ALEX HOAG CLAIMS FIRST EVER MODIFIED WIN AT BLACK ROCK
DUNDEE, NY……Third generation driver out of Bath N.Y., Alex Hoag took his first ever Modified feature last Friday night at the Black Rock Speedway. He became the third different winner in as many weeks in the 358 Modified division.
In the PPG Super-Stocks, Rich Karlnoski took the win in a wild finish. Eddie Machuga became the fifth different winner of the year in the Regional Pro Trucks. In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Mike Hughey was the winner of the first feature, while Alfy Clark picked up his second win in a row in the second feature. Jon Wallenbeck took his second win of the year in the Black Rock Bandits.
For the third week in a row there was a different driver in victory lane after the 25 lap Modified feature at the Black Rock Speedway. For the second week in a row it was the driver's first ever win. This week it was Alex Hoag standing in the spot light with the checkered flag in his hand. This young veteran driver has been around racing all of his life. Given the fact that his father, Dean was a racer for many years with the asphalt modifieds, and super-modifieds, and his grandfather is the legendary "Dutch" Hoag. He came by his love of racing as a family activity. He has paid his dues. He began in the Bandit Division and was a champion there. He switched to the powerful Super-Stocks, and won on only his third race in the division! The next step was the Modifieds. It was going to take a little longer to master these high powered open wheelers, but he finally did it. He started out the evening by winning his heat in high flying fashion. He started the feature event in the 9th position. At the drop of the green, Bryon Turner took the early lead. There was an early yellow on lap 2 for Donnie Lawson as he stopped his mount in turn four. On the re-start, Hoag was challenging Turner for the lead. Alex powered into the top spot in turn 4 on lap 5, and began to pull away from the field. Meanwhile, the "Hurricane" was on his way up through the field, and was in 7th by lap 11. Four laps later he was second, about a quarter of a lap behind Hoag. There was also a couple of lapped cars between the two front runners. On lap 24 the one thing Alex Hoag didn't want to see, appeared on the flag stand, and it was yellow! The #52 of Jim Hull stopped in turn two. On the re-start, yet another yellow appeared, this time for a Tim Sebring spin in turn two. As the green re-appeared, and Paine set his sights on Hoag. But for the third week in a row, Paine had to settle for second, as Hoag scored that big first win in front of the home crowd. Gil Tegg JR. was third, fourth was Ron White, and Stacy Jackson filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Alex Hoag, Gil Tegg Jr., and Tim Sebring. The B-main was taken by Bill Deming.
The PPG Super-Stock feature appeared to be a cake walk for Dale Welty, as he took the lead on lap three and began to pull away from the rest of the field. Bill Miller was running second early in the event until overheating problems sent him pitside early. Then it was Rich Karlnoski, and Carl Cleveland chasing Welty. Things were going fine for Welty until lap 16 when the whole complexion of the race changed. Karlnoski had contact with the lapped car of Doug McCann, and Welty had a flat right front tire. Welty got the tire changed, and came back to finish 8th. This put Karlnoski in the lead. On lap 19 Fred Buckley, Dave DuBois, and Quinn Sutherland all got together in turns 3 and 4. With all of this going on, Karlnoski hit the 4th turn wall on the last lap and bent the right rear wheel, but was able to hold on for the win!! Dave Fultz was second, third was Rob Conklin, fourth went to, Carl Cleveland, and Chris McCann filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Dave Fultz and Chris McCann.
For the fifth straight week, there has been a new face in victory lane for the Regional Pro-Trucks at the Black Rock Speedway. This time it was Eddie Machuga taking the win after a fierce battle for the lead with Fred Buckley. Machuga finally took over the top spot on lap 15, and went in for the win. Early leader Tommy Austin continues to have problems, as he had the right front suspension fail on his 88A on lap 12. Fred Buckley held on for second at the line, third was Jeff Barner, fourth went to Ron Divens, and Tommy Kessler was fifth. Heats were won by Steve Brace, and Eddie Machuga.
In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Mike Hughey pulled off the win in the first feature after a spirited battle with Scot Yaw. Finishing second at the line was Jason White, Scott Yaw was third, fourth went to Karl Weichenthal, and Jack Ayres filled up the top five. In the second feature, Alfy Clark pulled off his second win in a row, while James Smith finished second, third was Nathan Daggett, fourth went to Jared Hill, and Mike Brace was fifth. Heats were won by, Terry and Tim Povoski, Scott Yaw and Mike Hughey.
In the Black Rock Bandits, Jon Wallenbeck took his second win of the young season after both he and Steven Ovens made a bold move early on the back straight on the opening lap passing most of the field. Ovens held on for second, third was Ray Speicher, Josh Smith, and Brady Fultz filled out the top five.
NATIONAL BANK OF GENEVA RACE SUMARRY:MODIFIEDS(25 LAPS):ALEX HOAG, Steve Paine, Gil Tegg Jr., Ron White, Stacy Jackson, Karl Comfort, Tim Sebring, John Moravec, Derrick Podsiadlo, Brian Turner, Chuck Graham, Brian Swarthout, Rich Swarthout, Vic Coffey, Rob Krull, Gary Hotelling, Aaron Jacobus, Allen Willoughby, Jim Hull, Frank Burnell, Fran Hilton, Charlie Donk, Donnie Lawson, Bill Deming.
PPG SUPER-STOCKS(20 LAPS):RICH KARLNOSKI, Dave Fultz, Rob Conklin, Carl Cleveland, Chris McCann, Eddie Mills, Larry Knowles, Dale Welty, John Sutryk, Fred Buckley, Dave DuBoise, Quinn Sutherland, Doug McCann, Bill Miller.
REGIONAL PRO-TRUCKS(20 LAPS):EDDIE MACHUGA, Fred Buckley, Jeff Barner, Ron Divens, Tommy Kessler, Doug Buckley, Steve Brace, Keith Austin, Brian Doolittle, Don Divens, Serenity Sutherland, Tommy Austin, Francis Furch.
4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #1(15 LAPS):MIKE HUGHEY, Jason White, Scott Yaw, Karl Weichenthal, Jack Ayres, Eddie Crawford, Terry Povoski, Ryan Davenport, Kenny Hunt, BrianCrawford, Mike White, Edgar McCloud, Trevor Bentley, Bob Keys, Harry Ayres, Tim Povoski.
4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #2(15 LAPS):ALFY CLARK, James Smith, Nathan Daggett, Jared Hill, Mike Brace, Willie Grant Jr., Kevin Young, Shawn Resur, Tim Wolfe, Jake Clancey, George Park Sr., Donnie Smith, Mike Smalley, Skip Dean.
BLACK ROCK BANDITS(10 LAPS):JON WALLENBECK, Steven Ovens, Ray Speicher, Josh Smith, Brady Fultz, Jamie Schuyler, Laverne Knickerbocker III, Brent Ayres, George Park Jr., Adam Austin, Derek Mills, Justin Divens, Andrew Jackson, Cody Marshall, Andrew Wolfe, Anthony Teed, Trevor Sutherland, Nicolas Zammett.
BY DON DUNHAM P.R. DIRECTOR BLACK ROCK SPEEDWAY