STEVE PAINE BECOMES FIVE TIME MOD CHAMP AT BLACK ROCK
DUNDEE, NY ... "The Hurricane" Steve Paine continues to set records at the Black Rock Speedway, as he picked up his fifth consecutive track championship in the 358 Modified division. He also collected another win last Friday night. Quinn Sutherland grabbed his first win of the season in the PPG Super-Stocks, Tommy Austin got the win in the Regional Pro-Trucks, and Steve Brace took the championship for the second year in a row. In 4 Cyl. Stock Racing, Karl Weichenthal took the win in the first of two features, while Joe Povoski was victorious in the second feature. Derek Mills was a first time winner in the Black Rock Bandits, and Ray Speicher took the championship in this popular division.
It was championship night in three of the five divisions at Black Rock Speedway last Friday night. Steve Paine sealed his fifth consecutive track title with yet another win in the 358 Modified division. There was a multi-car jam up in turn three involving Byron Turner, Allen Willoughby, John Moravec, Ron White, Derrick Podsiadlo, and Tim Sebring. No drivers were injured, but several cars were done early. As the green lights came back on, Bill Deming took the early lead with Karl Comfort in tow. Steve Paine was on the move early as he was sixth by lap 4. Lap eight saw the 7X in fifth on a re-start, at this time Karl Comfort took over the top spot. Two laps later, Paine was battling Bill Deming for second. He got by Deming and set his sights on Comfort. At the half way mark, Karl Comfort was the leader followed by Paine, Deming, Chuck Graham, and Stacy Jackson. On lap 14 Paine took the lead from Comfort in turn two, while Deming Graham and Stacy Jackson were having a great race for third through fifth. Lap 19 saw the yellow out for a slowing Bill Deming. As the race resumed, Paine remained in front of the field, and went in for another win. Stacy Jackson advanced to second at the checkers, third was Karl Comfort, fourth was Mike Jackson, and Chuck Graham rounded out the top five. Heats were won by, Karl Comfort, Ron White, and Aaron Jacobus.
In the next to last race of the season for the PPG Super-Stocks, Quinn Sutherland out of Dundee, finally picked up his first win of the season. He took the lead from Bill Miller on lap 8, but he had a fast closing Dale Welty in the famous pink and black #1-2-3 to contend with for the remaining laps. Point leader, Dave Fultz was running a tight third. These top three racers ran like a three car freight train, as they pulled away from the rest of the field. Lap 12 saw the yellow flag out as Rich Karlnoski tagged the outside wall on the front straight, he was shaken by otherwise O.K., the right side of his 55X was heavily damaged, and he was done for the night. With the green lights back on, Sutherland continued to lead Welty and Fultz. When the checkers flew, it was Sutherland in for that first win of the year, Welty was a close second, Fultz got third, Bill Miller was fourth, and Rob Conklin filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Miller and Conklin.
This was to be the final point show of the season for the Regional Pro-Trucks. It was going to decide the track championship between Eddie Machuga and Steve Brace. There was two points separating these two drivers. Tommy Austin jumped out to the early lead in this one, and never looked back. On this night, all eyes were on Brace and Machuga. These two veterans started next to each other in the fifth row on the grid, and began moving through the field on the outside groove. Machuga was in front of Brace for the first 10 laps, then on lap 11 Brace got around Machuga. On lap 13 while in the heat of battle, Machuga blew a tire and spun in turn two, Brace got caught up in the tangle, and he too had a flat tire!! Both trucks went to the pits. Brace came out first, and Machuga made it back out just before the green came back out. Once again these drivers had to work back up from the back of the field. Lap 17 saw a yellow flag for Tom Kessler as he spun on the back straight. On the re-start, Machuga's hopes went out the window as the tire that was just put on the #87 came off. He limped to the pits, never to return. At the checkers it was Tommy Austin in for the win, second was rookie sensation Brian Doolittle, third was Doug Buckley, fourth was Jeff Barner, and Bob Buono was fifth. Heat winners were, Tommy Austin, and Brian Doolittle.
Karl Weichenthal took the win in the first of two 4 Cyl. Stock features, in doing so he also increased his lead over Jack Ayers with one point race remaining. Mike Hughey was second third was Will Grant Jr., fourth went to, Terry Povoski, and Scott Yaw filled out the top five.
In the second 4Cyl. Stock feature, it was the battle of the Povoski brothers, Joe and Tim. These two were after each other in this one as though the world championship was on the line. They swapped the lead and some paint before this was over, and Joe took the win. Tim Povoski was second, third was Phil Yaw, fourth went to Ryan Davenport, and Skip Dean filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Willy Grant Jr., Josh Mills, Trevor Bentley, and Del Cummings.
Derek Mills took the lead on lap 4 in the Black Rock Bandit feature, and went on to take his first win in the division. 2002 Bandit Champion, Ray Speicher was second, third was BradyFultz, fourth was Trevor Sutherland, and Brandon Ameigh was fifth.
LAKELAND SALES AND SERVICE-JOHN DEERE RACE SUMMARY
MODIFIEDS(25LAPS);STEVE PAINE, Stacy Jackson, Karl Comfort, Mike Jackson, Chuck Graham, Brian Swarthout, Bryon Turner, Gil Tegg Jr., Tim Sebring, Alex Hoag, Aaron Jacobus, Ken Johnson, Allen Willoughby, Marty Conlon, Bill Deming, Ron White, Jim Roberts, Jim Hull, Donnie Lawson, Mark Jacobus, John Moravec, Derrick Podsiadlo.
PPG SUPER-STOCKS;(20 LAPS):QUINN SUTHERLAND, Dale Welty, Dave Fultz, Bill Miller, Rob Conklin, Chris McCann, Carl Cleveland, Eddie Mills, Dave DuBois, Jeff Hand, Bobby Teed, Randy Eggleston, John Sutryk, Fred Buckley, Steve Perry, Rich Karlnoski, Alan Crooker, Jim Schuyler.
REGIONAL PRO-TRUCKS;(20 LAPS):TOMMY AUSTIN, Brian Doolittle, Doug Buckley, Jeff Barner, Bob Buono, Fred Buckley, Steve Brace, Brian Metcalf, Ron Perry, Tom Kessler, Eddie Machuga, Keith Austin.
4 CYL. STOCK RACE #1(15 LAPS):KARL WEICHENTHAL, Mike Hughey, WillyGrant Jr., Terry Povoski, Scott Yaw, Mike Brace, Jack Ayers, Alfy Clark, Gene DuPuy, Josh Mills, Nathan Daggett, Dave Yehl, Les Irwin, Jared Hill, T. J. Lehman, Jake Clancey, George Park Sr.,.
4 CYL. STOCK RACE #2(15 LAPS):JOE POVOSKI, Tim Povoski, Phil Yaw, Ryan Davenport, Skip Dean, Mark Hills, Eddie Crawford, Kevin Young, Mike Buchanan, Trevor Bentley, Jud Smith, Darrin Jayne, Shawn Resue, Steven Ovens, Del Cummings, Donnie Smith, Jason White, Steven Swarthout, Chad Ayers.
BLACK ROCK BANDITS;(10 LAPS):DEREK MILLS, Ray Speicher, Brady Fultz,Trevor Sutherland, Brandon Ameigh, Adam Austin, Brian Vickio, Laverne Knickerbocker III, Andrew Jackson, Jamie Schuyler, Brad Ovens, Cody Marshall, George Park Jr., Josh Smith, Brent Ayers, Justin Longacre, Rich Kelly.