Charles, Fulmer and Ransom Nab First, Gaston, Garvey and Graham Keep on Rolling

7/26/03

Bill Walker

With a few sprinkles falling before racing action Gamblers Raceway Park forged ahead and Kip Charles, Craig Fulmer and Terri Ransom picked up their first wins of the 2003 season on Kinetic Kuts trophy night.

Fist to take to the racing surface were the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints with Craig Fulmer and Sean Good on the front row and the dropping of the green flag. It was Good gaining the advantage as the field sped off into turn one trying to win his first ever victory at Gamblers Raceway Park, but during a caution on lap seven proved to be the end for Good and fellow lead pack runner Brian Riddle handing the lead over to Fulmer. Once out front Fulmer had to fend off challenges for newcomer Brett Arndt and the always fast moving Steve Dunmire. No challenge would prove strong enough however as it was Fulmer winning at the line followed by Arndt, Dunmire, Mike Himes and Sean McAndrew. Fulmer and Good picked up heat wins.

Next in succession would be the Budweiser Late Model main event with Selinsgrove’s Jim Yoder and Matt Gaston of Rochester Mills out front. Yoder jumped to the point early and it looked as though he would pick up his first victory at GRP in over a year, but while working lap four the young speedster Gaston found a way and made his move by Yoder to claim the lead. Once out front Gaston began to drive away but three cautions would erase his lead each time. A battle ensued between Matt Lux and Steve Everhart in the closing laps to settle the third position with Lux finally gaining the advantage. But back at the front Yoder just couldn’t muster enough to grab the victory away from Gaston. Behind Gaston at the line were Yoder, Lux, Everhart and George Fultz. Yoder and Gaston won the heats.

At the start of the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modified main event it was a drag race between “Bullet” Bob Garvey and Clearfield’s Chris Luzier. Garvey gained the advantage through turns one and two and emerged as the leader. A fierce battle developed between Luzier and fellow small block mod rookie Kevin Dickson that lasted until the Dickson ride slowed to a stop in front of Mike Frisco’s flag stand over heating. In the closing laps the battle heated up between Luzier and Mike Stine with Stine making a last lap pass for the second position. There was just too much Garvey out front as “Bullet” Bob went on to record his third victory of the season. Others picking up top five finishes were Stine, Luzier, Mark Frankhouser and Mike Butterworth.

As the Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks rolled onto the track with Kevin Clark and Sheddy Graham III most thought that it would be business as usual and Graham would drive away from everyone and pick up win number eight on the season. Clark had other ideas in mind and stayed glued to the rear bumper of Graham the entire event looking inside, outside and all points in between trying to get around the current points leader. Harvey Wallbanger also gave chase with the front duo, but it was Graham picking up win number eight followed by Clark, Wallbanger, Dale Schindler and Jeff Peffer. Clark and Graham gained preliminary wins.

Next up it was the Vocelli Pizza Street Stock main event taking to the racing surface. Jamie Price and Ray Billotte started at the head of the field and at the falling of the green flag Price took advantage and got away to lead the field into turn one. Going into turn three Price and Billotte got together causing Price to spin out. Price was given his position back but the contact caused breakage in the rear of the car and sent him to the pits. Once the green was waving again it was Dan Smeal assuming the lead position with Russ Clark, Harold Seabring and others giving chase. Smeal experienced handling problems all evening and while working lap eight “Cannon” Kip Charles was able to get by Smeal in corner number four. With Charles out front Smeal was not going to give up that easily and pressured him and nearly regaining the point until a broken shock ended his evening. Charles then motored away and garnered his first win of the 2003 season. Following Charles at the line were Clark, Billotte, Denny Fenton and Seabring. Fenton and Billotte won the heats.

The final event of the evening was reserved for the Kinetic Kuts Powder Puff event. The official finish of this event is currently unknown to this writer and I was not given the official rundown at the time of this printing. Terri Ransom and Johnene Hummel started on the front row of the main event and sped of into the first turn with Ransom grabbing the lead. Ransom set a torrid pace and quickly began to catch and pass slower machines. As Ransom came up on a large pack of cars that were all battling for position, Ransom powered through the pack putting all but a couple cars a lap down before the caution flew. Once the green was waving again Ransom again drive away and picked up the victory.

Around the Bull Ring: Eighty six cars filled the pits including twenty Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints, Fifteen Budweiser Late Models, sixteen Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds, fourteen Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks, thirteen Vocelli Pizza Street Stock and eight Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs.

Vocelli Pizza Street Stock driver John Wayne Weaver was involved in an accident at Dog Hollow Speedway Friday night in which from what I understand was a roll over with a pair of other street stocks coming to rest on top of him. The crew however persevered and the W3 team made it to the track.

Next Saturday Gamblers Raceway Park will be taking the night off in support of our local volunteer fireman and the 134 edition of the Clearfield County Fair. However we will be in action on Sunday August third for a full five division show that will include the Budweiser Late Models, Sid’s Subs Small Block Mods, Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks and back by popular demand by the fans of GRP will be the Four Cylinders in action. Make your plans to get out to the track and welcome back drivers like George Bailey, Cecilia Olson and Randy Luzier. The gates for Sundays racing open at 3:00 PM with racing at 5:00 PM. Also committing to return in the Budweiser Late Models for this event is the “Hyde Town Rocket” Robbie Blair.

See you all real soon at “The Biggest Little Racetrack in America”

Summary:

Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprint: 1.Craig Fulmer, Philipsburg 2.Brett Arndt, Topton 3.Steve Dunmire, Ford City 4.Mike Himes, Summerville 5.Sean McAndrew, Apollo 6.Jay Groves, Grove City 7.Larry Sauers, Montgomery 8.Brayden Winters, Easton 9.Ryan McAndrews, Edmon 10.Jim Lender, Osceola Mills

Budweiser Late Model: 1.Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills 2.Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove 3.Matt Lux, Franklinville 4.Steve Everhart, Canoe Creek 5.George Fultz, Beech Creek 6.Mark Welker, Munson 7.Dale Zimmerman, Reynoldsville 8.John Brady, Clearfield 9.Bill Eash, Johnstown 10.Dave Shagla, Sugar Grove

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modified: 1.Bob Garvey, Alport 2.Mike Stine, Smithmill 3.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 4.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 5.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 6.Steve Williams, West Decatur 7.Bill Krause, Houtzdale 8.Marvin Williams, Tyrone 9.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 10.Red Fordyce, Penn Run

Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stock: 1.Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield 2.Kevin Clark, Grassflat 3.Harvey Wallbanger, Parts Unknown 4.Dale Schindler, Houtzdale 5.Jeff Peffer, Osceola Mills 6.Garret Reams, Philipsburg 7.Jason Bainey, Philipsburg 8.Rich Homan, PA Furnace 9.Todd Bainey, Philipsburg 10.Matt Howell, Clearfield

Vocelli Pizza Street Stock: 1.Kip Charles, Clearfield 2.Russ Clark, Cogan Station 3.Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs 4.Denny Fenton, Clearfield 5.Harold Seabring, Marion Center 6.Dan Smeal, Ramey 7.Butch Welch, Grampian 8.Tom Homan, Port Matilda 9.Greg Glace, Clearfield 10.Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center