Tremendous Start for Widdis Racing Team

May 31, 2002
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Don Erickson
WiddisRacing.com

KINROSS - How bad do YOU have it? The sound of cars screaming around the track, the friendly clutter of fans, the smell of burnt rubber, and the taste of a delicious hotdog can get anyone in the mood for a great night of racing! This Friday night in Kinross, Michigan was no exception. Some of the most talented racers from all over in one area pounding and slamming each other for that first place honor is enough to help scratch that itch we all get for the sport.

This humble correspondent missed the first ever Late Model heat race of everyone's favorite driver because of a wrong turn on H40! I'm told, though, that Bret Widdis struggled early trying to get his "groove" but soon learned to keep his line. Overall, Widdis performed above par for all the circumstances involved.

"Sparky", in his first late model adventure, obviously performed tremendously with his limited car and experience driving in the fast-paced world of late model racing. Even with all the limits Widdis' performance was at best unbelievable! I'm told he was lapped only once in the race, and YES that is unbelievable considering he had never driven a late model car before Friday night!

Widdis was positioned in the second Pure Stock heat race of the night. With the first lap not even completed, a caution flag flew directed toward the back straightaway. The number 25 car driven by Larry Young Jr. was tapped in the left rear by the number 60 car driven by Korey Lavigne coming out of turn two resulting in a malevolent looking wreck. As Larry spun around flying back on the track, he lost his right rear tire to the track monster. On turn three Lavigne's car spun out because of a flat right rear tire. He quickly headed to the pit area to fix the flat and head back out. Thankfully no one was injured in the happenings.

A few laps later the 60 car blew another right rear, and with two laps remaining in the second Pure Stock heat race of the year the 16 car driven by Widdis quickly gained on the 55 car driven by Norm Miller. Norm was driving the number 55 car because his 73 car blew up at a test and tune, so he was stuck driving an old Barry Glenn car. In a blink of an eye the 55 car screamed out of turn three and stole the second position from the Widdis Racing team by less than half a car's length.

After the intermission, Widdis was to perform in his first ever Late Model feature race and his first feature race of the year. The crowd was reminded that Widdis was working double duty in two arduous, competitive classes. With 25 laps to battle around the quarter mile, the field joined each other on the track for a tough, grueling 25 laps. It only took two laps for a three car pile up on turn three. The only car with visible damage was that of Brent Palumbo; the number 91 car had substantial damage to its right rear. As the cars began to line up during the caution the field stood as is: number 38 Virgil Morell, number 4 Bill Bond, number 97 Michael Gold, number 91 Brent Palumbo, number 50 Rob Hiiemaa, and lastly number 16 Bret Widdis. The race was a typical, customary contest with two main battles throughout the entire race. The first and third positions were the two positions of battle.

Widdis was lapped halfway through the field's 25 lap race. Widdis of course was sporting a rear view mirror on the driver's side to be able to spot closing cars. On lap 23 the 91 car pulled ahead of the 97 car and grew to a two car length lead to capture third place. A photo finish win for 38 befell, which wasn't too unbelievable considering the 38 car led the entire 25 lap race. It was later reported, though, that three cars were disqualified in a post-race inspection. The cars and drivers who were disqualified are as follows: #38 Virgil Morrell, #4 Bill Bond, and #91 Brent Palumbo. The cars were disqualified due to the three cars being too low for the 3" frame to ground clearance. It is this correspondent's perception that this rule is the same for Kinross as it is for at least 8 other Michigan tracks including Kalamazoo, Owosso, etc. This, of course, moved Widdis to third place in the late model feature.
If an award were to be given to the most bizarre victory lap the number 37 car driven by Kevin Johnson would sure be taking home the trophy this week. Kevin raced a hard fought battle in the Factory Stock feature race and earned his bizarre victory lap! Congratulations Kevin!

The final race of the night was to be the Pure Stock feature. Bret Widdis resided inside row five sporting his 16 Buick Regal. On the first lap, before even hitting the start/finish line, Mike Porcaro in the number 15 car bumped the wall resulting in the car flipping and ending up on its top! A tense couple minutes passed as track officials tended to Mike still in the car. Finally, Mike rolled out of the damaged car to a booming applause from the tense crowd.

Later in the race Tom Keiser, driving his number 21 car, was hit hard by the number 60 car driven by Korey Lavigne. Keiser was then forced up into Widdis down the front straightaway.

Halfway through the 25 lap feature Widdis took the high side of the track to make a pass on John Kessinger and succeeded on turn three snatching that 3rd position from the number 69 car.

Exactly 2 laps later Ray Cottle spun out on turn two. The following lap the number 29 car driven by Cottle lost a front right wheel and was escorted off the track courtesy of Kinross' own Joe's Towing.

After the caution laps ended and green flag racing once again befell the raceway Widdis would take 2nd place, but the following lap would send Widdis into the dirt on turn two making him fall back to that 3rd position. Then on turn three the 61 car driven by Bill Cryderman spun around directly in front of Widdis giving him the 2nd position back.

On lap 20 the 60 car was driving very aggressively trying to take the first feature of the night. Later the 60 car driven by Korey Lavigne was black flagged on lap 23 allowing Widdis to finish second just behind Ben Huyck driving his number 28 car. Later the black flag would be revoked for reasons this correspondent cannot understand. A major question that needs to be asked is "How do you take BACK a black flag?" Nonetheless Widdis would again receive the "short end of the stick" getting 3rd position.