DERRICK PODSIADLO WHIPS "THE HURRICANE' AT BLACK ROCK
DUNDEE, NY…….Derrick Posiadlo is just starting his third year in the 358 Modifieds, and already he has accomplished two things at the Black Rock Speedway that few other drivers have. He won his first ever feature event, and he sent Steve Paine down to defeat for the second week in a row. Dale Welty also pulled down an exciting win in the PPG Super-Stock division. Tommy Kessler drove to his first ever win in the Regional Pro-Trucks, while in 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Karl Weichenthal picked up his third win of the season, and Josh Smith was a first time winner in the Black Rock Bandits.
Steve Paine doesn't like to lose. No race driver does. But for the second week in a row, he has done just that at the Black Rock Speedway in the 358Modified division. Third year driver in the division, Derrick Podsiadlo out of Penn Yan, N.Y., jumped out to the early lead from his third starting spot on the grid. Early in the 25 lapper he was challenged by Brian Swarthout, and the District 45 Suzuki car of Tim Sebring. Within a few laps Podsiadlo began to pull away from the rest of the field. By Lap 12 Tim Sebring got past Brian Swarthout for second. Also on this circuit, there was a yellow flag for a spin by the 5W of Ron White in turn two. At the half way point, Podsiadlo was still on the point, followed by Sebring, Brian Swarthout, Gil Tegg, Charlie Donk, and Steve Paine was up to 6th, up from his 21st starting position. On lap 14 the turn two wall claimed another victim, this time it was Bill Demming. On the re-start, Podsiadlo was able to maintain the lead, but Paine was on the move and was third by lap 18, and two laps later he moved in to second, and set his sights on the leader. But Podsiadlo had several car length advantage at this point. It looked like Podsiadlo had things well in command, when the one thing he didn't want to see, a yellow light, came on lap 22 for a spin by Ken Johnson in turn three. This put Paine on the rear crash bar of the #21 for a three lap shoot-out for all the marbles. Several times during the caution period, Paine pulled up along side of Podsiadlo, just to let him know who was going to be chasing him. When the final green flag of the event came out, Podsiadlo maintained his lead over Paine. The young Penn Yan driver knew he had to drive the best three laps of his career to stay ahead of the "King of the Rock". Podsiadlo did just that holding off the veteran Paine, to take his first ever Modified win. The grandstand exploded with cheers as the checkers waved over the hood of the #21. The revolution of the "underdogs" continues at Black Rock. Paine Held on for second, third was Tim Sebring, fourth was a greatly improved Brian Swarthout, and Gil Tegg Jr. Heats were won by Stacy Jackson, Derrick Podsiadlo, and Tim Sebring.
Dale Welty picked up the exciting win in the PPG Super-Stocks, as he beat defending champion Dave Fultz to the checkers. Rob Conklin grabbed the lead on lap 2 and seemed to be the car to beat in this event. Welty was on the move through the field from his 13th starting slot and was up to second by lap eight. Welty took the lead in an exciting pass on the back straight on lap 15, Dave Fultz was in second, looking for his second win in a row. On the final lap in turn four there was a jam-up involving Rob Conklin and Rich Karlnoski. Both were able to finish. Conklin was fifth, and Karlnoski was eighth. Welty went in for the win, with Dave Fultz second, third was Dave DuBois, fourth was Carl Cleveland, Rob Conklin filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Chris McCann, and Dale Welty.
Four races, four faces. That's a line that the Black Rock announce team used to describe the fact that there has been four different winners in as many weeks in the Regional Pro-Trucks. This week it was a first time winner in the division, and also the first time this driver has won a feature in 12 years!! The driver in question is Tommy Kessler. His #54 Pro-Truck was hooked up and flying on this night, and he wrestled the lead away from Eddie Machuga on lap 7 in turn two. The top three were all running nose to tail, as Machuga and Don Divens were waiting for Kessler to make a mistake. That mistake never happened. Kessler went on to take the popular win, and Don Divens won the paint swapping match with Eddie Machuga to take second, Machuga was third, Doug Buckley fourth, and Fred Buckley got fifth. Heats were won by, Tommy Kessler, while Eddie Machuga, and Ron Divens finished in a dead heat in the other qualifier.
In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Karl Weichenthal continues his winning ways in this division, as he picked up his third win of the young season. The Povoski brothers were second and third,Terry, over Tim. Fourth was Jack Ayres, and Mike Hughey filled out the top five.
In the second 4 Cyl. Stock feature event, Alfy Clark picked up his first win in the division, James Smith finished second, third was Scott Yaw, fourth was Josh Mills, and Nathan Daggett was fifth. Heats were won by, Jason White, Skip Dean, Kevin Young, and Karl Weichenthal.
Josh Smith picked up his first ever win in the Black Rock Bandits driving the beautiful red, white and blue #13. He had to work hard in the closing laps as defending champ Steven Ovens was right on his back bumper. Ovens finished second, third was Jon Wallenbeck, after a first lap spin. Fourth was Adam Austin, and Derek Mills filled out the top five.
SIGNS PLUS RACE SUMMARY:MODIFIEDS(25 LAPS):DERRICK PODSIADLO, Steve Paine, Tim Sebring, Brian Swarthout, Gil Tegg Jr., Charlie Donk, John Moravec, Alex Hoag, Karl Comfort, Rich Swarthout, Stacy Jackson, Chuck Graham, Gary Hoteling, Jim Hull, Ken Johnson, Fran Hilton, Allen Willoughby, Bill Demming, Donnie Lawson, Bryon Turner, Ron White, Jon Kuleszo, Aaron Jacobus, Jim Roberts.
PPG SUPER-STOCKS(20 LAPS):DALE WELTY, Dave Fultz, Dave DuBois, Carl Cleveland, Rob Conklin, Larry Knowles, Fred Buckley, Rich Karlnoski, Bill Miller, Randy Eggleston, Quinn Sutherland, Josh Ripley, Eddie Mills, Doug McCann, John Sutryk, Chris McCann.
REGIONAL PRO-TRUCKS(20 LAPS):TOMMY KESSLER, Don Divens, Eddie Machuga, Doug Buckley, Fred Buckley, Steve Brace, Jeff Barner, Keith Austin, #17 no driver listed), Serenity Sutherland, Jarred Rial, Ron Divens, Tom Austin, Francis Furch.
4 CYL. STOCKS;(RACE #1) 15 LAPS:KARL WEICHENTHAL, Terry Povoski, Tim Povoski, Jack Ayers, Mike Hughey, Jake Clancey, Eddie Crawford, Jason White, Ryan Davenport, Chuck Leasure, Ray Hyer, Trevor Bentley, Mike White, Joe Slavin, Donnie Smith, Brian Crawford, Dustin Wassner.
4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #2(15 LAPS):ALFY CLARK, James Smith, Scott Yaw, Josh Mills, Nathan Daggett, Skip Dean, Jared Hill, Mike Brace, Gene Dupay, Carmon Bishop, Johnny Conway, Mike Buchanan, Kevin Young, Willy Grant Jr., Shawn Resur.
BLACK ROCK BANDITS(10 LAPS):JOSH SMITH, Steven Ovens, Jon Wallenbeck, Adam Austin, Derek Mills, Ray Speicher, Justin Divens, Brady Fultz, Nicholas Zammett, George Park Jr., Laverne Knickerbocker III, Rich Kelly, Jamie Schuyler, Andrew Jackson, #93(no driver listed), #11(no driver listed).
BY DON DUNHAM, P.R. DIRECTOR, BLACK ROCK SPEEDWAY