Central PA Speedway Starts 2004 in “Spectacular” Fashion
Bill Walker
5/1/04
When great events are scheduled to take place, talk or at least thoughts turn to thinking, “will the event live up to all of the hype?” Some hyped flops that come to mind are Mike Tyson –VS- Michael Spinks, the Dan and Dave Olympic showdown that never happened because one failed to qualify and the early April face off between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. On the other side of the coin you have Frazier –VS- Ali, Hulk Hogan –VS- Andre the Giant, the 1979 Daytona 500 and now you can now add the grand reopening of the newly configured Central PA Speedway to the list. With clouds moving in and the weather radar showing rain on it way, the program forged ahead and the first dirt event at the facility since 1985 was completed.
First to take to the racing surface for the nights feature events were the Shortway Services Inc. of Reynoldsville Street Stocks. At the dropping of Alan Luzier’s green flag Gary Little jumped to the point trying to win his first ever main event in a street stock. While working lap number three the pole sitter Jason Walker found a line and made his way around Little to claim the top spot. Walker survived two cautions and looked like he was going to drive away for the win when the caution flag waved with just two laps left. That caution gave Gary Conklin and Denny Fenton just the break they were looking for as it put the duo on Walker’s bumper. With the green once again waving Conklin used the highline and moved past to claim the lead. Conklin led the final two laps to claim the first ever feature event victory over Fenton who worked by for second after starting last, Walker, Little and Ron Mitchell. Picking up the heat race victory was Dan Smeal.
Sixteen Budweiser Late Models took their turn at history and at the onset Bellwood’s Dwayne Taneyhill took the early lead with the “Turbotville Tornado” Luke Hoffner in tow. Taneyhill looked to be the man to beat until a lap eight caution put Hoffner and Jim Parson on his rear nerf bar. With the track once again green, Hoffner began to apply pressure and found his groove and slipped by Taneyhill while working lap ten. From there, Hoffner never looked back as he led the rest of the way to claim the victory. An exuberant Hoffner in victory lane said, “everyone said I couldn’t win on a big track anymore, they don’t get much bigger than this place and here we are.” Crossing behind Hoffner were Taneyhill, Shawn McGarvey, Chuck Kennedy and Parson. Heats were copped by Yvette Hahn and Taneyhill.
Next on the blocks were the Stocker Chevrolet Subaru Small Block Modifieds. Before a lap of green flag racing could be complete a caution that collected Brad Rapp and Kevin Dickson among others constituted a complete restart and Bill Krause of Houtzdale took off. Kreause endured challenges from Scott “Snuffy” Smith and then Philipsburg’s Mike Butterworth until lap seventeen when Butterworth was diving to the inside and made heavy contact that severely damaged his mount and earned Mike a check out by on site Paramedics. Once action resumed, Jimmy Holden shadowed Krause’s every action and made the move by to lead the final two circuits to snatch the victory. Following Holden’s led at the line were Krause, Smith, Rapp and Mark Frankhouser. The heat was won by Dickson.
Levi Ardery let all the way in the Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Four Cylinder main event. Ardery had to hold off a strong challenge from a very stout Bill Washek. Following Levi at the line were Washek and Alan Barnett. In victory lane Ardery thanked the track crew for the fine work they have done to make all of this happen and said “there are a lot of guys out here tonight that have these cars (Pro Four Cylinders) sitting in your garages, lets get some more cars out here and put on a great show.” The lone heat was won by Washek.
The final event of the evening was reserved for the Lias Tire Pure Street Stocks. Aaron Walker immediately took the lead and looked to be well on his way to a victory when while working lap six pulled up lame and limped his machine to the pits. Inheriting the lead was Philipsburg native Craig Bainey who held off heavy pressure from Chad Bender for the final five circuits to claim his victory. Chasing Bainey at the line were Bender, Jason Bainey, Rob Bailey and Frank Little.
Next weeks racing action kicks off at 8:00 PM with a regular show plus the first appearance of the Pepsi Cola Chargers. There will also be a special admission price of just $5 for all mothers in celebration of Mothers Day.
We’ll see you next week at the BIG BEAR!!!
Summary:
Shortway Services Inc. of Reynoldsville Street Stocks:
1.Gary Conklin, Philipsburg 2.Denny Fenton, Clearfield 3.Jason Walker, Bigler 4.Gary Little, Woodland 5.Ron Mitchell, Ridgeway 6.Dayton Nixon, Woodland 7.Dan Smeal, Ramey
Budweiser Late Models:
1.Luke Hoffner, Turbotville 2.Dwayne Taneyhill, Bellwood 3.Shawn McGarvey, Coalport 4.Chuck Kennedy, Brockway 5. Jim Parson, Bellwood 6.Yvette Hahn, Alum Bank 7.Keith Witherite, Curwensville 8.Chris Clark, Curwensville 9.Bob McMillen, St. Marys 10.Jerry Lower, Williamsburg 11.Loren Sallack, Johnsonburg 12.Jerry Redden, Mahaffey 13.Tim Steis, St. Marys 14.Jason Witherite, Luthersburg 15.Jim Hendricks, Dubois 16.Chris Farrell, Clearfield
Stocker Chevrolet Subaru Modifieds:
1.Jimmy Holden, Tiona 2.Bill Krause, Houtzdale 3.Scott Smith, Woodland 4.Brad Rapp, Clarion 5.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 6.Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg 7.Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills 8.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 9.Brent Boyer, Bloomsburg 10.Kevin Dickson, West Decatur
Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Four Cylinders:
1. Levi Ardrey, West Decatur 2.Bill Washek, Clearfield 3.Alan Barnett, Philipsburg 4.Unknown Driver
Lias Tire Pure Street Stocks:
1.Craig Bainey, Philipsburg 2.Chad Bender, Bigler 3.Jason Bainey, Philipsburg 4.Rob Bailey, Clearfield 5.Frank Little, Woodland 6.Aaron Walker, Sykesville 7.Todd Bainey, Philipsburg