Gamblers Raceway Park Kicks off

Independence Day Extravaganza

In Fast Fashion

7/3/03

Bill walker

With the temperature, car counts and crowd up, three drivers, one each from the Budweiser Late Models, Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds and Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, were destined to hit the jackpot in Gamblers Raceway Parks second annual “Roll of the Dice Classic,” presented by Budweiser, the King of Beers and Errigo Distributing of Curwensville, PA.

First up after the qualifying events for the Budweiser Late Models was the ten lap dash for cash and the winner would determine the starting positions for the main event. At the drop of the green front row starters Jeff Masden of Williamsport and Canoe Creeks Steve Everhart raced into corner number one with Everhart taking the point off of two and never looking back as he picked up the win. In the all important roll of the dice Everhart rolled a five meaning that with the odd number the entire field would start straight up the way they qualified. At the start of the main event it was the same duo of Masden and Everhart on the front row once again. Masden got and excellent start and jumped to the point, but before a lap could be completed the caution was out for an incident involving the defending event champion Sammy Stile. As Stile went off on the hook and the green once again waving it would insure that Sammy was not going to be able to make it two in a row. Once again Masden went to the point and it looked as though he would make his return to racing after nearly a one year lay off a memorable one. Following a caution for Alex Ferree and Rob Kosecki the field reeled off seventeen consecutive laps before a caution for debris on lap thirty six. In between, a fast moving Matt Gaston coming from his very last starting position was making his way through the field like a man on a mission along with Mike Blose who started directly in front of him. Still out front were Masden and Everhart, with Everhart trying everything possible, he finally was able to make the car stick on the high side on lap twenty four to move out front. Once in the lead Everhart was able to open a full straight away lead over the rest of the field. Cautions on laps thirty six and thirty eight set up a twelve lap run for the checkers. By this time Gaston had moved will within the top ten, was challenging for a top five and was clearly the fastest machine on the track. Gaston made his way by Masden and Selinsgrove’s Jim Stine with just a handful of laps left and hoped that a late caution would give him the opportunity that he was looking for. Several cars nearly piled up in corner one with two laps to go but got things straightened out before the caution flew. At the line it was Everhart picking up flagman Mike Frisco’s double checkers followed by Gaston, Stine, Masden and Bob Close of Eldred. Heats were coped by Masden, Everhart, George Fultz, Sam Stile and Keith Barbara. Picking up consolation wins were Cody Schultz and Mike Blose.

Next onto the racing surface were the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds for their dash for cash. It was all Bob Garvey from the pole as he was able to hold off Brent Boyer who was applying pressure nearly the entire event. Once on the front stretch “Bullet” Bob rolled double sixes meaning that the top twelve qualifiers would be inverted for the feature. With the invert it put Sheffield’s Tom Holden and the temporarily un-retired George Sankey on the on the front row for the start. Holden grabbed the top spot going into the first corner, but once again before a lap of racing could be completed the defending event champion, Lyle Sherwood of Ulysses would be involved in an incident and be done for the evening. While the caution was waving the pole man Holden would take his machine to the pits. This would move first year modified driver Chris Luzier to the point along side the Sankey ride. At the second dropping of the green it was Sankey able to take advantage and move out to the lead. Once out front Sankey had to hold off first a hard charging and hungry for a victory Luzier, Mark Frankhouser who was looking to pick up his second career victory in as many races and then heavy pressure from Franklin’s Chad Reitz who hounded the leader for most of the thirty five lap event. Meanwhile from deep in the pack Mike Butterworth was quietly making his way slicing and dicing his open wheeled machine through the field. Still out front Reitz moved high, low and everything in between trying to find away around the wily veteran. In the end it was Sankey holding off the western PA hot shoe Reitz followed by Luzier, Butterworth and Garvey. Heats were won by Garvey, Boyer and Fay Lumadue. Grabbing the win in the consolation was Rodney Beltz.

