Tri-City Speedway
Oller dominates Fall Nationals, earns $3,700
By Jimmy Dearing
Tri-City Speedway
Mark Oller in victory lane. (Jimmy Dearing)
GRANITE CITY, Ill. (Oct. 13) — Mark Oller of Highland, Ill., did no wrong at the second annual Crate American Racing Series Fall Nationals at Tri-City Speedway, and it paid off pretty well. Oller had a $3,700 night by setting fast time ($200), winning the dash ($200) and capturing the main event ($2,500).
Oller also picked up $20 apiece for leading each of 40 laps as he outran Danny Haynes, Bobby Dauderman, Mike Collins and Steve Cole in the final CARS points race of the season. CARS weekly points champion Nick Lyons of Centralia, Ill., finished 14th and rookie of the year Josh Harris rallied from the 12th row to finish eighth.
In the feature, Oller was able to keep a comfortable margin throughout while a variety of drivers battled for second. Haynes came from the eighth starting spot and battled with Dauderman for the last half of the main event as they swapped position back and forth. Haynes eventually used lapped traffic to separate himself from Dauderman and sew up the second spot.
Notebook
The event drew 52 cars. ... The fast-qualifying Mark Oller, Matt Liner, Brent Kreke, Steve Cole and Mike Collins won heat races. ... Oller won the heat winners' dash. ... Rylan Dagg and Casey Montague won consolation races. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Rusty Griffaw, Ray Emling Jr., Ron Tex Jr., Vince Grondzki and Gordon Gundaker, the 15-year-old son of track promoters Kevin and Tammy Gundaker. ... Tommie Seets Jr. won the night's modified feature.
Fall Nationals: (1) Mark Oller, (2) Danny Haynes, (3) Bobby Dauderman, (4) Mike Collins, (5) Steve Cole, (6) Josh Carroll, (7) Shane Cockrum, (8) Josh Harris, (9) Ken Rumble, (10) Casey Montague, (11) Tim Burdel, (12) Gary Archambault, (13) Aaron Heck, (14) Nick Lyons, (15) Matt Liner, (16) Clay Baumann, (17) Shawn Harker, (18) Brian McCormick, (19) Danny Jolly, (20) Matt Santel, (21) Darin Walker, (22) David Turner, (23) Rylan Dagg, (24) Brent Kreke, (25) Ron Sensel.
