Susquehanna's Rock-it Pizza Night Checkers to Elliott, Whitmoyer, Morgan & Slanker
The 2003 Season kept on rolling strong this past Sunday as the Sportsman Modifieds and Street Stocks made their only appearance at Susquehanna this season. Ricky Elliott was the fifth different Modified winner this season taking his first career win. PA's Craig Whitmoyer held off NJ's Sam Wescott to take the $1,000-to-win Sportsman Event. It was a battle of brothers with Craig Morgan taking the Street Stock victory over brother Paul. The ever popular Enduro event was won by Tom Slanker.
The 358 Modifieds were the Headline Division as the 410 Sprints were off for Speedweek Action. Mike Nicholas and Doug Rose led the field down to the green flag in the 30 lap main. Returning to action was Duane Howard after having motor problems and missing two races. His Big Spring Car Wash #126 was smoking in his heat and he was forced pitside. His crew found the problem and corrected it, but Howard was forced to start scratch on the field in 24th Spot. He would not be there for long.
As Doug Rose was out front Mike Nicholas had slipped slightly in the opening laps but came right back up to challenge Rose by Lap 4. Kevin Hirthler in the Green Lane William Penn #117 had charged up from tenth starting spot to 3rd by lap four and to the runner-up spot on lap 7. Ricky Elliott moved into the top 3 by the time 9 laps had been scored. The next lap saw hot battle ensue for fourth between Doug Manmiller, Rick Laubach, and Doug Rose. By this time Duane Howard was already up to 10th.
Just 1 lap shy of the halfway mark Elliott pulled Will Brown's Troyer into the lead. Following up front was Ray Swinehart, the evening's Modified Rock-it Pizza Delivery Driver who had moved up to second. The front two stayed the same with Swinehart not being able to mount a challenge on Elliott. Duane Howard's charge would stop at the third spot as he made an amazing run through the field. Elliott would hold a strong lead at the line as he took the victory, the Rock-It Sub, the case of Pepsi, the visit from Ms. Susquehanna in Victory Lane, and of course the winner's pay as well. Keith Hoffman and Kevin Hirthler would round out the top 5.
The Sportsman came to Susquehanna for a special 1,000- to-win, 'everyone qualifies' 25 lap event. Luke Wagner took out to the early lead and held off challenges from Billy Moyer and others in the early goings. By half-way Craig Whitmoyer, defending Big Diamond Sportsman Champ, had moved his #99 into the lead. Sam Wescott, who had run in the Modified division at the York County Half-mile, started 15th, but was on the move right from the start. He was up dicing it out with the front runners as Whitmoyer took the lead. Gary Butler moved up into second with Tommy Beamer and GR Smith also running in the top 5. Things got real interesting as the caution flew with just one lap remaining. Whitmoyer would hold fast to his line and hold off the hard-charging Wescott for the
win. Butler would finish third, with Beamer and Smith completing the top 5.
A tight field of Street Stocks put on a great race as it came down to a battle of brothers for the victory. The Morgan brothers, Craig and Paul, ran first and second as the laps wore down in the 15-lap event. Paul would hold off Troy Miller and Brian Boughter for second as Craig held onto a solid lead. Craig came across the stripe with the win, Paul was second, with Miller, Boughter & Randy Christine making up the top 5.
A field of four Micro Sprints took some hot laps and ran an exhibition feature to give the fans a taste of next Sunday's action. The Micros may be small, but their speed is anything but. They will make two appearances this season, one next sunday and the other Labor Day weekend as a part of the York County Nationals for the 410 Sprint Cars.
The avid enduro fans were treated to awesome action that is becoming trademark at Susquehanna. The 40 lap event was action packed as always with Tom Slanker taking the win. Point leader and two-race winner, Matt Frye would finish 15th as he spun early in the event, but was able to continue.
Rock-it Pizza Night - (6/29/03) - Results Summary
Modified Feature - (30 Laps) - 1) Ricky Elliott, 2) Ray Swinehart, 3) Duane Howard, 4) Keith Hoffman, 5) Kevin Hirthler, 6) Doug Manmiller, 7) Kenny Brightbill, 8) Paul Kline, 9) Bob Ebersole, 10) Mike Nicholas, 11) John Tshudy, 12) Brian Johnson, 13) Tom Hager, 14) Scott Albert, 15) Sam Schaeffer, 16) Doug Rose, 17) Kyle Strickler, 18) Shawn Fitzpatrick, 19) Darryl Rhine, 20) Jamie Mills, 21) Chris Gardner, 22) Rick Laubach, 23) Tom Umbenhauer, 24) Eric Renninger
Heat Winners - Hirthler, Ebersole, Nicholas
Sportsman Feature - (25 Laps) - 1) Craig Whitmoyer, 2) Sam Wescott, 3) Gary Butler, 4) Tommy Beamer, 5) GR Smith, 6) Tom Brennan, 7) Chuck Flesch, 8) Luke Wagner, 9) George Stravinsky, 10) Nick Anderson, 11) Chris Riddle, 12) Bobby Firth, 13) Billy Moyer, 14) George Gareis, 15) Brad Brightbill, 16) Ryan Moyer, 17) Andy Burkhart, 18) Leroy Long, 19) Tom Miller, 20) Jeff Paulson, 21) Mike Lyons, 22) Jimmy Payer, 23) Billy Briggs, 24) Richie Pratt
Heat Winners - Pratt, Brightbill, Butler
Street Stock - (15 Laps) - 1) Craig Morgan, 2) Paul Morgan, 3) Troy Miller, 4) Brian Boughter, 5) Randy Christine, 6) Bruce Nichols, 7) Scott Thurberg, 8) Brian Shepps, 9) Roger Leaman, 10) Greg Updegraff, 11) Ray Strubhar, 12) Mike Arnold, DNS - Jeff Haag
Enduro - (40 Laps) - Top 15 - 1) Tom Slanker, 2) Al Miller, 3) Darrin Williams, 4) Justin Ehrhart, 5) Jerry Blauch, 6) Ron Vance, 7) Mike Goodwin, 8) Karl Windish, 9) Brian Lomman, 10) Jim Gross, 11) Rick Hippensteel Sr., 12) Gerald Barnes, 13) Ray Repp, 14) Mike Lomman, 15) Matt Frye