Because the weather for March and early April had been easy for the weatherman to forecast, everybody thought the first race for the 2011 season would be a rain out. Surprisingly, that was not the case. It was an exciting season opener, for the drivers that braved the chilly night.

Lap times were a bit slow due to the cold tires and track, but that didn’t stop Bobby Wheeler from laying down a lap of 15.26 seconds; taking the fast-time-honors for the evening. Bobby was a full 3/10th of a second faster than the rest of the group.

Due to the threat of rain, trophy dashes were not ran. The forecasters were correct in predicting a mid-evening shower, which started just after the last main event of the evening was run.

The heat race was crazy for the Modifieds’. Nine cars lined up, with Robert Rux on the pole. John Mustered started to the right of Rux; with Dave Trapp and Jeff Peterson following. Mustered and Peterson took off and easily led the first lap. Trapp got a nose under Rux in turn 3 of the second lap; but, Rux closed the door suddenly sending both cars spinning, with Rux stopping in the muddy infield. The first yellow caution of the young season moved Mike Clother into 3rd, followed by Bob Fulmer. After Rux’s freshly painted car was pulled from the mud, the field was given the “one-to-go” signal by track officials. Peterson was close on Mustered’s bumper approaching the restart, but the flagman displayed the yellow flag instead of the green flag. When Mustered slowed slightly, Peterson with a full head of steam drove over the left side of Mustered’s car leaving rubber from the spinning tires on the roof and landing him in the lead. Unfortunately, the damaged front suspension would not steer and Peterson’s car made violent contact with the concrete retaining wall. Behind this action Clother had slowed suddenly and was nudged by Fulmer, sending those two cars spinning into the muddy infield between turns one and two. After the red flag, of the four, Clother was the only one able to remain in the race and inherited the lead just ahead of Jim Jones driving the car of Erik McClain. Peterson was okay but his poor car suffered severe damage with only one lap completed for 2011. Owner, Chuck Peterson, thought it would be a total loss. Mustered and Fulmer had repairs to make but would be ready for the evening’s main. On the restart, Clother lead for a couple laps before water from his car’s radiator overflow got on his tires causing a bad handling problem. Jones was stuck behind the slip-sliding Clother and Wheeler took advantage of the situation to pass for the lead and eventually the win followed by Jones, Trapp and Paul Field.

The main would be a bit less exciting, thankfully. The line up was the same as the heat, except for the absence of the Peterson’s badly wrecked car. Rux once again started from the pole and, once again, Mustered jumped into the lead, this time followed by Clother and Trapp. Mustered built a slight lead during the opening laps while Clother held off Trapp. Surprisingly, Trapp did a solo spin to bring out the caution flag and allow Fulmer to move into third followed by defending champion Jim Jones. After the restart, Jones dogged Clother several laps before he was able to take the high side entering turn 3 and got beside Clother. In mid turn Clother slipped a bit making contact with Jones’ left rear tire and sending both of them spinning. Track officials requested Clother restart the race from the rear of the field. Mustered was still holding onto the lead after the restart. It seems Mustered’s car handled better with the roof caved in from the drive-over earlier in the evening. Paul Field was running well until his engine began overheating sending him to the trailer late in the race. Wheeler was still fast and worked his way past Jones and began filling Mustered’s mirror. With two laps remaining Mustered left a gap on the low side and Wheeler filled it, passing for the lead and staying in front for the win. Mustered finished a disappointing second with Jones and Trapp following. Clother, Rux, Fulmer and Field brought up the rear. Honors go to Bobby Wheeler for sweeping the event, setting the fast qualifying time and winning both races.