LEE GILL SNARES CAN-AM WIN

LaFargeville, NY. Mother nature graced the skies over the Can Am Speedway with a crystal clear evening for Sboro's Family Restaurants, Golden Image Tanning Salon, and TV-50 night. It was a full night of racing action as all five regular classes were on hand, along with a special Enduro, and the Mid-state Vintage Stock Car Club.

The first feature of the evening was the IMCA Hobby stocks, with Ed Rogers and Les Stanford leading the field down to the green. Chris Warner made two immediate passes to claim the second position at the start of the event. But it didn't take point champion Mark Webb long to move up in the field. By lap three, he was already knocking on the door of Chris Warner who was in second. On lap four, Webb moved past Warner and began to chase down early race leader Ed Rogers. Webb caught up with Rogers with about two to go in the feature. The duo brought the fans to their feet as they raced side by side for the win. But the caution flag came out meaning Webb had to fall back behind Rogers. When the race resumed Webb again tried to move along side of Rogers but this time Rogers proved a little too stout. All Webb was looking for was just a little bit of an open door to slip past Rogers, but that wasn't going to happen, as Rogers went on to score the win.

Next on the racing grid was the 358 Modifieds, with Scott Parliament and Brent Cross pacing the field down to the green. Bill Gill made an early move under Brent Cross to take over the second position, and then Gill moved high around Parliament to take over the lead on the second lap. Bill's cousin, Lee Gill, wasn't going to be left far behind as he moved past various racers such as Dale Eggleston, Ryan Bartlett and Brent Cross, to rapidly move himself up and into the third position. Meanwhile Steve Roberts, driving his new Troyer 4 link machine, started his march to the front by passing under Dale Eggleston for eighth. Ryan Bartlett made an impressive move under Brent Cross for fourth. The prior week's feature winner, Billy Wilcox, was also making his bid as he moved high around Dave Heaslip and Dale Eggleston for eight then under George McIntyre for seventh. On lap eight Lee Gill moved under Scott Parliament for second while Dave Heaslip and Billy Wilcox moved under Cross for the sixth and seventh position. The first yellow flag of the race flew on lap 13 when Wayne Sides stopped in turn three and four. When racing resumed Dave Heaslip passed Steve Roberts and Ryan Bartlett and into fourth position. Billy Wilcox moved under Roberts for the sixth position, but Roberts fought back and regain the spot. Lee Gill found his chance and moved under his cousin to take over command on lap 17. The next yellow flew on lap 16 when George McIntyre also stopped in between turns three and four. When racing continued, Heaslip moved under Parliament for third, while Ryan Bartlett followed Heaslip to claim the fourth position. Billy Wilcox then advanced to fifth by moving under Steve Roberts and Scott Parliament, while Roberts also moved under Parliament. Meanwhile Lee was opening up a straight way lead as he claimed the victory.

Next up on the grid was the Street Stocks, being led to the green by Chris Taylor and Clint Middlemiss. Billy Eisele made an immediate pass under Laurie Handschuh for the fourth position. On the next lap Eisele moved high around Andy Wells and Scott Kocher and into second. Two laps later Bryan Rogers slipped by Lance LaLone for the sixth position while Eisele moved high around Chris Taylor to take over the lead. The yellow flew on lap 8, when Lance LaLone spun in turn four. When the green flag came out again Eisele continued his march into victory lane while LaLone moved high around Handschuh and Wells for fourth.

The IMCA Modifieds followed the Street Stocks onto the race surface for their main event. At the start pole sitter George Cantazano immediately opened up a commanding lead while Mark Chrzanowski and Mike Adderley moved around Rick Dusckas for the third and fourth positions on the opening circuit. On the next lap Adderley moved under Chrzanowski to claim third. Yellow flew on lap two when Bill Code went off the track in turn two. When racing continued, Kevin Batelle moved under Chrzanowski and into the third position. Yellow flew again on lap three when Neal Edgar and Jake Rabetoy spun in turn four. When racing continued, Eddie O'Neil moved under Kevin Buff for third. On lap five another yellow flew when Larry Bezner's engine broke and fluid dropped on the track and causing Jamie Platt to spin in turn two. When the green flag again flew, Buff moved high around Adderley for second, and Kevin Battelle moved high around O'Neil for fourth. No one could even challenge George the entire race as he easily found his way into victory lane.

