DOUBLE FEATURES AT GRP PRODUCES THREE CAREER FIRST TIME WINNERS

For Immediate Release May 4, 2002

CLEARFIELD, PA - It was double feature night at Gamblers Raceway Park in Clearfield, with five rained out features from the week before to finish before the regular show began. A host of new winners found themselves in victory lane.

The Budweiser Late Model winners were Sam Stile of Dunlevy and Brandon Wearing of Callery (His career first win); in the Sids Subs Small Block Modifieds the winners were: George Sankey of Osceola Mills and Bob Garvey of Allport; in the 84 Lumber Street Stocks the winners were: Kip Charles of Clearfield and Dan Smeal of Houtzdale; in the four cylinders Randy Luzier of Hyde won his career first feature while Derek Rodkey won his second of the season; and in the Fred Diehl of Philipsburg Pure Stocks the winners were Jimmy Seger of Morrisdale won his first career feature while Harvey Wallbanger of Woodland won his second career.

The regular late model feature saw Brandon Wearing and Dean Colbert lead the field to the start, with Wearing taking the lead and holding Bobby Stokes at bay. Wearing and Stokes set the pace for the 25 lap event with Stokes trying to find the extra power to get the lead, but he came up short at the line as Wearing went to the winners circle for the first time ever. Stokes was second ahead of George Fultz, Tom Decker Jr., and Matt Gaston. Matt Gaston and George Fultz split the heats.

In the regular small block modified feature it was Bob Garvey and Dion LaSalle on the front row, with Garvey taking the lead. LaSalle was pressuring Garvey the entire race, and pulled along side of him on lap 13 just prior to a caution. On the restart Garvey had the power needed and took the win ahead of LaSalle, Mike Stine, Mark Frankhouser and George Sankey who came from 13th. Scott Smith and Jimmy Holden won the heats.

In the regular street stock feature Pat Carfley led Dan Smeal into the first turn. Carfley set the pace for two laps but on lap three Smeal went into the lead. He was setting the pace until Emory Rinehart Jr. made his way into second and then took the lead on lap 14. While Rinehart led the rest of the way, Smeal pressured him. Following the feature, the top three made their way to the tech area, where Rinehart was disqualified, giving the win to Smeal. The top five were Smeal, Kip Charles (from 13th), John Wayne Weaver, Jeff Sweeney and Frank McVay. Kip Charles and John Wayne Weaver won the qualifying events.

Don Henry and lady racer Cecilia Olson led the four cylinders to the green, with Olson taking the lead. Chris Farrell followed her to the front and pressured her until Derek Rodkey made his way to third. Rodkey took the runner-up spot from Farrell and then the lead from Olson on lap six. Once he had the lead, it was all Rodkey. The race then moved to second, with Levi Ardery trying to take the spot from Olson, but she held tough and came home second. The top five were: Rodkey, Olson, Ardery, Farrell and Ken Erskine. Derek Rodkey and Levi Ardery split the heat races.

Josh Jacoby and Gary McElheny brought the regular pure stock feature to the start with Jacoby taking the lead. He set the pace for three laps, before looping the #88 in turn two and falling back. This gave the lead to Sheddy Graham III, who set the pace for the next seven laps, holding Scott Wagner and Harvey Wallbanger at bay. With just two laps to go Wallbanger found his way to the lead after Graham pitted with a flat. Wallbanger held Wagner off to get his first win of the season and second of his career.

Heat winners Sammy Stile and Bobby Stokes led the make up late model feature to the start with Stile assuming the lead. While He may have led wire-to-wire but Stokes and Tom Decker Jr. pressured Stile the entire 25 laps. Stokes continued to try the bottom, but Stile knew he had to protect the lower line. When the final checkered flag fell it was all Sammy Stile. Stokes was second, Decker was third with George Fultz coming from 17th to fourth and Louie Jacoby was fifth.

The small block modifieds had to wait a week to complete the make up feature. When the race began last week Craig Casher took the lead, with George Sankey in second. Sankey managed to work himself into the lead on lap three, but Casher battled back and took the lead back on lap five. He spun to bring out the caution on lap six, giving the lead to Sankey. When the racing resumed a week late it was Sankey on the point with Mike Stine and Fay Lumadue in tow. When the race ended it was the same way with Sankey taking his first win in a year. Stine, Lumadue, Jimmy Holden and Bob Garvey completed the top five. Craig Casher and George Sankey won the prelims.

The make-up street stock main saw John Wayne Weaver and Kip Charles led the field to the green with Weaver leading the first lap. Charles came back and led the second through eight laps, with Weaver pressuring him on the inside and outside. Weaver regained the lead on lap nine, but his time at the front was short lived and he relinquished the top spot to Charles for good on lap 12. Charles was able to keep Weaver in second the rest of the time to get his second career feature win. Weaver was second with Dan Smeal, Jeff Sweeney and Tom Williams completing the top five. Dan Smeal and Tom Snyder won the heats.

