CHUCK HEBING TOPS TANEY MEMORIAL DOUBLE POINT BASH

CANANDAIGUA, NY...Chuck Hebing, from Webster, NY took the $3,000, 50-lap victory in the Taney Memorial last Saturday at Canandaigua Speedway. Hebing led all 48 of the 50 laps on his way to his first victory of the year. Sixteen year old wonder, Matt Sheppard made a clean sweep of things in the DIRT Sportsman ranks, winning his heat race, a special memorial dash race and the 20-lap feature. This was Sheppard's first career victory. Tommy Baron started at the front in the 15-lap Pro-Stock feature and earned the victory. Mike Minutolo won his fourth Pure Stock feature of the season at the speedway. All events were double points races.

The 50-lap DIRT Modified feature saw Scott Schrader, aboard his Denny's Restaurant's number 58 grab the lead from the pole starting position, as eventual winner Chuck Hebing held second. On lap three, Hebing was able to pass Schrader and begin his domination of the race. Vic Coffey seemed to have his Sweeteners Plus TEO Car dialed in as he shot out of the pack on lap five in pursuit of Hebing. Behind the front two a battle between last year's Taney Memorial champion Gary Tomkins, Schrader, Charlie Donk, Bob McCreadie and Tim McCreadie was developing. Tomkins was able to catch the front two cars but never was able to mount a serious attack.

The first of just two yellows came on lap 25 when debris was spotted in the fourth turn. Hebing now had the entire front of the field on his rear bumper. Young Tim McCreadie dropped from the race on lap 28, as Danny Johnson joined the top six. Johnson and Tim's father Bob McCreadie were now involved in a torrid battle for position, with the front of the field looking like: Hebing, Coffey, Tomkins, Donk, McCreadie and Johnson. On lap 43 the final yellow flew when Charlie Donk suffered a flat tire, coasting to a stop in the fourth turn. His crew quickly fixed the tire and Donk returned at the rear of the field without losing a lap. Hebing soared across the finish line inches ahead of Coffey for the win. Mccreadie, who had taken third in the closing stages lost his right rear wheel as the field roared out of the fourth turn on the final lap. This allowed Johnson to take third with McCreadie holding on for fourth. Tomkins rounded out the top five.

"I want to thank Bob (McCreadie) for all his help in helping us to set up our four-link car," stated Hebing in victory lane. "We were able to run the car up to edge again and still have control."

The crash strewn Sportsman feature saw no more then eight yellow flags. Clay Parmelee led the first four laps in which three yellow flags flew, all for minor spins and debris. On lap five, Vince Vitale took command of the race. The fourth yellow flew on lap 8 when rookie Bill Englert erupted a motor going into the first turn. The restart saw track points leader Karl Comfort slide along the front stretch wall and come to a halt as the pack completed the lap. Comfort was able to turn pitside, but was never able to recoup his lost lap.

Rookie Matt Sheppard began to challenge Vitale for the lead. On lap 14, Sheppard completed his pass in the fourth turn for the lead and never looked back.

Two short yellows set up a dash for the finish in which Sheppard recorded his first ever DIRT Sportsman victory. Vitale held on for second followed by Todd Henderson, Paul Guererri and Rich Swarthout.

In victory lane Sheppard revealed that his car was the one in which Gary Tomkins had won the modified portion of the Taney Memorial last year. "Yes, I was handling well," he stated, "and it's great to get the clean sweep."

The 15-lap Pro-Stock feature went green-to-checkered with Tom Barron using an inherited pole starting spot to claim the victory. Betty Fremouw, who was to have held the pole spot, started at the back of the field, moving Barron into the pole position. Following Barron across the finish line were Tiger Chapman, Wayne Ellison, Rick Miller and Brian Thompson. Les Whyte suffered a flat tire and lost four laps in the pits.

The Pure Stock 10-lap feature saw four time winner Mike Minutolo draw the pole and lead all the laps.

This Saturday will be poster night at the speedway. Kids can draw pictures of their favorite drivers and cars and hand them in at the program stand for display and judging. A full four star program featuring the DIRT Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro-Stocks and Pure Stocks will be on the speedway. Race time will be at 7 p.m. sharp.

DICK IDE HYUNDAI presents the TANEY MEMORIAL NIGHT SUMMARY

PURE STOCKS

FEATURE (10-laps): MIKE MINUTOLO, Leroy Lewis, Beetle Peters, Mike Archer, Randy Peters, Eric Giguere, James Colloggi, Steve Miller, Tim Burnell, Ralph Priest, Brad Steinruck, Mike Shaw.

PRO-STOCKS

HEAT 1: L. Whyte, C. Homan, F. Burnell, J. Sullivan, B. Fremouw, J. Stone.

HEAT 2: R. Miller, T. Chapman, B. Thompson, D. Conant, D. Weisner, B. Brown.

HEAT 3: T. Barron, W. Ellison, Ra. Miller, D. VanArsdale, J. Miller, D. Ebersole.

FRED TANEY DASH FOR CASH (4-laps): Les Whyte ($100), Tom Barron ($75), Rick Miller ($50), Randy Miller ($25).

FEATURE (15-laps): TOM BARRON, Tiger Chapman, Wayne Ellison, Rick Miller, Brian Thompson, Randy Miller, Billy Brown, Chad Homan, Dan Weisner, John Miller, Scott Fremouw, Bobby Lutz, Jerry Sullivan, Dave Conant, Lee Burnett, Frank Burnell, Phil Barone, Dave VanArsdale, Jim Burba, Les Whyte, Rob White, Betty Fremouw, Mike Murphy.

SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1: D. Allen, Ju. Haers, T. Henderson, K. Comfort, R. Cartwright.

HEAT 2: M. Sheppard, P. Guererri, S. Gray, C. Parmelee, J. Haers Jr.

HEAT 3: V. Vitale, L. Dusett, L. Lincoln, R. Swarthout, C. Ridsdale.

FRED TANEY DASH FOR CASH (4-laps): Matt Sheppard ($100), Vince Vitale ($75), Karl Comfort ($50), Dave Allen ($25).

FEATURE (20-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Vince Vitale, Todd Henderson, Paul Guererri, Rich Swarthout, Loren Lincoln, Lance Dusett, Justin Haers, Dave Allen, Clay Parmelee, Chris Ridsdale, Rick VanNeil, Todd Preston, Wade Czymmek,John Pfeffer, Scott Updike, Karl Comfort, Greg Walters, Steve Gray, Mike Button, Bill Englert, Ron Cartwright.

MODIFIED

HEAT 1: S. Paine, B. Decker, S. Schrader, R. Bliss Jr., P. Ward, C. Bower.

HEAT 2: J. Hoff, T. Fuller, D. Johnson, C. Hebing, C. Donk, T. McCreadie.

HEAT 3: G. Tomkins, B. McCreadie, V. Coffey, J. Moravec, D. Axton, B. Hoff.

CONSI: B. Turner, T. Burnett, S. Glover, S. Schultz, S. Boudinot, R. White.

FRED TANEY DASH FOR CASH (4-laps): Steve Paine ($100), Gary Tomkins ($75), Billy Decker ($50), Jeff Hoff ($25).

FEATURE (50-laps): CHUCK HEBING, Vic Coffey, Danny Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Gary Tomkins, Billy Decker, Tim Fuller, Steve Paine, Pat Ward, Charlie Donk, Chuck Bower, Bryon Turner, Scott Schrader, Tim Burnett, Jeff Hoff, Scott Boudinot, John Moravec, Steve Schultz, Bill Hoff, Ray Bliss Jr., Tim McCreadie, Dave Axton, Ron White, Steve Glover.