April 7, 2013

Robbie Blair held on for the win in the Chiller Thriller for the NDRL’s ULMS Late Models in the season’s opening event at Mercer Raceway Park.

“With a couple of laps to go there, I got into extra lapped cars, and I didn’t know whether to try to pass them or just follow them around,” Blair said. He watched for an opening, but when he got it, it was big enough to allow the second place runner, Mike Knight, and third place man, Dave Hess, Jr., to follow. That set up an amazing three lap run to the checkers. Knight tried the inside coming off turn two on the final lap, and Hess worked the outside, but Blair had just enough steam to hold them both off.

Robbie Blair and John Garvin paced the the 30 lap feature event. At the drop of the green, Blair surged ahead, with Garvin holding off Mike Knight, Keith Barbara and Dave Hess, Jr.

Action was slowed just four laps into the race, when Jared Miley, Boom Briggs and John Mollick came together in turn four.

Mike Knight took second on the restart and chased Blair for six laps until the next caution, on lap 10, for John Garvin on the backstretch. Garvin then took matters into his own hands, colliding with Keith Barbara as the field circulated under the caution. Barbara was able to continue, but Garvin was done for the night.

Blair led the rest of the way, but Knight and Hess made the final laps memorable for the fans. “I heard him under me back there,” the happy winner said.

Keith Barbara was able to finish the race in fourth despite minor damage from his skirmish with Garvin. Ron Davies was fifth.

Chad Valone, Sam Stile, Matt Lux, Brent Rhebergen and Russell King completed the top ten.

Heat winners for the Late Models were Blair, Barbara and Knight. Blair set a new Late Model track record in his heat. His 16.288 broke a three-year old mark set by Garrett Krummert.  There was no B Main.

NDRL’S ULMS Late Models:  Robbie Blair, Mike Knight, Dave Hess, Jr., Keith Barbara, Ron Davies, Chad Valone, Sam Stile, Matt Lux, Brett Rhebergen, Russell King, Matt Urban, Andrew Gordon, Doug Eck, Jim Rasey, Rod Phillips, Garrett Krumert, Greg Oakes, John Mollick, Tom Bateman, Boom Briggs, Jared Miley, John Garvin (DQ).  DNS:  Clate Copeman, Ken Schaltenbrand.