BOWER STARTS SEASON IN STYLE BY CLAIMING OPENING NIGHT WIN IN FRONT OF HUGE CROWD

BREWERTON, NY…Chuck Bower started the 2002 season off at Brewerton Speedway in fine style by claiming the win in the 45 lap F.X. Caprara Car Companies special last Friday night. The Lansing, N.Y. driver earned $2,000 for the well-earned win after starting from the tenth starting position. It was Bower’s second straight opening night win at the D-shaped DIRT Demon. A huge opening night crowd viewed the event.

Ryan Baye raced out to the early lead at the start of the F.X. Caprara Car Companies DIRT Modified feature. Baye would only lead one circuit as Tim Fuller took command of the top spot on lap two. After five laps Fuller was being followed in the top five by Jimmy Phelps, Bob McCreadie, Frankie Caprara and Baye. While Fuller worked on opening his lead, Bower was clearly the driver on the move.

Bower started from the tenth starting position and worked through the field with precision. It was on lap 21 when Bower took the top spot away from Fuller. At the halfway point of the 45 lap affair Bower continued to lead and was being followed in the top five by Bob McCreadie, Fuller, Alan Johnson and Tim McCreadie. In the last half of the race Bower truly had to work for the victory.

The final 21 laps were caution free which found the leaders racing in and out of lapped traffic. In the late part of the event it appeared that Johnson had the fastest car on the track. But, Bower held off all challenges to claim the win in the Currier Plastics DIRT Modified. Johnson had to settle for second with Bob McCreadie edging Tim McCreadie for third. Steve Hulsizer edged Fuller for fifth. Scott Prentice, Mike Prentice, Frankie Caprara and Chuck Hebing completed the top ten feature finishers.

Sean Lias won the opening night 20 lap IMCA Modified feature race. Larry Robins, George Valenti, Joe Price and Coleen Finch followed Lias across the finish line. Lias raced out to the early lead at the start from the outside pole starting position and led the entire distance.

Dan Boyce was the opening night winner in the 20-lap Dwarf Car main event. Steve Miller, Tod Simons, Wayne Younglove and Tim Burdick completed the top five feature finishers behind Boyce. Darren Forbes led the opening 16 laps of the main event before his race came to an end. Boyce inherited the lead at that time and led the rest of the way.

Defending Four Cylinder Stock Track Champion Harvey Calkins Jr. claimed the opening night win in the class. Jeremy Bargabos, Bob Whipple, Chris Torbitt and Chris Bargabos completed the top five feature finishers behind Calkins. Russ Cusson led the opening nine laps of the main event. Calkins took command on lap 10 and led the rest of the way in the 15-lap event.

F.X. Caprara Car Companies sponsored three Dashes for Cash Races. Coleen Finch won the IMCA Modified event over Bill Anderson and Rob Keller. Boyce was the winner of the Dwarf Car event over Scott Nash and Kim Nash. Bob Whipple claimed the win in the Four Cylinder Stock race over John West and Chris Bargabos.

Racing will continue this Friday night at Brewerton Speedway with the DIRT Big Block Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Four Cylinder Stocks all in action. Race time is set for 7:30 p.m. For more information please contact the track office at (315) 668-6906 or the race line at 668-RACE. On line please go to www.brewertonspeedway.com.

F.X. CAPRARA CAR COMPANIES RACE SUMMARY

DIRT MODIFIED FEATURE---Chuck Bower, Alan Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Tim McCreadie, Steve Hulsizer, Tim Fuller, Scott Prentice, Mike Prentice, Frankie Caprara, Chuck Hebing, Jimmy Phelps, Tom Sears, Billy Whittaker, Pat Ward, Ray Bliss, Jason Barney, Ryan Bartlett, Tom Juhl, Tony Buffa, Mike Payne, Pat Dabiere, Ryan Baye, Billy Decker, Frank Doll Jr.

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE---Sean Lias, Larry Robbins, George Valenti, Joe Price, Coleen Finch, Bill Anderson, Joe Miles, Richard Townsend, Tony Finch, Jeff Cardinale, Rob Keller, Les Hubbard, Bob Ridgeway, Kevan Cook, Jon Amidon, Bill Anderson Jr.

DWARF CAR FEATURE---Dan Boyce, Steve Miller, Tod Simons, Wayne Younglove, Tim Burdick, Scott Nash, Lowell Zehr, Jeff Isabell, Dan Williams, Kim Nash, Dave Reales, Brenda Rice, Mark Cooper, Darren Forbes, Shawn Hort, Ed Lawton, Ken Gamlen, Mike Litice, Kreig Heroth, Doug Williams

FOUR CYLINDER STOCK FEATURE---Harvey Calkins Jr., Jeremy Bargabos, Bob Whipple, Chris Torbitt, Chris Bargabos, Walt Van Epps, John West Roger West, Chris Smith, Bruce Ackley, Eric Austin, Darik Van Epps, Deven Boyce, Russ Cusson, Roger Olschewske.