CAN-AM SPEEDWAY WINS TO LEE GILL, TIM VANBROCKLIN
CORY FACHINI, BILL EISELE AND KYLE SHARP
LAFARGEVILLE NY: The Memorial Day weekend brought a great field of cars and an excellent crowd to the fast 1/2 mile clay oval in upstate New York. Fans were treated to some great dirt track racing in all (5) divisions on Erie Materials, Country Bob's Restaurant night at the Can-Am Speedway.
The 358 DIRT Modified 25 lap feature saw rookie Ryan Bartlett and veteran Sandy Roberts lead a strong field to the green flag, Roberts had his competitors take notice during his heat race when he was one of the fastest cars on the speedway and at the drop of the green he charged into the lead ahead of Bartlett. While the two leaders took of advantage of a long green flag run, many cars were working their way to the front from the back of the pack. On lap 10 Lee Gill, who started in the 8th position, fought his way to the front and grabbed the lead away from Roberts. At the halfway point Gill was shown as the leader with Greg Meeks now second, Bill Wilcox third, Lansing Petzoldt fourth and Rick Wilson fifth. The five leaders would begin to put on a show that had the fans on their feet cheering for their favorite. The races only caution flew on lap 21 when John Ramsey contacted the wall coming off of turn four, this tightened up the field and set up a sprint to the finish. Gill hung on for the win over Wilcox, Petzoldt, Meeks and Bill Gill. Point leader going into the event Danny O'Brien was forced to watch the nights action and also watch Bill Gill take the point lead with his fifth place finish.
The 15 DIRT Sportsman event was brought to the line by Adam Moore and Scott MacCue. MacCue, who worked all week repairing damage suffered last Saturday night looked very strong at the drop of the green and opened up a comfortable lead over his competition. The first caution flew on lap 4 when Scott Britton and Bill Bourquin came together off of turn two, Bourquin was done for the night but Britton was able to continue. Tim VanBrocklin was the first to pressure MacCue for the lead and was right there to take the front spot when MacCue sufferd a flat tire on lap 9. VanBrocklin was now shown as the leader with Anthony Fiorentino and RJ Gibbons 2nd and 3rd. Steve Hall was the next to take the top spot on lap 11 but one lap later would also suffer a flat tire handing the lead back over to VanBrocklin. VanBrocklin went on for his first win of the season over Fiorentino, Rob Galloway, Ben Tucker and Gibbons. Matt Butler, with his 6th place finish, took a slim lead over Hall in the DIRT Sportsman point standings.
Jamie Platt and Neal Bryden set the pace for the 15 lap IMCA Modified feature but it was Ron O'Neil who was shown as the leader of lap 1. A number of cautions slowed the event early but O'Neil was able to hang on to the lead on every restart. Neal Edger made his way to the front and took the lead away on lap 6 with O'Neil settling into second and Cory Fachini third. The cautions would fly again late in the race keeping the field together. Edger saw his bid for a second win go away when he lost his breaks entering turn one with less than five laps to go. Fachini took over the top spot and went on for the win over Steve Bidwell, Debbie Stevenson, Jim Graves and Rick Dusckas. With his win Fachini lenghtened his point lead over Larry Bezner who suffered engine problems on the final lap.
The 12 lap Street Stock feature took the green with Laurie Handschuh and Brian Rogers showing the way. Handschuh came around to lead lap 1 but it was Steve Rookey on the move early as he took command of the event on lap 2. Rookey set the pace and was hoping to end Bill Eisele's win streak of 1999. The 1st and only caution came out on lap 4 for a stalled car and on the restart Rookey remained the leader but Eisele was now on his back bumper and challenging for the lead. Rookey was doing all he could but again Eisele proved stronger and went by for the lead and the win on lap 7. Rookey had another great run to come away with second followed by Rogers, Andy Wells and Handschuh.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the green flag with Doug Ada and Kim Mallette setting the pace. Ada, in only his third ever start jumped out to the early lead, while many drivers began their charge from the back of the pack. The Hobby Stock drivers continue to put on side by side racing each week and this 10 lap feature would be no different as they ran three and four wide throughout the event. Ada was the man to beat as he continued to lead until the only caution flew on lap 9 when Chris Taylor and Mark Webb made contact in turn two sending Taylor's car sideways in front of the field. With Taylor sitting sideways Erv Miller had no where to go and t-boned the Taylor number 8. Both cars suffered heavy damage but luckily both drivers walked away uninjured.
Kyle Sharp took advantage of the yellow and moved in on Ada and into the lead on lap 9. Sharp added his point lead with the win while Ada had a great run to come across in second followed by Kevin Presley, Joseph Combs and Ernie Taylor.
Next Saturday night will be Rt. 37 Building Supply night at the speedway when fans will be treated to another action packed night of great dirt track racing in all (5) weekly classes. In addition to a complete show of heats and features the kids will participate in a special kid's costume contest. For more information call the speedway at (315) 658-4431 or look us up on the internet at www.can-amspeedway.com.
ERIE MATERIALS, COUNTRY BOB'S RESTAURANT
FEATURE FINISHES
358 DIRT MODIFIED: Lee Gill, Billy Wilcox, Lansing Petzoldt, Greg Meeks, Bill Gill, Rick Wilson, Pat O'Brien, Sandy Roberts, Steve Bilow, Scott Parliment, Kevin Martin, Frank Caprara, Bob Bennett, Ryan Bartlett, Dale Eggleston, John Ramsey, Brent Cross, Jeff Sykes, George McIntyre DNS: Pete Roberts, Steve Roberts
DIRT SPORTSMAN: Tim VanBrocklin, Anthony Fiorentino, Rob Galloway, Ben Tucker, RJ Gibbons, Matt Butler, Scott Britton, Adam Moore, Dave Surace, Rick McCreadie, Craig Collier, Steve Hall, Scott MacCue, Wayne Side, Lance Willix, Bill Bourquin
IMCA MODIFIED: Cory Fachini, Steve Bidwell, Debbie Stevenson, Jim Graves, Rick Dusckas, Neal Edger, Jamie Platt, Ron O'Neil, Larry Bezner, Eddie O'Neil, Neal Bryden, Ken Partridge, Brenda O'Neil, Kevin Chant DNS: Bill Klinkowski
STREET STOCK: Bill Eisele, Steve Rookey, Brian Rogers, Andy Wells, Laurie Handschuh, Andrew Howard, Bill Gardner Jr., Clint Middlemiss, Dave Marshall
IMCA HOBBY STOCK: Kyle Sharp, Doug Ada, Kevin Presley, Joseph Combs, Ernie Taylor, Don Scales, Kevin Duffany, Jeff Hunter, Les Sanford, Keith Rabetoy, Chris Warner, Mark Webb, Erv Miller, Chris Taylor, George Sanford, Kim Mallette, Charles Duffany DNS: Jim Stuckey, Shane Raye