BILL GILL TAKES WIN AND POINT LEAD AT CAN-AM
TUCKER, FACHINI, EISELE AND SANFORD WINNERS
LAFARGEVILLE NY: Race fans saw some of the best side by side racing of the season this past Saturday night at the Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville on Waite Motor Sales, Watertown Truck and Equipment Center, Pepsi-Cola night. Track crews worked early last week to loosen the clay surface up in hopes of getting more moisture into the ground, but with heavy rain throughout the week the track came up tacky and extremely rough. Competitors in all classes made the best of the situation and in turn, fans were treated to some great racing.
George Horning and Pete Roberts brought a strong field of 358 DIRT Modifieds to the green flag for their 25 lap feature and Horning jumped out to the lead at the conclusion of lap 1. Lansing Petzoldt was on the charge and by lap 2 had wrestled the lead away from a strong running Horning. The two would show the way through lap 9 when Lee Gill took command. Gill and Petzoldt thrilled the fans with their side by side racing until lap 15 when Bill Gill moved in to challenge cousin Lee for the win. The fans were on their feet over the final laps and on lap 24 Bill found the power to go by for the lead and the win. With his win, Gill took the point lead back from rookie Frank Caprara who was forced out on lap 12 with problems suffered when he hit the heavy inside burm. Lee Gill came across the line second followed by Bill Wilcox, Pat O'Brien and Petzoldt.
Rookies Jim Eaton and Anthony Fiorentino set the pace in the 15 lap DIRT Sportsman feature and Fiorentino powered into the lead on lap 1. Fiorentino looked strong and continued to lead but another rookie, Andrew Howard chased him down and the two ran lap after lap side by side for the lead. Howard began to slow on lap 13 and by lap 14 Ben Tucker had moved around the two leaders to take over the top spot. Tucker went on for the win followed by Fiorentino, Matt Butler, Steve Hall and Scott MacCue.
Thirteen cars were called to the line for the 15 IMCA Modified feature and it was front row starter Bill Klinkowski taking the lead. Klinkowski set the pace until lap 3 when point leader Cory Fachini powered from his 9th starting position to take the lead. Fachini was first challenged by Kevin Chant and then Larry Bezner but it was Neal Edgar who made a last lap charge for the lead. Fachini would not be denied the win and came across ahead of Edgar, Bezner, Chant and rookie Rick Dusckas.
The 12 lap Street Stock feature came to the line with Clint Middlemiss and Andy Wells on the front row but it was Steve Rookey leading at the end of lap number 1. Rookey is still looking for that first win of the season and looked to be on his way until Bill Eisele moved past on lap 5. Eisele was out to try and break the win streak of Steve Woodward who had picked up four wins in a row. Woodward moved into second on lap six but could not find the power to get by for the win. Eisele extended his point lead with the win over Woodward, Rookey, Brian Rogers and Wells. The IMCA Hobby Stocks continued their great racing this past Saturday night. Rookie Scott Shara and Steve Gilmore brought the pack to the green for their 10 lap event but it was rookie Keith Rabetoy out in front at the end of lap 1. Chris Warner was having his best run of the season as he came from the 5th starting spot to take the lead on lap 2. Warner held off the challenge of Erv Miller early in the race but slowed on lap 7 with troubles. George Sanford, who has had all kinds of trouble lately, took command on lap 7 and went on for his first ever win at Can-Am. Miller was second followed by Charles Duffany, Joseph Combs and Kyle Sharp.
Next Saturday will be another complete program in all five classes plus the popular Media Race makes its return to Can-Am. Racing will be sponsored by USPO, Fastlube of Watertown and Clean Burn Waste Oil Furnaces. Gates will open at 5:00 with the first green flag waving at 7:00. For more information call the speedway at (315) 658-4431 or look us up on the internet at www.can-amspeedway.com.
WAITE MOTOR SALES, WATERTOWN TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT CENTER PEPSI-COLA FEATURE FINISHES
358 DIRT MODIFIED FINISH: Bill Gill, Lee Gill, Billy Wilcox, Pat O'Brien, Lansing Petzoldt, George McIntyre, Dale Eggleston, Steve Bilow, George Horning, Sandy Roberts, Jeff Sykes, Brent Cross, Frank Caprara, Pete Roberts, Ryan Bartlett, Steve Roberts, Greg Meeks, Bob Bennett, Dave Rielly, Scott Parliament
SPORTSMAN FINISH: Ben Tucker, Anthony Fiorentino, Matt Butler, Steve Hall, Scott MacCue, Wayne Side, Andrew Howard, Larry Lamb, RJ Gibbons, Buddy Rogers, Jim Eaton, Adam Moore, Lance Willix, Larry Bivens, Mickey Arnold, Ernie Taylor, Dave Surace, DNS: Bill Bourquin
IMCA MODIFIED FINISH: Cory Fachini, Neal Edgar, Larry Bezner, Kevin Chant, Rick Dusckas, Bill Klinkowski, Jamie Platt, Debbie Stevenson, Brenda O'Neil, Eddie O'Neil, DNS: Neal Bryden, Matt Rockeffeller, Steve Bidwell
STREET STOCK FINISH: Bill Eisele, Steve Woodward, Steve Rookey, Brian Rogers, Andy Wells, Terry Ingersoll, Clint Middlemiss, Mike Mandigo, Bill Gardner Sr., Jason Gilmore, Ken Paro, Laurie Handschuh, Lance Lalone
IMCA HOBBY STOCK FINISH: George Sanford, Erv Miller, Charles Duffany, Joseph Combs, Kyle Sharp, Kim Mallette, Don Scales, Keith Rabetoy, Steve Gilmore, Les Sanford, Keith Baltz, Chris Warner, Chris Taylor, Scott Shara, Shane Raye, DNS: ED Rogers, Jeff Chapin