2009 Sparky's Gasoline Heaters 100

The 2009 Sparky's Gasoline Heaters 100, the sixteenth of 24 events in the 2009 ARLA Elite Series season, was held at the Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.

Watch

This race was not shown on television because it conflicted with OEN's annual company golf outing. The only OEN reporter present at the race was Adam Lipkin, who was barred from the golf outing for eating from the box of doughnuts reserved for the producers.

The Race

Ryan Baldwell led the field to the green flag, with Leon Keniston (making his last start in the O&D #6) starting in second. Allie Riggs and Marcos Leonard made up row 2. Baldwell got a good start, partly because Riggs’s car didn’t appear to be handling too well.

The John Burr-owned #54 would be making its second start of the season after a 6th-place showing at Watkins Glen a few weeks ago. Burr’s son Lawrence (who races late models) would be in the car for this round, and not only did he qualify for the race, he put it in seventh in time trials.

Another driver making his first ARLA Elite Series start would be Quentin Sands, replacing the injured Bruno Battaglia in the #26. Sands was also having a surprising performance, qualifying fifth and making a run towards the front early on.

This week, the Kenn Groves #76 would be occupied by Jerry Richson, with Barfy’s Donuts sponsorship. Richson qualified 10th, but he fell back fairly quickly.

Allie Riggs could not get by Ryan Baldwell, so Leon Keniston decided to ditch her and try to chase down the #10 himself on lap 5. The #6 proved to be much better in the corners than the #19, and Keniston took the lead from Baldwell a few laps later, with Lawrence Burr in tow.

Kodi Richards stepped back into the Rosebud #53 this week after the fiasco at the Dwyer Speedpark, where Saar development driver Ethan Everett mercilessly slaughtered the field and was pelted with accusations of cheating. As of lap 17, Richards was running in seventh, behind Brenda Riggs.

On lap 19, Lawrence Burr was finally able to get a nose on Leon Keniston and take the lead. It was actually uncertain whether or not the #54 would be able to run the full race, but a family camped out in the infield kindly offered to pay for a set of tires. John Burr told reporters that the family hated Chuck Johaanes, and became Burr fans after he beat Johaanes to the line at Talladega in 1996. Following the younger Burr would be Kevin Monroe, with Suiiju Dejao in fourth. However, Burr’s big moment would be short-lived, as Keniston took the lead back on lap 22.

The yellow flag came out on lap 25. Many people were worried about this race based on the complete disaster that was the qualifier, but this was the only caution of the day. Lizz Hebert’s #31 died on her coming through turn 2. She would be hit by Jason Bates and Akira Tsukari. Kurt Walker, Michael White, Vinnie Enzo, Mike Andrews, Harry Enola, and Justin Parker would also be collected in this wreck.

Leon Keniston led the field to the restart, with Kevin Monroe right behind him. Brenda Riggs made her way up to third, but got a terrible restart, allowing the #6 and #63 to get away from the pack. However, the #67 got going and quickly caught up to the two leaders. Riggs was eventually able to get under her teammate Keniston and take the top spot, making him easy prey for Monroe. O&D officials were not amused by Riggs’s tactics, but she didn’t seem to care.

Two drivers marching to the front would be Bobby Porteau and DJ Daniels. Both drivers have shown a lot of speed, but neither have any victories to show it. By lap 40, they were both running in the top 5.

On lap 41, Kevin Monroe got around Brenda Riggs to re-assume the lead. Leon Keniston, remembering all the great help Riggs gave him earlier in the race, drove by the #67 without hesitation to take second. Keniston had a lot of extra momentum, so he decided to grab the lead from Monroe as soon as the #63 settled back into his line. However, Bobby Porteau was right behind the #6, and the lead changed hands once again. Even then, the frenzy at the front wouldn’t be over, as DJ Daniels took advantage of Porteau and got the lead. Also coming up towards the front would be Chris Johaanes and Alex Carson.

The battle up front settled down for the next several laps. Daniels’s car handled really well between the inside and middle grooves, and he was able to hold off Porteau’s #15. However, Porteau obviously had the better car, and he once again took the top spot on lap 54.

Bobby Porteau and Kevin Monroe were able to separate themselves from the pack. On lap 60, Monroe caught up to the #15 and passed him with ease. This allowed the rest of the pack to catch up, led by Kodi Richards. The next lap, Porteau got the lead back, with Alex Carson following him on the inside. Porteau suddenly found a big speed boost, and pulled away for the next several laps. Unfortunately for Porteau, Carson also found a lot of speed, and reeled him in just a few laps later. Carson got by Porteau, which allowed Brenda Riggs, running third, to make a challenge for second.

On lap 76, Lapped cars started coming into play. Mike Andrews let Alex Carson by without a problem, but he wasn’t as gracious towards his teammate Bobby Porteau, as well as the rest of the leaders. Carson got a big lead, but Porteau was able to break away from the field and was right on the #8’s bumper with 13 laps to go. Carson and Porteau dueled for the next few laps, and the rest of the pack was sure to take advantage of this battle. However, Bobby Porteau was too strong for everyone else, and went on to take his first ARLA Elite Series victory!