by Skip Wall

There is a saying that if you cant stand the heat then get out of the kitchen. And if your looking for a barnburner then Newport Speedway was the place to be this past Saturday night for the fourth stop of the Super Cup Stock Car Series.

Daniel Johnson became the first two time winner in the young Super Cup Series. He also had won at Franklin County a few weeks ago.

Johnson had to ward off coming down pitroad during the 100 lap event, and had to hold off several challenges for the lead in the race.

Johnson held off hard charging Jim Crabtree Jr, who had won this race earlier this year.

Megan Reitenour would rebound for a third place finish ahead of first time driver Rock Harris and young Ryan Miller.

"This is about as hard of a race as we have run" says a jubilant Johnson. "We have a limited budget and this only helps." Moreover Johnson feels he has found a new home in the Series.

Johnson also picked up the Most laps lead award while Reitenour picked up the half way award.

Rock Harris a former late model driver from Friendship Speedway, turned to Super Cup after the track went to dirt, picked up the hard charger award in a car normally driven by Dexter Canipe. It was his first event in the Super Cup Stock Car Series. He also had to come back from the rear of the field.

Two other drivers made their first appearance this year. Rob Jones became the first black driver to run in Super Cup and held his own with a 8th place finish. Mike Williams a former competitor from ProCup ran his first race and placed 9th.

As far as the barnburner, and the heat in the kitchen, the temperatures were very hot and the patience was hard to find. In fact the start of the race drawed the ire of the officials and a stern warning to pole sitter Jody Harrison. Before the night was over several drivers were given the boot to the rear of the field by race director Johnny James, for rough driving. Some drivers were sent to the rear two or three times.

One driver, Reitenour, had to rebound several times from the rear while she still managed a third place finish. Once again she tangled with fellow Ohio driver Ryan Miller. That tangle upset some fans. These two will say there is nothing between them however one would feel there is no love as well.

Wally Schweizer returned to action however wound up in a single car accident. Larry Wilcox got collected up in another accident. Jim Crabtree got a little help and was turned around in an early race altercation. Crabtree, not one to complain, came back for the second place finish.

The race had 14 cautions in the 100 lap event. Another indicator of the heat and no patience.

While this race was a real barn burner, for various reasons, the race is over, the barn is gone, but the memories of this action packed race is priceless. Fans at Newport have taken to the Super Cup Stock Car Series.

The series now moves to a July 4th event in Xenia Ohio, home of Kil-Kare Speedway, an event that ProCup dropped a few years ago. However fans want to see these types of race cars there and Super Cup has fitted this race in its format.


Official RACE RESULTS

1ST DANIEL JOHNSON

2ND JIMMIE CRABTREE

3RD MEGAN REITENOUR

4TH ROCK HARRIS

5TH RYAN MILLER

6TH JIMMIE NOWELL

7TH NEIL GACOM

8TH ROB JONES

9TH MIKE WILLIAMS

10TH LARRY WILCOX

11TH JODY HARRISON

12TH WALLY SCHWEIZER

13TH ED SURRETT

# 7 MOST LAPS LEAD + 5 + 5

# 92 LEADER AND HALF WAY + 5 + 5

# 55 LEADER AND HARD CHARGER + 5 + 5

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