KEITH HOFFMAN, CHAD COOK, ALLEN COY, BOB CHAPMAN, AND BOB BOYNTON STAR IN FALLL FOLIAGE FINALE AT PENN CAN

(Susquehanna, Pa.) Friday night's Gary's U-Pull It sponsored Fall Foliage Finale brought to a close the 2001 racing season at the Penn Can Speedway. Keith Hoffman picked up his first ever Penn Can feature win in the 40 lap Tim Olenski Memorial, which earned him a guaranteed starting spot in the Victoria 200 at Fulton Speedway on September 29th. Chad Cook came home the winner of the Sortsman event, which was also a qualifier for the Motorsports Expo 2002 30, the Sportsman portion of Victoria 200 weekend. Allen Coy came home the winner of the American Race Tires Late Model Series event, while Bobby Boynton picked up his second consecutive Pure Stock win. Bob Chapman was the IMCA Modified winner.

The 40 lap Tim Olenski Memorial Modified feature saw the feature line-up set by luck of the draw. Butch Tittle and Mike Decker paced the filed to the green flag. Afte a pair of false starts, Tittle and Decker spent the early laps of the feature battling each other for the top spot as Hoffman made his charge from ninth up into contention for the lead. A lap six restart would prove to be the difference as Hoffman was able to work past Tittle to take over the top spot aboard his Wenger/Bashore sponsored #5 Troyer. The race settled in to a long green flag run as the final 34 laps were run without a caution flag. In the closing stages, Tittle was able to close up on Hoffman but was not able to make a pass on the Big Diamond Raceway track champion. Tittle did got the nose under Hoffman a couple of times, but that was as close as he got and Hoffman picked up the win by about three car lengths over Tittle. Mike Decker crossed the line third ahead of teammate Brian Weaver and Paul Jensen. Jeff Bronson, Rick Virkitis, Mike Ricci, Mitch Gibbs, and Mike Colsten made up the remainder of the top ten.

Heat races for the 41 Modifieds in attendance were won by Mike Decker, Mike Colsten, Rick Virkitis, and Brian Weaver. A pair of Pump 'n Pantry Last Chance Races were won by Mitch Gibbs and Mike Nagel.

The Sportsman feature saw Chad Cook turn in a dominating performance, leading all 25 laps of the Sportsman feature to pick up the win aboard his Coventry Transport sponsored #2J. Cook dominated the event as only caution flags allowed the field to close up on Chad. Arnie Slade tried to make a late run but settled for a second place finish ahead of Brian Malcolm. Brian Decker finished fourth with Gary Gallerie rounding out the top five. Rich Keehle, Ken Titus, Brian Weaver, Ralph Mele, and Bob Hamm completed the top ten finishing order. Chad Cook and Rich Keehle split Sportsman heat races.

The Late Model feature was the final race of the six race American Race Tires Late Model Series. Dick Clark and Jason Carmen paced the field to the green flag with Clark grabbing the early lead, but that lead was short lived as newly crowned track champion Allen Coy advanced quickly from his fourth starting position to take over the lead. Series point leader Gene Sharpsteen moved forward from his seventh starting position to run second, but could not make a run at Coy. Coy crossed the line first to pick up the victory with Sharpsteen following him across the line in second to clinch the championship of he American Race Tires Late Model Series. RJ Windhausen crossed the line in third with Dick Clark fourth. Dick Stark completed the top five.

Dave Zona, Jim Sherman, Rich King, Jim O'Hara, and Lou Sparks made up the second half of the top ten. Allen Coy and Gene Sharpsteen were winners of the pair of Late Model qualifying heats.

