By KEN DE LA BASTIDE
Tribune auto racing columnist
November 06, 2007 11:22 pm
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Once again the races comprising the All American 400 weekend at the Music City Motorplex this past weekend met fans’ expectations.
The ASA Late Models took center stage Saturday with qualifying races and a 200-lap feature event and the Champion Racing Association was the headliner Sunday with a 100-lap qualifying race and 300 lap feature.
For the second consecutive year, Illinois driver Eddie Hoffman scored the win in the ASA portion of the doubleheader, leading the final 51 laps when Michigan driver Brian Campbell spun while attempting to get underneath a lapped car.
Hoffman was never seriously challenged for the win by second-place finisher Jacob Goede. But there was tremendous side-by-side racing among four drivers for the fourth through seventh spots.
Sunday, Michigan driver John Van Doorn used a bump on leader Jason Hogan to take the lead with seven laps remaining. Van Doorn, on fresher tires, had closed on Hogan’s rear bumper when a caution flag resulted in a 16-lap shoot-out.
Van Doorn bumped Hogan entering turn four, just enough to knock him out of the racing groove and went on to record the victory. Robbie Pyle finished third, followed by Eddie Mercer and Andy Hanson.
All in all, it was a great weekend of racing. What continues to amaze me is the lack of support from the local news media and Nashville community.
There were good crowds both days, but there should have been many more people in the grandstand.
Think about this for a moment. There were 108 race teams in Nashville, plus the officials from both ASA and CRA for at least three days.
With each team bringing an average of six crew members, that means there were more than 600 visitors to the city. What that could have meant for the local economy is at a minimum 300 hotel rooms and 1,800 meals, not counting the adult beverages, gasoline and diesel fuel purchased.
There was no mention in the local newspaper or on local television of the activities at the track. Had the All American taken place in a smaller community, like Grand Rapids, Mich., or Hickory, N.C., there would have been plenty of local attention.
The All American should remain in Nashville, since the big half-mile oval is made for excellent racing. Maybe in the future the community will recognize the impact of hosting this event means to local businesses.
In other racing news
It was announced that Bruton Smith has purchased New Hampshire International Speedway. I believe that means the New England track will lose one of its Nextel Cup dates to Las Vegas, another track owned by Smith.
• With two races remaining in the chase, Jimmie Johnson has now won three straight races and has taken over points lead from teammate Jeff Gordon by 30 points.
As the chase heads to Phoenix, Gordon and Johnson are coming off strong runs at the track in April. Gordon won the race from the pole position and Johnson came home in fourth.
To win the title, Gordon has to finish nine positions in front of Johnson in the final two races or he has to win both events and lead the most laps, hoping that Johnson falters in the process.
I thought all year that Gordon would win his fifth title this year, but no driver is hotter than Johnson right now. The Phoenix race is using the Car of Tomorrow (Brick on Wheels) and Hendrick Motorsports has that car figured out. Look for both drivers to finish in the top five.
Ken de la Bastide may be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com.
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Ken de la Bastide
Auto racing columnist