the 4S on the pole for the feature. The race was cut to 15 laps because of the power outage and having so many races to run. On the green Doug took the lead followed by the 37 of Francis as a logjam of cars battled for position behind them. Terry Hull started from the fifth spot and at half way had moved to the second spot when the79D of DeMoss went around in turn one. As the caution flew, Doug was going into turns three and four. The 4S went a little far sideways in the middle of the corner and Doug was headed for the infield. Elvin Herschberger had no place to go and hit Doug in the left rear corner sending the 4S on through the infield and back out onto the track on the frontstretch. Doug was given his spot back because he did not stop or cause the yellow flag. On the green, Doug went to the bottom to protect his lead. Terry Hull went to the top and passed the 4S on the outside. That is the way they stayed to the end with Doug coming in second to Hull. Third went to the 7H of Herschberger, with J.D. Francis and the 25 of Bub Patrick rounding out the top five. It was a good night of good racing for the 4S. Good job Doug! And congratulations to Terry, Tim, and Rick, you are a great bunch to race with!
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