The dry heat of Oregon’s high desert beckoned competitors to test their best set ups on one of the most technical tracks in Oregon. Arriving the water logged surface glistened with trenches of standing water as the familiar white with red speed striped water truck was stowed away. Heat mirages vapored from the backstretch as the Warriors of Dirt unloaded their latemodel chariots to battle.
The mystery of what type of track would develop buzzed in the minds of crew as the trying ground for competition shifted several forms before finalizing on that frictionless smooth black magic driver’s track. Scott Puncochar rolled out as the lone wolf on American Racers. The teams of Terry Ferrando #12, Ronnie Saner #14R, Tom Lawson Jr. #02, and Robby Ireland #8 donned the Goodyear G45 and G50 tires hoping for moisture and abrasion to feed their hungry rubber. The rest of the field predictably ran Hoosiers, the tire ran more here in Oregon than any other brand. If there was a popularity contest in Madras Hoosier won hands down, but this wasn’t a high school election, this was straight up battle for victory. Thunder boomers towered skyward as dark menacing clouds gathered to watch the heat races. Doing what clouds do, the rain came down and didn’t let up. First heat sat on the grid as the Junior division mudded muddled through the mess. Not wanting to lose the track, the first heat led by Jeff Biffle slid down turn three and started the packing process. Within 20 minutes the track was back, but where did all the slick go?
A flurry of W.o.D. pit activity followed as bars were moved and setups changed to match the heavy racing surface. The first heat started out with Jeff Biffle #60 taking the low line with Robby Ireland #8 searching the high side. After a couple laps the Goodyear tires dominated with Robby Ireland #8 winning the first heat by lengths over Greg Walters #97. Second heat Tommy Lawson #02 wins only being challenged by Terry Ferraondo #12, both running Goodyear tires. Third heat Scott Puncochar #14 prevailed on American Racers with Jason Wines #41 churning his Hoosiers in hot pursuit. During the heats the racing surface had moisture to burn and gave away bite to anyone racing on Goodyears or American Racers.
By the six car Dash, the track had changed again with the mid to high lines sporting a dull dark moisture fat surface while the low line polished off to the familiar light sandy pre-rubber slick surface. At the green Ireland and Lawson pull away with Ireland on the low and Lawson on the high line. Each corner the two danced further away with Terry Ferrando #12 slowly gaining, all on Goodyear tires. Then Puncochar #14 started sticking his car. White flag lap Ireland moves higher than Lawson going into three and finds nothing but marbles leaving Lawson to win, Terry Ferrando second. By the A-Main, heat and wind blew away moisture, leaving the surface hungry for rubber. As winner of the first heat, Ireland rolled the fate dice of inversion, four dots, four rows invert. Ireland goes from pole to 8th, and the shift puts Hoosiers across the front row for the start.
The W.o.D. pulled the Madras crowd to their feet with a three wide waive before getting down to business. Green flag and the competition began with Jason Wines #41 acing through to the lead. Who was following??? Nobody that close for certain, Wines mastered the field leading by a straightaway but the cautions kept the competitors chewing at their bits waiting for their opportunity. As each caution restarted, Wines demonstrate his superior set up and skill, as the #41 dominated with tortured Hoosier tires screaming through the corners. The casual observer could have left the race at midway and easily bet Wines would win with odds. There is no script to the action for a W.o.D. race and this show was just getting started by lap 30. Like a bubble surfacing through viscous fluid, the #14 of Scott Puncochar started to hook up. There was not scream from the American Racers, more like a howl and “Tool Time Tim Taylor” grunt grunt grunt as Punchochar closed the distance on leading Wines. The Madras crowd took to their feet as the last few laps played out. Scott Puncochar #14 showed signs of his car getting tight, while others looked like loose gooses hunting bugs. Left front tire pulled up on the #14 as a tell tale indication of what was to follow. Jason Wines #41, mastered this race, but fell victim to lap traffic and Puncochar closed the gap. Battle royal between Wines and Puncochar ensued with the #14 and #41 swinging through the corners as one. There was no space between these to master drivers as Wines leaned into Puncochar. The low line of Wines could not hold off the high line attack of Scott Puncochar. The scream for Wine’s Hoosiers resonated with Puncochar’s growling American Racers, as the two GM 604 motors blended a melody not soon forgotten in the minds of the Madras crowd. Victory circle has parking for one on the Madras front stretch, and Puncochar’s battle damaged Rayburn chariot took it’s position followed closely by Jason Wines #41 and Greg Walters #97. Jeff Biffle #60 kept his car underneath him to the checker finishing a solid fourth. The early promise of the Goodyear tires didn’t continue into the main event, resulting in Ferrando finishing 5th, Ireland 7th, and Tom Lawson 9th.
Other Hoosier prevailers were Tim Goodwin #16 in the Jerry Schram machine and Mike Keely #21 with an 8th place finish. Goodwin earned the Hardcharger distinction and an extra $175 dollars for the effort. Scott Puncochar gives credit to his crew for helping him replicate the “Madras Setup” that earned him $5,000 dollars in 2008, and American Racers for making such a versatile compound. Credit must also goes to the pilot behind the controls as Scott proves again that his decisive driving skills and racecraft understanding is a winning combination. Scott will be happy to assist anyone interested in buying some American Racers, so feel free to call him.
As for his “Madras Setup” Scott offers, “I’ll share some of the setup, but not all.” The only hints this interviewer could get out of Scott is that the springs are soft and the tires are American Racer.The W.o.D. Tour will next race in Elma June 20th.
