Coyle’s last lap pass worth $2,500 in URC 360 Sprints; Doran and Whitling are Modified and Stock winners on last lap at Mercer
Sat, Jul 6, 2002 -- "The Wheelman" URC 360 Summer Nationals
Written by: Mike Leone
Mercer Raceway Park completed the inaugural “Wheelman” URC 360 Summer Nationals Saturday night. Scoring wins and celebrating in the Moore’s Auto Body victory lane were Chris Coyle-United Racing Club 360 Sprints, Tim Doran-Big-Block Modifieds, and Bobby Whitling-Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars. Andy Bordt of Sewickley, Pa. was victorious for the second time this season in the Demolition Derby and took over the point lead in the G&G Auto Outlet “Gladiator Series”.
Armstrong Zoom Cable Internet Service was the presenter of the event and broadcast the event live on Armstrong Cable to over 202,000 subscribers throughout western Pa. The event was also webcast with video feed over the internet for a first to the world. Rebroadcast dates will be announced in the future.
Chris Coyle’s last lap pass of Mike Haggenbottom in the 25-lap feature highlighted the inaugural visit by the Advance Auto Parts URC 360 Sprints by Bar’s Leaks. “Wow! This is a neat little race track,” exclaimed the happy Wilmington, Delaware resident after his third win of the year. “I have a tendency to goof off the first 20 laps, but it worked out tonight. I have to thank all my sponsors and the fans for coming out. I hope we come back soon.”
Point leader Bill Brian, Jr. raced into the lead at the start of the event with Haggenbottom and Kevin Welsh trailing. Coyle started the event in fourth after an invert six from time trials. Coyle raced past Welsh for third on lap two. Two restarts with four laps completed bunched up the field.
When racing resumed, Haggenbottom drove to the inside of Brian in turn three to take the lead as they crossed the start-finish line to complete lap five. Local racer, Chris Matthews, brought a caution with a spin with nine laps completed. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. exited the event in fifth after his front wing broke moving Dave Ely into the top five.
When green replaced yellow, Ed Aikin was on the move from his 10th starting spot as he got around Ely for fifth on lap 10. Three more cautions slowed action on laps 14 and 15. Aikin continued his charge to the front getting by Welsh for fourth on lap 16. Meanwhile up front, Coyle made a nice move in turn one to get under Brian for second on lap 20. The final caution was displayed for Danny Massey with 20 laps completed and set up a five-lap dash to the checkereds.
When action resumed, Coyle pressured Haggenbottom and was all over Levittown, Pa. racer as the laps ticked off. Haggenbottom’s shot at his first win of the year to become the 12th different winner in 17 races was denied when Coyle drove hard under the leader in turn two and powered by on the backstretch to the $2,500 win. Coyle’s fourth career URC win came aboard the Bill Turpin/Fred Kennedy-owned #56.
While all eyes were on the leaders, an excellent race for third between Brian, Aikin, and Welsh ensued. Welsh had got back by Aikin for fourth on lap 21 and was all over Brian, but a cut tire on the final lap allowed Brian of Epratha, Pa. to take third as Aikin of Lincoln University, Pa. got back by for fourth. Arnie Kent of New Castle, Pa. raced from his 15th starting spot to take fifth on the final lap for the highest local finisher. Sixth through tenth were Ely, Greg Coverdale, Gary Gollub, Matt Gerber, as Welsh dropped to tenth.
The event was part of the seven-race Valley Forge, Inc. Pennsylvania State Sprint Series. Heat winners were Ely, Gollub, Jeff Busby, Kent, and Spithaler. Aaron Shaffer won the C main and Welsh won the B main. Spithaler of Evans City, Pa. surprised everyone by setting fast time in the Byron West-owned #55S over the 47-car field to earn $225 with a time of 14.631 just over a second off of the track record set by Jerrod Hull in an All Star event.
Tim Doran made it two in a row and three wins in the last six events after taking the 25-lap Big-Block Modified feature on the last lap from Tommy Kristyak. “That was a tough race,” stated the New Castle, Pa. winner.” Kristyak is always tough. On the one restart I decided I was going to tear down the wall. I hit it pretty hard and we were lucky I didn’t break anything.”
From the pole position on a pill draw, Doran led the first three laps before Kristyak, who started third, grabbed the lead. Hall, Les Myers, and Doran would battle hard over the next 10 laps swapping positions two through four back and forth lap after lap. Doran dropped back to fourth on lap six when Myers and Hall got by.
Then on lap 12 following a restart, Doran shot back around Hall and Myers to regain second. Jeff Schaffer, who started 12th, began to slide into contention when he cracked the top five on lap 16 after passing Rodney Beltz. Schaffer moved into fourth on lap 17 dropping Hall back a spot then took third from Myers on lap 18 racing off of turn four.
Schaffer closed on the leaders before a caution for Chetter Johnson with 23 laps completed. On the restart, Lonny Riggs, who started 15th, came out of nowhere to pass Myers and Schaffer for third. Doran had just gotten around Kristyak when Beltz slowed to bring out the final caution setting up a one-lap shootout.
