Dream Notes...

In what was definitely one of the better Eldora races of the PAL-U experience, and after smaller wins and domination a few weeks ago, DARRELL LANIGAN put together 50 miles of perfection to pick of the biggest win of his career at the Dream.

It was a very long day of racing with a solid finale indeed. So without further ado, here’s a look back at the 2003 edition of the Dream…

MATT MILLER and JAY JOHNSON lead the field away from driver intros as the field takes shape around the half mile. Rolling into turn one on the pace lap, RICK ECKERT and JACKIE BOGGS join Miller and Johnson on the front row for the four abreast salute to the fans amidst the flash bulbs. The field retakes shape and gets is set to take the lone green of the main event.

Miller pulls under Johnson off four at the start. Uncharacteristically for Eldora, Lanigan drives under Johnson in one to take second from the outside front row starter.

Miller and Lanigan put 5 car lengths between themselves and Johnson, BILLY MOYER and STEVE SHAVER race side by side down the back stretch for 4th. Shaver takes the spot in 3 with a slider.

Lanigan takes a look under Miller in two. Sixth running STEVE FRANCIS taps the wall in one and two and drops to the end of the top ten. BRIAN BIRKHOFER pulls beside Moyer in three.

Birky goes by Moyer in one. Francis continues to drop back giving spots to JOHN GILL and SCOTT JAMES.

Miller and Lanigan are a half straightaway away from the field. Lanigan takes a look off four but Miller’s momentum pulls him ahead.

Lanigan dives low in one to take another look. Miller pulls the trigger earlier and drives away off two and then deeper in three to keep Lanigan behind him.

Miller and Lanigan are ¾ straightaway ahead of the field. Shaver has run down Johnson and is challenging four 3rd.

While Shaver and Johnson race for 3rd, Birkhofer runs the pair down and pressures Shaver for fourth. The Shark and the Cowboy race together as they start to go forward. Off turn 4, Lanigan takes a look to the bottom of Miller.

In one Lanigan again dives low and inches ahead off two. Miller muscles back out front down the back chute and hangs tough on the rim. Lanigan hangs a left just past the pit gate and dives very low in three looking for moisture and the lead off four.

Lanigan takes another look in one and two. James rolls by Gill while Miller approaches the soon to be lapped car of GREG JOHNSON.

Lanigan rolls under Miller in one and takes the lead on lap 12. G Johnson slows and Shaver goes by Jay Johnson for 3rd.

Lanigan pulls out by 5 car lengths while Birky works on Johnson for 4th. Francis has gathered things up from his admitted driver error and is standing in the seat with a handful of wheel chasing down Gill for 7th.

The Shark has pulled away from the Cowboy and Beevo and works on Moyer for 6th.

Beevo rolls between Gill and the wall to take 7th and runs down James. While riding inches away from the cement, Francis runs down James.

Lanigan steps around DELMAS CONLEY to put him a lap down. Birky drives under a fellow MasterSbilt driver in four taking 4th from Johnson in three.

Lanigan drives under Eldora first timer BRIAN HARRIS (heck of a nice guy too) to put him a lap down. Moyer rolls by Johnson as the Shark swims closer to Johnson.

After the Shark gets Johnson, Beevo sails by on the rim in two. Lanigan is riding a half straightaway ahead of the field.

Lanigan quietly paces the field lifting well before entering one. James looks under Francis for 5th.

Lanigan closes in to lap SHANNON BABB. James works the hub, Francis skates along the rim as the duo chase down Moyer for 4th.

Moyer gets through the traffic of SHAWN TOCZEK. James throws a slider on Toczek in one. Francis’ momentum allows him to get a killer run into three and drive under Toczek and James with a slider of his own.

Francis returns to the top shelf while Lanigan goes by Boggs to put him a lap down. Nearly a straightaway behind the leader, Shaver closes on Miller for second. Birky, Moyer and Beevo race close, shake hands and get set to square off in one of the best battles of the night.

Shaver looks under Miller in two for second. A lap later, Shaver’s look in three is crowded a bit when Miller himself takes a ride on the ground floor. When Miller’s car carries him off the hub in four, Shaver drives alongside down the front chute. Meanwhile, Moyer and Francis are all over Birky.

Shaver takes second from Miller and Francis is on Moyer. The Shark joins the fun when James drives alongside Francis down the back chute.

James then goes extremely low in three as he and Moyer chase Birkhofer.

Lanigan is getting the rocking chair ready clicking off laps a straightaway ahead of the field.

Back to the battle for 4th , Francis rolls in on Moyer and James and deals the Shark a slider in four.

