Bainey and Fenton Grab First Victories as Gamblers Raceway Park Puts Finishing Touches on Independence Day Extravaganza

7/5/03

Bill Walker

With a line of bad weather bearing down, Gamblers Raceway Park officials knew that they would need every available minute to complete the second leg of the Independence Day Extravaganza.

In the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints, it was Sugar Grove’s Jay Groves along side Ford City driver Mike Himes at the start. The couple buzzed in to the first turn and Groves came out on top to lead lap one. Last weeks feature winner Steve Dunmire immediately started moving forward and looked as though he would have the opportunity to make it two in a row at GRP. Groves had the field in hand for most of the race and the real challenge was for the second through fifth positions. A number of drivers including Craig Fulmer and Shelby Rowles made appearances inside the top five but eventually fell back. Jeff Bacha made his way to the third position and began to give Himes all he could handle even slipping by on occasion but Himes was able to hold his line and his position. In the end it was Groves followed by Himes, Bacha, Dunmire and Jimmy Horwart rounding the top five. Groves and Homes garnered heat wins

Making their way trackside were the Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks with Denny Fenton and the feature winner from Thursday’s Roll of the Dice Classic, Trent Ogden on the front row at the dropping of Mike Frisco’s green. As the pair raced to the first turn Fenton was able to gain a slight advantage over Ogden and was the man on point. Once out front Fenton had excellent restarts and did a good job holding off Ogden as he tried the inside, outside and all parts in between in trying to find his way around Fenton to complete the weekend sweep. Coming from deep in the pack, Kip Charles looked as though he may be the spoiler for both Fenton and Ogden. After getting by “Big Daddy” Pat Carfley for the third position Charles set his sights on the front duo. The high side seemed to be the fast way around for the 77 but couldn’t muster enough to catch and pass the top two. Following Fenton at the line were Ogden, Charles, Carfley and Duane Kirk. Tears and emotions filled victory lane as Fenton dedicated the race to his brother who is preparing to head to the United States Air Force this week. Nailing down heat wins were Fenton and Ogden.

In the Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks, front row starters Jason Bainey from Philipsburg and Houtzdale’s Dale Schindler raced into the first corner with the dropping of the green flag. At the exit of two it was Bainey out front showing the way and looking for his first career win. Going into the first corner on lap number 2 Schindler lost the handle and Frank and Gary Little had nowhere to go and hit Schindler, Frank was able to continue but after Gary got into the spinning car he careened down the track and into the tire barrier, that knocked him to the pits for the rest of the evening. On the restart Bainey tried to pull away but Frank Little hounded him looking to give himself a birthday present and get by for his first win of the season. Sheddy Graham was quickly making his way through the pack from his thirteenth starting position and with just a handful of laps to go moved his number 5 into the third position and began to do battle with Little. Some great racing ensued as the duo bumped, banged and raced each other hard. In the end it was Bainey picking up his first career win followed by Little, Graham, Jeff Peffer and Rich Homan. Heats were won by Bainey and Schindler.

With the waving of the green flag in the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modified main event, Smithmill’s Mike Stine jumped to the point and built up more than a straightaway lead over the rest of the field. Mike Butterworth who debut a brand new car this week had some problems in the heat and was forced to start near the rear of the field for the main event. Starting position didn’t mean anything to Butterworth though as he charged to the front. By lap twelve Butterworth had moved into the second position and was easily the fastest car on the track as he began to reel in Stine. Needing a caution to put him on the rear nerf bar of Stine, Butterworth kept on charging. In the end the entire event went caution free as Mike Stine opened up his point lead on the rest of the modified field. Following Stine at the line were Butterworth, Jimmy Holden, Nick Ritchey and George Sankey. Picking up heat wins were Stine and Jimmy Holden.

The final event of the evening was reserved for the Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs; a field of five starters took to the track. As starter Randy Neeper waved the green flag, it was Graham taking the early lead. Graham would stay out front for most of the event but a hard charging Becky Wallace made it very interesting in the closing laps. Making the turn for the checkers it was Wallace on the high and Graham on the low in a drag race to the finish. Graham was able to hold on at the line by just a half a fender to gain her win.

Around the Bull Ring: Sixty Nine cars filled the pits including thirteen Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds, nineteen Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, thirteen Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks, eighteen Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints and 6 Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs.

Congratulations to Robin Queen of Irvona for winning the Hyde Volunteer Fireman’s 50/50.

Next Saturday July 12th will be a full show for all divisions including the Budweiser Late Models, also on hand for Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub trophy night will be the Eastern Museum of Motor Sports Old Timers.

Hope to see you all real soon at “The Biggest Little Racetrack in America”

Summary:

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds: 1.Mike Stine, Smithmill 2.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 3.Jimmy Holden, Tiona 4.Nick Ritchey, Oil City 5.George Sankey, Osceola Mills 6.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 7.Tom Holden, Sheffield 8.Bob Garvey, Alport 9.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 10.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg

Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks: 1.Denny Fenton, Clearfield 2.Trent Ogden, Clearfield 3.Kip Charles, Clearfield 4.Pat Carfley, Curwensville 5.Duane Kirk, Hyde 6.Rich Howell, Clearfield 7.John Weaver, Commodore 8.Harold Seabring, Marion Center 9.Frank McVay, Boalsburg 10.Mike Hummel, Clearfield

Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks: 1.Jason Bainey, Philipsburg 2.Frank Little, Woodland 3.Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield 4.Jeff Peffer, Houtzdale 5.Rich Homan, PA Furnace 6.Harvey Wallbanger, Parts Unknown 7.Dale Schindler, Houtzdale 8.Matt Howell, Clearfield 9.Ryan Jackoby, Fernwood 10.Don Geer Jr., Clearfield

Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints: 1.Jay Groves, Sugar Grove 2.Mike Himes, Summerville 3.Jeff Bacha, Indiana 4.Steve Dunmire, Ford City 5.Jimmy Horwart, Clymer 6.Dillon Stine, Auburn 7.Jason Pisani, Pittsburgh 8.Shelby Rowles, Clearfield 9.Sean McAndrew, Apollo 10.Ryan McAndrews, Edmon

Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs: 1.Tami Graham, Clearfield 2.Becky Wallace, Kylertown 3.Mary Peffer, Clearfield 4.Charollete Jackoby, Houtzdale 5.Janelle Bainey, Morrisdale