On the restart, point leader Doran took over getting past Kristyak and went on for the $1,300 victory. Doran’s milestone 20th career Mercer big-block win came aboard his Richard Smith Construction-sponsored #12. “Our car just wasn’t running good on the bottom,” stated Doran. “I slipped back to fourth. I tried the outside again and it worked. Tommy got a bad restart or whatever happened there at the end and I got him there at the start-finish line.”
Kristyak finished second ahead of a strong run by Riggs following his Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway. Schaffer was fourth over Myers. Sixth through tenth were Bob Dorman, Hall, Joe Crawford, Jeremiah Shingledecker, and Kevin Hoffman. Heat winners over the 29-car field were Schaffer, Hall, and Doran. Nick Ritchey won the B main.
Bobby Whitling continued the trend of last lap winning passes by picking up the 20-lap Butterfield’s Pub Stock Car feature after a wild last two laps for his first win. “That race went by real quick,” said the Franklin, Pa. driver commenting on the last 14 laps going non-stop. There was so much traffic at the end and good racing.”
Gary Norman took the lead from Terry Kroner on the first lap. Brian Miller dropped back Kroner to third on lap two. Ron Iorio then got Kroner for third on lap six after starting eighth. Iorio got into Miller in turns three and four sending both cars spinning. This moved Kroner back to second and Jim Brunson up to third. Brunson raced past Kroner on the restart while Doug Iorio, who started 10th, followed in third. One lap later, Doug Iorio took runner-up from Brunson. Brunson then lost third to Shaun Hooks on lap 10. Whitling, who started 14th, didn’t even become a factor until lap 14 when he passed Hooks. By lap 16, Doug Iorio was on Norman, while Whitling began to reel in the front two.
With the white flag in sight, Norman got caught behind Rick Anthony and Mark Sanders off of the inside of turn four. Doug Iorio charged by Norman and split the lapped cars as Whitling followed in second. Then on the backstretch, the lapped car of Lester Bates was just enough to slow the momentum of Doug Iorio as Whitling blew by and took the checkered flag first. Whitling’s third career Mercer win was worth $500 and came aboard his Ted Karns Specialty Construction/Jim’s Doors & Windows/McFate Electric/Anderson Greenhouse-sponsored #7w. Norman also got back by Doug Iorio for second as Iorio fell back to third. Hooks was fourth and regained the point lead. Jim Brunson recorded his third straight fifth place finish. Heat winners over the 34-car field were Norman, Doug Iorio, and Rusty Moore. Rick Lanigan won the B main.
Advance Auto Parts URC 360 Sprint Cars (25 laps): 1. CHRIS COYLE ($2,500) 2. Mike Haggenbottom 3. Bill Brian, Jr. 4. Ed Aikin 5. Arnie Kent 6. Dave Ely 7. Greg Coverdale 8. Gary Gollub 9. Matt Gerber 10. Kevin Welsh 11. Deric Parker 12. Jeff Busby 13. Todd Bauer 14. Danny Massey 15. Judi Bates 16. Jamie Martin 17. Kramer Williamson 18. Ralph Spithaler, Jr. 19. Chris Matthews 20. Jason Clauss 21. Scott Pursell 22. Staple Nash 23. Heath Henley 24. Pup Nystrom 25. Ashley Parlett (provisional starter) DNQ-Dave McGough, Midge Miller, Garrett Jacobs, George Prosser, Justin Collett, Brad Knab, Paul Kapuchuck, Mike Lutz, Jeremy Trout, Aaron Shaffer, Ashley Bates, Donnie Ennis, Mike Kostic, Tony Beaber, Paul Kish, Brian Hartzell, Paul Long, Pete Green, Don Kovac, Jason Dolick, Scott Bonnell, Gary Feller.
Big-Block Modifieds (25 laps): 1. TIM DORAN ($1,300) 2. Tommy Kristyak 3. Lonny Riggs 4. Jeff Schaffer 5. Les Myers 6. Bob Dorman 7. Rick Hall 8. Joe Crawford 9. Jeremiah Shingledecker 10. Kevin Hoffman 11. Jim Bickel 12. Chanda Reitz 13. Carl Murdick 14. Chetter Johnson 15. Rodney Beltz 16. Doug Fleeger 17. Jeff Baker 18. Scott Kay 19. Dave Murdick 20. Dean Pearson 21. Nick Ritchey 22. Lee Miller 23. Scott Ripper 24. Frank Guidace 25. Jerry Bickel-DNS DNQ-Howard Duff, Rick Kress, Adam Kozar, Greg Unrue.
Butterfield’s Pub Stock Cars (20 laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING ($500) 2. Gary Norman 3. Doug Iorio 4. Shaun Hooks 5. Jim Brunson 6. Terry Kroner 7. Tim Deutsch 8. Kevin Thompson 9. Bob McCann 10. Rusty Moore 11. Willie Aley 12. Ron Iorio 13. Phil Kaufman 14. Chuck Kerr 15. Mike Aley 16. Scott Peterson 17. Lester Bates 18. Rick Anthony 19. Andy Buckley 20. Mark Sanders 21. Lynn Hostetler 22. Rick Norco 23. Brian Miller 24. Rick Lanigan DNQ-Tim Zuschlag, Rich Chess, Sr., Adam Reseigh, Ray Bailey, Jr., Clyde Roberts, Jim Hooks, Duane Grinnell, Jim Miller, Robert Caszatt, Jr., Mark Covert.