GASTON BECOMES 11th DIFFERENT LM WINNER, AS GAMBLERS SPINS OFF NINE DIFFERENT FEATURE WINNERS

For Immediate Release August 10, 2002

CLEARFIELD, PA - Gamblers Raceway Park in Clearfield swung back into action after a week off for the Clearfield County Fair and produced nine different feature winners, including a new late model winner, on Leitzinger Auto Sales Trophy night.

Matt Gaston of Marion Center picked up his first career Budweiser Late Model feature at GRP, and became the 11th different late model winner this season. George Fultz of Beech Creek won the make-up late model feature.

Other repeat winners included: Mike Stine of Smithmill in the Sid's Subs Small Block Modifieds, Dan Smeal of Ramey and Bill Phillips of Blandburg in the 84 Lumber Street Stocks, Cecilia Olson of Clearfield and Derek Rodkey of Osceola Mills in the Denny's Beer Barrel Pub Four Cylinders and Gary Little of Woodland and Sheddy Graham III of Clearfield in the Fred Diehl of Philipsburg Pure Stocks.

In the regular late model feature, Leon Peasley and Jeff Henry led the field to the start with Henry taking the lead. While Henry led, Matt Gaston came from the second row and hounded the Butler driver through the sixteenth lap. With only four laps to go, Gaston went to the outside off the fourth corner and took the lead from Henry. Henry battled back, but Gaston was not to be denied his first career win at the speedway. Henry held on for a close second, Bobby Stokes was third, Brandon Wearing was fourth and Cody Schultz was fifth. Heat wins went to Stokes and Gaston.

Craig Casher and Mike Stine led the modified feature to the green, but it was George Sankey who came from fourth to lead at the line. Sankey appeared to be headed for his third win of the season, when his #17 broke, sending him to the pits and out of the action. This gave the lead to Stine, who held off Fay Lumadue the final two laps to take his first win since May 11th. Lumadue was second, with Jimmy Holden, Tim Owens and Ron Butterworth completing the top five. Heat wins went to Sankey and Dion LaSalle.

Dan Smeal and Pat Carfley led the street stock feature to the start, with Smeal taking the lead. His time out front was short lived, and Carfley took the lead a lap later. He set the pace for two circuits, before Smeal returned to the front. Smeal held off Doug Tibbens and Kip Charles at the strip to get his fourth wins of the season and his first since May 11th. Tibbens, Charles, Emory Rinehart Jr. and John Wayne Weaver completed the top five. Heat wins went to Tibbens and Weaver.

The four cylinder feature saw Randy Luzier and Dave Green at the head of the field, with Luzier taking the lead. He saw Cecilia Olson head to second and take the lead on lap seven. Once she was in command of the event, the lady racer went on to earn her third win of the season. Luzier held on to second, with Derek Rodkey third, Ken Erskine fourth and Green fifth. Olson and Rodkey won the prelims.

It was a battle of the Gary's in the pure stock main, and Gary McElheny and Gary Little led the field to the start. Little took the lead and set the pace throughout the 12 lap event, with Bernie Whetstone sitting in second and trying his best to gain the upper hand, but this was Littles nights, as he took his fifth win of the season. Whetstone was second, with Harvey Wallbanger, and Jeff Peffer completed the top five. Graham and Peffer won the heats.

In the make-up late model feature it was Matt Gaston who led the first lap, then it was George Fultz who took the lead and never relinquished it, as he went on to claim his second feature of the season. Gaston, Brandon Wearing, Bobby Stokes and Tim Steis completing the top five. Fultz, Gaston and Eric Moore won the heats.

In the make-up street stock feature it was Bill Phillips and Duane Kirk on the front row, with Phillips taking the lead. He led the opening two circuits, before Dan Smeal took the lead. Smeal was in control until the seventh lap, when Phillips battled back to the point. Working lap 12, John Wayne Weaver took the lead and set the pace until the 18th lap, when Phillips regained the lead again, and went to victory lane for the second time this season. Weaver was second, Jeff Sweeney was third, Doug Tibbens was fourth and Rich Howell was fifth. Heat wins went to Phillips and Kip Charles.

The make-up four cylinder feature was led from flag-to-flag by Derek Rodkey. He took the lead from Bob Bailey at the start and never relinquished it, as he picked up his fifth win of the season. Ken Erskine was second, with Cecilia Olson, Chris Farrell and George Bailey completing the top five. Rodkey and Doug Updyke split the heats.

The make-up pure stock feature saw Sheddy Graham III and Jeff Peffer on the front row, with Graham taking the lead and bringing Bernie Whetstone to second. The duo ran from the rest of the field and presented their own race, with Graham holding on for the win over Whetstone, Gary Little, John Hefferon and Scott Wagner. Heat wins went to Graham and Little.

