Jordan back in Late Model spotlight with third win of year

Waterford - It wasn't long ago that Tim Jordan was the king of the Late Model division at the Waterford Speedbowl.

Since his division title in 2006, however, Bruce Thomas Jr. has taken control of the division, winning the last three Late Model crowns while Jordan ran part-time the last two years after a second-place finish in 2007.

This year, the tables have turned.

Jordan won his third feature of the season on Saturday, maintaining his lead in the points standings as he tries to put the last three years of frustration in his rearview mirror.

Other winners Saturday were Jeff Pearl (SK-Modified), Danny Field (Mini Stocks), Russ Stoehr (NEMA Midgets) and Randy Cabral (NEMA Lites).

This year, the Late Models aren't running as much as they have in the past, partly because of a lower car count. The off-weeks, coupled with Jordan's part-time status over the last few years, have made it difficult for him to get into much of a groove.

"It's hard to get into a rhythm when you have so much time off," he said. "When you're racing weekly in a division, you can keep on top of the track. Hopefully we can keep a little roll going."

The Late Models will have a chance to get into a groove soon, with Saturday the first of three straight features at the Speedbowl.

Jordan moved past Rich Staskowski and Ernie Bertrand during the middle part of the 30-lap feature, even though he admitted his car was a little tight.

"I didn't think I'd get the lead there," Jordan said. "Ernie and Rich were running side by side for a while. It was like being on a highway. We were just good enough."

Jeff Smith finished second, followed by Staskowski and Bertrand.

In the SK-Modified feature, Pearl moved into first past Diego Monahan with six laps to go when leader Todd Ceravolo's car had some electrical problems. The race featured nine yellow flags and only 13 of the 23 starting cars finished. Monahan was disqualified for an illegal muffler, allowing Ron Yuhas Jr. to finish second and Doug Coby third.

"Diego's such a tough competitor," said Pearl, who won his second feature this season. "I saw the 16 car (Ceravolo) slow and wanted to make sure I had enough room."

The NEMA Midgets made their second trip to the Speedbowl this season for the Shane Hammond Memorial Race, in honor of the driver who died in a Midget car in a race at Thompson International Speedway in April 2008.

Following the race, someone suggested to Russ Stoehr that he wouldn't have been able to catch his brother, Greg, who led for most of the first half of the 27-lapper, if there wasn't a restart with 13 laps to go. Russ Stoehr agreed wholeheartedly with that assessment, but added, "Nevertheless, there was a restart."

On that restart, Russ Stoehr drove away from his brother for the win, with Greg Stoehr in second, and all the talk in the winner's circle was of Hammond, who was just 27 years old at the time of his death.

"I can't tell you how much it means to me to win that race," Russ Stoehr said.