PRESTON BAGS #3 WITH EXCITING SPRINT WIN; 4TH WIN FOR PRIEST IN MODIFIEDS; HALL & IORIO WIN FOR THE 2ND TIME IN SPORTSMAN & STOC
Sat, Aug 2, 2003 -- Saturday Night Live
Written by: Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park kicked off the month of August on Saturday night and began the final month of points. Adding to their win totals and celebrating in victory lane were Troy Preston-Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars, Andy Priest-Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds, Rick Hall-New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds, and Doug Iorio-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars.
It was the third annual “EMS Community Sireeeen Rally” presented by Life Force Ambulance. Nearly 50 departments from all over western Pa. and eastern Ohio were on the grounds. A parade of vehicles was held at intermission, which included the Stat-Medevac life flight helicopter above the speedway. It was also Dean Dairy Corp. Night.
The Carbone Family presented the Ken Carbone Memorial. Plaques were presented to the four feature winners, and Doug Iorio received the $200 bonus for winning the Stock Car feature. The top 10 drivers in all of the features received tear-offs. The 20th place finisher in all four features received a gift certificate from Lake Erie Speed.
Troy Preston out-dueled a late-race challenge by Jamie Smith to capture his third win in the 20-lap Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Car feature and added some distance between himself and Arnie Kent in the championship race. “I’m having a lot of fun right now near the end of my career,” admitted the West Middlesex, Pa. driver. “I wasn’t going to give this one to Jamie (Smith). I had to run it in there and get it over with.”
Randy Kriegisch raced into the lead from the pole position with Jason Dolick and Rob Eyler getting past Charlie Holben for second and third. Eyler drove past Dolick for second on the backstretch on lap two then one lap later blasted around Kriegisch off turn two for the lead.
Eyler caught lapped traffic on lap six, while the driver on the move was Rod George. George, who started ninth, was up to fourth when he passed Preston then got around Dolick on the inside on lap seven for third. George continued his way to the front dropping Kriegisch back to third on lap eight. Two cautions slowed action with eight and ten laps completed.
When green flag racing resumed, George began to pressure Eyler. On lap 13, Jeff Kasbee spun in turn four. Eyler and George were still racing as Eyler slammed into Kasbee and George spun to avoid the two. Eyler and Kasbee were done, while George restarted on the tail. This gave the lead to Dolick with Preston second and Smith third.
On the ensuing restart, Preston drove hard into turn one and had the lead from Dolick. On lap 14, Smith moved past Dolick for second. Smith was on the prowl as he chased down Preston. On lap 18, heavy traffic was in front of the leaders allowing Smith to close. Then on the 19th circuit, Smith got inside of Preston in turn two to sneak by for the lead with lapped cars scattered all over. Preston though fought back and drove hard into turns three and four and got under Smith to regain the lead. Lapped cars fell Preston way on the last lap as he went on for his 13th career win in his Preston America-owned, Carlin Hine-powered, Flynn Tire Group/McClung Auto Body/Jones Performance/Chevron East/Barris Supply-sponsored #1P.
“It got pretty busy there about midway through the race,” explained Preston. “I lost all my tear-offs- it was driver error again. It was a physical deal. Getting in down there (turn one) kind of took my plan away from me. It took awhile for me to realize to even get out there. I almost crashed a couple times. The car came right to me.”
Smith was second. Dolick was a career best third. Kent was fourth ahead of Ralph Spithaler, Jr., who recorded his 11th straight top 10 finish. Last week’s winner, Gary McCollum, had another good run in sixth. George charged all the way back to place seventh. Doug Stanley was eighth over Todd Bauer and Chris Matthews. Heat winners were George, Smith, and Preston over the 24-car field.
Dolick of Coshocton, Ohio had a great night as he also was the highest finishing 360 for the first time ever and earned the $150 bonus. Fellow Ohio driver, Stanley, along with point leader Matthews and Jeff Banyas also received 360 bonus monies.
Andy Priest came out unscathed after a wild 20-lap Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modified feature for his fourth win and also earned a $300 bonus as the Eracers Go-Kart Park “Cash Chaser”. “The track was really fast,” stated the New Castle, Pa. winner. “It left for a lot of action. It was bump and bang ‘em. I think that’s what you guys come to see. We try to put on a good show for you and I hope you all enjoyed it.”
Randy Snider led lap one before Bob Dorman and Priest, who started seventh, drove by for first and second on lap two. Rick Hall moved past Snider for third on lap five. The first eight laps ran quiet until Jeremy Paup brought out the caution with eight laps completed.
On the restart, Frank Guidace tried to go from fourth into the lead, but made contact with Priest and the frontstretch wall to bring out the caution. On the next restart, point leader Steve Young tangled with Dean Pearson, Rick Kress, and Chris Dye to bring out another caution. Then on ensuing restart, Priest challenged Dorman for the lead as Carl Weatherby got a great run in turns one two. Contact was made giving Dorman a flat tire and collected Weatherby, Rodney Beltz, Snider, and Travis Shingledecker.
The next restart saw things settle down. Tim Doran got a run on the outside off turn two to pass Tommy Kristyak and Dave Murdick for second. Then heading down the backstretch, Doran slowed and exited the race moving Murdick and Kristyak back to second and third respectively. Murdick and Kristyak raced hard for second over the remainder of the race. It wasn’t until lap 19 when Kristyak finally made the move stick.
Up front, Priest had enough cushion to hold on for his 10th career big-block win, which came in his Don Blackshear-powered, Mac Tools/Priest Speed Equipment-sponsored #21N. Priest has now won three of the last four events. Kristyak’s runner-up gave him the point lead for the first time this season. Murdick had another fine run in third for his ninth straight top 10. Young and Pearson came back to finish fourth and fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Beltz, Brian Fink, Snider, and brothers Travis and Jeremiah Shingledecker. Heat victors were Lonny Riggs and Hall over the 22-car field.
