June 9, 2001
Today was a short trip to Montpelier for the 4S and the team was looking to improve on the somewhat dismal finish at Gas City last night. Twenty-four Modifieds signed in for three heat races. Heat one went to Lee Hobbs and heat two to Elvin Herschberger. Doug started from the pole in the third and final heat. When the green flag flew, the 4S took off like a rocket into the lead. Bill Lewis was in second place, but had absolutely no chance of catching the 4S. Doug put the 4S on the high side and pulled away to almost a half a lap lead. That is the way it started and ended with Doug picking up the heat race win.
The feature inversion was four, which put JR Ruefer on the pole, and the 4S outside the front row. On the green Doug took the lead going into turn one. Lee Hobbs and Ruefer battled for second and third with Herschberger in fourth. Doug ran the middle of the track to try and stay out of the worst of the bumps and ruts at the bottom. Hobbs cleared Ruefer and tucked in behind the 4S. Doug and Hobbs put on quite a battle while Herschberger was on the high side passing Ruefer for third, and quickly came up to work on Hobbs. The front three went into turn one about the half way mark when Herschberger bicycled badly in a rut and put the crowd on their feet went he almost went over. Dropping him back to about the fifth spot. Doug and Hobbs was still nose to tail with the 4S running in Hobbs' line. Herschberger regrouped and came roaring back moving into the second spot past Hobbs. Doug was still running mid track to avoid the ruts, and Herschberger was coming hard. With about 5 to go, Herschberger went around the 4S on the high side in another three-wheel show. Doug stayed with him but as rough as the track got, forward bite was very scarce. The two put on quite a duel, but that is the way it ended with Herschberger taking the win and Doug coming in second. Hobbs held onto third with Ruefer fourth and Dave Blackburn rounded out the top five. It was a very clean and exciting race with lots of action. Congratulations Doug on the runner up finish. A big improvement over Friday night!
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