Results from Can Am Speedway

August 4, 2001

A new face graced victory lane on Saturday night August 4,

2001 at the Can Am Speedway in LaFargeville, NY as Jake

Rabetoy won his first ever feature event in the IMCA modified

main. It wasn't easy for the South Jefferson County NY

resident as he had to do battle with current points leader Larry

Bezner, who also hails from the same area as Jake. Jake looked

like he was well on the way to that first win when a late race

restart placed Larry, who has won the previous four weeks in

row, right on his back bumper. When the green flag flew Larry

used his nearly 20 years of racing experience to not only get the

jump on Jake put also to get position on the inside of him. The

duo raced down the front chute side by side and when they got

to the first turn Larry was able to move solidly into command.

But two laps later Bezner uncharacteristically bobbled between

turns one and two opening the door for Rabetoy to move

alongside of him. Racing side-by-side down the backstretch

Jake was able take the lead back from Larry as they two

entered the third turn. From there to the checkered flag Bezner

dogged Rabetoy's back bumper waiting for another opportunity

to regain the top spot but it never came as Jake brought his

mount home and capture his first career win in the IMCA

Modified ranks.

In the sportsman main Anthony Fiorentino, who started the race

in 13th position and cross the finish line second, was declared the

winner after Andy Howard, who was first across the finish line,

was penalized for being under weight in the post race inspection.

Also penalized for being underweight was Kyle Wilson who

had crossed the finish line in fourth. For Fiorentino it marked his

second win of the 2001 season and helped him in a very tight

point race. Going into the night's action he was in fourth place in

points and with the win he not only moved up to third but is now

within striking distance of Scott MacCue who is currently in

second place in the points chase. Howard, who had started on

the pole, looked like the man to beat as he easily moved into the

lead at the drop of the green. Despite numerous restarts Howard

was able to lead every lap of the of the twenty lap event. Lap

ten proved particularly difficult lap to get into the record books

as several false starts and/or accidents made for a lengthy

caution period. While Howard was having things his way at the

front of the pack Fiorentino was steadily working his way to the

front and by just pass the half way mark had moved passed BJ

Vock and into the runner-up slot. Despite several more cautions

and restarts Anthony was never really able to challenge for the

top spot and had to await the results of the post race inspection

before being officially declared the winner.

Like the DIRT Sportsman race Steve Hulizer made full use of a

front row starting spot to lead every lap of the 30-lap feature

and garner the win. Unlike several weeks ago when he too had

problems in the post race tech inspection this time Steve went

cleanly through the inspection process without any trouble. In

the race's late stages Gus Schmidt, who had moved from the

seventh starting spot to the runner-up slot, looked like he was

going to be able to challenge Steve for the top spot. Particularly

as the two raced in lap traffic, but while he was able to get close

on a couple of occasions, Gus was never able to seriously

challenge Steve for the lead. Frankie Caprara finished a distant

third with Lee Gill and current point leader Billy Wilcox rounding

out the top five.

There was a new face in victory circle in the Pure Stock feature

as Charles Duffany vaulted from twelfth starting spot to claim the

win. Point leader Dave Mannise, who has won every feature so

far this season, dropped out with mechanical problems early in

the race. Charles and Mark Barker brought the crowd to their

feet as they vied for the number one position in race's closing

laps. In the last lap Barker made a last ditch move to pass

Duffany and instead opened the door for Rick Paige to slip by

and into second at the finish. Jason Gilmore and Shane Ray

rounded out the top five.