GRP LAST DEALS: 88 teams were signed into the pits, including: 19 late models, 18 modifieds, 22 street stocks, 12 four cylinders and 17 pure stocks…the nine features and ten heats were completed by 11:40 p.m…Speedway officials have pushed the Hub-City 150 qualifier back one week, to Sept. 14th. The winner of the event will take home $2002 and will receive a guarenteed starting spot in Hagerstown for the 150. The rain date is Sept. 15...This week the modifieds are going after an increased pay off of $700. There will be a regular show for the late models, street stocks, pure stocks and four cylinders…Gates will open at 5 with racing set for 7 p.m. sharp. For more information check the web site at www.gamblersracewaypark.com.

GAMBLERS RACEWAY PARK

August 10, 2002

SUMMARIES

BUDWEISER LATE MODELS: 1. Matt Gaston, Marion Center; 2. Jeff Henry, Butler; 3. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 4. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 5. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 6, Leon Peasley, Lock Haven; 7. Nick Loffredo, Avis; 8. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 9. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 10. Russ Strouse, Lamar; 11. Kevin Zimmerman, Brookville; 12. Mark Welker, Munson; 13. Rich Howell, Clearfield; 14. Leo Bomboy, Howard; 15. Tim Steis, St. Mary's; 16. Louie Jacoby, Fernwood; 17. Bill Dimmig, Lewistown. 18. Dean Colbert, Port Matilda, DNS: Greg Kunes.

SID'S SUBS SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS: 1. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 2. Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley; 3. Jimmy Holden, Tiona; 4. Tim Owens, Shilo; 5. Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg; 6. Marvin Williams, Tyrone; 7. Matt Baker, Clarion; 8. Red Fordyce, Penn Run; 9. Tom Holden, Sheffield; 10. Bobby Roos, Hyde.

84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS: 1. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 2. Doug Tibbens, Curwensville; 3. Kip Charles, Clearfield; 4. Emory Rinehart Jr., Morrisdale; 5. John Weaver, Commodore; 6. Duane Kirk, Hyde; 7. Bill Phillips, Blandburg; 8. Frank McVay, Boalsburg; 9. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 10. Tom Homan, Port Matilda.

DENNY'S BEER BARREL PUB FOUR CYLINDERS: 1. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 2. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 3. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 4. Ken Erskine, Bells Landing; 5. Dave Green, St. Mary's; 6. George Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Steve Flanagan, Clearfield; 8. Bob Bailey, Clearfield; 9. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 10. Nick Erskine, Bells Landing.

FRED DIEHL PURE STOCKS: 1. Gary Little, Woodland; 2. Bernie Whetstone, Irvona; 3. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 4. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 5. Jeff Peffer, Houtzdale; 6. Richard Homan, Pennsylvania Furnace; 7. Larry Brown, Ginter; 8. Gary McElheny, Blandburg; 9. Pat Tekely, Ramey; 10. Bo Noll, Port Matilda.

BUDWEISER LATE MODELS, MAKE-UP: 1. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 2. Matt Gaston, Marion Center; 3. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 4. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 5. Tim Steis, St. Mary's; 6. Leon Peasley, Lock Haven; 7. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 8. Dean Colbert, Port Matilda; 9. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 10. Jeff Henry, Butler.

84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS, MAKE-UP: 1. Bill Phillips, Blandburg; 2. John Weaver, Commodore; 3. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 4. Doug Tibbens, Curwensville; 5. Rich Howell, Clearfield; 6. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 7. Daryl Whetstone, Woodbury; 8. Tom Williams, Tyrone; 9. Duane Kirk, Hyde; 10. Kip Charles, Clearfield.

DENNY'S BEER BARREL PUB FOUR CYLINDERS, MAKE-UP: 1. Dereke Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 2. Ken Erskine, Bells Landing; 3. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 4. Chris Farrell, Clearfeld; 5. George Bailey, Clearfield; 6. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 7. Bob Bailey, Clearfield; 8. Brian Godissart, Woodland; 9. Dave Green, St. Mary's; 10. Mark Hummell, Osceola Mills.

FRED DIEHL PURE STOCKS, MAKE-UP: 1. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 2. Bernie Whetstone, Irvona; 3. Gary Little, Woodland; 4. John Hefferon, Mill Hall; 5. Scott Wagner, Irvona, 6. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 7. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 8. Richard Homan, Pennsylvaina Furnace; 9. Gary McElheny, Blandburg; 10. Pat Tekely, Ramey