The last feature of the evening was the Sportsman main, with Anthony Fiorentino and Larry Lamb leading the field to the green. At the drop of starter Chip Burdick's flag Matt Butler made a move around RJ Gibbons for fourth. The yellow flew on lap one when Scott MacCue, RJ Gibbons, and Andrew Howard made contact on the backstretch and then came to a stop. When the green flag again flew, Ben Tucker moved under Adam Moore for the second position. Yellow again flew on lap two when Fiorentino, who was driving a car other than his own regular mount, stopped on the backstretch. When racing resumed Steve Hall moved under Tucker and Lamb and into the lead. On lap five the next yellow flew when George Stanford spun in turn three. Scott MacCue moved high around Jessica Zemken and under Scott Webb to take over the seventh position. Lance Willix moved under Ben Tucker for second. On lap 12 the yellow flew for the final time of the night when Jessica Zemken spun in turn two. When racing got back underway Scott Webb, in only his second time ever in a modified, moved high around Adam Moore for fourth, while Steve Hall went on to add his 50th career win at Can Am to his resume.

Next Saturday night at the Can-Am International Speedway it will be Genesee/AJ Missert Dist. Night for a special night of racing as the Sunoco 358 series will be at the track for 50 lap affair along a U.P.F.O Sportsman series race for thirty laps. Points for the IMCA and the IMCA Hobby stocks will end on this final night of racing for the 2000 season. Racing action begins at a new time next week of 6:00pm, with gates opening at 4:00. Any question should be directed to the speedway at (315) 658-4431.

IMCA Hobby stocks: ED ROGERS, Mark Webb, Chris Warner, Jason Gilmore, Don Scales, Phil Desormeau, Kim Mallette, Scott Castor, Bill Gardner Jr., Steve Gilmore, Charles Duffany, Mark Barker, Chris Warner II, Bill Gardner Sr., Jeff Shannon, Elmer Perry, Shane Raye, Erv Miller, George Savage, Les Stanford, Joe Combs, Chris Taylor, Mike Baltz

358 Modifieds: LEE GILL, Billy Gill, Dave Heaslip, Ryan Bartlett, Billy Wilcox, Steve Roberts, Scott Parliament, Dale Eggleston, Larry Welling Jr., Ted Lamb, Bob Bennett, Chris Herbison, Brent Cross, Roger Phelps, Steve Bilow, George McIntyre, Wayne Sides, Tyler Bartlett, John Ramsey

Street Stocks: BILLY EISELE, Chris Taylor, Scott Kocher, Lance LaLone, Andy Wells, Jeff Hunter, Clint Middlemiss, Eric Farrell, Laurie Handschuh, Kevin Therrier, Bryan Rogers, Tad Woodring

IMCA Modifieds: GEORGE CANTAZANO, Kevin Buff, Mike Adderley, Kevin Battelle, Eddie O 'Neil, Bill Code, Rick Dusckas, Mark Chrzanowki, Bruce McCluskey, Steve Gardner, Jim Chant, Jamie Platt, John Mason, Larry Bezner, Jake Rabetoy, Neal Edgar

Sportsman: STEVE HALL, Lance Willix, Ben Tucker, Scott Webb, Adam Moore, Dave Surace, Matt Butler, Scott MacCue, BJ Vock, Larry Lamb, Larry Bevins, Darren Cavalier, George Stanford, Jessica Zemken, Pernie Banks, Cliff Charlesbois, Anthony Fiorentino, RJ Gibbons, Andrew Howard