Three First Time Winners Grace Victory Lane at Gamblers Raceway Park

Bill walker

6/28/03

Mark Frankhouser, Dave Potter and Steve Dunmire picked up career victories number one on Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg trophy night, while Steve Everhart and Sheddy Graham III added to their win totals in the tune up for the second annual “Throw of the Dice Classic” to be held Thursday July 3rd.

First onto the racing surface were the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints. At the falling of the green flag Ford City’s Steve Dunmire jumped out front and it appeared the he would be the benefactor of a runaway victory as he was able to open up leads of nearly a full straightaway. A caution on lap eight bunched the field back up and that’s were the fun began. Dillon Stein hounded Dunmire after the restart and was able to work his way by for the lead position but a caution for Nate Snyder and Jeff Bacha erased the lap and put Stein back to the second position. Once racing resumed, Craig Fulmer who started deep in the pack along with Sean Good and Stein chased Dunmire to the finish but nobody was able to wrestle the top spot away. Following Dunmire at the line were Fulmer, Good, Stein and Jarred Allen. Heats were won by Sean McAndrew, Dunmire and Jay Groves.

Next onto the racing surface were the Budweiser Late Models. Cody Schultz and Steve Everhart led the field of sixteen to the starting line and it was Schultz who was able to jump out front trying to win his first race of the season. Schultz and Everhart began to move away from the rest of the field. Just past the flag stand working lap ten Everhart was able to make a move on the leader Schultz and make his way by with an inside move going into corner one. Everhart never looked back and began to set sail for yet another victory leaving Schultz to battle with Bobby Stokes Matt Lux and Brady Wonderling. Two cautions on lap sixteen and seventeen bunched the filed but Everhart was too hot to handle and went on to record his third win of the season. Behind Everhart in the top five were Wonderling, Stokes, Lux and Schultz. Heats were copped by Schultz and Everhart

Moving right alone and following the beautiful 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo pace car provided by Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg were the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds. Craig Casher and Bob Garvey led the field to the starters green. Garvey jumped out front and it looked like he would add to his 2003 win total as he built up a sizeable lead. A caution for a spinning Tom Holden on lap six bunched the field and put Mark Frankhouser in an excellent position to take advantage of Garvey. Working lap ten Frankhouser was able to slip by the leader and take control. Once out front Frankhouser had to fend off challenges from hard charging Bill Krause and Mike Stine to record his first ever victory at the quarter mile speed plant. Following the winner were Krause, Stein Casher and Chris Luzier. Picking up heat race victories were Jimmy Holden and Garvey.

Next up Dave Potter and Frank McVay led nineteen other Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks to the green stripe with Potter taking the lead, but before a green flag lap could be completed a seven car pile up on the back stretch eliminated the cars of Denny Curry, John Weaver and Ray Reynolds. On the complete restart Potter once again moved to the front and began clicking of laps as McVay was nipping at his heels. McVay tried every move he could muster but just couldn’t find a way around. Meanwhile back in the pack Kip Charles and Denny Fenton began to make their way forward. A late race caution would end Fenton’s run but Charles would work by third place racer Rich Howell and begin to dice with the leaders and looked as he would make things interesting, but a late race spin and go would take him out of contention. The man of the hour was however, Dave Potter as he picked up his first career victory over McVay, Howell Ray Billotte and Charles. Potter and McVay picked up the heat wins.

For the final event of the evening it was the Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stock Special. Leading the field of thirteen were Sheddy Graham and Gary Little. At the waving of starter Mike Frisco’s green flag it was Graham going to the point followed closely by Little. Cautions on laps four eleven and thirteen gave Little the opportunities he needed but he was unable to take advantage. By this time Frank Little had made his presence felt and began to work son Gary for the second position. In the end Graham had just too much and picked up his sixth victory of the season. Behind Graham was G. Little, F. Little, Scott Wagner and Jeff Peffer.

Around the Bull Ring: Ninety Two cars filled the pits with sixteen Budweiser Late Models, seventeen Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds, twenty one Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, thirteen Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks and twenty five Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints.

A special thank you goes out to the Hyde Volunteer Fire Department. Early in the afternoon both of our water trucks broke and it was the Hyde Volunteer Fire Department to the rescue. The unselfishly provided their brush tanker truck for the afternoon and throughout the evening to assist with the watering and maintenance of the racing surface as well as the roads leading into the facility.

This coming Thursday, July 3rd Budweiser and Errigo Distributing will present the second annual Roll of the Dice Classic. Your Budweiser Late Models will be racing for $4000, Sid's Subs Small Block Modifieds will be racing for $1200 and Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks will be racing for $700. There will be heats, features and a dash for cash in all three divisions and the winner of each dash for cash will roll the dice to determine the starting lineup for their feature.

The second leg of the Independence Day extravaganza will take place on Saturday, July 5th with the Small Block Mods, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Micro Sprints, the first ever appearance of the Mini Mods and the Kinetic Kuts Powder Puffs all on the card. Admission for the event will be $7 for the grand stands and hillside and if you bring your ticket stub from the Thursday night Roll of the Dice Classic you will receive and additional $1 off the price of admission.

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

SUMMARY:

Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints: 1.Steve Dunmire, Ford City 2.Craig Fulmer, Philipsburg 3.Sean Good, Middleburg 4.Dillon Stein, Auburn 5.Jarred Allen, Spring Mills 6.Doug Karlene, Kane 7.Kevin Wise, Lewistown 8.Matt Gardina, Natrona Heights 9.Jeff Bacha, Indiana 10.Clint Lohler, Tarentum

Budweiser Late Models: 1.Steve Everhart, Canoe Creek 2.Brady Wonderling, Wellsville, NY 3.Bobby Stokes, Milton 4.Matt Lux, Franklin 5.Cody Schultz, Hyde 6.Chris Farrell, Clearfield 7.John Brady, Clearfield 8.Eric Moore, Frenchville 9.Dale Zimmerman, Brookville 10. Darrell Bossard, Centerville

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds: 1.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 2.Bill Krause, Houtzdale 3.Mike Stine, Smith Mill 4.Craig Casher, Mineral Springs 5.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 6.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 7.Tom Holden, Sheffield 8.Snuffy Smith, Woodland 9.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 10.Jimmy Holden, Tiona

Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks: 1.Dave Potter, Smoke Run 2.Frank McVay, Boalsburg 3.Rich Howell, Clearfield 4.Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs 5.Kip Charles, Clearfield 6.Trent Ogden, Clearfield 7.Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center 8.Pat Carfley, Curwensville 9.Harold Seabring, Marion Center 10.Butch Welch, Irishtown

Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks: 1.Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield 2.Gary Little, Woodland 3.Frank Little, Woodland 4.Scott Wagner, Irvona 5.Jeff Peffer, Houtzdale 6.Dale Schlinder, Houtzdale 7.Rich Homan, PA Furnace 8.Garret Reams, Philipsburg 9.Harvey Wallbanger, Parts Unknown 10.Bob Bowery, Clearfield