Sunoco American Late Model Series
Johnny Appleseed Classic
Eldora Speedway
May 29, 2011
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MILLER USES JOHNNY APPLESEED WIN AS TUNE-UP FOR DREAM 
ROSSBURG, Ohio (May 29) - Matt Miller’s Sunoco American Late Model Series (ALMS) victory on Sunday night at Eldora Speedway provided the Whitehouse, OH native with valuable track time and the fueling to propel him into the upcoming Dirt Late Model Dream (June 10 & 11). Other victors in Sunday’s Johnny Appleseed Classic by Miller Lite that attracted 155 race cars included Butch Schroeder (NRA Sprint Invaders), Brian Ruhlman (Modifieds) and Dean Pitts (Stock Cars).
A stellar field of entrants fought for position into the 22-car ALMS starting line-up, with Miller’s re-draw putting him in the pole position. With the dropping of the green flag, Miller set sail and never looked back, while Steve Casebolt and Kent Robinson tried to keep him in sight. For Robinson, it was a bitter-sweet night, as an accident in last year’s event resulted in injuries that curtailed his season.
There was no denying Miller, who will be seeking his second $100,000 Dream victory in June.
Casebolt and Robinson continued their chase towards the front, but settled for second and third, while Darrell Lanigan came across the line in fourth and Duane Chamberlain fifth.
Kyle Sauder put on the show, but Butch Schroeder took home the NRA Sprint Invader win.
With the six fastest cars advancing from the heats being inverted by six, Schroeder started third and charged right to the front, while Sauder’s sixth-place start required some bonsai moves and slide jobs that thrilled the huge crowd.
Sauder’s time ran out thought, as the closest he could move in was about six car lengths at the finish.
Following the duo across the line were Randy Hannagan, J R Stewart and Ron Blair.
Ruhlman’s double duty driving allowed him so valuable track time with the Late Model main event, before going out and decimating the field in the Modified finale.
A rash of accidents delayed the start of the Modified main event, including a multiple car crash at the onset that had sent several of the top runners to the rear of the pack.
Once the bugs were sorted out and the action resumed, it was nearly non-stop to the finish with Ruhlman coasting home ahead of Jerry Bowersock (another double duty driver), March Kowarsch, Jesee Bitterling and Scott Orr.
Completing the busy menu was the Stock Car finale that saw Dean Pitts take home his initial Eldora triumph over Ed Johnson, Rob Trent, Earnie Woodard and Kevin Gossard.
Sunoco American Late Model Series - 42 cars
Overall Fast Time - Josh Richards: 15.837
Heat 1 - (10 Laps)
1. 29-Darrell Lanigan [1];2. c9-Steve Casebolt [3];3. 49-Brian Ruhlman [2];4. 20h-Jacob Hawkins [6];5. 12-Doug Drown [4];6. 18r-Chris Ross [7];7. 4s-Rob Starkey [9];8. 19-Chad Smith [8];9. 9c-Troy Cattarene [10];10. jj2-Josh Williams [5];11. 2d-Curtis Deisenroth [11]
Heat 2 - (10 Laps)
1. 23-Duane Chamberlain [2];2. 1r-Josh Richards [4];3. 1b-Jerry Rice [6];4. 95j-Jerry Bowersock [7];5. 8-Tyler Carpenter [11];6. 1-Casey Noonan [1];7. 75-Cruz Pedregon [5];8. 77-Steve Kester [8];9. 34-Alan Vochaska [10];10. 55-Jeep Van wormer [3];11. 32-Chad Stapleton [9]
Heat 3 - (10 Laps)
1. 7r-Kent Robinson [1];2. 46-Tim Rivers [3];3. 9r-Curtis Roberts [4];4. 20so-Scott Orr [2];5. 11-Jon Henry [6];7. 15a-Phil Ausra [7];8. b4u-Brad Eitniear [5];9. 87-Richard Neiser [8];6. 99m-Devin Moran [9];10. 99m-Devin Shiels [10]
Heat 4 - (10 Laps)
1. 99-Donnie Moran [1];2. 7m-Matt Miller [4];3. 13-JR Hotovy [3];4. 1-Jeff Babcock [2];5. 88-Andrew Reaume [5];6. 24c-Rick Combs [7];7. 29-Sam Epling [8];8. 55t-Tom Ordway [9];9. 33-Don Gordon [10];10. 23v-Ryan VanderVeen [6]
B Main - (10 Laps)
1. 12-Doug Drown [1];2. 8-Tyler Carpenter [2];3. 18r-Chris Ross [3];4. 1-Casey Noonan [4];5. 77-Steve Kester [8];6. 75-Cruz Pedregon [6];7. 19-Chad Smith [7];8. 4s-Rob Starkey [5];9. 32-Chad Stapleton [14];10. 9c-Troy Cattarene [9];11. 34-Alan Vochaska [10];12. jj2-Josh Williams [11];13. 55-Jeep Van wormer [12];14. 2d-Curtis Deisenroth [13]
B Main 2 - (10 Laps)
1. 11-Jon Henry [1];2. 88-Andrew Reaume [2];3. 24c-Rick Combs [4];4. 15a-Phil Ausra [5];5. 33-Don Gordon [10];6. 99m-Devin Moran [3];7. 23v-Ryan VanderVeen [12];8. 29-Sam Epling [6];9. b4u-Brad Eitniear [7];10. 55t-Tom Ordway [8];11. 87-Richard Neiser [9];12. 99m-Devin Shiels [11]
A Main - (25 Laps)
1. 7m-Matt Miller [1];2. c9-Steve Casebolt [2];3. 7r-Kent Robinson [4];4. 29-Darrell Lanigan [5];5. 23-Duane Chamberlain [6];6. 99-Donnie Moran [3];7. 49-Brian Ruhlman [9];8. 12-Doug Drown [17];9. 1r-Josh Richards [8];10. 95j-Jerry Bowersock [14];11. 13-JR Hotovy [12];12. 46-Tim Rivers [7];13. 88-Andrew Reaume [20];14. 11-Jon Henry [18];15. 20h-Jacob Hawkins [13];16. 1-Casey Noonan [22];17. 20so-Scott Orr [15];18. 9r-Curtis Roberts [11];19. 1b-Jerry Rice [10];20. 8-Tyler Carpenter [19];21. 1-Jeff Babcock [16];22. 23v-Ryan VanderVeen [21]