ANOTHER HEART BREAKER FOR ROBBIE KRULL
(By Bruce Bonham)
Dwarf Car pilot Chris Steele get some advice from mod driver Richie Vinson before his first stint in an open wheeler. Steele droive the crate-engined sportsman for the first time, showing well and finishing 15th. 4 Cylinder racer and karter Paul Klager runs the car next week.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
THOROLD, ON — For Robbie Krull, Saturday’s L. St. Amand Enterprises 35-lap Modified Feature was just another heart breaker in a season plagued with misfortune.
(Photo by Moniques)
With only two laps to certain victory, the No. 123's right rear tire bit the dust, snatching another feature win for the likable Krull with the never-give-up attitude.
Taking advantage of Krull’s exit pit side for a quicky tire change, was fellow New Yorker Ricky Richner, who jet ported up to second in the early going, while Tim Jones, and Rob Pietz skirmished for third.
On the fast lane again was Pete Bicknell, slicing through the field to cross the line second, adding to his massive point lead. Pietz slid home for third after an impressive run. Jones ended up fourth with Brian Stevens getting by Todd Gordon in the final stretch.
“Right off the bat I knew I had a pretty good car,” said a delighted Richner in the Hingston Metal Fabricators’ Victory Lane. “But, ah, the 123 was just checking out, I couldn’t believe it when he slowed ... What happened to him, a tire go down?
“I don’t think I’d have got him (Krull). He was really fast tonight. But I know how it feels to have that happen. Bicknell stole one from me at Ransomville last week.”
Scott Wood took a frightening tumble when he slammed into Brad Malloy, flipping his car but emerging uninjured.
(Photo by Moniques)
While the mods produced heartache, the Original Pizza Logs 25 lapper was a thriller when single feature winner Boyd MacTavish made a sweeping Turn 2 pass to overtake Adam Ferri on the final lap.
MacTavish, sitting in solid second position made the Lap 23 restart work for him when John Kaas’ car broke, and came home a winner.
“Me and Adam, we race clean all the time. I got no problems with Adam, He’s a good competitor,” said MacTavish, who insisted his father, former driver Bev recovering and in a wheel chair, be rolled out to join in the celebrations. “The restart really helped me. I don’t think I would have ran him (Ferri) down. You know ... that’s the way it happens. He got me at the beginning of the year .... There was all kinds of meat on the track tonight.”
Former pro stocker Mike Ward produced a decent run, registering third, while Dereck Lemyre rolled home fourth.
(Photo by Moniques)
In the Hoosier Stocks’ war Dave Dykstra chocked up his first victory after toiling on the dirt track the past five years. He took over the point coming out of Turn 4 on the fifth circuit, fronting a furry of activity in arrears.
The mayhem behind had Travis Braun holding a steady second. Rob Knapp, who got shuffled out of about nine spots in the early going, came back to score third, while Greg Ayres copped fourth.
“This is my first win in eight years,” said Dykstra obviously pleased with his night’s performance. “Under funded, a lot of bad luck. But this feels really good to be here a winner ... just awesome!”
Mike Dooley, running seriously for his first championship, became a pin ball during a Lap 11 front stretch mess, causing considerable damage to his Candyman racer.
Said Dooley as the tow trucks hooked him up: “There’s not many laps to win these races and everybody’s trying to get there (the finish) in a hurry. This is what happens.”
(Photo by Moniques)
The Syracuse connection returned to run Merrittville’s Seneca Niagara Casino Dwarf Cars’ 15-lap main event and wowed the crowd with a splendid display of speed and handling.
While Sophomore little car driver Justine Sharp blasted off into the lead, it wasn’t long before three-time winner Don Fenner nosed his way through for the lead by Lap 4 — after starting 14th in the 20-car field.
Hot on his tail pipes was colleague Jeff Barker, ripping up to challenge and make a clean pass on the leader by the seventh lap.
After a brilliant fight, side-by-side and swapping the head spot, Fenner cemented his win two circuits remaining, finishing ahead of Barker, former champ Wally Billing and defending champ, cousin Scott Billing.