Birky moves to third down the back chute getting by Miller while Francis circles Moyer for 5th in turn three. A lap later, Francis flies high and passes Miller for 4th.

Behind that battle, Gill runs down James for 7th. The Modern Day Cowboy yanks the reigns on his imaginary horse and drives by the Shark. On the next trip, the Cowboy rolls by Moyer for 6th. Gill continues to mow down cars entering the top five with a pass of Miller. Miller tries to retaliate with a look off two but the Cowboy drives away again in three.

Moyer then chases down Birkhofer with the slowing lapped car of Harris in front of them. Harris pulls out while Birky works on Shaver for 2nd.

Lanigan pulls up behind Eckert a straightaway ahead of the field.

Birky continues to try to get around Shaver for second. Francis closes on the duo. In the process, Lanigan’s lead is slowly going away.

In what may have been the best exchange of the night, Birky looks to the bottom of Shaver in three. Francis steps to the outside and looks around Birky.

Birkhofer pokes a nose under Shaver in one and two. Francis merely inches from the wall drives around Birkhofer in three. Birky gets yet another handful of wheel and fights back down the front side as Gill closes in to join the battle.

Lanigan continues to follow Eckert as Francis gets by Birkhofer for 3rd in two. Gill then attacks Birky with a dive to the bottom of three. Gill takes a look in two then returns to the rim with a trip very deep into one before returning to the basement to challenge.
 

Back up front, Lanigan comes to the crossed sticks as Eckert has driven away from the leader.

Francis works on Shaver for second as Shaver has taken the hub. Francis goes by in two as Birkhofer and Gill fly in to attack Shaver for third. Birkhofer pulls alongside off two before Shaver drives away down the back chute. Gill now has his hands full with Moyer.

Francis begins to reel in Lanigan as Lanigan races his way back to Eckert.

Toczek slows while Shaver and Birky close in on Francis for second. Shaver returns to the outside and takes a look around Francis in two. Moyer and Gill race for 5th.

Shaver returns to the middle of the black ice to challenge Francis for 2nd. When Shaver slips in one, Birkhofer rolls by to take 3rd in two. Gill and Moyer run down Shaver a lap later. Back up front, Lanigan is again quietly following Eckert on the bottom of the hills.

Gill goes by Shaver in three and four to take 4th bringing Moyer along.

Francis gets loose off four allowing Birkhofer to drive up and beside down the front chute. In one, Birky dives to the bottom and pulls ahead to second off two. Lanigan’s lead is now a straightaway.

Gill retuns to the rim inches from the cement running 4th as the field begins to move around a bit. Birky and Francis continue to battle through traffic.

Moyer races with Shaver for 5th while Lanigan hangs byhind Scrub. Birky and Beevo racin into traffic. Gill meanwhile is allalone in 4th as Moyer moves to 5th getting by Shaver.

With the field quietly taking their place in line in the rubber, Birky is busy with the lapped car of Babb. Birky is visibly running harder and faster than before.

Birky gets by Babb as CHUB FRANK slips off four allowing TIM HITT by.

Eckert races to the back of DALE McDOWELL ahead of Lanigan a half straightaway ahead of Birky who is now busy lapping Boggs.

Birky goes by Boggs as Lanigan’s crewman in one signals him of the happenings behind him.

Birky gets by the lapped car of JEFF TAYLOR. Now only DUANE CHAMBERLAIN and BOB PIERCE separate the leaders.

Lanigan gets by a slowing Jay Johnson who pulls out. Moyer gets by Gill in three with two wheels in the rubber and two out in three.

Shaver and James are on Gill.

Birky gets by Chamberlain with contact in one. Lanigan looks to be pressuring Eckert to lap him.

With five laps to go, Pierce is the only man between Lanigan and Birkhofer.

The field runs the hub in the rubber as Birky is doing all he can. Lanigan is, as he’s done since he got behind Eckert, rocking the field to sleep.

With two to go, Birky races Pierce hard and gets loose in one. Moyer gets by Francis.

At the finish, Lanigan’s plan to hang behind Eckert works to perfection as he rolls to the largest payday of his career. After the race he jumps atop the car with high fives all around.

In all, it was indeed a good one to watch. Lanigan stood tall as it appears we’re definitely in the middle of a changing of the guard at Eldora.

And with that, the Dream is in the books and we’re happy to say that the entire PAL-U crew enjoyed the weekend’s activities. Now it’s time to pack the bags and point the PAL-U-Kon south. So until next time, we’ll be enjoying the fact that there’s nowhere to be at 8 in the morning, and rollin’ em around!