The final event of the evening would be for the Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks. In the dash for cash it was Reynoldsville’s Scott Alvetro outgunning the areas big gun Emory Reinhart Jr. Once again in the roll of the dice an even number was rolled and the magic number was eight and that is how many cars would be inverted for the main event. At the drop of the green flag and for the third time in as many races, before a green flag lap could be completed the caution was waving. The only difference this time was that the caution was not for a defending champion but the invader Brian Helsley from Bellwood. At the second dropping of the green Trent Ogden and Pat Carfley started side by side on the front row with Ogden gaining the advantage off of corner two down the backstretch. As the laps clicked off Alvetro and Reinhart Jr. charged from the seventh and eight starting positions and would soon find themselves battling within the top five. Once Reinhart rolled into the second position he tried and made every move in his bag of tricks to get around Ogden. At the double checkers it was Ogden having plenty of muscle to hold off Reinhart, Alvetro, Fenton and Lobb. Picking up heat wins were won by Reinhart, Alvetro and Denny Curry.

Around the Bull Ring: Eighty Eight cars filled the pits including forty one Budweiser Late Models, twenty two Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds and twenty five, Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks.

Thank you to the folks for Budweiser and Errigo Distributing for sponsoring the night’s action and providing trophies.

Once again a very special thank you goes to the Hyde Volunteer Fire Company for all of their help this week.

We will be back to racing this Saturday night July 5th with the second leg of the Independence Day Extravaganza and six divisions on hand for racing. Regular admission will be just $7 dollars and if you present your ticket stub from the Roll of the Dice Classic, you will receive an additional $1 off the reduced admission price. On the Card will be the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds, Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks, Denny’s Beer Barrel Micro Sprints, Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs and the first ever appearance of the Mini Mods. The nights racing action will be presented by Royer’s Concessions.

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

Summary:

Budweiser Late Models: 1.Steve Everhart, Canoe Creek 2.Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills 3.Jim Stine, Selinsgrove 4.Jeff Masden, Williamsport 5.Bob Close, Eldred 6.Mike Wonderling, Wellsville, NY 7.Dave Satterlee, Rochester Mills 8.George Fultz, Beech Creek 9.Mike Blose, Dayton 10.Dave Shagla, Sugar Grove 11.Matt Lux, Franklin

12.Cody Schultz, Hyde 13.Jeff Henry, Butler 14.John Ritter, Stroudsburg 15.Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove 16.Keith Barbara, South Park 17.Rob Kosecki, Leechburg 18.Alex Ferree, Middlesex 19.Mark Welker, Munson 20.Sammy Stile, Charleroi

Heat 1-Masden, Stine, Lux

Heat 2-Everhart, Welker, Shagla

Heat3-Fultz, Wonderling, Satterlee

Heat 4-Stile, Yoder, Henry

Heat 5-Barbara, Ferree, Close

Consolation 1-Schultz, Kosecki

Consolation 2-Blose, Ritter

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds:

1.George Sankey, Osceola Mills 2.Chad Reitz, Franklin 3.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 4.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 5.Bob Garvey, Allport 6.Mike Stine, Smith Mill 7.Nick Ritchey, Oil City 8.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 9.Jimmy Holden, Tiona 10.Steve Williams, West Decatur 11.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 12.Craig Casher, Mineral Springs 13.Scott Smith, Woodland 14.Marvin Williams, Tyrone 15.Brent Boyer, Bloomsburg 16.Rodney Beltz, Elwood City 17.Jerry Bowser, Marion Center 18.Tom Holden, Sheffield 19.Lyle Sherwood, Ulysses 20.Rich Whitney, Strattonville

Heat 1-Garvey, Stine, Williams

Heat 2-Boyer, Smith, Sherwood

Heat3-Lumadue, Reitz, Frankhouser

Consolation-Beltz, Bowser

Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks:

1.Trent Ogden, Clearfield 2.Emory Reinhart Jr., Morrisdale 3.Scott Alvetro, Reynoldsville 4.Denny Fenton, Clearfield 5.Craig Lobb, Houtzdale 6.Jamie Price, Hyde 7.Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center 8.Scott Bocheck, Cheswick 9.Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs 10.Denny Curry, Clearfield 11.Pat Carfley, Curwensville 12.Burton Fingado, Knox 13.Kip Charles, Clearfield 14.Tom Williams, Tyrone 15.John Weaver, Commodore 16.Gary Little, Woodland 17.Andy Buckly, Stoneboro 18.Sheddy Graham, Clearfield 19.Jim Bloom, Lumber City 20.Brian Helsley, Bellwood

Heat 1-Reinhart, Charles, Carfley

Heat 2-Alvetro, Price, Ogden

Heat3-Curry, Rich Howell, Billotte