Ernie Maynor Memorial Sees Classic Battle With Surprise Ending
By Karen Specht and Walter Johnston

     June 22, Riverhead, NY--- A warm, humid and sunny day greeted Figure-8 competitors as they arrived for the Ernie ‘The Wrench’ Maynor Memorial 25 lap, double point Figure-8 event, sponsored as always by Barrasso and Sons Mason Supply. Due to past rainouts of other Figure-8 events, the race also included a higher than usual purse.  

     Bob Dalke made it out for the first time this season, but mechanical woes made him a DNS. ‘Slim Jim’ Donaldson also made his first start of the ‘08 season, which produced a healthy field of 14 competitors to run the race.  

     Scott Pedersen’s #27 and Tom Kraft’s #8 led the field to the green flag. Kraft took the lead at the start, as Pedersen and Paul Specht’s #63 followed. Specht passed  Pedersen for 2^nd on lap 2 as Mike Mujsce’s #13 also passed Pedersen to take 3^rd. On lap 3, Roger Maynor’s #28 came together with Jessica Larsen’s #37 in turn 1, and caution flew.  Maynor drove to the pits as Larsen’s car was towed from the track. However, Maynor also suffered major damage, though he was able to rejoin the race. Under the same yellow, Kraft suffered a flat and had to pit, giving the lead to Specht. On the restart, Specht took off, with as Mujsce battled with Ralph Tasso’s #3 for 2^nd, and they collided near the X, with Mujsce spinning and bringing out the caution once more. On the next restart, Specht took off again, running as strongly as he has in quite some time, but Tasso stayed right on his bumper as Carl Baxter, Kenny Hyde and Will Farrell rounded out a very tightly running top 5. Tasso tried to pass Specht a few times on the outside, but Specht powered back to the lead each time. Traffic at the X was now becoming a big factor in the race for the lead, as Tasso got along side Specht once due to both having to slow at the X, and on lap 18, Specht had to hesitate at the X due to traffic a second longer than Tasso, and Tasso took over the lead. From there, Specht now rode Tasso’s rear bumper, while having to deal with Baxter and Hyde behind him, but Specht hung right with Tasso, looking once to pass, but not getting enough grip to do so. Tasso led the rest of the way, with Specht, Baxter, Hyde and a resurgent Tom Kraft rounding out the top 5.

    At post race inspection, Ralph Tasso declined to have his car inspected, and was DQ’d, giving Specht the win he’d fought so hard to attain. Tasso’s DQ also moved Will Farrell up to a 5^th place finish for the night. It was Specht’s first Figure-8 win since 1992, and was vindication for Paul, who discovered a few things wrong in his race engine earlier in the week and fixed them, enabling him to run better than he has all year.  

    Overall, this race was also a plus for the fans, who got to witness one of the most competitive and exciting Figure-8 races held in some time, witnessing lap after lap of near misses at the X while they watched the torrid battle up front for the lead. 

    Don’t forget to get your 50/50 tickets each week for your chance to win some nice money, and to help boost the Figure-8 Division’s season ending point fund to an expected new high to the benefit of all. All awarded prizes lately have exceeded $200, so it’s worth a shot. See Leah Maynor for your tickets and more details. A big thanks goes out to Leah for all her hard work on this worthwhile project. Also, don’t forget to set aside time to attend the Las Vegas style fundraiser at Lily Flanagans on August 24^th.