The IMCA Modified race was held over from the rained-out Penn Can Spectacular and it was the final point race of the 2001 season. Coming into the Spectacular, Larry Robbins held a two point advantage over Bob Chapman. The 20 lap feature saw both do what they had to do. Chapman moved quickly to the lead and went on to score the victory while Robbins crossed the line in second, good enough to pick up the 2001 track championship by a single point over Chapman. Charlie Gilbert finished third with Frank Bonham fourth and Don Alvord fifth. Larry Bezner, Terry Rhodes, Kevin Cole, John Thayer, and Rich Tiffany completed the top ten. Larry Robbins and Charlie Gilbert were IMCA Modified heat race winners.

Bob Boynton picked up his second consecutive feature win in Pure Stock action. Boynton started sixth and worked his way to the front of the field. Denny Decker made a late challenge but was not able to take the top spot from Boynton. John Cooper finished third ahead of Kurt Decker and Wade Decker. Jeff Cleveland, Mark Aldrich, Michael Lartz, Jerry Whitmarsh, and Dan Husnay completed the top ten. The three Pure Stock heats saw Wade Decker, Brad Butcher, and Bob Boynton pick up victories.

This was the final event of the 2001 racing season at the Penn Can Speedway. Penn Can Speedway management wishes to thank all of the fans, race teams, and sponsors who helped to make the 2001 season a successful one at the speedway. Look for plans for the 2002 season at Penn Can to be announced soon.

GARY's U PULL IT FALL FOLIAGE FINALE RACE SUMMARY: MODIFIEDS: 1. KEITH HOFFMAN 2. Butch Tittle 3. Mike Decker 4. Brian Weaver 5. Paul Jensen 6. Jeff Bronson 7. Rick Virkitis 8. Mike Ricci 9. Mitch Gibbs 10. Mike Colsten 11. Harry Marvin Jr. 12. Alan Rudalavage 13. Mike Clapperton 14. Rick Whitney 15. Tom McGurrin 16. George Kostelansky 17. Doug Worthing 18. Jeff Rudalavage 19. Jim Mahaney 20. Brian Franko 21. Ed Strada Jr. 22. Garth Tonkin 23. JR Hurlbert 24. Chris Ostrowski 25. Mike Nagel 26. Chris Weaver SPORTSMAN: 1. CHAD COOK 2. Arnie Slade 3. Brian Malcolm 4. Brian Decker 5. Gary Gallerie 6. Rich Keehle 7. Ken Titus 8. Brian Weaver 9. Ralph Mele 10. Bob Hamm 11. Tom Solderich 12. Dennis Latwinski 13. Tom Gervasi 14. Craig Terrell 15. Don Hart Jr. 16. Mike Schane 17. Kevin Jordan 18. Buddy Altemose 19. Billy Spoonhower DNS: Jim O'Hara

LATE MODEL: 1. ALLEN COY 2. Gene Sharpsteen 3. RJ Windhausen 4. Dick Clark 5. Dick Stark 6. Dave Zona 7. Jim Serman 8. Rich King 9. Jim O'Hara 10. Lou sparks 11. Keith Mudge 12. Randall Paxton 13. Al Whittaker 14. George Leatso 15. Jason Carmen

IMCA MODIFIEDS: 1. BOB CHAPMAN 2. Larry Robbins 3. Charlie Gilbert 4. Frank Bonham 5. Don Alvord 6. Larry Bezner 7. Tracy Rhodes 8. Kevin Cole 9. John Thayer 10. Rich Tiffany 11. Doug McKane 12. Joe Cole 13. Butch Rhodes 14. Bob Welsh

PURE STOCK: 1. BOB BOYNTON 2. Denny Decker 3. John Cooper 4. Kurt Decker 5. Wade Decker 6. Jeff Cleveland 7. Mark Aldrich 8. Michael Lartz 9. Jerry Whitmarsh 10. Dan Husnay 11. Jim Palmer 12. Ned Fitch 13. Gregg Brunges 14. Michelle Palmer 15. Nate Evans 16. Kevin Boynton 17. Roger Salai 18. Brad Butcher 19. Toby Sparks 20. Keith Wilkins 21. Bill Cook Jr. 22. Craig Decker DNS: B. Tiffany