Gamblers Raceway Park Beats Rain

Bill Walker

6/8/03

Gamblers Raceway Park put the gas to the floor and beat the rain by just minutes to get in four full divisions of racing on Moyer’s Auto Body night and awarded a guaranteed starting position to one lucky driver in the “Hub-City National 150” to be held at Hagerstown Speedway in September.

The Budweiser Late Models were the first on the card and twenty two of them roared off into turn one with the dropping of honorary starter and Clearfield Mayor Jim Moyer’s green flag. The Selinsgrove duo of Jim Yoder and Jim Stine started on the front row and looked as though they would settle this race between themselves. Mark Welker settled into third, and fourth place starter Robbie Blair began to apply pressure. While Yoder and Stine began to set sail Blair had quietly worked by Welker and set his sights on the top two. After slipping by Stine, Blair had gotten the break he had been looking for. A caution for debris on the track had put him up on the rear bumper of Yoder. On two successive restarts, Blair ducked under Yoder for the top spot only to have it taken away by another caution. Learning the lessons from the two previous restarts Yoder wisely held the bottom line and gave Blair no room at all. After crossing the stripe at lap 17 Yoder’s SR2 slid high in one and gave Blair all the room he needed to muscle by for the lead. Meanwhile all through the pack it seemed as thought every car was battling for position with another. At the line it was Blair leading the final fifteen circuits to claim the victory and the berth in the Hub-City National 150. Following Blair at the line were Randy Stoudt, Yoder, Chuck Schutz and Stine.

The Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds were next onto the racing surface with Mike Stine of Smithmill and Bill Krause of Houtsdale on the front row. At the drop of the green Stine jumped to the point and it appeared it would be the same old song and dance and Stine would pick up yet another victory, but Krause had other ideas in mind. Before lap two could be completed Krause had worked by Stine and took off to hide, in fact the only thing that could slow Krause were cautions. A lap sixteen caution allowed Mark Frankhouser one last opportunity to get by, but Krause would not be denied and picked up his first ever victory at Gamblers Raceway Park. The top five behind Krause at the line were, Frankhouser, Chris Luzier, Bob Garvey and tom Holden.

Next on the blocks were the Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks. Bob Rosman of Sykesville and Pat Carfley started on the front row and were looking for career victory number one. At the onset Rosman moved out front and began to get away from the pack just a little. Scott Alvetro and Emory Rinehart Jr. slipped by Carfley and quickly caught Rosman and began to apply the pressure. Rinehart began to work the high side and was able to get by Alvetro but was not able to make it stick at the other end of the racetrack and the duo dulled side by side for several laps. A final caution for a spinning Mike Hummel on lap eighteen gave Alvetro one last chance to get by Rosman. While working the high groove once again Rinehart slid a little too high and opened the door for Frank McVay to get by. Try as he may, Alvetro was not able to make a move and Bob Rosman would not be denied as he picked up his first career victory. The top five at the line were Rosman, Alvetro, McVay, Rinehart Jr. and Harold Seabring.

The Little Clan of Gary and Frank started side by side on the front row of your, Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stock main event. At the flying of the green the Little family feud raged on and ended with Gary grabbing the top spot over father Frank and they ran that way for quite a few laps. Philipsburg’s Jason Bainey found himself in a battle with current point’s leader Sheddy Graham III. Graham was able to take advantage but the strong willed Bainey battled back and regained his position. Once Bainey moved into the second position he began to run down the leader but he just ran out of laps. After running in the top three for most of the event Frank Little and Sheddy Graham III touched going into corner three late in the race with Little suffering a flat tire and dropping him back in the order. Gary Little motored home and the six time winner in 2002 was able to garner checkered flag number one for 2003.

Around the Bull Ring:

Seventy Nine cars filled the pits including 22 Late Models, 18 Small Block Modifieds, 21 Street Stocks and 18 Pure Stocks. Next week Saturday, June 14th will be Ponderosa Steak House trophy night. A full five division show is on the card and if Mother Nature cooperates we will see the first ever events of the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Micro Sprints. Don’t forget it is never too early to start planning for the July 5th $1000 to win demolition derby. Check out the rules on www.gamblersracewaypark.com for complete rules.

Hope to see you all next week at the “Biggest Little Racetrack in America”

Budweiser Late Models:

Feature: 1.Rob Blair, Titusville 2. Randy Stoudt, Pottstown 3.Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove 4.Chuck Schutz, Grandview 5.Jim Stine, Selinsgrove 6.bobby Stokes, Milton 7.Luke Hoffner, Turbotville 8.George Fultz, Beech Creek 9.David Scott, Garland 10.Steve Everhart, Canoe Creek 11.Greg Kunes, Beech Creek 12.Jeff Henry, Butler 13.Mark Welker, Munson 14.Brad Malak, Linden 15.Bill Davis, Dubois 16.Cody Schultz, Hyde 17.Chris Farrell, Clearfield 18.John Brady, Clearfield 19.Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills 20.john Yamrick, Clymer 21.Chris Knuth, Houtsdale 22.Mike Wonderling, Wellsville, NY

Heat 1: Yoder, Welker

Heat 2: Stine, Blair

Heat 3: Hoffner, Stoudt

Sid’s Subs Small Block Modifieds:

Feature: 1.Bill Krause, Houtsdale 2.Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg 3.Chris Luzier, Clearfield 4.Bob Garvey, Allport 5.Tom Holden, Sheffield 6.George Sankey, Osceola Mills 7.Matt Baker, Lucinda 8.Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley 9.Rodney Beltz, Elwood City 10.Mike Stine, Smithmill 11.Kevin Dickson, West Decatur 12.Nick Ritchey, Oil City 13.Steve Williams, West Decatur 14.Scott “Snuffy” Smith, Woodland 15.Jimmy Holden, Tiona 16.Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg 17.Jimmer Luzier, Clearfield 18.Connie Allen, Warren, OH

Heat 1: Stine, C. Luzier

Heat 2: Krause, Garvey

Vocelli Pizza Street Stocks:

Feature: 1.Bob Rosman, Sykesville 2.Scott Alvetro, Reynoldsville 3.Frank McVay, Boalsburg 4.Emory Rinehart Jr., Morrisdale 5.Harold Seabring, Marion Center 6.Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center 7.Butch Welch, Irishtown 8.Jamie Price, Hyde 9.Pat Carfley, Curwensville 10.Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs 11.Nathan Kerstetter, Liverpool 12.J.R. Emigh, Wallaceton 13.Mike Hummel, Clearfield 14.Tom Homan, Port Matilda 15.John Wayne Weaver, Commodore 16.Tom Williams, Tyrone 17.Denny Curry, Clearfield 18.Rich Howell, Clearfield 19.Chuckie Records, Mt. Zion

Heat 1: Rosman, Alvetro

Heat 2: Carfley, McVay

Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks:

Feature: 1.Gary Little, Woodland 2.Jason Bainey, Philipsburg 3.Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield 4.Garret Reams, Philipsburg 5.Jeff Peffer, Houtsdale 6.Rich Homan, PA Furnace 7.Pete Blake, Clearfield 8.Bob Helsel, Rosebud 9.Mat Howell, Clearfield 10.Larry Brown, Ginter 11.Todd Bainey, Philipsburg 12.Aaron Walker, Sykesville 13.Frank Little, Woodland 14.Craig Bainey, Philipsburg 15.Chris Finnigan, Munson

Heat 1: Graham, G. Little

Heat 2: Finnigan, F. Little