Inaugural Topher Classic a Success at Sand Hollow
Inaugural Topher Classic a Success at Sand Hollow
Brent Arte
Sand Hollow raceway Park was a buzz with action for the inaugural Topher Classic 50 on June 20th and 21st, the first of three big two day shows at the outlaw kart dirt track just west of Caldwell. Ninety eight drivers in all showed up for the show put on by former driver and current head flagman “Topher” Rowlings. In a showing of his passion for the sport of outlaw kart racing, Topher went to work in the off season to get a special show lined up that could give the drivers a taste of some extended racing action and another weekend long event for the quick growing classes at SRP. The format was a little different too, but everyone seemed to adjust and the show was a huge success, with volunteers already talking about the 2010 event.
Seven classes were fighting for the huge Topher Classic traveling trophies that were on display. The entry level bandit division was the only one on hand in an exhibition role. Rookie driver from Meridian, Breanna Arte, took to the track a few times during the weekend getting used to the banked oval track in her bandit car. She was the only entrant in the class, but is looking forward to some stiff competition in the future. The classes all were given two heat races on Saturday and the trophy dashes and main events were run on Sunday.
The Boxstock class continued their competitive racing action all weekend with a very close three way battle between CJ Stirm, Jared Kellerer, and the ever improving Delaney Blume. Throughout the weekend the three battled back and forth, with Kellerer picking up one of the heat race wins, it was down to the wire come Sunday for the main events. Given twenty-five laps to battle it out for the overall championship, Kellerer made some dramatic moves on his way to winning the main, but fell one point shy of the championship to the winner Delaney Blume. The hot rod division started off on a high note as well, with Brock Arte and Jarrod McIntyre finishing the first main event wheel to wheel for the win, with McIntyre taking home the victory. Arte would come back to pick up his first win in the hot rod class later in the day and head into Sunday on top of the points battle in front of an eight way tie for third. Brady Watkins started the main on the outside of Arte on the front row and quickly raced his way to the win for both the main and the overall championship.
Other overall winners for the weekend included Zach Blume, who won the main, a heat and the championship in the 125 division. Jacob Bell also took home main event and championship honors for the junior 500 class. David Broom looked impressive on his way to the desperado championship and Mick Williams finished the weekend with the midget title.
The main event of the weekend was the highly anticipated 500 open class. They were ready to take to the track for an unheard of fifty laps of racing action. Saturday set the tone with six heat races being run. Dana Evans kicked off the weekend with a win along with TJ LaBronte, Julian Stacy, Wyatt King, Austin Lev, and Kyle Hossfeld. With an overall purse of over $1500.00 at stake, the best of the best were on hand to tangle for the win. SRP veteran and winged sprint car legend Brandon Johnson grabbed the early lead in the main, but Kyle Hossfeld, who had not been running a full kart schedule the last couple years, looked like a man on a mission from the drop of the green. He made the pass for the lead on Johnson before the midway gas break and never looked back. Brandon was right there the whole race, but never got an opportunity to challenge for the win. Winged sprint car driver and former karter, Corey Lockwood, returned to the place where it all started for him and ran to an impressive third place finish in the main event. Corey is in the middle of a championship battle with fellow SRP alum Chris Rattarree at Meridian Speedway in the winged sprint car division. Never to be left out of a championship run, Meridian’s Austin Lev made a run at the title from the b-main all the way to an impressive fourth place finish in the main.
Mother Nature tried to wreak havoc on the show on Saturday night with a huge thunder and lighting storm that dumped a ton of rain on the track over night. It didn’t dampen the spirits of the competitors that camped out all weekend and the huge staff of volunteers that worked long hours to put on the show. When the sun came up the next morning, the crews were hard at work on the track and racing went off without a hitch.
Racing resumes at Sand Hollow raceway Park on July 5th with the normal racing schedule and they prepare for the annual Tater Cup coming up later in the month. For more information on racing at SRP log onto their website at www.outlawkart.com.
