Skies threaten but GRP Prevails as season opens!
For Immediate Release April 20, 2002
CLEARFIELD, PA - Following a 1 hour 20 minute rain delay, Gamblers Raceway Park put the season opener in the record books on Saturday night with Mike Blose of Dayton taking his first career win at the speedway in the Budweiser Late Models. Mike Stine of Smithmill won the Sid's Subs Small Block Modified feature, while Dan Smeal of Ramey topped the 84 Lumber Street Stock main.
Derek Rodkey of Osceola Mills copped the four cylinder main event while Scott Wagner of Irvona won his first career Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stock feature.
Dave Satterlee and Luke Hoffner led the late model field to the start with Satterlee taking the lead and Hoffner settling into second. As Satterlee set the pace Mike Blose was working to find his way into second. Blose quickly assumed the runner-up spot and began to fight Satterlee for the lead.
As the race continued, Satterlee and Blose began running door-to-door, with Satterlee taking the high side and Blose trying the bottom. The top five were under a blanket, with Satterlee, Blose, Hoffner, Bobby Stokes and Dwayne Taneyhill setting the pace. On lap 18 Blose made the inside work, taking the lead from Satterlee in turn four. Satterlee was not quick the relinquish the spot, as he fought back, trying both the outside and the inside but it was not his night, as Blose held him off the get the victory. Satterlee held off Hoffner for second, Hoffner was third with Stokes and Jeff Henry completing the top five. Dave Satterlee and Mike Blose split the heat wins.
Mike Stine wasted little time going to the front in the small block modified feature, as he beat Mike Butterworth into the first turn. Once out front, he had lots of competitors who wanted to take the top spot away. Butterworth tired, but then Scott Smith took second and set his sights on the leader, he then relinquished the runner-up position to Bob Garvey, who ran out off time as Stine picked up the win. The top five were: Stine, Garvey, Smith, George Sankey and Craig Casher. Heat wins went to Scott Smith and Mike Butterworth.
Dan Smeal and John Weaver led the street stock feature to the start with Smeal taking the lead. The 20 lap event went non-stop with Smeal weaving his way in and out of lapped traffic. While he was setting the pace, the battle for second was heating up, with Weaver in the position and Tom Williams, Shawn Mogle and Pat Carfley trying to steal the position away. As the race drew closer to the conclusion, Mogle assumed third and eventually the runner-up spot. Smeal went to victory lane for his first ever opening night win. Mogle was second, Weaver was third, Carfley was fourth and Williams completed the top five. John Weaver and Tom Williams took the heat wins.
Ken Erskine and Chris Farrell drag raced into the first turn to start the four cylinder feature, with Farrell taking the lead. He set the pace until lap 11, when Derek Rodkey learned that his persistency did pay off, he took the lead and brought Cecilia Olson to second, dropping Farrell to third. Once in the lead, Rodkey held off the little lady for the victory. Olson was second, Farrell was third, Erskine was fourth and Randy Luzier was fifth. Derek Rodkey and Chris Farrell won the preliminaries.
The pure stock feature was led to the line with Harvey Wallbanger taking the lead from Jason Bainey. Bainey sat in second for a couple laps, before Bernie Whetstone took the position from him. Whetstone then set his sights on the leader. While trying for the lead, Whetstone had to protect his runner-up spot from Scott Wagner. Wagner eventually moved along side Whetstone as the pair tried to move by the leader, but Wagner and Wallbanger made contact on the back stretch, allowing Whetstone to take the lead on the outside.
He set the pace until lap eight, when Wallbanger tagged Whetstone, sending him into the infield. With Wallbanger in the lead, Wagner had to try and take it away. He moved by Wallbanger and into the lead on lap 11 in turn four and went on to take his first win at the track. Wallbanger was second, with Kevin Clark, John Hefferon and Whetstone completing the top five. Heat wins went to Bernie Whetstone and Jason Bainey.
GRP LAST DEALS: 70 cars braved the weather, including: 13 late models, 16 small block modifieds, 16 street stocks, 10 four cylinders and 15 pure stocks…The races got off to a one hour and 20 minute late start due to rain, and they were still over by 12:05…Driver Duane Kirk was transported to Clearfield Hospital with medial problems and was unable to race. No condition report is available at this time…This week the speedway management will continue to make renovations at the speedway…Double points are on the line this week in all five divisions, including the late models, small blocks modifieds, street stocks, four cylinders and pure stocks, also it is Valvoline Cup Night…The first big special is on Memorial Day weekend with double 30's. The late models and modifieds will go 30 laps for $1000 to win each…. Additional information is available on the web at www.gamblersracewaypark.com We hope to see you each week at the "Biggest Little Racetrack in America" Gamblers Raceway Park!
TOP TEN FINISHERS
April 20, 2002
Budweiser Late Models: 1. Mike Blose, Dayton; 2. Dave Satterlee, Home; Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 4. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 5. Jeff Henry, Butler; 6. Dwayne Taneyhill, Bellwood; 7. Brandon Wearing, Callery; 8. Tom Decker Jr., Bellwood; 9. Bill Krause, Houtzdale; 10. Marc Whetstone, Irvona.
Sid's Subs Small Block Modifieds: 1. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 2. Bob Garvey, Morrisdale; 3. Scott Smith, Woodland; 4. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 5. Craig Casher, Mineral Springs; 6. Steve Williams, West Decatur; 7. Marvin Williams, Tyrone; 8. Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg; 9. Mike Butterworth, Osceola Mills; 10. Matt Baker, Clarion.
84 Lumber Street Stocks: 1. Dan Smeal, Ramey; 2. Shawn Mogle, Ernest; 3. John Weaver, Commodore; 4. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 5. Tom Williams, Tyrone; 6. Todd Mathews, Sanborn; 7. Kip Charles, Clearfield; 8. Doug Tibbens, Curwensville; 9. Frank McVay, Boalsberg; 10. Tom Homan, Port Matilda.
Four Cylinders: 1. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 2. Cecilia Olson, Clearfield; 3. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 4. Ken Erskine, Mahaffey; 5. Randy Luzier, Hyde; 6. Bob Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Shawn Luzier, Clearfield; 8. Joe Bortz, Clearfield.
Fred Diehl Chevrolet of Philipsburg Pure Stocks: 1. Scott Wagner, Irvona; 2. Harvey Wallbanger, Woodland; 3. Kevin Clark, Morrisdale; 4. John Hefferon, Mill Hall; 5. Bernie Whetstone, Irvona; 6. Rob Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Gary McElheny, Blandburg; 8. Richard Homan, Pennsylvania Furnace; 9. Sheddy Graham III, Clearfield; 10. Jason Bainey, Philipsburg.