ARIZONA HO RACING ASSOCIATION

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Paul takes close win and points lead!
Records fall on quick Banta track!

It was a matter of inches that could have radically changed the record book and the series points. As it was the 8 minute record at Banta Raceway and the point lead changed anyway. Paul squeaked by an erratic Greg in the final minute to get the lead back in a hotly contested main event that saw Zane just make the cut from the semis. Greg cut a quick and clean lap to notch a 24.05 just 2 sections from Jame’s 2 minute qualifying record of 24.07. That was an indication that the track had good traction and was going to be fast. Paul had done a great job of cleaning it with glass cleaner and then laying down a lite coat of WD-40. It was in the best shape ever!

With a big entry of 13 there were going to be a lot of consi’s and semis with the winners of the consi’s and the next 4 fastest advancing to the semis. Mark, Zane, James and Greg were the winners with Greg setting a new 8 minute lap total of 187.6. Paul, Ken “Kill the Tyco”, David and Marty were next 4 hi lap totals. Josh, Chris, Bryan, Dan and Dave put in some great drives to just miss the cut to the semis. Dave cut some 45s, Dan was in the low 40s and Bryan did several 38s and 37s. The big news was the totally awesome 50 that Ken did on green. And it was a real 50 as he finished ahead of where he started. The car was hooked. He was overheard to say to his car “Act like a Tomy” but some think he was imagining it was a Tomy and drove like it was. See, you too can drive a Tyco like Paul if you can get his setup. A tweak on the pickup shoes took the car from the so-so to major hooked up. Ken was heard to whisper later “Kill the LifeLike!”

Only the 2 winners and next 2 hi-lap totals would make it to the main and it was a close fight to see who would survive. Paul won the A semi with a new track record of 190.7 and looked a shoein for the main win. James, Greg and Zane made the cut over a very tight field. Zane in fact just got by Marty by less than a foot for the final spot in the main. At the start of the main Zane took the lead with Paul right behind. James was in 3rd with Greg way behind. But then a series of hi lap totals moved Greg and James into a 3 way tie for the lead with Zane. Paul dropped way off with an uncharateristic43 on red. But then he cut a 50 in the 3rd segment to move back into the lead with Zane and Greg tied for 2nd!

Everyone figured it was over as Paul had 3 laps over them but in the final segment Greg made up all 3 laps and passed for the lead only to run into lots of problems (he choked!) and give the win by less than a foot back to Paul. James finished 3rd and Zane 4th. Points:
PosDriver5/25/165/30Total
1. Paul 7 10 10 27
2. Zane 10 9 7 26
3. Greg 8 6 9 23
4. Mark 9 7 6 22
5. Marty 6 8 7 21
6. James 5 5 8 18
7. David 5 6 5 16
8. Dave 4 6 5 15
9. Josh 3 4 5 12
10. Bryan -- 5 5 10
11. Dan 3 -- 5 8
12. Mike 2 4 -- 6
13. Ken -- -- 5 5

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