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2007 | archive.
04.14.07 | Getz gets first at season opener thriller. Butch Getz is no stranger to victory lane. The experienced modified shoe piloted a 600 modified for the first time and quickly adapted to the car. Twenty-five 600 Mods braved bitter cold winds and signed in for the Series season opener at Big Diamond Raceway. They were treated to a perfect racing surface all night. The evening festivities started with smooth operating Kyle Gardner winning the first heat race while Getz annexed the second event from an eighth place start. Through the inversion, Rich McGeady paced the field for the start. At the drop of the green flag, the 600 Mods blasted into turn one and Brian Mady used the outside line to grab the lead. Gary Suchy was close in pursuit and settled into second place. Mady and Suchy waged a close battle as the laps clicked off. Mike Keppler and Butch Getz, starting eight and twelfth respectively, slowly made their way through the field. By lap twelve, Mady approached lapped traffic and Suchy tried a turn four pass low between a lapped car. Mady ran the high side and maintained the lead at the stripe. The caution flag flew on lap fourteen for Curt Amey who was collected by George Loux after he made contact with the turn three barrier and bounced into the racing groove. This bunched up the field and gave fourth place runner Getz a chance at the race. Mady got a great restart and stretched his lead. Getz wasted no time and made a quick move in turn one and snagged second from Suchy. One lap later the caution flag flew again for Andy Ressler who spun in turn one. With the field bunched again, Mady led them to the cone. In turn one Getz made the outside stick and vaulted into the lead. Keppler did the same and moved into third. By lap seventeen, Keppler displaced Mady for second and set his sights on Getz who had built a ten car length advantage. Kevin Gruber made a three way battle for third as he used the high line to his advantage. Lapped traffic was again coming into play. Getz, getting looser each lap was backing up to Keppler. A lapped car slowed Getz and Keppler closed within his bumper at the checkers. Gruber's late surge netted him third with Mady and Suchy close behind. Gruber was disqualified when he failed to report to the tech area. This placed Ryan Higgs in ninth as the highest placing rookie. Mike Pychincka was the hard charger of the night. Despite sustaining significant damage in a heat race accident, he started in twenty-fourth and patiently worked up to tenth. The Hoosier Tires 600 Modified Series heads to Thunder Mountain Speedway on Saturday, April 21st.
1. Butch Getz 2. Mike Keppler, 3. Brian Mady, 4. Gary Suchy, Jr., 5. Nick Mady, 6. Scott Washburn, 7. Rich McGeady, 8. Dave Baldwin, Jr., 9. Ryan Higgs, 10. Mike Pychincka, 11. Eric Witbe, 12. Joe Fanelli, 13., J.J. Newman, 14. Curt Amey, 15. John Landis, 16. George Loux, 17. Bucky Buczafusca, 18. Nathan Dibble, 19. Kevin Gruber, 20. Andy Ressler, 21. Travis Halabura, 22. Dave Baldwin, 23. Kyle Garnder, 24. Chuck Miller, 25. Matt Green.
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