The make up four cylinder feature saw Randy Luzier and Chris Farrell on the front row, with Luzier taking the lead. He set the pace the entire distance, but had lots of pressure from Cecilia Olson and Farrell. When the checkered flag fell it was all Luzier taking his first career win. Olson was second, Farrell was third, Ken Erskine was fourth and Don Henry was fifth. Derek Rodkey won the heat.

The make-up pure stock feature saw Sheddy Graham III lead the race from the start, with heavy pressure from Jason Bainey and then rookie driver Jimmy Seger Jr. On the with flag lap, Seger took the lead from Graham and led the final lap for his career first win. Graham held on to second, with Josh Jacoby, Bainey and Harvey Wallbanger rounding out the top five. Sheddy Graham III and Jason Bainey won the heats.

GRP LAST DEALS: Ninety-one teams filled the pits, including: 19 late models, 18 small block modifieds, 17 street stocks, 13 four cylinders and 24 pure stocks…Twenty races, including ten features were run off in just over five hours, which included some 264 green flag laps.…Jesse Smith and Louie Jacoby in the late models and Craig Casher in the small block modifieds were checked over be members of the Moshannon Valley Emergency Medical Services for minor injuries following accident. None of the injuries appear to be serious….An anonymous fan has donated the necessary money to pay the winner of the late model feature $1000 this week…Also this week, it’s Mothers Day, all moms get $1 off general admission…Coming up at the end of May is Double 30’s. Thirty laps for the late models and small block modifieds, each paying $1000 to win…For more information check out the web site at "http://www.gamblersracewaypark.com"

RESULTS

May 4, 2002

REGULAR SHOW

BUDWEISER LATE MODELS: 1. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 2. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 3. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 4. Tom Decker Jr. Bellwood; 5. Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills; 6. Dean Colber, Port Matilda; 7. Sam Stile, Dunlevy; 8. Jeff Henry, Butler; 9. John Brady, Clearfield; 10. Cody Schultz, Hyde

SIDS SUBS SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS: 1. Bob Garvey, Morrisdale; 2. Dion LaSalle; Everett; 3 Mike Stine, Smithmill; 4. Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg; 5. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 6. Scott Smith, Woodland; 7. Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley; 8. Bobby Roos, Hyde; 9. Tom Holden, Sheffield; 10. Marvin Williams, Tyrone.

84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS: 1. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 2. Kip Charles, Clearfield; 3. John Weaver, Commodore; 4. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 5. Frank McVay, Boalsburg; 6. Duane Kirk, Clearfield; 7. Todd Mathews, Sanborn; 8. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 9. Denny Fenton, Clearfield; 10. J.R. Emigh, Wallaceton.

FOUR CYLINDERS: 1. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills, 2. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 3. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 4. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 5. Ken Erskine, Mahaffey; 6. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 7. ; 8. ; 9. Shawn Luzier, Clearfield; 10. Don Henry, Rockton.

FRED DIEHL OF PHILIPSBURG PURE STOCKS: 1. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 2. Scott Wagner, Irvona; 3. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 4. Jimmy Seger, Morrisdale; 5. Lester Hudson Jr., Clearfield; 6. Frank Little, Woodland; 7. Ron Gregori, Weedville; 8. Gary McEleheny, Blandburg; 9. Matthew Howell; 10. Bob Bowery, Clearfield.

MAKE-UP FEATURES

BUDWEISER LATE MODELS: 1. Sam Stile, Dunlevy; 2. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 3. Tom Decker Jr., Bellwood; 4. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 5. Louie Jacoby, Fernwood; 6. Rob Kosecki, Leechburg; 7. Matt Gaston, Rochester Mills; 8. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 9. Keith Witherite, Curwensville; 10. Cody Schultz, Hyde.

SIDS SUBS SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS: 1. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 2. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 3. Fay Lumadue, Spring Valley; 4. Jimmy Holden, Tiona; 5. Bob Garvey, Morrisdale; 6. Steve Williams, West Decatur; 7. Marvin Williams, Tyrone; 8. Matt Baker, Clarion; 9. Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg; 10. Greg Luzier, Clearfield

84 LUMBER STREET STOCKS: 1. Kip Charles, Clearfield; 2. John Weaver, Commodore; 3. Dan Smeal; Houtzdale; 4. Jeff Sweeney, Marion Center; 5. Tom Williams, Tyrone; 6. Craig Lobb, Brisbin; 7. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 8. Frank McVay, Boalsburg; 9. Doug Tibbens, Curwensville; 10. Todd Mathews, Sanborn

FOUR CYLINDERS: 1. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 2. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 3. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 4. Ken Erskine, Mahaffey; 5. Don Henry, Rockton; 6. Bob Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Lee Hummel, Osceola Mills; 8. Dave Farrell, Hyde; 9. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills.

FRED DIEHL OF PHILIPSBURG PURE STOCKS: 1. Jimmy Seger, Morrisdale; 2. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 3. Josh Jacoby, Fernwood; 4. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg; 5. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 6. Scott Wagner, Irvona; 7. Don Geer, Shawville; 8. Ron Gregori, Weedville; 9. Gary McElheny, Blandburg; 10. Matthew Howell, Clearfield.