MIKE JACKSON BECOMES 7TH DIFFERENT MODIFIED WINNER AT BLACK ROCK

DUNDEE, NY……..Mike Jackson became the 7th different winner in the 358 Modifieds in the 2002 season at the Black Rock Speedway last Friday night. Dale Welty pulled off another last lap, last turn win in the PPG Super-Stock, Roger Scoonover Memorial Race. Steve Brace also survived a tough race to take the win in the Regional Pro Trucks. In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Almond, N.Y. resident , Tommy Stewart was back in victory lane for the first of two features, and Mike Hughey pulled off a tough win in the second event. In the Black Rock Bandits, Ray Speicher picked up his 10th win of the season, and just about put a lock on the championship in this class.

Mike Jackson, out of Campbell, N.Y., in the Herbie Wright 88M picked up his first ever win in the 358's at Black Rock. He has been in competition here for many years, in several different rides, but this was his first trip to victory lane. He started on the pole, and took off to the early lead. Chasing Jackson was Derrick Podsiadlo, John Moravec, Chuck Graham, and Dave Yehl. Charlie Donk, Alex Hoag, and Steve Paine were on the move in the outside lane and were running 9th through 11th by lap eight. As the laps clicked off, Jackson began to pull away from the field. The race was slowed on a couple of occasions by yellow flags, this helped to keep Derrick Podsiadlo within striking distance of "The Rooster". Charlie Donk was really on the charge and was up to third when the final caution came out on lap 24 when there was a multi car tangle in turn three involving Byron Turner, Dave DuBois, Ron White, Fran Hilton, and Bill Deming. In the one lap shoot out for the win, Mike Jackson was able to take the checkers first ahead of Derrick Podsiadlo, Charlie Donk, Chuck Graham, and John Moravec. Heats were won by, Charlie Donk, Alex Hoag, and Brian Swarthout.

The PPG Super-Stock feature on this night was to be the Roger Scoonover Memorial race, and it was a dandy. "Jungle " Jim Schuyler jumped out to the early lead in his new #57J. He and "Sparky" Hill battled for the early lead until lap three when Hills and Alan Crooker made contact in turn three scattering the field behind them. Point leader Dave Fultz's #70 was damaged during his heat event, and he only took a couple of laps in the feature for the points, then pulled in. On the re-start, Schuyler was still the leader, but Alan Crooker was the man on the move, and was second by lap 6, and took the lead on the next circuit. Dale Welty was also charging up from the tail of the field, and was second by lap 12. This was to set the stage for the race to the checkers. Crooker and Welty were having a real war for the lead, and it looked like the #32 was going to take the win. That is until the yellow lights flashed on lap 19, setting up a one lap dash for the win! Welty charged up on the outside of Crooker in turn three to take the lead and another exciting win. Crooker, once again had to settle for second. Third was Quinn Sutherland, followed by Rob Conklin, and Carl Cleveland. Heats were won by Quinn Sutherland, and Eddie Mills.

With only 14 points separating the top three drivers in the Regional Pro Truck division, each race is vital to the track championship. Steve Brace was trailing Eddie Machuga by only two markers going into this race. Brace knew what he had to do. He took the lead on lap 6, and never looked back. Sounds easy, but nothing could be farther from the truth. He had to fight off the charges of Tommy Kessler early in the race, and Jeff Barner in the closing stages. He also had to fight an ill handling #19 to take the win and the point lead with just two point races remaining. Finishing second was, Jeff Barner, third was Eddie Machuga, fourth was Doug Buckley, and Fred Buckley filled up the top five. Heats were won by, Don Divens and Steve Brace.

In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, there was a familiar face in victory lane in the first of two features in this division. It was non-other than former track champion from Almond, N.Y., Tommy Stewart. He took the lead on lap 4, and went in for his first win here in a number of years. Finishing second was, Alfy Clark, third was Ryan Davenport, fourth went to Jack Ayers, Scott Yaw rounded out the top five.

In the second four banger feature, Mike Hughey to the hard earned win over Tim Povoski, third was Mike Brace, Steven Ovens and Skip Dean completed the top five. Heats were won by, Alfy Clark, Karl Weichenthal, Tim Povoski, and Mike Hughey.

Ray Speicher took another step closer the championship in the Black Rock Bandits by posting his 10th win of the season. Finishing second in the 10 lap event was, Josh Smith, third was Laverne Knickerbocker III, fourth was Brady Fultz, and Adam Austin rounded out the top five.

KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER/OWL HOMES RACE SUMMARY

MODIFIEDS (25 LAPS): MIKE JACKSON, Derrick Podsiadlo, Charlie Donk, Chuck Graham, John Moravec, Steve Paine, Alex Hoag, Brian Swarthout, Ken Johnson, Aaron Jacobus, Karl Comfort, Bill Deming, Fran Hilton, Ron White, Jim Roberts, Dave Yehl, Bryon Turner, Dave DuBois, Donnie Lawson, Stacy Jackson, Gil Tegg Jr., Allen Willoughby.

PPG SUPER-STOCKS (20 LAPS): DALE WELTY, Alan Crooker, Quinn Sutherland, Rob Conklin, Carl Cleveland, Fred Buckley, John Sutryk, Chris McCann, Jeff Hand, Jim Schuyler, Dave DuBois, Randy Eggleston, Bill Miller, Sparky Hills, Eddie Mills, Dave Fultz.

REGIONAL PRO-TRUCKS (20 LAPS): STEVE BRACE, Jeff Barner, Eddie Machuga, Doug Buckley, Fred Buckley, Ron Divens, Brian Doolittle, Tom Kessler, Bob Buono, Serenity Sutherland, Fran Furch, Tom Austin, Keith Austin, Don Divens, Ron Perry.

4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #1 (15 LAPS): TOM STEWART, Alfy Clark, Ryan Davenport, Jack Ayers, Scott Yaw, Terry Povoski, Kevin Young, Mike Smalley, Trevor Bentley, Mike Buchanan, Tim Wolfe, Jeff Ameigh, Jared Hill, Karl Weichenthal, Dave Little, Willy Grant Jr., Ray Hyer, Josh Mills, Brian Crawford, Jake Clancey.

4 CYL. STOCKS, RACE #1 (15 LAPS) MIKE HUGHEY, Tim Povoski, Mike Brace, Steven Ovens, Skip Dean, Jason White, Gene DuPuy, Del Cummings, Les Irwin, Donnie Smith, Phil Yaw, Joe Kurtz, Eddie Crawford, Bill Tice, Mark Hills, Chuck Leasure, Nathan Daggett, Shawn Resue, Chad Ayers, George Park Sr.

BLACK ROCK BANDITS: RAY SPEICHER, Josh Smith, Laverne Knickerbocker III, Brady Fultz, Adam Austin, Brent Ayers, Andy Wolfe, 14J(no driver listed), Derek Mills, Jamie Schuyler, Andrew Jackson, Brett Crawford, #67(no driver listed), George Park Jr., Rich Kelly, Brad Ovens, Brandon Ameigh, Trevor Sutherland.