GAMBLERS RACEWAY PARK CROWNS FIVE CHAMPIONS AS POINTS END

For Immediate Release August 31, 2002

CLEARFIELD, PA - Gamblers Raceway Park owners Joe and Laurie Castagnolo have their first set of point champions after Saturday night's final, double point event. Bobby Stokes of Milton topped the Budweiser Late Models and in the process he claimed his career first point title. George Sankey of Osceola Mills won the Sids Subs Small Block Modified feature, while Mike Stine of Smithmill won the title.

In the 84 Lumber Street Stocks, Kip Charles of Clearfield won the feature and John Wayne Weaver of Commodore won his career first title. Derek Rodkey of Osceola Mills won the Denny's Beer Barrel Pub Four Cylinder feature and Cecilia Olson of Clearfield won the title and Sheddy Graham III of Clearfield won the Fred Diehl of Philipsburg Pure Stock feature and title on 84 Lumber Trophy night.

Bobby Stokes and Brandon Wearing led the late models to the start, with Stokes taking the lead. While he led the event from flag-to-flag, Wearing hounded him the entire 25-lap distance, but he could not find the extra strength to make the winning pass. While those two were clicking off the laps towards the finish, it was Leon Peasley who was headed to the front. He started the event ninth and came home third in the main event. The front two presented a close battle, but it was Stokes who topped the field. The top five were Stokes, Wearing, Peasley, Jeff Henry and Tony Lombardi from 12th. Heat wins went to Stokes and Peasley.

Bob Garvey and Mike Stine sat on the front row of the small block modified feature with Garvey taking the lead and Stine settling into second. George Sankey and Dion LaSalle work their way to second and third, and Sankey assumed the lead on lap five. LaSalle moved into second, and Stine was working on Garvey, eventually taking third and starting to look for the front two, but he ran out of time. The top five were Sankey, LaSalle, Stine, Garvey and Fay Lumadue. Clinton Baker and Sankey topped the heats.

John Weaver and Kip Charles led the street stock feature to the start, with Weaver taking the lead. Charles settled in to second and the leaders began to fight for a title. As the leaders began to work lapped traffic, a crash involved the leader, who ended up with a flat tire. This gave the lead to Charles. Quick pit work by Weavers crew got him back on track, but at the tail of the field. Charles went on to get his sixth win of the season, while Weaver recovered to third, to gain his first ever title. The top five were: Charles, Jeff Sweeney, Weaver, Duane Kirk and Pat Carfley. Heat wins went to Weaver and Rich Howell.

Derek Rodkey and Cecilia Olson led the four cylinders to the green for their feature, with Rodkey taking the lead and Olson falling to second. As the race continued, Olson tried to find a way around Rodkey, but he was doing everything he could to take the title, but Olson wanted to become the speedway's first female champ, and second place was all she needed. The top five were: Rodkey, Olson, Levi Ardery, Ken Erskine and Randy Luzier. Ardery and Erskine won the preliminaries.

Sheddy Graham III and Harvey Wallbanger led the pure stocks to the start, with Graham taking the lead. Once out front he was on his own, but as the race drew to the end, it was Gary Little coming from fifth to take second and try to make a move on the leader, but Graham was not to be denied his fourth win of the season and his first ever title. Little, Wallbanger, Jeff Peffer and Larry Brown completed the top five. Heat wins went to Wallbanger and Little.

GRP LAST DEALS: 75 teams filled the pits including 14 late models, 16 modifieds, 20 street stocks, 10 four cylinders and 15 pure stocks…The championship by Graham makes him the youngest driver in track history to take a title, he is 16…Olson is the first woman to ever take a title at the speedway…This weeks racing action will include autograph night and a powder puff race, along with the trophies being sponsored by Hyde Fire Company. All Fire, EMS and Police personnel get $1 off general admission, with ID. Gates open at 4:30 with racing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. sharp. For more information check the web site at www.gamblersracewaypark.com.

Gamblers Raceway Park

Summary for

August 31, 2002

BUDWEISER LATE MODELS: 1. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 2. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 3. Leon Peasley, Lock Haven; 4. Jeff Henry, Butler; 5. Tony Lombardi, Warren, OH; 6. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 7. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 8. Dion LaSalle, Everette; 9. Russ Strouse, Lamar; 10. Dale Zimmerman, Brookville; 11, Mark Welker, Munson; 12. Leo Bomboy, Howard; 13. Greg Kunes, Blanchard; 14. Dean Colbert, Port Matilda.

SIDS SUBS SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS: 1. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 2. Dion LaSalle, Everette; 3. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 4. Bob Garvey, Morrisdale; 5. Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley; 6. Mike Butterworth, Philipsburg; 7. Bobby Roos, Hyde; 8. Jimmy Holden, Tiona; 9. Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg; 10. Tom Holden, Sheffield.

84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS: 1. Kip Charles, Clearfield; 2. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 3. John Weaver, Commodore; 4. Duane Kirk, Hyde; 5. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 6. Frank McVay, Boalsburg; 7. Rich Howell, Clearfield; 8. Ray Billotte, Mineral Springs; 9. Mike Bailey, Osceola Mills; 10. Josh Records, Mt. Zion

DENNY'S BEER BARREL PUB FOUR CYLINDERS: 1. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 2. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 3. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 4. Ken Erskine, Bells Landing; 5. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 6. Bob Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Dave Green, St. Mary's; 8. Nick Erskine, Bells Landing; 9. Brian Godissart, Woodland. DNS: Mark Hummel, Osceola Mills.

FRED DIEHL OF PHILIPSBURG PURE STOCKS: 1. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 2. Gary Little, Woodland; 3. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 4. Jeff Peffer, Houtzdale; 5. Larry Brown, Ginter; 6. Scott Wagner, Irvona; 7. John Hummel, DuBois; 8. Bernie Whetstone, Irvona; 9. Pat Tekely, Ginter; 10. Rob Bailey, Clearfield.