MIKE ROMANO BRINGS HOME SECOND WIN OF SEASON
Maybe now Mike Romano is back up to 100%. Derrick McGrew lead the start of the modified feature, but John Marsh, who started sixth was on the move and took the lead by lap 7. Marsh sped away from the field while McGrew held up tough in the second spot. The fight for third was on between AJ Romano, Mike Romano, and Ken Hanson. They went three wide coming in to turn four, but Mike prevailed followed by AJ and set his sights on McGrew. The Romanos worked in tandem and both got by McGrew on lap twelve. At halfway it was Marsh in the lead followed by Mike Romano, AJ Romano, Ron Holmes and McGrew. Last week’s winner Jeff Trombley started midfield but was up to sixth with Bobby Varin and Matt DeLorenzo in tow.
Mike Romano may have been hoping for a caution to bring the field back together, as Marsh had separated himself from the others so much, but it never came. Romano caught and passed Marsh on lap 24, but still didn’t know he was the leader. He was followed through the checkered flag by Marsh, AJ Romano, Holmes and Trombley. Trombley came away with the points lead this week after Dave Lape struggled in the feature and didn’t finish.
In Victory Lane, Romano said that “I didn’t know who was the leader. I just kept passing cars and I guess I passed them all”. Right you are! He also took home the Schoharie Kiwanis Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars in the feature event.
David Towns makes it two in a row in 30 lap Super DIRT Series event for Sportsman. It’s been a busy week for Towns. He made a trip to DIRT Headquarters after last week’s protest over his win. His win held up under DIRT scrutiny and he came back with a vengeance to prove it was no fluke. He was only 13th fastest in time trials, but really didn’t have to worry about making the feature since he was a guaranteed starter by virtue of his Fonda Top 5 status. He started fifth in the feature and wasted no time making his intentions known.
John McAulffe, who time trialed fastest and won his heat race started from the pole alongside fellow heat winner Bobby Hackel. McAuliffe sprinted off to an early lead with invader Chad Phelps both chasing him and trying to hold back the charges of Bobby Hackel. The caution flag flew for Pat O’Hanlon, taking away the lead that McAuliffe had built. On the restart, Hackel got by Phelps for the runner up spot but David Towns flew by Phelps for the third place. Running the extreme outside, Towns made passing Hackel, who is usually as outside as you can be, look easy snatching away the second spot. McAuliffe had a full straightaway lead on Towns, but Towns was chipping away at the lead bit by bit. At halfway, McAuliffe was mired in lapped traffic and Towns used a lapped car as a pick and took the lead. Eldon Payne, who started tenth was quietly working his way through the field and got by McAuliffe for second. Rounding out the top five were McAuliffe, Hackel and Phelps. Phelps was disqualified in post race inspection. This would bring Tony Farone into the top five for the second week in a row.
Nick Stone pulls off exciting pro stock win. The pro stocks never disappoint the fans and again brought them to their feet for a three car battle at the finish.
Chuck Dumblewski and Chip Smith lead the largest pro stock field we’ve seen lately to the green flag. Dumblewski got away to an early lead and shortly Mark Lighthall had moved into the second spot and took over for him on the backstretch on lap 5. Nick Stone, who had started eighth had made his way up to third and brought Rob Noviczski right along with him. Stone and Noviczski got by Dumblewski and Stone was pursuing Lighthall for the lead. Stone, known for bringing in the outside line, worked it to perfection and the two were running neck and neck for two laps until Stone finally cleared him and opened up three or four car lengths. Butchie Irwin steadily worked his way through the field from his eleventh starting position and passed Noviczski for third on lap thirteen. The field slowed for Chip Smith who had spun in turn four bringing about a three car battle for the lead on the restart. Lighthall took the lead but Stone was quickly regaining his momentum. Going through turn three on the white flag lap it was Stone on the outside, Irwin in the middle and Lighthall on the inside, each having tasted victory this season and hungry for more. At the checkered flag it was Stone followed by Irwin, Lighthall, Kevin Ward and Rob Noviczski.
Danny Ody started deep in the pack , but a huge wreck on the first lap involving much of the field shook up the restarting order. Some controversy ensued after drivers involved in the melee went to the pits and mounted their backup cars and attempted to rejoin the field. During the time that officials were verifying that even though a lap had not been completed, the race had officially started and they were not allowed to restart in their backup cars, the crews had time to make needed repairs without losing a lap.
