BICKNELL BESTS SUNOCO/APLUS 358-MOD SUPER DIRT WEEK FIELD ... AGAIN
By Ken Kuhlman
SYRACUSE, NY - For the third consecutive year it was Pete Bicknell of St. Catharines, ONT pulling into victory lane at the conclusion of the 150-mile Sunoco/Aplus 358-Modified championship clash Saturday, which headlined Super DIRT Week racing activities at the New York State Fairgrounds mile.
This time around, though, Bicknell needed a big assist from lady luck, inheriting the lead seven laps shy of the finish when the then front-runner, Kenny Tremont, ran out of gas. From there Bicknell had his hands full, holding off Steve Paine for the $25,000 win. It marked Bicknell's fifth win of his career in this event, which he has participated in for 14 years.
Paine was able to beat Bicknell out for the top spot at the start. In fact, Bicknell fell back to third at the start, as Fonda Speedway regular Alton Palmer was also able to get past him.
With six down Andy Bachetti moved into the picture, taking second from Palmer. On the 18th go Bachetti was able to get around Paine in heavy lapped traffic to take command. Ten laps later Bachetti opted to make a pitside visit, giving the lead back to Paine and moving Bicknell into second.
The large gathering focused on a spectacular run that was being made by Todd Burley out of Spencerport, N.Y., who had started 45th in the 49-car field. By the time 40 laps were in the books, Burley was holding down fifth. This Burley charge continued strong on lap 65 as he took third from Tim Fuller. A lap later Burley roared past both Bicknell and Paine to cap off this phenomenal ride by taking the lead. A lap later Burley relinquished the top spot to Paine when he headed for his mandatory pit stop.
A quick stop pitside by Paine gave K.C. Goewey the lead before Tremont, who pitted on lap 35, moved to the front on the ensuing restart with 70 laps complete. At the halfway mark it remained Tremont, Goewey and overall Hoosier Tire/Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT points leader Danny Johnson out front, with Jerry Higbie,Jr. and Dickie Larkin rounding out the top-five. Eighteen cars still remained on the lead lap when second-place Goewey headed to the pits at lap 102 and four laps later Burley's day ended early with mechanical woes.
With 39 laps remaining, Bicknell was back in the thick of things, again taking the runner-up slot from a slowing Larkin. Tremont appeared up to handling anything that Bicknell had to offer until the four-time winner of this event out of West Sand Lake, NY ran dry in the fuel department during lap 143.
That spelled victory for Bicknell with Waterloo, N.Y.'s Steve Paine finishing a little over a car's length back in second. Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass. was in their shadow for a close third. while Johnson from Rochester, N.Y. took fourth and Lebanon Valley Speedway mainstayTodd Wilkinson from Sheffield, Mass. rounded out the top-five.
Sixth went to 30-year racing veteran Maynard Forrette out of Amsterdam, N.Y., followed by the rookie of the year in this 150, Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville, N.Y. Rounding out the top ten were Middlebury, Vt.'s Vince Quenneville,Jr. and third-generation standout Alex Hoag of Bath, N.Y.