RITTER, HOLDEN, AND STEIN NEW WINNERS AS GRP DEFEATS MOTHER NATURE!
For Immediate Release May 18, 2002
CLEARFIELD, PA - Gamblers Raceway Park went head-to-head with Mother Nature and pulled off the win Saturday night. Three new winners found victory lane, including John Ritter of Stroudsburg in the Budweiser Late Models, young Jimmy Holden of Tiona in the Sids Subs Small Block Modifieds and Scott Stein of Cherry Tree in the 84 Lumber Street Stocks.
Repeat winners included Randy Luzier of Hyde in the four cylinders and Gary Little of Woodland in the Fred Diehl of Philipsburg Pure Stocks.
Twenty-three cars answered Mike Frisco's call for the green, with John Ritter and Jason Witherite leading the way into the first turn. Ritter took the lead with Witherite a close second. Witherite dropped out and gave second to Rodney Phillips, as Mike Altobelli and Luke Hoffner fought for third. Brandon Wearing, Dave Peterman and George Fultz eventually gave chase to the leader, with Ritter holding strong.
As the race progressed Ritter opened a small lead, as Phillips led the charge for second, as Bobby Stokes joined the fight from 23rd starting spot. Phillips was able to reel the leader in an started using the low side, trying for the lead, but Ritter continued to hold tough.
A caution on lap 20 set up a five-lap dash for the cash, as Phillips went to the outside of Ritter and Hoffner went low. The trio went three wide for the lead off turn two. As they went into turn three they were still three wide, but exiting turn four Ritter edged out front and held the field off for his career first late model feature win. Hoffner came out second, with Phillips third, Fultz fourth and Stokes fifth. Cody Schultz, Mike Blose and George Fultz won the preliminaries.
Young Jimmy Holden and veteran Bob Garvey led the small block modifieds to the green with Holden taking the lead and looking like a veteran in his sophomore season. Holden led the way while the battle for second heated up between Garvey, Mike Stine, George Sankey and Scott Smith. The Battle for second swapped hands numerous times as the race progressed as Holden worked slower traffic and went to victory lane for the first time in his young career. Smith won the fight for second ahead of Sankey, Stine and Garvey. Stine and Sankey won the heats.
Shawn Mogle led the street stock feature the first lap with Scott Stein coming from fourth to take the lead a lap later. Tom Snyder moved into second with Tom Hanten third and Dan Smeal coming from 13th. The battle for first heated up with Stein, Snyder and Smeal racing under the proverbial blanket. As the race ended it was Stein holding on for the win with Smeal taking second, Snyder was third with Eric Baun and Frank McVay completing the top five. Heat wins went to Stein and Baun.
Chris Farrell and George Bailey led the four cylinders to the green with Farrell taking the lead. He was setting the pace, with Cecilia Olson second and Randy Luzier third. The battle saw Luzier take the lead on lap nine, as the fight for second saw Olson and Chris and Dave Farrell tighten up. Light contact with Chris Farrell by Olson sent Farrell spinning and Olson to the tail. The race continued with Farrell and his dad, Dave, trying to reel in Luzier and steal his second win away, but Luzier was not to be denied as he took the victory. Chris and Dave Farrell were second and third, respectively, with Olson recovering for fourth and Bob Bailey coming in fifth. Chet Pluebell and Derek Rodkey won the heats.
Jason Bainey set the pace early in the pure stock feature, leading for three laps before Sheddy Graham III made his way into the lead from his third place starting spot. He set the pace until lap six, when Gary Little came from 13th to the lead. Little went on to tear through the field as Graham, Frank Little, Bainey and Wagner fought for the second spot and finished in that order. Qualifying wins went Frank Little and Graham.
GRP LAST DEALS: 97 cars jammed the pits, including: 24 late models, 15 modifieds, 19 street stocks, 14 four cylinders and 25 pure stocks.temperatures were in the low 30's but the fans and drivers came out to witness a spectacular event.This week is the Memorial Day Daily Double, the late models and small block modifieds will each go 30 laps for $1,000 to win, each.There will be regular racing in the street stocks, four cylinders and pure stocks. A free mini-American Flag will be given to the fans, while supplies last, as they go in to the speedway. Trophies are sponsored by Weisgarber Auto Sales.Gates will open at 5 with racing set for 7 p.m. sharp.For additional information check the web site at www.gamblersracewaypark.com
Gamblers Raceway Park
Summary for May 18, 2002
BUDWEISER LATE MODELS: 1. John Ritter, Stroudsburg; 2. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 3. Rodney Phillips, Punxsy; 4. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 5.Bobby Stokes, Milton; 6. Dave Peterman, Indiana; 7. Nick Loffredo, Avis; 8. Dean Colbert, Port Matilda; 9. Russ Strouse, Lamar; 10. Tim Steis, St. Mary's; 11. Eric Moore, Frenchville; 12. Keith Witherite, Curwensville; 13. Leon Peasley, Lock Haven; 14. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 15. Paul Carnell, Hollidaysburg; 16. Mike Altobelli, Saxton; 17. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 18. Jason Witherite, Luthersburg; 19. Tom Decker Jr., Bellwood; 20. Ed Conner, DuBois; 21. Chuck Kennedy, Brockway; 22. Mike Blose, Dayton; 23. Harry Miller, Jersey Shore. DNS: Jesse Smith, Titusville
SIDS SUBS SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS: 1. Jimmy Holden, Tiona; 2. Scott Smith, Woodland; 3. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 4. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 5. Bob Garvey, Morrisdale; 6. Steve Williams, West Decatur; 7. Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg; 8. Marvin Williams, Tyrone; 9. Faye Lumadue, Spring Valley; 10. Craig Casher, Mineral Springs.
84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS: 1. Scott Stein, Cherry Tree; 2. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 3. Tom Snyder, Mayport; 4. Eric Baum, Rossiter; 5. Frank McVay, Boalsburg; 6. Tom Homan; 7. Tom Williams, Tyrone; 8. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 9. John Weaver, Commodore; 10. Ty Hanten, Sigel.
FOUR CYLINDER: 1. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 2. Chris Farrell, Clearfield, 3. Dave Farrell, Hyde; 4. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 5. Bob Bailey, Osceola Mills; 6. Chet Plubell; 7. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 8. George Bailey, Clearfield; 9. Don Henry, Rockton; 10. Ken Erskine, Mahaffey.
FRED DIEHL of PHILIPSBURG PURE STOCKS: 1. Gary Little, Woodland; 2. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 3. Frank Little, Woodland; 4. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 5. Scott Wagner, Irvona; 6. Tim Snare, Huntingdon; 7. Lester Hudson Jr., Clearfield; 8. Don Geer, Shawville; 9. Raymond Fisher, Hesston; 10. Craig Bainey, Osceola Mills.