Tracks: Goff Charges to UMRA Feature Victory at Bloomington Speedway
16 August 1998
BLOOMINGTON, IN - Five-time United Midget Racing Association champion Terry Goff put his experience to work as he claimed the 25 lap UMRA feature after starting deep in the pack at Bloomington Speedway Friday night.While Jerry Frickman took the lead from the pole, with Chad Cory and Greg Pittman in close pursuit, Goff took the green flag in tenth position. Frickman opened six car lengths in the first four laps, as Goff was battling into fifth. But Chris Kramer and Pittman tangled in turn three, bringing a red flag as both flipped across the bottom of the fourth turn. Wayne Harping was also involved, but returned to competition.
On the green flag, Travis Welpott raced outside of Cory to challenge for the lead, and Goff followed in his tracks. Frickman held onto the top spot as Welpott, Cory and Goff diced for second. On the tenth circuit, Goff battled his way under Frickman in turn three, and when Frickman slid up the track, Goff drove into the lead.
Goff was able to open a comfortable lead, while twentieth starting Robert Nichols found his way through the pack. When Nichols passed Frickman for third on lap 15, he was still 20 car lengths behind Goff. It wasn't until Goff began to battle slower cars that Nichols was able to close in. Although they were nose-to-tail with three laps remaining, Goff didn't give Nichols an opportunity to pass as he was able to put lapped cars between them. Nichols was three car lengths behind at the finish, with Chris Coers in third, followed by Welpott and Cory.
Plainfield's Mark Friday lead every lap of the Indiana Dwarf Car feature. Steve Trabue of Scottburg won the 150 lap Enduro. After 150 laps, Jim Ruddick and Todd Kempf tangled in the last turn while battling for second. Both cars were stopped by the incident, but Ruddick was able to get his car refired and limped under the checkered flag.
Bloomington Speedway Summary
August 14, 1998
U.M.R.A. Midgets
10 lap heat race winners: 1. Ronnie Combs, 2. A.J. Felker, 3. Chris Coers, 4. Terry Goff
12 lap semi-feature winners: 1. Tony Giltner, 2. Mike Smith
25 lap feature: 1. Terry Goff, 2. Robert Nichols, 3. Chris Coers, 4. Travis Wellpott, 5. Chad Cory, 6. Carey Goff, 7. Mike Smith, 8. Matt Arrington, 9. Paul Leisure, 10. Jim Weir, 11. A.J. Felker, 12. Tony Giltner, 13. Matt Lux, 14. Austin King, 15. J.L. Brewer, 16. Wayne Harping, 17. Bobby Warren, 18. Kyle Lux, 19. Scott Petry, 20. Jerry Frickman, 21. Rick Robinson, 22. Chris Kramer, 23. Greg Pittman, 24. Ronnie Combs
Indiana Dwarf Cars: Mark Friday
150 lap Enduro: Steve Trabue
