JOHN MORAVEC WINS SYRACUSE QUALIFIER AT BLACK ROCK

by: DON DUNHAM

DUNDEE, NY…John Moravec picked up his first win of the 2001 season in the 358 Modifieds at the Black Rock Speedway, he was first across the line in the big 76 lap Syracuse qualifier. Larry Knowles took his third win of the season in the PPG Super-Stocks; Tommy Austin was victorious in the Regional International Pro-Trucks, while in the NAPA 4 Cyl. Stocks, Mike Hughey and Joe Povoski were winners, and Dan Flynn took his first win in the Black Rock Bandits.

Chuck Kennison took the early lead in the Pepsi 76 lap Syracuse qualifier for the 358 Modifieds, while Lance Dusett and Bryon Turner battled for 2nd and 3rd. Gill Tegg was the man on the move as he was up to 8th on lap 4. On lap 10 just about half the field was eliminated in a fourth turn wreck that saw Scott Benedict get bounced off the wall in front of the field. Charlie Donk and Steve Paine were both out for the night with extensive damage, also involved were Alex Hoag, Tim Sebring, Tom Stewart, Stacy Jackson, Brian Swarthout, Tony Harris, Brian Polmanteer, and Todd Henderson. On the lap 16 re-start, Gill Tegg took over the lead, and began pulling away, Bryon Turner was second. Tegg remained at the top of the field, with Turner in second; Todd Henderson was up to third and Steve Mandell fourth. By lap 29 Tim Sebring had moved all the way up to fifth. At the half way mark it was still Tegg in the top spot, Bryon Turner second, and Sebring was now third. Lap 45 saw the yellow flag out as Todd Henderson and Dan Mathews got together. After the incident while the field was still under caution, Dan Mathews and leader Gil Tegg got together. This caused rear-end damaged to Tegg's #6, and he was on the hook. Tegg got out of his car and went over to the Mathews #9 to show his displeasure, and he had to be restrained by track officials. He was disqualified for his actions. This chain of events put Bryon Turner in the lead with Tim Sebring second, Brian Swarthout Third, and Steve Mandell fourth. Turner and Sebring were now racing for the lead, and John Moravec was third, and closing fast. Sebring took the lead on lap 53, on lap 62 Moravec was in second, and he took the lead in turn two on lap 68, and held on for the popular win. Turner and Sebring raced for second, with Turner getting the runner-up spot at the flag, Sebring was third, fourth was Steve Mandell, and Todd Henderson filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Steve Mandell, Charlie Donk, and Chuck Kennison.

Larry Knowles grabbed another win in the PPG Super-Stocks. He got off to a good start, as he raced for the early lead with Chris McCann. The man on the move at this point was Dale Welty. He took the lead on lap 7 in turn two as he swept past both Knowles and McCann. Once out in front, Welty pulled away from the field and looked to be on his way to the win. But lady luck was to deal Welty another bad hand, as his 1-2-3 stopped in turn two on a lap 13 re-start, and he was done for the night. This gave the lead back to Larry Knowles, and he cruised home for the win. Second went to Carl Cleveland, third was Kevin Chilson, Dave Fultz fourth, and Chris Daugherty filled out the top five. Dale Welty, Rich Karlnoski, and Carl Cleveland won heats. Tommy Austin had his 88A in top running form and took the win in the Regional International Pro-Truck division. He had a race long battle with the 28 of Don Divens. Steve Brace, Fred Buckley, and Eddie Machuga were also in the fight, as these top racers ran close throughout the 20-lap event. At the checkers it was Austin in for the win, Don Divens was second. Third was Fred Buckley. Fourth went to Steve brace, and Eddie Machuga was fifth. Heats were taken by Don Divens, and Jim Roberts.

In 4 Cyl. Stock racing, Mike Hughey took the win in the first of two features, he took the win over Eddie Crawford, Phil Yaw, Terry Povoski, and Jake Clancey.

In the second feature, Joe Povoski was the winner as he took the lead on a lap 4 re-start. Karl Weichenthal was second, third was Alfred Clark, fourth was Jason White, and Chuck Leasure filled out the top five. Heats were won by, Alfred Clark, Phil Yaw, Joe Povoski, and Scott Bradley.

In the Black Rock Bandits, Dan Flynn took the lead on the second lap of the feature and went on to score his first win in the division. Finishing second was Adam Austin, third was Ray Speicher, fourth went to Travis Berardo, and Jon Wallenbeck was fifth.

PEPSI OF ELMIRA/ARNOT MALL RACE SUMMARY

MODIFIEDS (76 LAPS); JOHN MORAVEC, Bryon Turner, Tim Sebring, Steve Mandell, Todd Henderson, Tom Stewart, Brian Swarthout, Dan Mathews, Chuck Kennison, Dave Yehl, Aaron Jacobus, Brian Polmanteer, Bill Demming, Ray Dann, Alex Hoag, Tony Harris, Scott Benedict, Walt Chryrwaty, Ray Bliss Jr., Derrick Podsiadlo, Stacy Jackson, Charlie Donk, Steve Paine, Lance Dusett.

PPG SUPER-STOCKS (20 LAPS);LARRY KNOWLES, Carl Cleveland, Kevin Chilson, Dave Fultz, Chris Daugherty, Eddie Mills, Chris Dobson, Mike Carapella, Alan Crooker, John Sutryk, Quinn Sutherland, Chris McCann, Rich Karlnoski, Jason Clugstone, Dale Welty, Dave Dubois, Bill Miller, Sparky Hills, Jim Schuyler, Dan Smart, Rob Conklin.

REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL PRO-TRUCKS(20 LAPS):TOM AUSTIN, Don Divens, Fred Buckley, Steve Brace, Eddie Machuga, Jeff Barner, Bob Buono, Ron Divens, Jeff Smith, Rich Easling, Brian Metcalf, Matt Balmer, Jim Roberts, Doug Buckley, Keith Austin.

NAPA 4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #1(15 LAPS):MIKE HUGHEY, Eddie Crawford, Phil Yaw, Terry Povoski, Jake Clancey, Brian Crawford, Bob Stewart, Ryan Davenport, Nicola Knickerbocker, Jack Ayers, John Burritt, Mike Jackson, Donnie Lawson, Scott Bradley, Mike Smalley, A Jay Potrzebowski, Zack Gardiner.

4 CYL. STOCKS RACE #2(15 LAPS):JOE POVOSKI, Karl Weichenthal, Alfred Clark, Jason White, Chuck Leasure, Craig Chisom, Les Irwin, Ray Hyer, Doug Moser, Serenity Sutherland, Skip Dean, Jared Hill, Mike White, Kenny Hunt, Brandon Smith, Willy Grant Jr., Scott Yaw.

BLACK ROCK BANDITS(10 LAPS)DAN FLYNN, Adam Austin, Ray Speicher, Travis Berardo, Jon Wallenbeck, Nathan Daggett, Josh Mills, Steven Ovens, Frank Guererri Jr., Laverne Knickerbocker III, Dustin Towner, Joe Kurtz, Cody Clark, Jamie Schuyler, Andrew Jackson, Kirsten Dombroski, Adam Chisom, Trevor Sutherland, Tyler Avery, Derek Mills, Ben Gardiner.