Eastern States 200 post-race notes

EASTERN STATES 200 BIG BLOCK NOTES

There were 18 caution periods for a total of 99 laps. Tim Hindley of Monticello won the half-way challenge for leading at lap 100. Ryan Phelps won the hard charger award for improving 30 spots to 12th place. Tommy Meier was named the hard luck award winner — he led from laps 107-127, was the last to pit on lap 142 and crashed on the first green-flag lap (150). A total of 74 cars entered the event.

Brett Hearn has appeared in 21 consecutive Eastern States 200 races. His 40^th-place finish on Sunday marked his second-worst finish. In 1984, he placed 43^rd. His only other finishes out of the top 20 were: 1982, 33^rd place; 1997, 27^th place; 1998, 31^st place; 2000, 29^th place, 2001, 29^th place. He is the eight-time champ.

Danny Johnson has competed just about every year since 1983, missing only the 2005 race. It appears to be all or nothing for the Doctor: he placed 43^rd in 2000 and won in 2001; he placed 43^rd in 2007 and won in 2008. He also placed 43^rd in 1987 and finished 22^nd in 1988, and he was 43^rd in 2002 and was 16^th in 2003.

Jack Johnson, the 1985 champion, did not race this weekend after three consecutive appearances. Jack first appeared at Eastern States in 1970. From 1974-2007, he did not race in the feature only four times.

Rich Eurich’s first appearance dates back to 1971. The only time he has not appeared since 1983 was the 1987 race. He won in 1988.

Jeff Heotzler Sr., the 2007 champion, has competed just about every year since 1979, missing only the 1983 race.

Kenny Tremont has raced every year since 1983.

Billy Decker, the 1998 champ, has competed every year since 1988. His ninth-place effort on Sunday was his seventh top-10 finish.

Steve Paine has missed just two races since 1990, when he finished as the feature runner-up in his debut. He has eight top-10 efforts.

Middletown’s Chuck McKee, the 2002 champ, finished 36^th on Sunday, his worst finish sinceplacing 42^nd in 1995.

Vic Coffey missed the race after competing in 10 consecutive features.

Pat Ward has raced in the last 15 features and 18 overall. He had a fifth in 2001, and was sixth in 2004 and this year.

Tommy Meier has raced in the past 16 features. He placed fourth in 1995 and 2006 and eighth in 2005.

Tim Fuller’s fourth-place effort on Sunday was his best finish in 12 trips. The only race he has missed since 1996 was 2005.

Jerry Higbie Jr. has 16 consecutive starts and 17 overall. His eighth-place finish on Sunday was his fifth top-five effort, all since 2001.

Gary Tomkins has competed in 11 features since 1996. His seventh-place effort on Sunday was topped only by his third-place finish in 2004.

Jimmy Phelps is off to a great start in his ES career: he placed seventh as a rookie in 2007 and third this year.

Michael Storms placed fifth in his Eastern States debut.

Top rookie efforts in Eastern States 200
1^st – Will Cagle, 1968
2^nd – Bobby Gerhart, 1968
2^nd – Kenny Brightbill, 1974
2^nd – Steve Paine, 1990
2^nd – Wayne Jelly, 2005
3^rd – Frankie Schneider, 1968
3^rd – Brett Hearn, 1978
4^th – Ralph Chittenden, 1968
4^th – Bob Malzahn, 1969
4^th – Dick Tobias, 1973
4^th – Carl Collis, 1979
4^th – Frank Cozze, 1980
4^th – Billy Decker, 1988
4^th – Dale Planck, 1996
4^th – Tim McCreadie, 1997
5^th – Larry Voss, 1968
5^th – Johnny Harrol, 1973
5^th – Clayton Husted, 1978
5^th – Darryl Welty, 1979
5^th – Michael Storms, 2008

Who was up or down from their starting position? (OCFS regulars in purple)
1. Danny Johnson (up three); 2. Tim Hindley (up 24); 3. Jimmy Phelps (up 17); 4. Tim Fuller (down two); 5. Michael Storms (down two); 6. Pat Ward (up eight); 7. Gary Tomkins (up 12); 8. Jerry Higbie Jr. (up 10); 9. Billy Decker (up seven); 10. Rick Laubach (down one); 11. Steve Dodd (up 10); 12. Ryan Phelps (up 30); 13. Mitch Gibbs (up 14); 14. Matt Sheppard (up 21); 15. Frankie Caprara (up 14); 16. Steve Paine (down four); 17. Jimmy Horton (up 23); 18. Butch Tittle (up 18); 19. Justin Haers (up six); 20. Larry Wight (up 11); 21. Danny Creeden (up 18); 22. Ronnie Johnson (down nine); 23. Frank Cozze (up nine); 24. Dale Planck (up 20); 25. Andy Bachetti (up nine); 26. Alan Johnson (up 17); 27. Clinton Mills (down four); 28. Jeff Heotzler Jr. (even); 29. Billy Dunn (up eight); 30. Bobby Varin (up three); 31. Mark Flach Jr. (down 14); 32. Tommy Meier (down 25); 33. Steve Hulsizer (down three); 34. Chris Shultz (down 29); 35. Rick Mill (down 13); 36. Chuck McKee (down 30); 37. Jeff Heotzler Sr. (down 36); 38. Craig Mitchell (even); 39. David Van Horn Jr. (down 28); 40. Brett Hearn (down 30); 41. A.J. Romano (even); 42. Richie Eurich (down 27); 43. Kenny Tremont Jr. (down 19); 44. Ric Hill (down 36).