Rick Hall returned to victory lane for the second time this season in the 20-lap New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modified feature. “We put a new motor in and we got it straightened out this week,” revealed the Grove City, Pa. winner. “I seen Ron (Eperthener) there a couple times and he was pressuring me.”
Rich Ferguson jumped out into the lead past Todd Daniels on the start. Ferguson and Daniels continued to battle for the top spot over the ensuing laps. On lap five, it was three-wide for the lead on the backstretch with Hall joining the battle and taking the lead. Ferguson got into Daniels and collected point leader Jerry Schaffer on lap six. Ferguson was put to the tail for rough driving. This moved ninth starter, Ron Eperthener, Jr., to second for the restart. Hall and Eperthener would battle for the lead for the majority of the remainder of the race.
By lap 14, Andy Paden and Gary Smoker joined the battle and made it a four-car race for the lead. On lap 19, Eperthener drove hard through turns three and four to get under the lap car of Barry Bulfone, but slid high allowing Paden to go by for second.
Hall would hold on for his 10th career sportsman win in the Skinny Hall-owned, Campbells Asphalt Products/Grove City Dodge/Hall’s Safety Equipment-sponsored #B2. Paden had another strong outing in second. Eperthener held off Smoker for third. Les Myers was fifth. Heat victors over the 27-car field were Steve Toth, Smoker, and Paden. Dave Cogswell won the B main.
Doug Iorio was victorious in the 15-lap Ken Carbone Memorial for the Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. It was Iorio’s second victory of the season and was worth $550. “We needed this one bad to try to stay in the point hunt,” acknowledged the New Castle, Pa. victor. “I want to thank the whole Carbone Family for what they’ve done tonight. I really appreciate it a lot.”
Bill Lanigan assumed the lead from the pole position, while Iorio got by Bill Schall, Jr. for second on the opening lap. On lap two, Iorio passed his brother-in-law for the lead on the backstretch as Brian Booher trailed in second. On lap five, Booher powered by Iorio on the backstretch for the lead with Terry Wheeler moving ahead of Lanigan for third.
Coming off the outside of turn four on lap seven, Iorio regained the lead from Booher. The two would race side-by-side between laps 8-11. Iorio was still able to maintain his lead. Booher though was right on Iorio on the last lap. At the checkered flag, it was Iorio by about one-half car-length over Booher for his third career win in his Pizza Joe’s/Dumplin Haus/Diamond Painting & Consulting-sponsored #48.
“Brian (Booher) showed himself on the outside,” explained the winner. “He was strong out there. I thought I should try the outside and it worked- I held him off. He was right there. I felt him the whole time. He was definitely fast.
Rusty Moore passed Wheeler on lap 13 to finish third to retake the point lead. Wheeler dropped to fourth ahead of Andy Buckley. Scoring heat wins were Iorio and Moore over the 22-car field.
Luxaire Heating & Cooling Sprint Cars: 1. TROY PRESTON 2. Jamie Smith 3. Jason Dolick 4. Arnie Kent 5. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 6. Gary McCollum 7. Rod George 8. Doug Stanley 9. Todd Bauer 10. Chris Matthews 11. Jeff Banyas 12. Randy Kriegisch 13. Tim Zimbardi 14. Pup Nystrom 15. Chris Shuttleworth 16. Jared Zimbardi 17. Jimmy Seger 18. Vaughn Nystrom 19. Butch Beasley 20. Jimmy Barill 21. Rob Eyler 22. Jeff Kasbee 23. Jeremy Cook 24. Charlie Holben.
Campbell-Peterson Trail & Turf Big-Block Modifieds: 1. ANDY PRIEST ($1,300) 2. Tommy Kristyak 3. Dave Murdick 4. Steve Young 5. Dean Pearson 6. Rodney Beltz 7. Brian Fink 8. Randy Snider 9. Travis Shingledecker 10. Jeremiah Shingledecker 11. Carl Murdick 12. Chris Dye 13. Rick Hall 14. Lee Miller 15. Rick Kress 16. Tom Shaffer 17. Carl Weatherby 18. Tim Doran 19. Bob Dorman 20. Lonny Riggs 21. Jeremy Paup 22. Frank Guidace.
New Castle School of Trades Sportsman Modifieds: 1. RICK HALL 2. Andy Paden 3. Ron Eperthener, Jr. 4. Gary Smoker 5. Les Myers 6. Chad Reitz 7. Kevin Thompson 8. Jeff Schaffer 9. Jim Rombold, Jr. 10. Steve Toth 11. Jerry Schaffer 12. Jay Priest 13. Bill Adams 14. Kevin Green 15. Rich Ferguson 16. Todd Daniels 17. Joe Gibson 18. Morgan Sasse 19. Dave Cogswell 20. Barry Bulfone 21. Kristin Jordan 22. Fred Sasse 23. Mike Gibson 24. Jerry O’Rock-DNS DNQ: Zack Moran, Alex Anderson, Rich Whitney.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars: 1. DOUG IORIO ($550) 2. Brian Booher 3. Rusty Moore 4. Terry Wheeler 5. Andy Buckley 6. Terry Kroner 7. Gary Norman 8. Shaun Hooks 9. Bobby Whitling 10. Tim Zuschlag 11. Carmen DePinto 12. William Smiley 13. Bill Schall, Jr. 14. John Reiser 15. Bryan Shaffer 16. Don Greenlee 17. Rick Norco 18. Carl Ealy 19. Andy Thompson 20. Bill Lanigan 21. Clyde Roberts 22. Ray Bailey, Jr.-DNS.