Ohio Long Track Speedway National Championship Fulton County Fairgrounds Wauseon, Ohio
Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship
By Scotty Brown
Wauseon, Ohio July 17, 2009
Chad Rall came out on top for the second year in a row at the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship, Friday night July 17, 2009 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.
The Ohio State Speedway final was organized by Scotty Brown and the Bike Days Motorcycle Club www.bikedays.com and sponsored by Applied Innovations/JAWA, Barnett Clutches, Ben Breece Harley Davidson, Dixie International, K-K Motorcycle Supply, Lake Erie Chapter of the AMCA, Napoleon Harley Davidson, Oury Grip, PJ’s Fabricating, Toledo Harley Davidson, Wheels Through Time Museum, and Wiseco Piston. The Ohio Championship ran in conjunction with the Wauseon National Antique Flat Track Motorcycle Races at the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) 27th annual national meet.
Mother Nature played a major roll leading up to the event and during the championship as well. The steady rain that fell the night before was a positive factor, and combined with the track preparation performed by Matt George and the Bike Days crew, the stage was set for fast lap times and good racing. At race time, the half mile limestone cushion track was in perfect condition for the Championship, and Grand National Championship announcer Donnie Bargmann was on hand to call the action.
The first race of the night saw Joe Garrison made a great gate and lead the race until Chad Rall found a faster line on the inside and made the pass to win heat one. Dave Weicht the 2008 Ohio Speedway Long Track “B” Main Champ had motor troubles and was out for the rest of the night.
In the second race “AMA Hall of Famer” Ronnie Rall got the holeshot and lead until lap three when Steve Brinker took the lead and won heat two.
In race three John Debats, the 2007 Ohio Speedway Long Track Champion won wire to wire, with Dan Weicht, Kevin Sexton, Sean Massie, and Michael DeChamplain rounding out the field.
Jon Massie made the start followed by Michael Callen and Michael DeChamplain and finished the same in heat four.
Dark clouds rolled in during the heat races followed by a short sprinkle. The track maintenance crew worked the track as the sky cleared and it was back to racing.
Heat five action saw Chris Hathaway make a great start then settle into second while rookie Sean Massie made a move to pass Kevin Sexton. Kevin Sexton is also the monkey on a road racing sidecar team.
In heat six John Debats again gated well and lead until lap two when Chad Rall used the inside to take the win.
Heat seven had Steve Brinker take the early advantage over Ronnie Rall and went on to win the heat.
In heat eight, Joe Garrison made a great start and held on to it with Dan Weicht, Mark Engle, and Rod Massie finishing respectfully.
Chad Rall missed the gate but carried enough speed to make the pass on lap 2 and win the heat nine.
The Ohio long track championship format consisted of three rounds of point gathering heats, a last chance qualifier, two semi finals and an “A” and “B” Main, but the rains came again before the Speedway semi finals and this time to stay. Referee Ed Jerew deemed the track unsalvageable and it was called a night. The final overall results were tabulated from the heat race points.
Top three finishers of the heats:
Round 1
Heat 1 – 1st) #52x Chad Rall 2nd) #777 Joe Garrison3rd) #18 Chris Thomas
Heat 2 – 1st) #32P Steve Brinker 2nd) #52 Ronnie Rall 3rd) #3 Mark Engel
Heat 3 – 1st) #41X John Debats 2nd) #30 Daniel Weicht 3rd) #60F Kevin Sexton
Round 2
Heat 4 – 1st) #77 Jon Massie 2nd) #33E Mike Callen 3rd) #63 Mike DeChamplain
Heat 5 – 1st) #18 Chris Thomas2nd) #82 Chris Hathaway 3rd) #3 Mark Engel
Heat 6 – 1st) #52x Chad Rall2nd) #41x John Debats3rd) #777 Joe Garrison
Round 3
Heat 7 – 1st) #32P Steve Brinker 2nd) #52 Ronnie Rall 3rd) #61 Sean Massie
Heat 8 – 1st) #777 Joe Garrison 2nd) #30 Daniel Weicht 3rd) #3 Mark Engel
Heat 9 – 1st) #52x Chad Rall 2nd) #18 Chris Thomas 3rd) #41x John Debats
Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship
1st Chad Rall #52x- Mansfield, OH
2nd John Debats #41x - Kawkawlin, MI
3rd Joe Garrison #777 - Lawrenceburg, IN
4th Chris Thomas #18 - Mansfield, OH
5th Daniel Weicht #30 - North Webster, IN
6th Steve Brinker #32P- Plainfield, IL
7th Chris Hathaway #82 - Syracuse, IN
8th Mark Engle #3 - Clinton, MI
9th Rod Massie #69 - Wooster, OH
10thMike Callen #33e- Galesburg, MI
11thSean Massie #61- Wooster, OH
12thKevin Sexton #60F - Elyria, OH
13thRonny Rall #52- Engadine, MI
14thJon Massie #77 - Wooster, OH
15thMichael DeChamplain #63 - Detroit, MI
16thDave Weicht #26- Pierceton, IN
Mark your calendar for Memorial Weekend May 29, 2010 for the Speedway Long Track National Championship at the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton, Ohio and July 16, 2010 for the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship and Antique Races during the Wauseon National AMCA meet at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.
Visit www.bikedays.com for current information.
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"Feet Up" and Fly'n Chad Rall won the Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship for the second year in a row during the AMCA 27th annual Wauseon National at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.
(Photo courtesy of JG Photowerx)
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The Ohio Speedway Long Track Championship heat race leaves the line during the AMCA 27th annual Wauseon National at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.
(Photo courtesy of Max Action)
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