LOCAL FAVORITE BESTS DIRT'S BEST TO POST FIRST CAREER WIN IN A TOUR RACE
LaFargeville, NY… The clouds and rain lurked about the Can-Am International Speedway all day on Wednesday August 23rd but the rains stayed away from the half-mile facility as Stadium International, and Budweiser were on hand to sponsor the annual Sunoco 100 lap 358 Modifieds tour visit. Along with the 358 Modifieds, the IMCA Modifieds were also on hand, creating an exciting night of racing.
The IMCA Modifieds took the green flag for their for their 20-lap feature first. Jamie Platt and Jake Rabetoy paced the field to the green. Sixteen-year-old Mike Adderley, who is only competing in his sixth race, started in third and passed both Platt and Rabetoy on the first lap to take over command. Neal Edgar followed Adderley as he moved from his fifth starting position to take over second. Adderley fought Edgar for two laps, when Adderley went high, allowing Edgar to take over the command of the race.
Kevin Battelle, who started seventh, followed Edgar to move past Adderley to take over the second position as Adderley headed to the pits with a flat tire. Along with battling each other for the lead Edgar and Battelle had another situation to worry about.
Current points leader Larry Bezner was quickly moving from mid pack and had moved into third, and onto the heals of Battelle, by the fourth lap. On lap 17, of the special 20-lap event, Bezner moved past Battelle to take over the second position and set his sights on Edgar. But despite the pressure Edgar stayed focus and went on to victory lane.
After the IMCA modified event the DIRT 358 Modifieds took to the track. Hometown favorite LaFargeville resident Lee Gill drew the pole, with Pete Bicknell right along side of him. Bicknell took the early lead, with Frank Caprara, who had started third, moving around Lee Gill and into the runner-up slot. Jason Barney made the field know that he meant business, when he moved under Dale Eggleston for sixth position.
The ‘Doctor’ Danny Johnson, who had just won the two nights prior stops on the series at Little Valley and Black Rock Speedways, was looking to make it three in a row, he moved high around Billy Wilcox to take over the seventh position. Danny had started the race 14th.
The first caution of the evening fell on lap five, when Danny O’Brien was side-lined to the pits with a right rear flat tire, he never returned to the track. When racing resumed, Frank Caprara took the opportunity to move high around Bicknell to take over the lead. At the same time Steve Paine moved around Lee Gill to take over the third position.
The next caution flag flew on lap 15 when Billy Wilcox stopped in turn four also with a right rear flat tire. When racing continued, Danny Johnson moved under Steve Paine to take away the fourth position, while Pat O’Brien moved around Jason Barney to take over the seventh position.
On lap thirty, the yellow flag flew again for Kyle Jacobs who had spun in turn four. When the green flag was thrown, Bicknell moved high around Caprara to take over the lead.
The yellow was again displayed on lap 32 when Wayne Sides stopped in turn one. The green flag was again displayed, and Billy Gill took this opportunity to move high around Steve Paine, who had fallen off the pace with the leaders, to claim the ninth position.
The yellow was again shown on lap 38, when Scott Parliament stopped in turn four. When racing continued, Danny Johnson, again showing that he was there to win, moved high around Caprara to take over the third position. Tim Fuller, who had started 17th, also displayed his strength as he moved under Jason Barney to claim the sixth position as his.
The yellow lights were again shown on lap 45, when Kyle Jacobs once again stopped in turn two.
When the green was once again shown, Lee Gill took the opportunity to move high around Caprara to take over third, while Tim Fuller moved high around Pat O’Brien to claim fourth. O’Brien was determined not to give up with out a fight as he moved back under Fuller to get regain fourth.
The next yellow flag was displayed on lap 49 for second place runner Danny Johnson whose car had come to a stop in turn four. He entered the pits to get maintenance from his crew, but never returned.
On lap 63, O’Brien again showed dominance as he moved under Caprara to take over the third position.
On lap 67, Pete Bicknell, who had led the race since lap 33, broke upon entering turn four. Bicknell’s misfortune gave LaFargeville’s favorite son, Lee Gill, his first lead of the night.
Meanwhile Steve Paine was fighting his way back up through the field and into contention as move under Fuller to garner the fourth position.
On lap 73, the caution flag was displayed for Billy Gill who broke entering turn four. When the race was restarted, Frank Caprara used the opportunity to move under O’Brien to claim the second position. Two laps later, O’Brien stopped in turn four, as he too suffered from a right rear flat tire.
When the race continued, Lee Gill and Frank Caprara gained a strait-away lead on the third place finished Steve Paine and the rest of the field. Touring the tacky surface almost 1.5 seconds faster than Paine.
Upon entering lap 97, Caprara and Gill experienced heavy lap traffic. Gill tried dicing his way through the cars, but ended up on the short end of the stick as Caprara moved under him in the first turn to collect the lead and the win. This was the eighteen-year-old Caprara first career win 358 Sunoco Series Race.
Can-Am International Speedway returns to racing action this coming Saturday August 26th with all five regular classes slated to be back in action. Gates open at 5pm with Chip and Matt Burdick’s green flag being displayed promptly at 7pm. Questions should be directed at the Speedway at (315) 658-4431.
IMCA Modifieds: NEAL EDGAR, Cory Fachini, Brent Matzell, Larry Bezner, John Thayer, Jake Rabetoy, Kevin Battelle, Alex Wuff, Shawn Lias, Jamie Platt, Mark Chrzanowski, Mike Adderley, Mike Bungay DNS: Terry Gardner, Rick Dusckas.
DIRT Modifieds: FRANK CAPRARA, Lee Gill, Steve Paine, Jason Barney, Alan Johnson, Keith Hoffman, Todd Burley, Ryan Baye, Dale Eggeslton, Brett Hearn, Steve Hall, Lansing Petzoldt, Tim Fuller, Wayne Sides, Pat O’Brien, Billy Gill, Pete Bicknell, Alex Hoag, Vic Coffey, Danny Johnson, Kyle Jacobs, Scott Parliament, Jeff Sykes, Gus Schmidt, Frank Cozzie, Kevin Fetterly, Roger Phelps, Billy Wilcox, Dan Miller, Danny O’Brien, Ryan Bartlett. DNQ: Brent Cross, Billy Cook, Todd Stewart, John August, Matt Butler, George McIntyre, John Ramsey, Steve Roberts, Dave Surace, Anthony Fiorentino, Rick Amo, Rick Cauvier.