32nd Annual Dart Winternationals:Biggest Win For Casey
Feb 08, 2008
courtesy of www.images.search.rediff.com
Tampa, fl (february 7, 2008) casey who has been coming to the tampa area facility for the last four years has been close to winning several times in the past at east bay, but this time he was able to seal the deal for the biggest win of his career.
Casey who won the fourth heat, then lucked up and drew the pole for the 40-lap affair and he would start alongside matt miller on the front row. On a track that was considerably different than the previous three nights of racing, getting to the front quickly was going would prove to lead to a successful finish.
At the drop of chief starter julian mullis’ green flag headed into the first turn, bound and determined he was going to the lead on the opening circuit. Miller would run in second for one lap until moyer overhauled him by the time the second lap was scored.
With casey still holding down the top spot, the top five would remain the same running order to the halfway point of the race. Casey was continuing to hold his line in the rubber as moyer and the rest of the drivers were hoping something was going to slow casey down.
Moyer showed the nose of his car several of times to casey’s quarter panel, but a timely third and final caution for bart hartman, who would slow for a flat tire and came to a stop on the backstretch that would clear the track for casey as the field would circulate around leaving casey a clear path now.
With a five lap shootout ensuing, all casey had to do was keep his line and hit his marks and he did so.
The 38-year old racer would go on to the finish to score the biggest victory of his racing career. Prior to thursday’s huge win at east bay casey had won two $4,000 races.
In the lucas oil late model dirt series victory lane casey was very emotional as he climbed from his race care. “i can’t believe it, i finally won a race here! it’s been my dream to win a lucas oil race and we did it!! man, this is great!” said casey as he pointed out his wife, engine builder bill schlieper, c.J. Rayburn and arnie ranta who’ve help him get to this point in his racing career.
Casey’s c.J. Rayburn monte carlo is powered by a pro power engine from casey’s home state of wisconsin and sponsored by arnie ranta motorsports, brewer concrete and construction and arnie’s sleds and trailers.
Completing the top ten were tim mccreadie, scott bloomquist, donnie moran (from 18th), mike marlar and don o’neal.
