DEVIN GILPIN WINS INAUGURAL J.B. ROBINSON MEMORIAL AT BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY By: Chris Nunn The American Modified Series rolled into Bloomington Speedway for the first ever J.B. Robinson Memorial event paying $2,000 to the winner. A stellar field of 31 entries filled the pit area for the Modified division. J.B.’s son Kent Robinson was on hand in the Modified division, returning to his home track. Kent has been traveling the country with the NDRL Super Late Model Series, but would not miss this race. When asked what it would mean to win his father’s memorial race, Kent was honest about his feelings. “It wouldn’t be the highest paying race I’ve won, but it definitely would be the most prestigious for sure.” J.B Robinson was a long time sponsor and supporter of racing in the state of Indiana, and most generously at the Bloomington Speedway, where you would see the signs for JB’S Salvage on the billboards, and on the sides of many race cars. Sprint cars, Super Stocks, and Hornets made up the remainder of the event. Ryan Thomas and two time defending UMP Modified National Champion Devin Gilpin made up the front row for the 30 lap JB Robinson memorial race. Thomas led the first lap, with Gilpin and Roy Bruce Jr second and third. The top three cars spread out with about three car lengths separating each car by lap five. The caution flew on lap eight, as Jason Clark spun in turn two. The complete double file restarts changed the complexion of the restart, as Gilpin shot to the lead using the outside position. This put Thomas to second, with Bruce and Kent Robinson third and fourth. Bruce tried to look under Thomas for second on lap nine, but Thomas was able to shut the door on him. Bruce finally took the spot on lap ten, but Thomas fought right back to the outside. Sam Wray brought out the caution on lap 13, bunching up the field one more time. Thomas took second on the restart, but Gilpin had already started to pull away up front. At the halfway point it was Gilpin, Thomas, Bruce, Brandon Green, and Robinson completing the top five. Green had took the third spot away from Bruce, and was charging towards the front on the highside. The caution flew again on lap 17, as Clark had spun again this time in turn two. On the restart, Green started to move alongside Thomas for second. Thomas and Green ran side by side for second as the laps ticked away. Green finally moved to second on lap 23. With five laps to go, Gilpin held a full straight lead over Thomas, who had gotten back around Green for second. Gilpin was able to hold his line, and collect the $2,000 payday over Thomas, Green, Bruce, and Robinson. Fast qualifier in the Modified division was Owensboro, KY native Josh Harris with a time of 12.871. Heat winners were Ryan Thomas, Roy Bruce Jr, Devin Gilpin, and Kent Robinson. The B-main winner was Clayton Perry. Casey Shuman and Carson Short made up the front row for the 25 lap main event with Shuman leading lap one over Brady Short and Dakota Jackson. Short bobbled on the start and fell back to seventh before a lap was complete. Brady had moved in to challenge Shuman for the lead on lap five, taking the spot on lap six using the high side. The caution flew for the first time on lap seven, as Brandon Morin spun in turn four. Short immediately opened a half straight advantage over Shuman on the restart. Jordan Kinser had moved his way into the top five, using the high side to his advantage. At the halfway point it was Short, Shuman, Jackson, Kinser, and Nick Bilbee making up the top five. Kinser moved into the third position, with just five laps to go, getting around Jackson. Up front, Short maneuvered his way through lapped traffic and was able to cruise on to his second straight win at Bloomington over Shuman, Kinser, Bilbee, and Seth Parker. Sprint car heat winners were Casey Shuman, Carson Short, and Brady Short. Travis Todd took the lead on the outset of the Super Stock feature and led the first 10 laps of the race, before Tyler Cain moved around him for the lead, bringing Steve Hollars with him to battle for second with Todd. The top three ran nose to tail, being able to throw a blanket over them. Cain held a three car length advantage over Todd, as he began to lap cars. Todd and Hollars were able to move through the lapped cars, and began to reel in Cain for the lead. Lee Hobbs moved into the third spot with five laps to go, moving under Hollars. Nobody would have anything for Cain, as he picked up his second straight win at Bloomington. Super Stock heat winners were Travis Howe and Jack Frye Greg Garrison took the lead on the outset of the Hornet feature, and slipped off the turn three banking close to midway through the race, giving the lead to Keegan Cox. Cox, Luke Bland, and Felisha Deweese all ran within inches of each other for the lead as they worked lapped traffic. Deweese tried to take second from Bland with five to go, but Bland was able to hold him off. With clear track ahead of the top three, Cox held a three car length advantage over Bland. With one to go, Cox bobbled, but the 14 year old was able to barely hold off Bland and Deweese at the line for his first ever win at Bloomington Speedway. Whitney Baldwin and Felisha Deweese won the Hornet heat races. The King of Indiana Sprint Series (KISS) comes to town next Friday night, with the Sprint Cars paying $2500 to win.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 02:56:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015