Ruch leads RAMS point standings

FARMINGTON — After winning the feature race at Auto Tire & Parts/NAPA Racepark in Benton on Saturday night, Rick Ruch of Perryville now leads the Racing Association of Mini Stocks (RAMS) Points series, but it sure didn’t come easy.

Ruch had a day last Saturday that he will never forget. After loading up his car and heading towards the track, Ruch was travelling down I-55 when something unique happened — his trailer started to pass him! It seems the trailer hitch had broken and had moved out into the passing lane.

“I freaked when I saw that,” Ruch said. “It scared me to death.”

The trailer then travelled into the median and across the northbound lanes. Fortunately it didn’t hit anyone or anything and came to a stop in a grassy section off the highway, with the car and everything still riding comfortably on top.

Ruch and his crew raced back to retrieve everything, repaired the hitch and continued towards the track. Because they came late they had to start on the back of the second heat race, but Ruch was able to scratch out a second place finish, giving him a good starting position in the feature.

In the feature, Ruch, Marty Boyer of Potosi, Bill Nickelson of DeSoto and Dave Wofford of Farmington put the crowd on its feet by leading the pack to a green flag to checkered flag finish, with those four tightly packed together for the majority of the event.

Boyer led most of the way, but on the final turn of the final lap Ruch got enough of a run on the inside and powered his Mustang past Boyer’s Chevy S-10 for the thrilling victory. The win capped off a day the young man from Perryville will never forget.

“Can you believe this day,” laughed Ruch following the race. “This is unreal.”

Boyer finished in second place with Nickelson third, Mike Myer of Sikeston was fourth and Rusty Voyles of Hillsboro was fifth. They were followed by Wofford (who had spun out late in the feature), Brian Cox of Ste. Genevieve, Jon Paul Reando of Festus, Jason Harper of Desloge and Kevin Buckley of Park Hills.

This weekend the RAMS Points Series will make their first-ever visit at the Montgomery County Speedway in New Florence, Mo. The following week they will return to the St. Francois County Raceway in Farmington for their second of two shows there this season. For more information on the RAMS phone (573) 747-0566.

Here are the updated point standings:

Vehicle Name Vehicle Make Points

#6 Rick Ruch Ford Mustang 317

#52 Marty Boyer Chevy S-10 312

#5 Dave Wofford Ford Pinto 312

#59m Mike Myer Ford Mustang 298

#3 Brian Cox Chevy S-10 257

#16 Jon Paul Reando Ford Mustang II 246

#11 Jason Harper Chevy S-10 237

#21 Bill Nickelson Chevy S-10 236

#73 Mike Henderson Chevy S-10 229

#1 Kevin Buckley Chevy Chevette 173

#13 Rusty Voyles Chevy S-10 167

#99 Jason Brewington Mercury Bobcat 160

#17 Jason Cruse Chevy S-10 142

#90 Wes Kintz Nissan 104

#66 Phil Hannah Ford Pinto 80

#14 Keith Buckley Chevy S-10 68

#8 Shannon Burch Chevy S-10 66

#47 Jeff Gibson Chevy S-10 49

#38 Kevin Buckley Chevy S-10 49

#32 Nick Payne Chevy S-10 39