On the front row on the restart were Dennis Vrooman and Steve Vrooman. Steve had originally started sixth in the feature. A quick caution before another lap was completed brought Danny Ody to the front row alongside last week’s winner Steve Vrooman. Ody took the lead on the restart and never looked back. Steve Vrooman, running in the second spot was already being pressured by Jeff Jones and gave up the spot to him on lap 3. Don’t look now, but here comes Steve Bidwell. He started 15th and passed Jones for the third spot on lap 4. Aaron Jacobs found that familiar high outside line to his liking again and started reeling in the top three, passing Bidwell on lap 7. At halfway Jacobs got by Jones for the runner up spot on the backstretch, but couldn’t quite catch Ody. He seemed to have the right momentum with two to go, but drifted up a little too high, costing him all he had gained. This was good news for Ody who came away with the win, followed by Jacobs, Jones, Bidwell and Steve Vrooman.
The first street stock feature started with Jack Hamm and Neil Cosselman on the front row. Cosselman was the early leader but Rocky Warner was working his way through the pack by the end of the first lap and was in the second spot.
Dave Horning, Jr. and Jeff Crosier spun in turn three on the second lap, sending them both to the rear of the field. At the restart, it was Rocky Warner and Phil Pearson leading the way, but Pearson was right there knocking on the door. Warner’s car went to the infield in a puff of smoke on lap four, handing the lead over to Pearson.
Pete Broderson and Guy Klob were chasing Pearson for lead but it was Klob that got by for the second spot. Horning Jr, who had made the trip from the end of the field to the front twice now, was pressuring Broderson for the second spot. At the last turn, last lap, Horning made the pass for the lead and came away with the win, followed by Pearson, Broderson, Klob and DT Pickard.
Howie Clark and Paul Hughes lead from the green flag but Mark Sullivan, Jr. quickly moved into the runner up position. The big mover and shaker in the field was “The Grand Old Man” Bob Van Aernam, who was quickly working his way through the field and into the lead on the backstretch on lap two.
John Babcock had moved into the runner up spot and was gaining on Van Aernam. Babcock went on the inside of Van Aernam and made the pass for the lead on Lap 8 while Dwight Oldorf and John Bradt were battling for the third spot. Babcock withstood the challenges from Van Aernam to win the event. Following him across the line were Van Aernam, John Bradt, Dwight Oldorf and Paul Hughes.
Modified Summary – 30 Laps: Mike Romano, John Marsh, AJ Romano, Ron Holmes, Jeff Trombley, Matt DeLorenzo, Bobby Varin, Jim Davis, Derrick McGrew, Alton Palmer, Robert King, Todd Morey, Ronnie Johnson, Tim Clemons, Tony Pepicelli, Ray Zemken, Steve Akers, Brian Purdy, Ken Hanson, Craig Hanson, Josh Pieniazek, Billy Osta, Jerry Pennock, Jr, Dave Lape, Chic Chandler, Ryan Odasz, Jack Johnson
Sportsman Summary – 30 laps: David Towns, Eldon Payne, Jr., John McAuliffe, Bobby Hackel, Chad Phelps, Tony Farone, Drew Fallis, Donnie Wetmore, Jr., Jessica Zemken, Jeremiah Munson, Paul Carey, Mike Button, Joey Williams, Elmo Reckner, Mark Mortensen, Keith Flach, Kenny Stafford, TJ Clemons, Josh Hohenforst, Daryl Hagen, Kevin Bates, Chris Garrity, Kyle Lewis, Jim Dallett, Pat O’Hanlon, Pete Sisler, Jim Burton, Mike Ballestero, Robert Perry, Bob Henry, Justin House
Pro Stock Summary – 20 Laps: Nick Stone, Butchie Irwin, Mark Lighthall, Kevin Ward, Rob Noviczski, Hondo Carpenter, Chuck McSpirit, Kenny Gates, Chucky Dumblewski, Luke Klob, Randy Cannell, Jason Brownell, Wayne Patrick, Rod Slater, Joey Duncan, Chip Smith, Rick Spencer, Dan Rickard
IMCA Finish – 20 Laps: Danny Ody, Aaron Jacobs, Jeff Jones, Steve Bidwell, Steve Vrooman, George Catanzano, Kurt Olsen, Dennis Vrooman, Darcy Volans, Rob VanAernam, John Malloy, Malcolm Warner, Danny Ballard, JoJo Donato, Kevin Priest, Nick Candelaria, Jeff Davis, Pete Knapp, Tom Funk, Carol Parker, Tom Costanza, Jay Fitzgerald
Street Stock “A” – 12 Laps, Dave Horning, Jr., Phil Pearson, Pete Broderson, Guy Klob, DT Pickard, Luke Horning, Sam Surnear, Jeff Crosier, Howard Smith, Neil Cosselman, Ivan Joslin, Rocky Warner, Dan Hartgraves, Jack Hamm
Street Stock “B” – 12 Laps, John Babcock, Bob VanAernam, John Bradt, Dwight Oldorf, Paul Hughes, Don Warner, Scott Wells, Cassidy Wilson, Howie Clark, Justin LaBombard, Joe Smith, Bill Lehman, Dave Horning, Sr