Gaston and Groves Nab First Wins of 2003 at Gamblers Raceway Park

Bill Walker
6/15/03

Matt Gaston of Rochester Mills and Jay Groves of Sugar Grove were the lone newcomers to victory lane as Dan Smeal, Jimmy Holden and Sheddy Graham III added to their season totals on Ponderosa Steak House of Dubois trophy night at Gamblers Raceway Park.

For the first time ever the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints took to the racing surface with Jay Groves and Craig Fulmer starting on the front row. From the onset it was all Groves and he moved out front with Fulmer in tow. By lap five it looked as though Groves would run away and hide from the field but an accident on lap seven for Dan Smeal bunched them back up for one last run. Groves immediately took command on the restart and led the final eight laps to collect the first ever feature victory for the Micro Sprints at Gamblers Raceway Park. Following Groves at the line in the top five were Steve Dunmire, Dillon Stein, Brian Riddle and Craig Fulmer. Heats were won by Groves and Fulmer.

The Budweiser Late Models were next in line and Eric Moore from Frenchville and Matt Gaston started side by side on the front row. At the drop of the green flag Moore edged Gaston going into corner one but Gaston powered by on the high side off of two and down the backstretch to take the lead. Steve Everhart, starting scratch on the field by virtue of winning the most recent point race, immediately began working his way through the field and looking for another win. Cody Schultz also began moving forward is what would be his best effort so far this season. In the closing laps it was all Gaston as he collected his first win of 2003. The top five at the line were Gaston, Schultz, Everhart, Chris Farrell and Bill Eash. Moore and Gaston Picked up heat win.

Next up was the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modified main event. The uncle & nephew combination of Tom and Jimmy Holden started on the front row at the dropping of Mike Frisco’s green flag. Young Jimmy jumped out front early and Uncle Tom gave early chase trying to him down. Bob Garvey and Mike Stine starting deep in the field began moving up quickly. Back out front Jimmy Holden began to move away from the field and took a commanding lead. A caution for Craig Casher on lap twelve gave Garvey and Stine the opportunity they were looking for when they moved in behind Holden for the restart. At the green, Jimmy once again jumped to the point and never looked back as he led the final eight circuits for the victory. Following Jimmy Holden were Garvey, Stine, Nick Ritchey and Tom Holden. Heats were copped by the Holden duo.

Next on the blocks were the Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, at the drop of the green front row starters Ray Billotte and Dan Smeal dove into corner one and on the other side Billotte came out with the top spot to lead lap number one. On lap number two however Smeal wrestled the lead away and never looked back. Four cautions slowed the event with the final one coming on lap eighteen that allowed Earnst’s Shawn Mogle to get up on Smeal’s rear bumper for the restart. With the green waving Smeal drove away from the field to collect an early birthday present and his third win of the season. The top five consisted of Smeal, Mogle, Jeff Sweeney, Billotte and Dave Potter. Billotte and Smeal won the heats.

The final event of the evening was the Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks. Due for a first career win Philipsburg’s Jason Bainey and John Heffron from Mill Hall started the event from the front row. By the end of lap number one however, Sheddy Graham III had moved around the front running machines for the lead. From that point on Frank Little seemed to be on a mission trying to track down the high schooler Graham. Gary Little from the back of the pack moved into the third position with just a hand full of laps left in the non-stop event and began putting the pressure on father Frank. At the line it was Graham garnering win number five of the season followed by Frank Little, Gary Little, Jeff Peffer and Rich Homan. Picking up heat wins were Bainey and Heffron.

Around the bull ring: Sixty eight cars filled the pits including nine Budweiser Late Models, eighteen Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds, eighteen Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks, twelve Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks and eleven Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints.

Congratulations to Roy Shapleton who won the Hyde Fireman’s 50/50.

Racing will continue next week with a full show for Late Models, Modifieds Street Stocks, Pure Stock and the first visit of the season for the 305 sprint cars. With just three weeks left till the “Independence Day Extravaganza Weekend” it is never too early to start making plans to attend. The first leg will be on Thursday July third with the second annual Roll of the Dice Classic presented by Budweiser with Late Models going fifty laps for $4000 to win, the Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds racing 25 laps for $1200 and the Vocelli Pizza Streets Stocks going 25 laps for $700. The July fifth leg will consist of the $1000 to win demolition derby presented by Royer’s Concessions along with Small Block Mods, Pure Stocks, Micro Sprints and Mini Mods.

Hope to see you all at the “Biggest Little Race Track in America.”

SUMMARY:

Budweiser Late Models:
1.Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills 2.Cody Schultz, Hyde 3.Steve Everhart, Canoe Creek 4.Chris Farrell, Clearfield 5.Bill Eash, Johnstown 6.Greg Kunes, Beech Creek 7.Mark Welker, Munson 8.Darrell Bossard, Centerville 9.Eric Moore, Frenchville
Heat 1: Moore, Everhart
Heat 2: Gaston Schultz

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds:
1.Jimmy Holden, Tiona 2.Bob Garvey, Allport 3.Mike Stine, Smithmill 4.Nick Ritchey, Oil City 5.Tom Holden, Sheffield 6.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 7.Steve Williams, West Decatur 8.Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills 9.Bill Krause, Houtzdale 10.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 11.Scott Smith, Woodland 12.Darrell Rhine, Annville 13.Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg 14.Kevin Dickson, West Decatur 15.Jimmer Luzier, Clearfield 16.Craig Casher, Mineral Springs 17.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 18.Sheddy Graham, Clearfield
Heat 1: T. Holden, Ritchey
Heat 2: J. Holden, C. Luzier

Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks:
1.Dan Smeal, Ramey 2.Shawn Mogle, Earnst 3.Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center 4.Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs 5.Dave Potter, Smoke Run 6.Russ Clarke, Cogan Station 7.Butch Welch, Irishtown 8.Rich Howell, Clearfield 9.Jamie Price, Hyde 10.Kip Charles, Clearfield 11.Frank McVay, Boalsburg 12.J.R. Emigh, Wallaceton 13.Mike Hummel, Clearfield 14.George Bainey, Clearfield 15.Harold Seabring, Marion Center 16.John Weaver, Commodore 17.Denny Curry, Clearfield 18.Jordan Grassmeyer, Cogan Station
Heat 1: Billotte, Mogle
Heat 2: Smeal, Sweeney

Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks:
1.Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield 2.Frank Little, Woodland 3.Gary Little, Woodland 4.Jeff Peffer, Houtzdale 5.Rich Homan, PA Furnace 6.Garret Reams, Philipsburg 7.Don Geer Jr., Clearfield 8.Matt Howell, Clearfield 9.John Heffron, Mill Hall 10.Bob Helsel, Rosebud 11.John Hummel, Dubois 12.Jason Bainey, Philipsburg
Heat 1: Bainey, G. Little
Heat 2: Heffron, F. Little

Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints:
1.Jay Groves, Sugar Grove 2.Steve Dunmire, Ford City 3.Dillon Stein, Auburn 4.Brian Riddle, Brookville 5.Craig Fulmer, Philipsburg 6.Van Holsinger, Center Hall 7.Shelby Rowles 8.Dan Smeal, Philipsburg 9.Jeff Fochler, Altoona 10.Mike Himes, Summerville 11.Clint Lohler, Tarentum
Heat 1: Groves, Himes
Heat 2: Fulmer, Dinmire

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