Martin races to win in Twelve Mile 500
By AARON TURNER, Special to the Plain Dealer
Sunday, July 6, 2008 8:43 PM EDT
TWELVE MILE - For one lawnmower racer Friday, it was a day of firsts.
At the 46th running of the Twelve Mile 500, Claypool resident and Roann, Ind., native Todd Martin came away with the checkers in his fifth attempt at the grueling Grand-Prix style course.
“It feels great,” Martin said. “I had a good handling mower all day, and I didn't get caught for speeding, so that helped.”
The race enforces a 15 mile-per-hour speed limit, and unlucky recipients of a speeding penalty nearly lose a lap.
“I tried to just run consistent laps, work through the traffic as best I could, Martin added.”
And there was plenty of traffic. Thirty-three mowers started the race with the final spot filled on a race-day prerace, a 10-lap dash for the final spot.
Jerome Emery won that, but struggled in the feature, finishing 32nd.
Martin held off Cole Allen and John Troyer, who finished second and third, respectively.
It was the fourth time Martin has raced his John Deere, each year progressing a few spots better. Last year, he was fourth in the feature before claiming the top prize - a well-used 1996 Dodge Stratus.
“To win in front of all my family and friends - all the important people in my life - it's great.”
The winning race time was 19.91 mph. Kellen Hamburg, Jeremy Walsh, Adam Offutt, Brock Hinderlider, Tyler Graf, Chris Offutt and Mark Babb rounded out the top 10.
In the well-publicized Modified race, Peru's Randy Troyer - the focus of an Associated Press story that appeared throughout the state - won his eighth title at “Twelve Mile International Speedway.”
“The track was a little rough, but we hung in there,” he said.
Troyer was a victim of some family hazing before the race. Brother John and Gary Troyer built a replica of Randy's racer, then set fire to it and swapped the burnt one for the original in his barn.
“I wasn't too worried,” Randy said. “The fenders didn't quite look the same.”
Troyer won the event with an average speed over the 60-lapper at 21.7 mph.
Darrell Ullerick finished second followed by Joe Troyer, Collin Ullerick, Greg Zimpleman, Gary Troyer, Tyler Frazier, Daniel Hopper, Tyler Bennett and Chuck Warpenburg rounding out the top 10.
There will be another lawnmower race featuring most of these same drivers Monday, July 14 at the Wabash County lawnmower race at the 4-H Fair.
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