St. John Leads Flag to Flag
Angola, IN (July 3, 2010) - Tommy St. John picked up his new race ready car at Hamke on Monday, was fast from the first time on the track as he was the fastest in the first practice session and led flag to flag to win the CRA Super Series, EMF Corp. 125 at Angola Motor Speedway Saturday night. Despite taking the lead from his outside front row starting position, St. John had to fight off first Angola native and crowd favorite, Scott Hantz, and then Johnny VanDoorn who came from deep in the field to take second for many laps only to have his right rear tire go down with 10 laps to go allowing Hantz to get by him as the race wound down. Hantz finished second, VanDoorn third, Terry Fisher, Jr. fourth and Tyler Roahrig fifth.
"When I picked up this new car they told me 7 of the last 8 new turnkey cars won their first race." St. John stated. "I am happy to make it 8 of 9 and get that monkey off my back."
Hantz was the fastest in the second practice sessionand started in the second row behind St. John. After St. John jumped out to the early lead Hantz caught him and looked under him, and to the outside for several laps. St. John was able to hold him off for several laps before he was able to run out to a healthy lead.
While the battle was going on for the lead, VanDoorn was moving through the field from his 14th starting position to get into the top 5 on the 29th lap, he was third on the 53rd lap and second on the 72nd lap. He then set his sites on St. John. VanDoorn was able to catch St. John, and looked to get past him on several occasions. Each time VanDoorn looked to have a pass set up a caution flew. St. John was very strong on the short runs and VanDoorn would take a few laps to reel him back in only to have a caution period allow St. John to build a lead immediately after the green flew again.
With only 10 to go, the caution came out again. As the race went back to green, Hantz seemed to find some speed and made a charge past VanDoorn to take second. VanDoorn could not catch up as his tire was going down. He did hold off Terry Fisher, Jr. to hold onto third. For his efforts VanDoorn earned the AR Bodies “Cool Move of the Race” Award as well as a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.
“This car was a top three car from the time we unloaded it today.” VanDoorn said. ”Butch (Ben VanDoorn), did a great job getting the car set up, it was a little slick in qualifying, but we were ready. We did great on the long runs, and as the race went on the guys did a great job coaching me, reminding me to roll through turns and use the brakes less.”
The second Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award went to Rookie contender John Long who moved from his 24th starting position to ninth. This run through the field also earned him the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award. As the highest finishing Rookie Long also earned the Perfect Circle Racecars Rookie of the Race Award, the K&N Filters Top Rookie Award and the VDL Fuel Systems Top Rookie Award. Nick Gullatta earned the Cometic Gasket Second Highest Finishing Rookie Award finishing in 10th just behind Long.
Steve Dorer set fast time in taking home the ECDO Welding Fast Qualifier Award. St. John took home the RaceTrailerSales.com halfway leader award, and the VDL Fuel Systems Hot Lap of the Race Award and the Turn One Lap Leader Award for leading the most laps.
On the 110th lap a spinning car caused several others to pile up in first turn with Mike Kugler, winner of the 2009 EMF 125, getting caught up and was retired with a very damaged car. Kugler was given the Safety Solutions Tough Luck Award for the most damaged car and the EMF Corp “That’s Racing Award” for being knocked out for something that was not their fault.