Summer Sizzler - Memphis, TN
Heat Three
Jess Yates, Dick Garrett, Phillip Ruffin, Ricky Grimes, Ben Hadsell, Leo May, Sam Harbin, Randy Tondreau, John Ruiz, Rob Remaley, Scott Hutchins, Darrell Andresen
Five-time finalist and runner-up way back at the Arizona Derby Sam Harbin had a short run today as he was blindsided by Randy Tondreau at the very start. The heat was halted so medics could attend to Harbin and looks certain to miss some time through injury.
Rob Remaley (3rd Ides of March, 4th Seattle Derby) misses out on an eighth final with six hits taking their toll on him, five of which coming in the opening minute as he was bounced around by the pack, and his dismissal is quickly followed by the elimination of Phillip Ruffin (9th Ides, 8th Big Apple Smash Up) after his collisions with five other vehicles, four of which were initiated by Ruffinbefore his finla hit on Dick Garrett resulted in a disqualification.
Runner-up at the recent Indy Nationals, Leo May (4th Wisconsin Invitational, 4th Idaho Invitational) misses out on an eighth final through fourteen events with a similar story to Ruffin's, and he will watch the rest of the event along with Ricky Grimes (11th Spring Fling Derby, 3rd Jersey Derby) who missed two targets in quick succession, propelling him into the barriers.
Six-time finalist Darrell Andresen, who finished a season best fourth at Speedway last week, also missed a pair of targets but survived to continue long enough for qualification into the consolation heat along with Dick Garrett who is seeking back-to-back finals for the third time this year. Garrett re-fired an early stall and went for Andresen in a big way with three hits while Jess Yates tailed him for two minutes, inflicting his own damage on the sixth place finisher.
Ides of March winner and five-time finalist John Ruiz enters the second chance race after missing three straight finals, his dismissal coming courtesy of two blindside hits by Scott Hutchins before a triple-shot by Yates, Garrett and Ben Hadsell eventually slowed him to a halt, and Randy Tondreau (6th Tampa Open) looks to improve with just three final appearances this year but not before leaving his mark on Hadsell who took a pair of big hits on his blindside.
Ben Hadsell would not last much longer, the Frostbite Winter Nationals champion reaching his sixth final of the year, Yates finishing off what Tondreau and Leo May had started with their blindside hits, and Scott Hutchins makes it seven finals in a row, the man second in the championship standings missing out on two points thanks to a late stall.
That leaves Jess Yates (8th Arizona, 7th Jersey) taking his second heat win this season, mowing through Remaley and Garrett before sneaking around the arena to avoid a lot of trouble and picking his spots carefully.
Race Result
1. Jess Yates
2. Scott Hutchins
3. Ben Hadsell
4. Randy Tondreau
5. John Ruiz
6. Dick Garrett
7. Darrell Andresen
8. Ricky Grimes
9. Leo May
10. Phillip Ruffin
11. Rob Remaley
12. Sam Harbin
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