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Sunday, September 03, 2000

One week after winning his ninth race of the season and retaking the late model points lead at Motordrome Speedway and in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series' Northeast Region, Richard Mitchell suffered a $40,000 tooth ache.

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He started third in the 75-lap late model feature Friday night, took the lead on the first lap and held off Ryan Hemphill and Mark Cottone for what everyone thought was his 10th victory. With one more week left in the season, no one would be able catch Mitchell, giving him his second consecutive track and region championship, plus more than $40,000 in winnings.

But Power Train Rule 1.s is clear, Mitchell said from his shop in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., yesterday. The rule covers rear ends and states the maximum allowable gear ratio is 5.04. The minimum is 4.46. During a postrace inspection, Mitchell's gear ratio was determined to be 5.05.2.

Basically, the gear had one extra tooth.

Mitchell was disqualified, giving the victory to Hemphill, his third of the season. McKeesport's Cottone was credited with a second-place finish and moved back atop the track's standings, 44 points ahead of Oakmont's Hemphill and Mitchell.

Mitchell's disqualification also means the region champion most likely won't come from Motordrome. T.J. Potrzebowski, who competes at Tioga Speedway in Owego, N.Y., will be the probable champion. Six of the past 10 region champions have come from Motordrome.

Mitchell was unaware his gear ratio was off after he was told by Winter's, rear end manufacturer for many late model cars including his, it was within the legal limit.

"It's nobody's fault but my own," Mitchell said. "I should have calculated all this stuff up. It was just a problem of me not doing my homework, which is what happened. If I was going to be a blatant, outright cheater with gears, I sure as hell wouldn't go with one tooth, I'd go with 10.

"One tooth doesn't make a difference in a racecar. It was my fault because I took the guy's word for it. He said it's the same thing [I was running], just a little bit lighter. Well, with these restrictor-plate motors, I figured it would help -- lighter is better. That's why I did it. Obviously, it isn't what I thought it was."

Mitchell has made it known he wants to move up in NASCAR, but Friday's result was discouraging for his family-run team.

"I can't say what I'm going to do," he said. "Me and my brother have been throwing around the idea of not even doing anything next year.

"This whole sport has turned into money. I was talking to a guy at Petty Enterprises about a driving job. He basically told me I'm 33 years old and they're wanting people that are less than 25. He asked, 'Do you have any sponsorship to bring with you? 'I said no. He said, 'You're resume is definitely good for racing, but if you don't have anything to bring with you you're not going to do anything.' "

With one week left, Cottone would have to be disqualified or not finish for Mitchell to have any chance of winning the titles. And Cottone has proved this season with four victories and 16 top-five finishes that he is the most consistent driver each week.

Track by track

Chad Kemenah used lapped traffic to pass Brian Ellenberger with three laps to go and win the Earl and David Bauman Memorial All-Star sprint race at Lernerville Speedway Friday night. ... Also Friday night, Scott Haus won the first Mid-Atlantic Championship Series race in Sharon Speedway history. His third MACS win of the season was worth $5,180. ... Ed Ferree won the past two late model races going into last night at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway but still trailed Mark Banal, 618-541, in overall points. ... Last Sunday, Tri-City Speedway concluded its season with Craig Rankin winning his first sprint title, Kevin Bolland earning his second career DIRT modified crown, Bobby Powell winning the e-mod title, and Dave Ferringer taking the stock car division.

Chris Dolack can be reached at cdolack@post-gazette.com.