O’Neal Flushes the Competition during Fourth Tuckasee Toilet Bowl Classic at
Clarksville Speedway
By Chris Tilley
CLARKSVILLE, TN (March 22, 2008)—Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN led all 50 laps of the Fourth Annual Tuckasee Toilet Bowl Classic in route to his $10,000 payday on Saturday March 22, 2008 at the StormPay.com Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, TN.
O’Neal got the jump from the start of the 50-lapper to lead the field of 20 into turn one with Wes Steidinger in tow. Caution would immediately wave as Jason McBride spun in turn one. The field was re-aligned double-file with O’Neal and Steidinger back up front to lead the grid back to the green.
O’Neal jumped to a healthy lead in the early laps leaving Steidinger, Wendell Wallace and Dennis Erb Jr. to fend for themselves.
Lapped traffic would start to surface for leader Don O’Neal on the 11th circuit as Darren Baxter became the first victim to go a lap down.
A bid for the second spot behind leader O’Neal would not come until the 19th lap as Wendell Wallace shot around Wes Steidinger for the spot.
The caution would come out on the 23rd lap just as Wendell Wallace, who started third, was closing in on O’Neal for the lead. Wallace got caught up behind two lapped cars causing heavy right-side cosmetic damage to the # 88 mount. The damage sent last year’s ‘Show-Me 100’ winner to the pits for the night under his own power.
At this point, it’s O’Neal, Steidinger, Erb, Terry English and Justin Rattliff the top-five. After starting 17th in the main, Bradford, OH driver Wayne Chinn had already moved into the sixth position, right on the back bumper of Rattliff for the remainder of the event.
The caution flag would again wave on the lap 23 restart for Steven Ashby losing control in turn two, which collected BJ McCammon. On lap 27, McCammon became a victim to another yellow as Caleb Ashby tagged the left-rear quarter panel of McCammon, causing him to spin in turn one.
The last yellow would wave on lap 42 for Brent Kreke, who spun in turn two. Just before the yellow, the 2007 UMP DIRTcar National Champion Dennis Erb Jr. would reel in second place runner Wes Steidinger but couldn’t complete the pass, now settling for third to the finish.
O’Neal crossed the finish line several cars ahead of second place finisher Wes Steidinger, Dennis Erb Jr., Terry English and Justin Rattliff, who rounded out the top-five.
Official Summary of Results:
March 21-22, 2008
Fourth Annual Tuckasee Toilet Bowl Classic
StormPay.com Clarksville Speedway-Clarksville, TN
UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models
Entries: 32 from 7 states
Overall Fast Time: Don O'Neal - 13:263 seconds
Heat-1 (Top-3 Transfer): Don O'Neal, Terry English, Ryan Unzicker, Carnell Parker III, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Gary Frost, Tony Albright
Heat-2 (Top-3 Transfer): Wendell Wallace, Steven Ashby, Brent Kreke, Chris Shelton, Mike Walker, Jason Schmidt, Gil Smith, Brian Ashby
Heat-3 (Top-3 Transfer): Dennis Erb Jr., Justin Rattliff, Jordan Bland, Jeff Walston, Chuck Proctor, Brian Collins, Rusty Griffaw, Gary Johnson
Heat-4 (Top-3 Transfer): Wes Steidinger, BJ McCammon, Jason McBride, Caleb Ashby, Charles Zimmerman, Darren Baxter, Jarry Holshouser, Mike Hammerle
B-Main # 1 (Top-3 Transfer): Jeff Waltson, Tim Tungate, Wayne Chinn, Chuck Proctor, Tony Albright, Rusty Griffaw, Brian Collins, Gary Johnson, Carnell Parker III, Gary Frost
B-Main # 2 (Top-3 Transfer): Caleb Ashby, Brian Ashby, Darren Baxter, Gil Smith, Jason Schmidt, Charles Zimmerman, Chris Shelton, Mike Walker, Jarryd Holshouser, Mike Hammerle
UMP DIRTcar Provisional: Mike Hammerle
Clarksville Speedway Provisional: Rusty Griffaw
A-Main Finish:
1. Don O’Neal-Martinsville, IN
2. Wes Steidinger-Fairbury, IL
3. Dennis Erb Jr.-Carpentersville, IL
4. Terry English-Benton, KY
5. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, KY
6. Wayne Chinn-Bradford, OH
7. Steven Ashby-Cunningham, TN
8. Ryan Unzicker-El Paso, IL
9. Jeff Walston-Paducah, KY
10. Brian Ashby-Cumberland Furnace, TN
11. Tim Tungate-Campbellsville, KY
12. Brenk Kreke-Lebanon, IL
13. Jason McBride-Carpendale, IL
14. Rusty Griffaw-Festus, MO
15. BJ McCammon-Danville, IL
16. Caleb Ashby-Cunningham, TN
17. Wendell Wallace-Batesville, AR
18. Darren Baxter-Clarksville, TN
19. Jordan Bland-Campbellsville, KY
20. Mike Hammerle-St. Charles, MO
