PAGE 14 - AREA NEWS - TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2007 Stauffer Helps Coach Cody Darrah Into Fast Times At Volusia Pennsylvania driver with a 12th place finish. 1 "I couldn't believe it," Darrah said. "I was out there racing with Steve Kinser. I went into the turn and I was alongside the King, and then he passed me." Perhaps, racing against the 20-time champion will turn some heads this week as Darrah returns to Red Lion High School where he is a junior. "Good point," Darrah said. "I got off school for Crew chief Lee Stauffer doesn't get paid big two weeks to come down here and race." bucks as a motivational speaker. How did he justify it to his teachers and princi- But Stauffer has a way of bringing out the best in pal? Sprint Car drivers. "It's an educational trip," Darrah said. "I'm get- Just ask Cody Darrah. ting a big education on how to drive a Sprint Car Darrah, 17, admitted he was back-of-the-pack against the top competition in the nation. material for much of the two-week visit he made to "I know it'll help me this season in Pennsylvania. . I got a great crew and Lee has really helped out. Figuratively speaking, Stauffer lit a stick of His talk got my butt in gear. It was a bit intimidat- dynamite under Darrah's rump last Thursday. ing at first, but I had faith and kept my left foot off "Lee gave me hell," Darrah said. "He told me if the brake." I didn't leave my left foot off the brake for time tri- For that, Darrah earned an A+. als, he was going to do something with it." ***** OK, we ended the conversation there. Stauffer Ending it with the Final 50: made his point. Darrah listened. And 1. Look for 305 Sprint Car driver Tommy Darrah performed. Beavers to jump into the 410 Sprint Car ranks this After Stauffer extended his "cordial" words of season. Beavers will drive a Walter Dyer-owned advice, Darrah went out and posted second fast car this year. time in the All Star Circuit of Champions finale 2. Lance Dewease had a rough week at Volusia KEEPING HIS FOOT IN IT - 1) Cody Darrah #89 shocked many when he set fast time during World last Thursday night at . Speedway Park last week, hurting two of his three of Outlaw competition at Volusia County in Florida last week. 2) His new crew chief Lee Stauffer, for- He went out a night later and set fast time against engines. merly with the Apple #12 team had much influence on the young driver. (Photos by Paul Arch) the World of Outlaws. 3. Dan Carrozza is expected to race a 360 Sprint Suddenly, the kid who was notebook-item fodder Car a few time this season. Mertz in Florida. The car was previously owned by 32. Greg Hodnett qualified for all six features at got headline attention. 4. When Joey Saldana decimated the field in last Gene Jenkins. Volusia Speedway Park. He averaged a13th place "I don't think this fast time has set in yet," Darrah week's All Star Circuit of Champions opener at 15. Remember Scott Vogelsong who helped finish. He started with four 10th-place finishes. said. "We struggled a lot at East Bay and the early Volusia Speedway Park, he was driving an engine many sprint car drivers including Mike Erdley? 33. Jason Meyers plans to follow the World of part of Volusia then we were out there running near that will be used by Kevin Swindell this season. Vogelsong is now helping out with the NASCAR Outlaws this season, but when time permits he'll the front." 5. American driver Brock Mayes started 18th Busch Series car, which is driven by Juan Pablo do some asphalt racing. Darrah knocked off defending World of Outlaws and finished fourth last weekend at Perth Montoya. 34. Before this past week, California racer Brad champion from posting fast time. Motorplex. 16. Interesting procedural change for the World Sweet was best known for winning last year's Know what that's like? 6. Shane Stewart remains in Australia. He ran of Outlaws dash this season. The top two from $10,000 wingless race at . He "I caught the scoreboard changing numbers second to Matthew Reed this past weekend at each heat and the top two qualifiers from time tri- was named the top rookie during the six-day when I went by," Darrah said. "I saw the No. 89 go Premier Speedway. als - those who don'tmake it in the top two in their Winter Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. into first. I couldn't believe it." 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. swept two features at respective heat race - fill the 10 dash spots. 35. The All Star Circuit of Champions have off By the way, Darrah received $100 for setting last Saturday night. He won 17. We'll be talking about the Sprint Car openers until April 6-7 when it visits Attica Raceway Park. quick time. the USAC/CRA Sprint Car feature and the Silver at Lincoln and Williams Grove being a week away 36. Impressive run of the week was Sunday Anight prior, Darrah was second quick with the Crown main event. seven days from today. when Joey Saldana came from 24th to eighth at All Star Circuit of Champions. He had to get a spot 8. ASCS graduate Sam Hefertepe Jr. plans to run 18. Interesting to note won on Volusia Speedway Park. in the feature via the B Main, a race he won. He for the World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Goodyear tires last weekend with the soon to-be 37. Think the World of Outlaws season will be finished 12th in the main. Memorial Rookie of the Year title. Hoosier supplied World of Outlaws. competitive? Three races, three winners. None When the World of Outlaws rolled in for Friday 9. Nice to see Bob Stewart and Joe Harz take in 19. Open-wheel asphalt journeyman David include Steve Kinser, Craig Dollansky, Tim night, Darrah was the highest-finishing Central some at Volusia Speedway Park Steele kicked off the 2007 TBARA season with a Kaeding, etc. last week. win at Citrus County Speedway last weekend. 