PAT O'BRIEN NOTCHES WIN

LaFargeville, NY. As what initially appeared to be a crystal clear evening at the Can-Am International Speedway, turned into a night of dodging on again-off again heavy showers. Track promoters found themselves trying to work around the rain on FX Caprara Car Companies night in an effort to get all the scheduled races in but were only able to complete two out of the five features that were on tapped for the night's racing action.

The IMCA Modifieds were the first to run their feature. Mike Bungay and Ken Klinkowski led the field to the green flag. Neal Edgar wasted no time, making his way by Rick Dusckas for the sixth position. Before lap one could be completed a yellow flag was flown for Eddie O'Neil, Mark Chrzanowski, Kevin Buff, and Jamie Platt who had tangled in turns three and four. When racing resumed Neal Edgar found himself being passed for position by Cory Fachini who had moved under him to claim the sixth position. Fachini was really flying to the front as a lap later he had advanced to third and the next lap he found himself in second. Meanwhile Kevin Chant and Bud Hernburg passed Edgar to push him back a couple of more positions. On lap four the race was red flagged for rain. After a 20 minute delay to allow track officials to get the surface back into racing condition, the feature got back underway. On lap six Mike Adderley moved under Fachini, whose car was falling off the pace, to take over the runner up slot. Then George Cantazano slipped under Chant and Adderley to move to second. On lap eight the race's next caution flag flew, when Cory Fachini's car came to a stop on the backstretch. When racing resumed, George Cantazano moved high around Mike Bungay, who had lead from the start of the race, to take over the lead. But Cantazano's efforts went for naught as on lap 11 he blew his engine, laying down a stream of oil and water onto the track, as he was racing into turn three and bringing out yet another yellow flag. While track workers were trying to dry the track of the oil and water the heavens once again opened up with a brief shower that necessitated another 20 minute delay so that the track could be packed back in yet again. Racing got going again with Bungay still on the point, but this time with Neal Edgar hot on his back bumper. On lap fourteen of the fifteen- lap event Edgar raced by Bungay to take over the lead and claim the win.

The DIRT Modifieds were the last class of the night to get their feature in. Rich Amo and Brent Cross paced the field down to the green flag. Billy Wilcox, who has had a difficult time finishing races this year at Can Am, immediately moved high around Cross and Amo from his fourth place starting spot to take over the lead by the time he had entered the second turn. But the mechanical gremlins that have plagued Wilcox all year returned, as he would bring out the race's first yellow flag when he came to a stop on the backstretch when a bolt holding a rear radius arm broke. When racing resumed, Ryan Bartlett moved high around Cross for the lead. Pat O'Brien, who had started 12th, was also making a presence known when he moved under Dale Eggleston for the fourth position on lap three. On that lap the next caution flag flew when Andy Romano, Bob Bennett, George McIntyre, Bill Gill, Greg Meeks and Steve Roberts all tangle when going into turn three. When racing continued, Lee Gill and Pat O'Brien moved under Brent Cross to take over the second and third positions on the speedway and follow the seventeen year old Bartlett who was having a career day leading the field. On lap four, the next yellow flew for Rich Amo who had spun on the front stretch. When racing resumed, Pat O'Brien passed Lee Gill to take over second. Scott Parliament also took the opportunity to move under Cross to take over the fifth position. On lap 9 Danny O'Brien used the inside lane to take over sixth position from Cross. Frank Caprara then followed O'Brien to push Cross back yet another position. Billy Gill then found himself in a battle with Dale Eggleston, as the two switched places on the speedway numerous times while they battled for the eighth position. On lap sixteen, the next caution flag flew as Bob Bennett stopped in turn four. On lap eighteen; the race's final yellow flag flew when Scott Parliament, who had been running in the top five, slowed on the backstretch. On the ensuing restart Pat O'Brien got a run on Ryan Bartlett going into the first turn to take over the lead, Lee Gill stayed glued to Pat's back bumper and followed him on the bottom lane to move under Bartlett and take over the second position. The race was red flagged on lap 23, and called complete shortly after as heavy rains fell on the speedway.

Next week at the Can-Am International Speedway, the three rained out features from August 26, will kick off the nights actions. All regular five classes will also be run on Sboro's Family Restaurants and Castle Chemical night, with this being the final points night for the DIRT Sportsman and Modified. The Enduro Race that was also scheduled for August 26th is tentatively rescheduled to run on September 9th. As always, gates open at five with Chip and Matt Burdick's green flag being thrown promptly at 7pm. Any questions can be directed at the speedway at (315) 658-4431.

DIRT 358 Modified: Pat O'Brien, Lee Gill, Ryan Bartlett, Danny O'Brien, Frank Caprara, Brent Cross, Bill Gill, Dale Eggleston, George McIntyre, Rich Amo, Andy Romano, Bob Bennett, Scott Parliament, Wayne Side, Steve Roberts Sr., Greg Meeks, Tyler Bartlett, Billy, Wilcox, Pat Sullivan, Billy Caprara (DNS).

IMCA Modifieds: Neal Edgar, Mike Bungay, Ron O'Neil, Eddie O'Neil, Kevin Buff, Bud Hernburg, Kevin Battelle, Brent Matzell, Mike Adderley, Ken Klinkowski, Cory Fachini, Rick Dusckas, Larry Bezner, Kevin Chant, Jake Rabetoy, George Cantazano, Ken Partridge, Mark Chrzanowski, Jamie Platt, Terry Gardner