 Class 1/2-1600 |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Class 1/2-1600 may have been one of the last events of the 1997 Laughlin Challenge, but it left many fans glad they didn't go home early. 12 of the 20 entrants finished all 10 laps, with just over 2 min. seperating the top 4 positions. Frank Rusish broke the 2:40 barrier, clocking a time of 2:39:22, on his way to the Laughlin title. Although gaining him position in the point standings (now 6th), Rusich will not be a contender for the overall title, but his victory in the Nevada desert will give him an edge going into the Baja 1000 in November. Just over 2 min. behind in 2nd place, Jason Hatz blitzes the :Laughlin short course at 2:41:03, holding off Jim Dizney and Damien Jefferies, who tied for third at 2:41:27. While Dizney is not a contender for the 97 championship, Jefferies finish may have sewn it up here, as he now leads the 1/2-1600 class by 32 points. Don Lampus and Mitch Griffen battled it out all weekend, with Lampus finishing a scant 22 seconds ahead of the 6th place Griffin's 2:44:35. The Battle for 7th and 8th was a close one as well, with Scott Webster putting 44 seconds on Mark Ruddis for the higher slot. Webster's 7th has held him in a 6th place tie with Rusich in the seasons standings. The 9th place finish of Craig Forrest has resulted in a 3rd place point standing, but the extreme lead of Jefferies may relagate him to second in class, after the best of circumstances at the 1000 10th belongs to John Currier, who is a longshot for the title, despite his 2nd place standing. Currier and Forrest are running very close in points, and will be 2 to watch at the 97 seasons last event. 11th place Brian Maginnis is now ties for the 4th slot, by way of a very dissapointing 20th place finish bt Pat Burton. Both racers are qoute capable of assuming the 2nd slot, and will provide fuel to the fire of the Currier/Forrest match-up. In 12th Dayne Bracken was the final car to finish all 10 laps. Though not in contention, Bracken's finish denied sorely needed points to several of 1600's competitors. All in all, the Baja 1000 will be a war for 2nd - 5th position. Look for some fierce competition between the front runners, and who knows? With the Baja point system, Jefferies title may not be as secure as it appears!
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