Delaware Action with The First 2004 URC

The United Racing Club (URC) made their way to the Delaware International Speedway Saturday night for the first time of seven events in 2004.  What a show it was with Brian Seidel in the Micro Farms, and Queen Anne Tractor Supply number six powered hot sprint ride, picking up his first win of the season.    This 2004 season marks the 57^th running of the club, which goes as an honorable mention in itself.   

A show of thirty sprint cars made their way to the track tonight with only twenty-four spots available for the field of cars in the twenty-five lap feature.  Seidel was in the third heat, and qualified with a twelfth starting spot at the drop of the green.

On the pole to start was the Collett & Sons Welding, L & L Farms, and Accent Lawn Care numbered sixty-nine of Justin Collett.  This will be the third year for the eighteen year old Collett in the URC Sprint Club.  Just a few weeks back, Collett made a test day at the Delaware International Speedway, (DIS) to get some extra surface time on the clay oval.  Looks like it may have been a benefit for Collett, as he finished with his first career top five finish. 

Collett gets a good jump at the start and holds on to the lead.  With only one lap in Josh Weller, (63) last years URC rookie of the year has trouble and comes to a stop in turn two.  The yellow was out and all the other sprints were able to avoid Weller without incidence.  On the restart, Collett was still out front with another good run on everyone.  But, setting the sights on Collett were the number one of Scott Pursell in second, while last years URC champion, Dave Ely (3), and Dave Gable (54) were wheel to wheel for third.  By lap four, Ely was in third as Collett still continued to stretch his lead.

Laps six another caution was out as Ed Akin (16A) gets around in turn two.  The restart this time would be single file, with the top five being Collett, Pursell, Ely, Kramer Williamson (33), and Gable.  At the restart those sprints got up speed quickly and the battle was on for sixth with Sean Michael in the ninety-nine and Kevin Welsh in the eighteen-W, both hot drivers. 

Seidel, Williamson, and Pursell were three wide coming out of turn two on lap ten, when Ely moved into second followed by Seidel in third.  On lap eleven, Ely was closing in Collett just as the yellow flies on lap twelve for Weller in turn two.  The restart was lead by Collett, Ely, Seidel, Williamson, and Curt Michael in the number two and now in fifth.  But only one lap later, and half-way, the top five were the same with the exception of Michael in fourth, as Ely was dead on the tail of Collett now.  This gave Seidel time to grab second on lap fifteen while Collett and Ely were battling among them self.  Then on lap seventeen, Seidel moved into the lead as he passes Collett as they enter into turn three. 

Seidel was now in the lead and puling away, while Michael moved into third position; now Michael moved into second on lap nineteen.  Just as lap twenty approaches, the five-A of Ashley Parlett slows and rolls to a stop on the back stretch bringing out the final caution, so the lap with Michael passing Collett did not complete. 

On the restart, the top five were Seidel, Ely, Curt Michael, Collett, and Sean Michael.  Seidel pulls out front, while Ely gets a jump, but Michael (2) tries to pull into second.  The two were side by side back and forth but Ely was just too strong on the straight a ways, giving Seidel claim to his twelfth career win.  The top five remained the same as the restart sequence, with sixth-tenth finishing order of Dave McGough (669), Williamson, Gable, Welsh, and Chris Coyle, (56) tenth, who started in twentieth place.  

Seidel started twelfth in the feature, and was no more surprised than him self when he won.   “I was more shocked than everyone, I was just glad to qualify.  Then in the feature the track and car just came in?  This track, if you get the set up right, you can just get passing,” Seidel stated.  Seidel said “he wants to dedicate this race to Raymond Bostic, who passed away about three weeks ago.  He was the owners Father, Mike Bostic and he will be missed greatly, because he played a big input in the team.” 

There were three heats with the top six cars qualifying.  The first heat had Mike Kostic (40), on the point, but Jon Eldreth in the twenty-five speedily took the lead and would go on to win the first heat, followed by Gary Gollub, (6G) Akin, McGough, and Weller.  Eldreth really owned that whole heat and as he was flawless, plus super fast.  The second heat had little less action, and the top six were Junior Martin (7), Parlett, Williamson, Pursell, Randy West (00), and S. Michael. 

The third heat had Jason Clauss in the zero-8 at the front that shot off like a rocket at the green.  Pete Green in the orange/black number four hit the wall coming out of turn two while Seidel got a round to avoid any incident.  Green was done for the night.  The restart was not much better when Joe Zuczek (50) gets around as he was coming out turn four.  This time Seidel was collected without trouble but Mike Haggenbottom (5G) was not so lucky; Haggenbottom was done for the night too.  In the end, Clauss won the heat followed by C. Michael, Welsh, Ely, Collett, and Seidel.  The B-main winner was the sixteen of Bill Brain Jr.

When the sprints visit DIS, they compete for the Taylor & Messick Delaware State Sprint Series award.  Each time they visit points by position are awarded until the final race when the one with the most points wins that series.  The URC Sprints also have there own URC series award also; along with each track also having their own individual series award.  Seidel will leave being the Taylor & Messick Delaware leader with this win.

The URC Sprint will be back to DIS on Saturday, May 16.  They really put on a show with those winged monsters, so you don’t want miss out.  See you at the track!