Central Arizona Speedway
Tipton outruns Parker for Central Arizona victory
By M.J. Anderson
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Karl Tipton
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Sept. 8) — Karl Tipton of Gilbert, Ariz., started outside the front row at Central Arizona Raceway and raced to his third Southwest Dirt Racing Association victory of the season. Tipton's second straight win at the home-series track was worth $2,000.
Polesitter and series points leader Lonnie Parker Jr. started outside the front row and got the initial jump, but Tipton went in front in turn four on the first lap for a lead he'd never give up. Driving a Randy Carder-owned car, Tipton was lapping slower cars by the sixth lap as he set a blistering pace with Parker, Brad Williams, Adam Crippen, Mark Fowler and Mike Tahtinen (in a new GRT for Bob Small Racing) in pursuit.
On lap 10, Tahtinen made contact with John Hall in turn three, forcing Steve Ricehouse off the racing surface to avoid the wreck. Ricehouse couldn't refire his car and Bruce Duckett also retired with high oil temperatures.
On the restart, Tipton pulled away leaving Parker and Willams battling for the second spot. The fourth-running Crippen went high off turn two on the 12th lap and dropped out of the top 10.
By lap 20, Parker turned up the heat on Tipton. The lead battle entered turn three as the drivers raced on either side of Ron Pyle. The cars appeared to get together and Pyle to hit the inside berm, flipping and rolling twice in turn three. He wasn't injured but his recently purchased car was removed during a red-flag period.
Tipton held on the rest of the 31-lap feature while Williams and Parker swapped the second spot over the final 10 laps. Parker was second followed by Williams, Carder, Fowler and Crippen. The victory was Tipton's ninth in SWDRA history.
Central Arizona Raceway: (1) Karl Tipton, (2) Lonnie Parker Jr., (3) Brad Williams, (4) Randy Carder, (5) Mark Fowler, (6) Adam Crippen, (7) Tommy Hussak III, (8) Lee Hoy, (9) Lonnie Parker Sr., (10) Curtis Odom, (11) John Hall, (12) Jerry Fincher, (13) Ron Pyle, (14) Keith James, (15) Wes Hall, (16) Mike Tahtinen, (17) Bruce Duckett, (18) Keith McKinney, (19) Dennis Gates, (20) Scott Ricehouse, (21) John Romero.
