Muskingum County Speedway
Carrier overtakes Berner for Muskingum victory
From series and correspondent reports
Eddie Carrier Jr. earned $5,000. (Ken Cunningham)
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (May 24) — Rallying in the high groove to overtake polesitter Keith Berner, Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., took the lead on the 33rd lap at Muskingum County Speedway and went on to win the Independent Racing Series-sanctioned Dunn/Hartman/Lutz/Tanner and Boyd Memorial 50. Carrier, the only driver to get the high groove working, earned $5,000 in becoming the first two-time winner on the series. | Slideshow
IRS points leader Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., moved up to second late in the race while Berner, the Millersburg, Ohio, driver who led the first 32 laps, ended up third. Last year's race winner Doug Dodd of Cambridge, Ohio, was fourth and Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., fifth. Hometown driver Cody Parker started outside the front row and ended up 24th in a race slowed by a single caution for Kyle Bates on lap 38. Every starter except Bates was running at the finish.
Notes: Carrier's Rocket Chassis has a Grover Racing Engine and sponsorship from Engines Inc. and Hoosier Tire. ... The 51 drivers on hand was a season high for the series. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Devin Friese, Mike Knight, Andy Bond, Josh McGuire and Hall of Famer John Mason. (Additional information from Earl Simpson)
IRS @ Muskingum County: (1) Eddie Carrier Jr., (2) Robbie Blair, (3) Keith Berner, (4) Doug Dodd, (5) Dave Hess Jr., (6) Donnie Moran, (7) Tim Dohm, (8) Doug Drown, (9) Jason Covert, (10) Steve Casebolt, (11) Mike Balzano, (12) Chad Ruhlman, (13) Corey Conley, (14) Rod Conley, (15) Ryan Markham, (16) Jared Hawkins, (17) Steve Shaver, (18) Rick Aukland, (19) Shane McLoughlin, (20) Duane Chamberlain, (21) Jason Montgomery, (22) Jason Flory, (23) Tracy Fritter, (24) Cody Parker, (25) Bobby Kitchen, (26) Kyle Bates. Fast qualifier (among 51 cars): Drown, 17.169 seconds. Heat race winners: Conley, Berner, Hess, Carrier, Balzano, Blair. Dash winner: Berner. Consolation winners: Drown, Covert. Provisional starters: Aukland, Chamberlain, Flory, Bates.