38. Jac Haudenschild used a provisional to make 10. Fred Rahmer is the current All Star Circuit of 2 Steele won the series season closer there last year. the Sunday night starting field at Volusia Champions points leader. Only one of the three 20. Hard to believe there was only two flips in Speedway Park. shows at Volusia Speedway Park last week count- six nights of sprint car racing at Volusia Speedway 39. You can read this elsewhere but look for Josh ed towards series points. Park last week. Weller to run some ASCS races at Susquehanna The other two were show-up points only. 21. New York based Jessica Zemken participated Speedway Park this season. 11. Daniel Lampron will join Alain Bergeron as in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car and USAC Midget 40. C Ray Hall, NCRA president and 81 the only two French speaking drivers on the ESS divisions last weekend at Manzanita Speedway. Speedway promoter, was found to have colon can- tour this season. Unfortunately, her midget entry didn't fair too cer last week. 12. announcer Craig well. She crashed during the second semifinal. 41. Because Brian Paulus has never run 35 per- Rutherford found employment in Florida over the 22. Fans attending the King's Royal at Eldora cent of the All Star Circuit of Champions schedule, past two weeks. Rutherford towed his food con- Speedway on July 13-14 will get some added fla- he qualifies for Rookie of the Year status. cession stand to Volusia Speedway Park. vor this year if they arrive on July 10. The Old 42. Todd Hestor will probably race more this 13. Since Brian Paulus is near the top of the All Spice Summer Sizzler feature the NRA Sprint Cars season than he did last year in his own car. Star Circuit of Champions points list, he might fol- is scheduled that night. 43. Free for King Richard. low the series with the anticipation of claiming the 23. Fred Rahmer had a lot more than stout com- 44. Donny Schatz leads the nation with five fea- $50,000 posted for the champion. petition to deal with last week. Rahmer was fight- ture wins this season. 14. We should have more details about this next ing asthma all last week at Volusia Speedway Park. 45. Veteran mechanic Kenny Woodruff, who week, but Mark Smith drove a car owned by Scott It affected him in Thursday night's feature. helped many including Dave Blaney to World of 24. Paul McMahan popped a Kistler Engine last Outlaws titles, has returned to turn the wrenches Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park, but the for female driver Natalie Sather. team made repairs in time for the feature. 46. Had to chuckle at Joey Saldana's response to 25. The car show is what he did during the winter. "I got my ass kicked scheduled at the Susquehanna Valley Mall from by Donny Schatz in Australia," Saldana said at the Feb. 18-24. post-race press conference. 26. Australian-based Titan Racing had two 47. When Selinsgrove Speedway opens this sea- engines, all its spare parts and other inventory son, you'll notice an alteration to the second turn. stolen as the rig last week. Investigators are still The outside fence has been moved out. trying to find the thieves. 48. ESS has the June 8 Shot Drop Nationals on 27. When Adrian Maher won at Parramatta City its schedule. It's a non-points show. Raceway last weekend, he did so in a 372 cubic 49. Justin Henderson plans to follow the World inch engine. Yes, he beat the 410s. of Outlaws this season. Henderson's wife, Heather, 28. While we're on the Australian front, Aussie is also traveling and filling the down time at tracks racer Trevor Green will make some driving with fan interviews and giveaways. appearances in California this season. The team 50. Eighteen-year-old driver Kaley Gharst plans will use Tommy Tarlton's garage for preparation to seek the title. Gharst will purposes. have five 410 Sprint Car engines and two 360 29. Port Royal Speedway has its practice ses- Sprint Car engines at his disposal this year. sions still on schedule for March 10 and 17. The CAR COUNTS: Volusia Speedway Park (ASCoC/Wed/60); Volusia Speedway Park (ASCoC/Tues/58); Volusia Speedway Park speedway opens on March 24. (WoO/Fri/58); Volusia Speedway Park (ASCoC/Thur/57); Parramatta 30. Next time you catch Fred Rahmer, ask to see City Raceway (56); Volusia Speedway Park (WoO/Sat/54); Volusia Speedway Park (WoO/Sun/50); Manzanita Speedway (USAC/PAS/49); pictures about his adventures of alligator fishing. Premier Speedway (39); Perth Motorplex (32); Citrus County 31. Rather than hang out the rest of the night at Speedway (TBARA/29); Deep South Speedway (ASCS/23); Premier Volusia Speedway Park on Sunday night, Lance Speedway (360 Sprints/17). Dewease withdrew from the C Main and headed News and notes can be sent to 27 Stephen Road, home. Camp Hill, PA 17011 or [email protected].