CONN AND FAIGLE PICK UP FIRST MERRITTVILLE WINS ON MODERN NIGHT
By Alexis De Wolfe
The Empire Super Sprints took to the track for the second time at Merrittville this summer in a night presented by Modern Landfill. R.C. Faigle (21a) of Manlius, New York walked away the winner of the 20 lap caution-free main event. Mike Ward won his ninth street stock feature of the 2000 season on Saturday night, while Ken Sargent (25) in the pro-stocks and Pete Bicknell (1p) in the Modifieds made repeat trips to Victory Lane. Wayne Conn (8c) won the sportsman feature - his first since rejoining the division in 2000.
Tony Visca (49) pulled to the early lead in the street stock feature. Bruce Colbert (97) and Lloyd Cichocki (8c) tangled on the back straightaway, and went off the track but were able to get going without bringing out the yellow. Bob Kish (96) was having troubles in four, but managed to get going again. Aaron Vasas (6) moved up into first spot on the first lap, but Chuck Martin (3) was making some headway through the field. Martin and Mike Ward (95) were duking it out for second spot on lap four. Vasas spun himself out in turn four of lap eight leaving Martin with the lead. Darlene Gifford (34c), Jerry Deschamps (f30) and Peter Reid (05) spun out between three and four on lap eight bringing out the first caution. Martin held onto the lead on the restart with Ward close on his heels. Martin had to leave the track on lap 11 with a flat tire, forcing him to give up the lead to Ward. The caution came out a second time on the last lap as six or seven cars got tangled up in turn three. Chris Crawford (4c) was given the black flag. With a one lap dash to the checkered Ward held it, and was followed by Mike Dooley (310c), Rob Knapp (Y2K), Deschamps and Greg Ayers (17).
The pro-stock feature proved to be an interesting race. Alex Whelan (31j) and Rick Baker (78), started in the front row, but Ken Sargent moved up to split the leaders coming out of turn two to take it. Whelan spun out coming out of four and came to rest in the infield bringing out the yellow. Sargent and Don Spiece (88) restarted side by side, and there was a lot of bumping, but Sargent pulled ahead. Dan Gilbert (400) moved up into third spot on lap three and tried to make a move on Spiece but just couldn't get around him. Darren Kish (99) and Baker sat back further fighting for fourth spot, Kish managed to pull ahead to secure the position on lap four. Whelan and AJ Schulz tangled on the front straightaway, but Dave Gifford (34c) lost control of his car between turns one and two. Gifford's car rolled over and came to rest on its roof. Spectators got a great view as the undercarriage of the car was on fire. Gifford got clear of his car without any problems, and the crews came and put the fire out, but it was a tense moment. They finally got Gifford's car back on its wheels and towed it to the pits. Spiece jumped the leader on the restart, and was penalized positions for it. Sargent took the lead with Gilbert behind him, but Gilbert just didn't have time to catch him. Sargent held it to the checkered and was followed by Gifford, Kish, Jeff Dayman (5) and Steve Devos (17).
The Empire Super Sprints came out to give a show. Six cars took to the track for the Walt's Hobby Shop Dash for Cash. Randy Years (2) took the early lead, only to have Bubby Kerrick (61) go flying around him between one and two. Kerrick moved to the lead and stayed there to take the checkered. Rick Wilson (27c) made it to second place from last in the four laps.
John McKenney (19j) took the early lead in the Sportsman feature, with Ken Walsh (Silvr7) trailing behind. Cars started banging into each other coming out of four, but managed to keep control. Gary Kruchka (21) moved up into second spot on lap six, but McKenney was running well ahead. Wayne Conn (8c) moved up to challenge for second on lap seven, but couldn't clinch it. Tim Lipsitt (29) and Paul Ashton (3a) got hooked up in turn one on lap 11, bringing out the first caution. McKenney lost his big lead because of the caution, and Conn moved into the lead on the restart. Shawn Sliter (71s) got around Kruchka for third spot on lap 12 and Garry Moreash (124) passed him a lap later to clinch fourth. Chad Brachmann (3) was trying to make a push on the leaders, but ran out of time. Conn held the lead to the checkered and was followed in by McKenney, Moreash, Randy Chrysler (21k) and Sliter.
Don Spatorico (65) flew to the lead in the modified feature, and made Luke Carleton (97c) chase him around the track. Bill Podwinski (72) moved up and passed Luke Carleton for second on the second lap. Caution came out on lap three as Boyd MacTavish (7m) and Billy Krull (z1) tangled in turn four. MacTavish was towed from the track with heavy damage to the front end of his car, but Krull was able to pull into the back of the pack without pitting. Jim Begolo (16) started to fly through the pack and landed in fourth spot on lap five. Podwinski flew around Spatorico coming out of turn two on lap five to take the lead. Spatorico tried to battle back, but just couldn't get the bite. Todd Gordon (8eh) was sitting on Spatorico's tail. Podwinski lost it on the back straight away, leaving the track, and first spot. Spatorico picked up the slack and the lead on lap eight. Fred Carleton (96) moved up into fourth spot on lap 10 and got around Gordon for third on lap 11. Begolo drilled Gordon on lap 13, hooking into his side panel and bringing out the yellow, luckily the pair managed to avoid taking anyone else with them. Pete Bicknell (1p) made it to sixth spot from 18th by the time the caution came out on lap 13. Spatorico took the lead, but Bicknell jumped to fourth spot on the restart and had the lead in his sights. Fred Carleton got around Spatorico on lap 16. On lap 17 Don Turner (39) spun out in three and then Scott Wood (38) and Harry Sittler (37s) got into it on the caution. All three were black flagged from the race. Spatorico jumped back into the lead on the restart as Fred Carleton held back, holding Bicknell with him. Carleton got ahead of Spatorico on the back of lap 21, leaving Spatorico to duke it out with Bicknell. Carleton tried to run away and hide, but Bicknell wasn't having any of it as he passed Spatorico on lap 24 and got around Carleton on lap 26. Bicknell held the lead to the checkered and was followed in by Carleton, Spatorico, Rick Richner (26) and Dan Miller (22).
The Empire Super Sprints were the last feature on the roster. The cars came out onto the track and gave their traditional four abreast wave lap for the spectators. Mike Stelter (36) of Webster, New York took the early lead and started putting some track between himself and Donald Sharp Jr. (28NH). Rick Wilson (27c) was moving through the pack and was in ninth spot on lap three, after starting 14th. R.C. Faigle (21a) didn't manage to catch Stelter until the halfway point and got around him coming out of four on lap 13. Wilson was up to fifth spot on lap 14. Mike Woodring (19) came out of nowhere to tuck himself behind Wilson on lap 15. Wilson moved into fourth on lap 16. Lance Yonge (5c) slid off the track and into the infield on lap 18, but got clear. Woodring managed to get up to fourth on lap 19, with Wilson ahead, but Woodring made a move out of turn four and got ahead of Wilson. Your top five were R.C. Faigle (21a), Steve Dow (70), Mike Woodring (19), Rick Wilson (27c) and Mike Stelter (36).
The Empire Super Sprints will be back at Merrittville on September 16 presented by Inside Track Motorsport News.
Join us at Merrittville Speedway next week when Hoosier Tire Canada presents 50 lap 358 Championship Night for the 358 Modifieds in addition to the final point events for the DIRT Sportsmen and Pro Stocks. The Dwarf Cars will return for the first event of September in addition to the Street Stocks. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat at 7:30. For further information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.