1983 Race Results
(All results articles written by Bob Valentine)
Arnold Prater
May 1983 - Times Union Article
Warsaw Speedway Offers Something For Everyone
Everyone's got to have some love in life, says Monty Miller, Warsaw Speedway track manager. "My own love happens to be racing." Miller sees the Saturday night sprint and stock car races at the track, located in the Kosciusko Fairgrounds, as being an activity for the whole family. "This is a family thing," he said. "Our family always went, we've been going for 36 years.
Miller says people come from as far away as Illinois to race at the track, "and they're spending money in the city. The track not only generates a place to play, it generates business." A total of about 60-70 cars participate in the races, which started May 14 and will continue until Labor Day. Season tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for children; individual admissions are $5 for adults, $2 for children. Track gates open at 5 p.m., time trials are at 6:30 p.m., and the racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
Sat., May 21
England, Woodling Win Race Features
After last week's rainout, the 1983 racing season officially began at the Warsaw Speedway Saturday night with a large turnout considering the threatening weather. However, the rain held off and the complete program was conducted with Randy Woodling winning the street stock feature and Den England the sprint feature.
In the street stock feature, Woodling (in car No. 33) was able to work his way from the back of the field to first place in 17 laps. His accomplishment was not without challenge, however, as Arnold Prater (1) kept the pressure on to finish second. Robert Johnson (22) finished third and in doing so served notice that he will be a force to deal with throughout this racing season. Rounding out the top five in the street stock feature was Roger Fitzpatrick (56) fourth and Shane Denny (58) fifth.
The street stock fast heat was won by Woodling to become the night's second double winner. Following him across the finish line was Arnold Prater again. Third was Ron McKenzie (24). The second heat was won by Roger Fitzpatrick (56) with Robert Johnson and Tom Leiter (69) finishing second and third, respectively. In the street stock slow heat, Gene Burkett (6) was able to hole off a challenge from Bob Johnson (80) to finish first. Johnson was second with Steve Holbrook (87) third. The street stock dash was won by Arnold Prater with John Fitzpatrick and Randy Woodling finishing second and third. There was a consolation race in the street stock division, won by Gene Burkett. He was this evenings third double winner. In the consy, Burkett finished ahead of Monte Lackey (8), second, and Steve Rogers (11) third.
Den England (84) was the first double winner, taking the sprint fast heat and the feature. England was the top point leater and season champion in the sprint division at Warsaw last year. In the sprint feature, England started from the third row outside and by the second lap was leading, never to relinquish that lead. This was not an easy victory, though, as Tony Elliott (57) followed him through the field and across the finish line and kept the pressure on through the entire race. At one point Tony managed to overtake England, if only for a brief moment. Even though England broke a jacobs ladder, he was able to control his vehicle and hold on to capture the first feature win of 1983 at Warsaw.
Rounding out the top five places in the sprint feature were Rich Lemming (19) third, DeWayne Barker (33), fourth and Terry Shepherd (7) fifth. The sprint fast heat went to England with Bimbo Atkins (36) second and Tray House (9) third. The slow heat for sprints saw Tony Elliott win ahead of Terry Shepherd and DeWayne Barker. The sprint dash was won by DeWayne Barker with Terry Shepherd finishing, second, and Tony Elliott, third.
Sat., June 4
Elliott Nails Down Warsaw Sprint Win
Tony Elliott copped the sprint feature crown Saturday night at Warsaw Speedway. Elliott managed to take the lead midway after a battle of several laps with Den England and was never seriously challenged for the remainder of the race. England captured the fast heat and the dash. Randy Woodling captured his second straight street stock feature win, again coming from the back of the pack. He also won the fast heat.
Sat., June 18
Bimbo Atkins Closes the Door
Bimbo Atkins closed the door on Tony Elliott's feature streak in the sprint car division at the Warsaw Speedway Saturday night. Elliott got a little high in turn one with Den England and Steve Kline running so close behind that the three tangled causing a caution that gave Atkins the lead on the restart taking him to his first feature win of the 1983 season.
DeWayne Barker, Greg Jones, John Davis, and Rich Lemming rounded out the top five. Allen Marsh cut Randy Woodling's street stock string at three with Woodling only managing fifth. Shane Denny, Ron McKenzie and Arnold Prater were third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
