Results from Can Am Speedway on July 7, 2001

Mother Nature came home the winner on Saturday night July 7, 2001 at the Can Am Speedway in LaFargeville, NY, as showers fell on the half-mile speedway during the second lap of the second twin twenty feature for the DIRT 358 modifieds. That race along with the Pure Stock feature has been

rescheduled to kick off this Saturday's racing activities and will be followed by the regularly scheduled racing card.

In the first twin twenty feature Bill Gill of nearby Plessis, NY dusted off the field, along with the bad luck that he has been experiencing so far this season, to easily cruise into victory lane. Starting the race from the second row Gill found himself on the front row during a second lap restart and when racing went green he easily motored away from the field and into the records books, scoring his first Can Am win of the season. While Gill was heading up the field Frankie Caprara and Jason Barney were advancing from their mid field starting positions to the front of the pack. On lap seven the caution came out for Bill's cousin Lee, who had clipped the barrier on the inside of turn two causing his car to come to a rest on the inside of the track with front end damage. During the caution period Danny O'Brien, who was tied with Jason Barney in second place in the points standings, had to make a costly pit stop to add power steering fluid to his car. Starting from the rear of the field Danny managed to work his way back to a ninth place finish. Current point leader and last week's feature winner Billy Wilcox was struggling through the field and had advanced to seventh place when Gus Schmidt and Steve Hulsizer, who running in the top five, came together in the first and second turn causing them to drop out of the race and allowing Billy to move up to a fifth place finish. By virtue of his win Gill, whose chief sponsor is the Deal Maker Automotive Group, made himself eligible for the bonus money that Deal Maker is paying to any driver to can score back to back wins. If Gill can win the postponed twin twenty lap race that is rescheduled for the opening race this Saturday night then he will win a whopping $4,300.00 that includes bonus money of $2,300 plus $1,000 for winning each 20-lap feature.

In the sportsman main B.J. Vock, whose home is just down the road from the track in Theresa, NY, copped his second win of the season. By lap five of the twenty lap event Vock had worked his way into the lead and during each of the six caution periods of the race was easily able to regain his lead over Ryan Phelps and Scott Webb who traded the runner up slot several times during the course of the race. With only two laps remaining in the race Webb, who had moved up to sportsman from the Pure Stock ranks this season, was able to take advantage of Ryan's miscue in the first and second turns to

move pass him and follow B.J. across the finish line. Last week's feature winner Andrew Howard came from mid-pack to score a fine fourth place finish.

In the IMCA modified main current point leader Larry Bezner, who came into the night's racing action only one point ahead of Doug Carlisle, was able to pad his point lead by not only virtue of winning the feature but also because Carlisle's car suffered mechanical problems during hot laps and he was not able to compete in any racing on this night. Terry Gardner took over command at the drop of the green flag starting the race and led the race's early going. Behind him a fine battle for position was taking shape between the track's former street stock champion, Bill Eisele, Jr., Larry and Mike Adderly. As this trio traded positions a former race winner of several weeks back, Billy Dunn, started to enter into the fray. By lap 15 Bezner had moved into the top spot and was easily setting pace when the ageless veteran of nearly forty years of auto racing, Eddie O'Neil moved into third spot. For the balance of the race Eisele, O'Neil, Adderly and Dunn raced for position. Then in the race's closing laps Eisele managed to move ahead of O'Neil and Dunn's engine started smoking causing him to fall off the pace. At the checkered it was Bezner followed by, Eisele, O'Neil, Gardner and Brian Copp. This Saturday night Jreck Subs, Haun Welding Supply, Wolf's Auto Body, Hall's ATV, Lowville Auto Parts and Monnat & Nortz Mobil will be sponsoring the evening's activities. The regular scheduled DIRT 358 modified feature will also be a "Battle at the Border" qualifier. The Battle of Border will take place on September 15th and pay a hefty $10,000.00 to the winner. The pit gate opens at 4:00 PM, the stands at 5:00 PM with racing action beginning promptly at 7:00 PM. There is free parking and camping on the grounds. For further information you can contact the track at 315-658-4431 or visit the track's web site at www.can-amspeedway.com for updates on news and the weather.