JOHNSON CLAIMS CANANDAIGUA CAREER VICTORY NUMBER 60
CANANDAIGUA, NY...Danny Johnson earned Canandaigua career victory number 60 last Saturday at the track nicknamed "the Land of Legends". Joining Johnson in the Canandaigua victory lane was Karl Comfort winning the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature. In the full fendered divisions, Brian Michaels picked up his first ever feature win, while Mike Minutolo earn feature win number eight in the Pure Stock class.
Danny JohnsonThe 35-lap DIRT Modified feature saw Chuck Hebing take the lead at the drop of the green. Hebing then stretched his lead to over ten car lengths over Gary Tomkins, Danny Johnson and Pat Ward. Tomkins, driving a brand new Bicknell sponsored by Honeoye Auto Parts and Pennzoil was able to pull in the leader and take the front position on lap six. Danny Johnson quickly followed suit and moved into second, passing Hebing on the next lap. Johnson then closed the gap on Tomkins, passing Tomkins in a heated battle on lap 14 for the lead.
Johnson then started to stretch his lead over Tomkins. Meanwhile Ward was still running third followed in the distance by Bob McCreadie and Hebing. The yellow flew for the only time on lap 29 when Vic Coffey and Dave Axton were involved in a shunt in the second turn. Coffey was able to continue while Axton pulled pitside. More importantly the large gap between Johnson and second place Tomkins was now closed.
In the closing laps the rains began to gently fall, however not bad enough to stop the race. Johnson took the win followed by Tomkins, Ward, Bob McCreadie and Tim McCreadie, who passed Hebing with just two laps remaining for fifth.
Karl ComfortThe 20-lap sportsman feature was stopped on the initial lap when Mike Button spun in the third turn. The restart saw Steve Gray take the lead. However all eyes were glued to the fantastic move made by Rich Swarthout, moving up some nine spots using the outside groove in just half a lap. Swarthout was hooked up on the outside and was able to pass Gray for the lead on lap eight. Swarthout then proceeded to build a tremendous advantage over the rest of the field.
For all practical appearances Swarthout looked unbeatable. Then on the final lap he went to duck under the lapped car of Mike Majors. Majors, who was at the track for his first sportsman event ever, took the low line, stalling Swarthout's advance. Karl Comfort was quick to reach, moving to the high side and grabbing the lead. By the time Swarthout freed himself from underneath the Majors's car he fell in line fourth behind Gray and Henderson. The field then finished the final lap in that order. Vince Vitale rounded out the top five, finishing fifth.
Brian MichelsThe 15-lap Pro-stock feature went green-to-checkers with Brian Michaels leading the entire distance. John Unaman made a valiant effort to make a pass on Michaels, but each time fell short. Les Whyte also found bite in the high groove and tried to use this lane to his advantage. He was able to close on the two leaders, but never was able to make the pass and had to settle for third. Scott Fremouw and Jon Miller rounded out the top five. Minutolo, who started dead last in the Pure stock feature was able to take the lead on lap seven of ten in the 22 car starting field. Three yellows during the first four laps helped to make his advance towards the front easier. Steve Miller, who finished second, recorded his eleventh top five finish on the season. New comer Jeff Shulze, from Ransomville, NY, finished third followed by Leroy Lewis and Todd Stanton.
NEW SURFACE: Over the week track officials laid down a new surface conditioner similar to the one applied at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway nearly a month ago.
"We used a 15 percent solution at Canandaigua," stated track promoter Glenn Donnelly. "The idea is to eventually keep the dust down for our fans. The problem seems to be that it will take nearly a week to cure and mix with the rubber laid down out there tonight. Meanwhile the track is dusty tonight, but fans should expect better track conditions each week until our season finale on September 18."
This Saturday will be Paine Motorsports night at the speedway. Races, featuring a regular program of Modified, Sportsman, Pro-Stock and Pure Stock races begins directly at 7:30 p.m.. Canandaigua Speedway is located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds just east of the village of Canandaigua, NY.
HONEOYE AUTO PARTS NIGHT SUMMARY
PURE STOCKS
FEATURE (10-laps): MIKE MINUTOLO, Steve Miller, Jeff Shulze, Leroy Lewis, Todd Stanton, Glen Peters, Beetle Peters, Mike Shaw, Darren Phippen, Donnie Batterson, Jim VanArsdale, Mike Archer, Ralph Priest, Tom Juhl, Brad Steinruck, Eric Giguere, Jim Brown, Jim Colloggi.
PRO-STOCK
HEAT 1: J. Unaman, D. Weisner, D. Kish, P. Barone.
HEAT 2: L. Whyte, B. Michaels, S. Fremouw, J. Miller.
HEAT 3: Ri. Miller, D. VanArsdale, Ra. Miller, R. White.
FEATURE (15-laps): BRIAN MICHAELS, John Unaman, Les Whyte, Scott Fremouw, Jon Miller, Dan Weisner, Darren Kish, Randy Miller, Dave VanArsdale, Phil Barone, Chad Homan, Rob White, Rick Miller, Dave Conant, Jim Burba, Zack Shove, Billy Brown, Betty Fremouw.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: S. Gray, P. Guererri, T. Henderson, J. Haers, D. Allen.
HEAT 2: K. Comfort, M. Button, J. Haers Jr., C. Ridsdale, W. Czymmek.
HEAT 3: R. Swarthout, V. Vitale, C. Parmelee, K. Stell, B. Englert.
FEATURE (20-laps): KARL COMFORT, Steve Gray, Todd Henderson, Rich Swarthout, Vince Vitale, Justin Haers, Jerry Haers Jr., Keith Stell, Paul Guererri, Clay Parmelee, David Allen, Matt Sheppard, Bill Englert, Lance Dusett, Wade Czymmek, Mike Button, Gary Hotalling, Mike Majors, Andy Vargo, Chris Ridsdale, John Pfeffer.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: C. Hebing, C. Bower, D. Ruggles, S. Boudinot, D. Axton.
HEAT 2: D. Johnson, B. McCreadie, P. Ward, T. Fuller, C. Donk.
HEAT 3: B. Decker, V. Coffey, G. Tomkins, T. McCreadie, S. Schrader.
FEATURE (35-laps): DANNY JOHNSON, Gary Tomkins, Pat Ward, Bob McCreadie, Tim McCreadie, Chuck Hebing, Billy Decker, Tim Fuller, Chuck Bower, Steve Paine, Vic Coffey, Ted Bauer, Jeff Hoff, Bill Hoff, Ray Bliss Jr., Jim Burke, Scott Boudinot, Charlie Donk, Dave Axton, Darryl Ruggles, Scott Schrader, Ron White.