BRIAN WEAVER, KEVIN JORDAN, AND SEAN O'CONNOR VICTORIOUS ON PENN CAN'S
"HOT SUMMER NIGHT"
(Susquehanna,Pa.) The Penn Can Speedway presented their annual "Hot Summer Night" special this past Tuesday evening. Presented by Binghamton Pepsi Cola and Pro Tow Towing of Broome County, NY, Hot Summer Night saw Brain Weaver pick up the $3,000 winner's share of the Modified purse as he drove his Randy Decker owned #9R to victory in the 50 lap feature. The Sportsman division made their first appearance of the season at Penn Can with Kevin Jordan driving the Gullick Motorsports Sprint PCS #22 to victory. Sean O'Connor won his first ever Penn Can feature in the Pure Stock ranks.
With the line-up set by luck of the draw, the 50 lap Hot Summer Night Modified feature came to the green flag with Bobby Puckett and Mike Colsten sharing the front row. At the drop of the green flag, Colsten was able to power around Puckett to take over the top spot with Mike Ricci jumping from his fourth starting position to challenge Colsten for the top spot. Numerous caution flags in the early going slowed the action and kept the field bunched up. Ricci was able to wrest the lead away from Colsten on one restart, but on the next one Colsten was able to retake the top spot.
The early cautions proved beneficial to both Brian Weaver, who was able to advance steadily toward the front of the field and 14th starting Butch Tittle, who was also moving forward aboard his "Z" car. Weaver was able to advance to second past Ricci, then took advantage of yet another restart to beat Colsten into the first turn to take over the top spot, a position he wound not relinquish the remainder of the event. A flat tire just prior to halfway would prove costly to Ricci, taking him out of contention for the victory, though he was able to change the tire and rejoin the field without losing a lap.
In contrast to the first half of the race, the closing stages saw a long green flag run to finish the race. The leaders ran the final laps of the feature in heavy lapped traffic, as Weaver was able to use the traffic to his advantage and was able to open up his lead over the field.
Butch Tittle came on strong and took the second spot from Colsten in the late stages of the event, but could not make a run at Weaver. Colsten crossed the line third ahead of Ricci, who battled back from his tire problems to earn a fourth place finish, the best for a small block powered car. Rookie Chris Weaver rounded out the top five with yet another impressive run. Rick Virkitis, George Kostelansky, Mike Decker, Mike Clapperton, and Alan Rudalavage rounded out the top ten.
The 40 Modifieds on hand took part in five heat races with Mike Clapperton, Harry Marvin Jr., Chris Weaver, Rick Virkitis, and Mike Coslten winning heat race events. John Gurnsey and Alan Rudalavge won the pump 'n panty Last Chance races.
The Sportsman feature saw Kevin Jordon turn in a dominating performance aboard the Gulick Motorsports owned Sprint PCS sponsored #22. Jordan started fifth, but wasted little time in making his way to the front of the field as he took the top spot away from Ken Titus on a lap six restart. Once out front, Jordan had things pretty much his way as he was able to open up a comfortable advantage over the field. Cayuga County Fair Speedway rookie sensation Gary Gallerie made a late run at Jordan but could not get close enough to make a run at Jordan. Jordan was able to pick up the win over Gallerie; whose second place finish was his best ever in Sportsman competition. Ken Titus led the early laps of the feature and wound up finishing third. Arnie Slade finished fourth while Chad Cook rebounded from a flat tire in the early stages of he event to finish fifth. Leroy Long, Alex Knopka, Bob Lane, Chris Ostrowski, and Jessica Zemken completed the top ten.
Rod Frable, Don Hart Jr., and Rich Keehle won Sportsman qualifying events.
The 25 lap Pure Stock feature saw Skyline Speedway regular Sean O'Connor take advantage of a front row starting position to pick up his first ever Penn Can feature win. O'Connor was able to beat polesetter Bob Boynton into the first turn and then proceeded to lead every lap of the feature enroute to victory. Denny Decker tried to challenge O'connor for the top spot, but could not find a way past and settled for second behind O'Connor. James Cornell Jr. finished third ahead of Bob Boynton and Mike Wilbur. Mark Soloway finished sixth with Harry Marvin III seventh. Kevin Boynton, Michael Lartz, and Kurt Decker made up the remainder of the top ten.
Sean O'Connor, Harry Marvin III, and Denny Decker were winner in Pure Stock qualifying action.
BINGHAMTON PEPSI COLA HOT SUMMER NIGHTS RACE SUMMARY: MODIFIEDS: 1. BRIAN WEAVER 2. Butch Tittle 3. Mike Colsten 4. Mike Ricci 5. Chris Weaver 6. Rich Virkitis 7. George Kostelansky 8. Mike Deker 9. Mike Clapperton 10. Alan Rudalavage 11. Bobby Puckett 12. Brian Franko 13. Carl Nagel 14. Harry Marvin Jr. 15. Mike Frost 16. Rick Whitney 17. Jeff Rudalavage 18. Steve Babicek 19. Bill Huff 20.Chris Schupp 21. Joey Grammes 22. Jeff Bronson 23. Tom McGurrin 24. John Gurnsey 25. Dave Rosa
SPORTSMAN; 1. KEVIN JORDAN 2. Gary Gallerie 3. Ken Titus 4. Arnie Slade 5. Chad Cook 6. Leroy Long 7. Alex Knopka 8. Bob Lane 9. Chris Ostrowski 10. Jessica Zemken 11. Jim O'Hara 12. Ladd Yeomans 13. Mario Denatale14. Chad O'Hara 15. Brian Decker 16. Rod Frable 17. Rich Keehle 18. Bill Williams 19. Rick Christopher 20. Tom Gervasi 21. Bob Conklin 22. Dennis Latwinski 23. Rich Diamond 24. Scott Allen 25. Don Hart Jr.
PURE STOCK: 1. SEAN O'CONNOR 2. Denny Decker 3. James Cornell Jr. 4. Bob Boynton 5. Mike Wilbur 6. Mark Soloway 7. Harry Marvin III 8. Kevin Boynton 9. Michael Lartz 10. Kurt Decker 11. Sean Welsh 12. Chad Stone 13. Brad Butcher 14. Jeff Cleveland 15.Keith Wilkins 16. Paul Rooney 17. Craig Decker 18. Brent Gillie 19. Ray Lindquist 20. Butch Green 21. Ned Finch 22. Jim Ortiz