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Setzer Slams Door On Iceman for All-Star Win

Hudson, NC (May 12, 2001) - Mark Setzer, denied twice earlier in his efforts to pass inside of race leader Westley Huffman, enlisted the services of his right side door in Turn 4 on lap 113 to gain the room that the Iceman wouldn't allow to take the lead and win his first ARA All-Star event in the Valley Chevrolet 125 at Tri-County Motor Speedway Friday night. The race well lived up to its hype as part of "2 Days of Thunder in the Valley," presented by Valley Chevrolet.

The two drivers revived a battle witnessed two weeks ago in the series visit to Hickory, this time dueling over the final fifty laps. Huffman had overtaken Setzer and Lite by lap 12 and built a comfortable lead. By lap 50, Lite had reeled in the Iceman, with Setzer and "The Gunslinger" Greg Marlowe both closing in on the leaders.

A Jimmy Simmons spin in Turn 2 scrambled the lead pack on lap 59, with Marlowe finding no avenue for escape, firmly planting his No.07 car into the outside retaining wall, ending his night.

With a restart and the top five changed, the Ghost Rider, Keith Bumgarner, riding a three race win streak, entered the picture. Meanwhile, Setzer was working the inside of Lite, getting him loose and getting past in Turn 3 by lap 82, setting up the showdown with Huffman.

Setzer twice made a strong run at Huffman, and quickly found that catching him and pulling even was only half the battle. Huffman stuck hard and fast to the outside of the No.84 car, giving up no more than a bumper's worth of advantage. Bumgarner had now positioned himself in front of Lite, and waited in the wings for a Huffman - Setzer miscue.

Following a lap 108 caution, Setzer made his final charge at the leader, again going inside. Five laps later, Setzer went ARA, pushing the No.5 car in Turn 4 and seizing the lead for good.

"There's nothing better than coming back and racing with these people," said an elated Setzer. "That was a heckuva battle between me and Westley. They told me to tighten up my seat belts and go at it. Wes had me pinched down there on the bottom, just good hard racing." Setzer dedicated the win to his late friend Moe Brown.

Bumgarner, having missed the opportunity to take second on Setzer's earlier move, charged Huffman over the last two laps, following Setzer's lead on the inside. Entering Turn 4 on the final lap, Bumgarner hit the pedal hard for a frontstretch sprint, instead he lost traction in the rear end and went sideways while Huffman escaped. Bumgarner would go on to regain control and finish third.

"The car started to go away," said Huffman, still smarting from Setzer's move. "Mark and I got into it in the turn, but the shoe will be on the other foot one day. He deserved to win." The shoe swapping will likely resume June 22nd, when the series returns to Hickory.

Stephen Lite, the 14 year-old wunderdriver competing in both ARA Late Model events over the weekend, earned the Battery Supply of VA pole award and went on to finish fourth. Kenny "Wild, Wild" West fought his way through a cluster of tough top ten competitors to finish fifth.

Danny O'Quinn, Scott Kilby, Keith Stiltner, Frampton Ferguson and Tim Weaver completed the top ten.

ARA touring action continus Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway with the first visit of the Southern Thunder Late Model series to America's most famous short track.

The ARA All-Stars make the long trek south to Montgomery Motor Speedway in Alabama for a special 200 lap event next weekend.