Bristol Motor Speedway
Van Wormer sweeps ALMS events at Oakshade, Eldora
From track reports
Jeep Van Wormer picks up the first of two weekend checkered flags, this one at Oakshade Raceway. (Charlie Orns)
No matter the venue, Jeep Van Wormer of Pinconning, Mich., was on top of his game over Labor Day weekend on the Sunoco American Late Model Series. Van Wormer picked up a Saturday night victory at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, then moved downstate to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg for a Sunday night victory that served as a tuneup for the World 100. Van Wormer increased his career victories total in ALMS competition to 22, second only to Kris Patterson's 36.
Van Wormer earned $4,000 for his weekend victories while Brian Ruhlman wrapped up his second ALMS championship in three years.
Oakshade Raceway
WAUSEON, Ohio (Sept. 1) — Jeep Van Wormer rolled past early leader Kevin Reeve on the 11th lap and never looked back in racing to his third career ALMS victory at Oakshade. Ron Perrine Jr. finished second with Zack Olger, Reeve and Casey Noonan making up the top five in the 30-lapper.
Reeve jumped out to the early lead, but the action was quickly slowed for the lone caution of the race when Herb Reich spun in turn four. Reeve continued to lead with Van Wormer in pursuit. Reeve caught the tail end of the field just as Van Wormer had closed in on him. Van Wormer dove to the inside and took the lead for good on lap 11. The Michigan driver dominated the rest of the way.
Rick Delong took an ALMS provisional to make the feature and unofficially secured his first Oakshade Late Model championship.
Perrine won an earlier feature (a makeup of a rainout) for Oakshade locals, but his regular ride had engine problems and he drove a Kris Patterson backup car in the ALMS feature. — Scott Hammer
Oakshade Raceway: (1) Jeep Van Wormer, (2) Ron Perrine Jr., (3) Zack Olger, (4) Kevin Reeve, (5) Casey Noonan, (6) Kris Patterson, (7) Rusty Schlenk, (8) Brian Ruhlman, (9) Justin Robinson, (10) Dusty Moore, (11) Jerry Bowersock, (12) Tyler Boggs, (13) Duane Chamberlain, (14) Greg Walters, (15) Ky Harper, (16) Justin Paxton, (17) Rick DeLong, (18) Aaron Scott, (19) Rick Green, (20) Jeff Roodvoets, (21) George Lindsey, (22) Frank Heckenast Jr., (23) Herb Reich.
Eldora Speedway
ROSSBURG, Ohio (Sept. 2) — Jeep Van Wormer topped the Johnny Appleseed Classic at Eldora in a victorious tuneup for the Sept. 7-8 World 100 at the historic oval. Van Wormer took the lead from Dan Schlieper on the 10th lap and led the rest of the way. Schlieper held on to second followed by a rallying five-time World 100 winner Billy Moyer, Jerry Bowersock and Brian Ruhlman.
Schlieper, the 2004 World 100 winner, jumped into the early lead with a strong-running Jerry Bowersock and Van Wormer in pursuit. Josh Williams and Wayne Chinn also ran in the top five in the early going.
A lap-two caution for Dusty Moore's stalled car slowed the pace initially, but 12 consecutive green flag laps after that found Schlieper setting a torrid pace.
Van Wormer took second from Bowersock on the fourth lap and set his sights on Schlieper.
Back in the field, Moyer — who had to transfer to the feature through a consolation race — was rallying from his 19th starting spot. He was up to eighth in the first few laps as he hustled to the front.
Lapped traffic helped out Van Wormer in his duel with Schlieper and Van Wormer took command on the 10th lap.
The second and final caution appeared on the 15th lap for a blown tire on Williams' car, and that bunched the field with Van Wormer leading Schlieper, Bowersock and Moyer.
Fans sensed Moyer's presence on the restart, but Van Wormer didn't let his pursuers get the best of him. Moyer gained only one more spot the rest of the way while Van Wormer wrapped up his third career ALMS victory at Eldora. — Larry Boos
Eldora Speedway: (1) Jeep Van Wormer, (2) Dan Schlieper, (3) Billy Moyer, (4) Jerry Bowersock, (5) Brian Ruhlman, (6) Randy Korte, (7) Aaron Scott, (8) Rohn Moon, (9) Wayne Chinn, (10) Kris Patterson, (11) Chad Ruhlman, (12) Tim Manville, (13) Casey Noonan, (14) George Lee, (15) Duane Chamberlain, (16) Rick DeLong, (17) Andrew Reaume, (18) Dona Marcoullier, (19) Tyler Boggs, (20) Dusty Moore, (21) John Mason, (22) Josh Williams, (23) Chris Ross, (24) Wayne Maffett Jr.
