Little Valley Speedway
Close edges Barton, wins $5,000 at Little Valley
By Dave Sully
Little Valley SpeedwayLITTLE VALLEY, N.Y. (Sept. 6) — Bob Close of Eldred, Pa., edged Dick Barton of Ashville, N.Y., in the 30-lap Coca-Cola Classic to win the richest race in the history of Little Valley Speedway. "We ran side-by-side for 10 laps, and every time I’d think I had him, he’d get a run at me on the outside," Close said of Barton. "That’s the way to do it, right there: good clean hard racing.”
Barton started outside the front row and beat polesitter Greg Oakes into the first turn while Close, who started seventh, worked his way to the front and took second on lap 13. Close began cutting into Barton's comfortable lead and a flat tire for Boom Briggs on the 21st lap bunched the field. On the restart, Close grabbed the low groove and ran alongside Barton a few laps before taking the lead for good on lap 23. Barton did his best to work past Close on the final lap, but Close held on with Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., finishing a close third. Todd Andrews of Eldred and Oakes, of Franklinville, N.Y., rounded out the top five.
"We had a sizable lead at one point, and we didn’t need that caution," Barton said. "We weren’t quite tight enough to get the job done."
Notes: The Sunday race was a makeup from a Saturday rainout. ... The event drew 116 race cars overall, including 25 Late Models. ... Little Valley's last event is scheduled for Sept. 20.
Coca-Cola Classic: (1) Bob Close, (2) Dick Barton, (3) Mike Knight, (4) Todd Andrews, (5) Greg Oakes, (6) Bump Hedman, (7) David Scott, (9) Brent Rhebergen, (9) Russ King, (10) Jason Dupont, (11) Rich Michael Jr., (12) Jeff Dayman, (13) Al Brewer, (14) Doug Ricotta, (15) Tony Lombardi, (16) Dale Glassford, (17) Mickey Wright, (18) Chad Valone, (19) Dutch Davies, (20) Boom Briggs, (21) Scott Gurdak, (22) Jon Lobb, (23) Rex King, (24) Kirk Bradley, (25) Brian Salisbury. Heat race winners: Davies, Andrews, Briggs.