“Oh yeah, I love this track .. can’t think of any place I’d rather be,” Said Fennor, insisting he runs a stock power plant in his prize winner. “It’s common believe that my engine’s built to the hilt. But that’s not true, it’s bone stock.”
(Photo by Moniques)
In the four cylinders’ battle, point leader Trevor Goulding pulled off his fourth victory, despite being sleep-deprived after a damaging previous night of racing at Ohsweken Speedway and making the fix into the wee hours of Saturday.
Goulding began the night in 10th starting spot and worked his way to the point with five circuits remaining. Front-runner Norm Mark also came to the front, but without a caution to close the gap, the winner of a six-pack of features this season, settled for second. Larry Erskine came through fourth, with Paul Klager, slated to do double-duty next week when his gets to run the crate engined sportsman next week, was fourth.
Shane Fair was the lone survivor in the mammoth big-car demo derby.
Tail Pipes: Flag flew half staff for long time stock car supporter and head bar keep at Digger’s Turn One, Winifred (Winnie) Harvey died suddenly Friday ... A staunch supporter and follower of all things Bicknell, “Winne” priceless sense of humour and always took care of patrons with he keynote line of, “What ya have?” ... Her fav driver was Davey Moore and always hopped to see him reunion night ... she will be missed by everyone this happy lady touched over the years in racing. Next Saturday, Economy Paving supports a regular program with the kids getting into the action with a box-car race.
RESULTS:
L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified (35 laps): RICKY RICHNER, Pete Bicknell, Rob Pietz, Tim Jones, Brian Stevens, Todd Gordon, Larry Lampman, Richie Vinson, Jamie Turner, Dan Miller, Fred Carleton, Robbie Krull, Bobby Davidson, Kenny Winfield, Jon Cornwell, Gary Kruchka, Brad Malloy, Scott Wood, Travis Cunningham.
Heats: 1.Rob Pietz 2. Paul Ashton 3. Brad Malloy.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman (25 laps): BOYD MACTAVISH, Adam Ferri, Mike Ward, Dereck Lemyre, Wayne Conn, Billy Willard, Martin Polhill, Jim Rouston, Billy Bleich, Chad Chevalier, Dennis Giancola, Don Spiece, Darren Zumoe, Doug Spiece, Chris Steele, Mike Bowman, Dave Flannigan.
Heats: 1. Dennis Giancola 2. Dereck Lemyre 3. Mike Ward
Hoosier Street Stocks (15 laps): DAVE DYKSTRA, Travis Braun, Rob Knapp, Greg Ayres, Kirk Wilson, Rob Murray, Danielle Landry, Dave Gifford, John Johnson, Russ Davidson, Brad Sheehan, Tyler McPherson, Rick Beales, Ron Kingsbury, Graham MacKay, Kevin Kocarik, Terry Larmet, Mike Dooley, Ed Fargnoli, Chris Schneider, Rick Champigny, Josh Murgachs
Heats: 1.Ed Fargnoli 2. Rob Knapp 3. Dave Dykstra.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars (15 laps): DON FENNER, Jeff Barker, Wally Billing, Scott Billing, Justin Sharp, Mark Brighton, Dave Ackler, Wayne Robins, Rick Brubacker, Shawn Sliter, Dave Russell, Derek Bredon, Kellie Mason, Chris Steele, Dave Arnold, Kory Howe, Ray Sliter, Ken Knapp, Bob Bredon.
Heats: 1. Justin Sharp 2. Wally Billing
Four cylinder (15 laps): TREVOR GOULDING, Norm Mark, Paul Klager, Roger Shenstone, Mike Giberson, Gord Bates, Carey Gore, Glenn Leinen, Tony Kelly, Vivc Mealing, Dave Small, Ron Jordan, Mike Swayze, Bob Brown.
Heats: Norm Mark 2. Mike Giberson
Big Car Demo: Shane Fair