DANNY JOHNSON, SCOTT KERWIN, DAVE SCHULZ, ALEX MORRIS, AND DAVE STOLZENBURG CAPTURED CHECKEREDS AT RANSOMVILLE

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(Helen and Alex Bruce Photos)

Danny Johnson

Ransomville, NY...Ingredients for a great night of racing; bright sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, a packed grandstands and a full pit area. All of this and more was enjoyed by Ransomville Speedway management last Friday night as the sixth night of the 2003 racing season was completed.

Danny Johnson of Rochester, NY came from last to first to win his first Mighty Taco Modified main of the season last Friday night. Johnson and Rich Vinson put on a great show for the fans as they battled side by side for the final five go-rounds with Johnson taking the win.

Rob Pietz took the lead at the drop of the green followed by Ricky Richner, Don Spatarico, Vinson, and Mark Golding. Hot shoes Vic Coffey, Danny Johnson, and Pete Bicknell were bottled up mid pack looking for a way by. Chad Brachmann moved into the top five on lap nine and Bicknell and Johnson moved into the top ten. The top four pulled away from the field as contact mid field sent Coffey into the infield bringing out the first caution.

Pietz chose the outside lane on the restart and maintained the top spot until he slipped high in turn four taking Richner with him. Spatarico came away with the lead followed by Vinson, Bicknell, Johnson, and Robbie Krull. A side by side battled between Spatarico and Vinson resulted in Vinson taking the lead. Johnson followed suit taking over the second position and moved in on Vinson. Johnson looked to the bottom of Vinson on lap twenty-two but it was Vinson hanging on up top. These two battled side by side for the final circuits with the top continuing to be the preferred lane. With just five to go, the top two were putting on a show to end all shows while Spatarico and Bicknell ran side by side for third. Johnson used a slingshot move coming off turn four and took the lead on lap twenty-six. Vinson battled back but to no avail as Johnson went on for the win. Vinson, Spatarico, Bicknell, and Wood rounded out the top five.

Scott Kerwin of Newfane, NY captured his second win of the season aboard the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman ranks. Kerwin piloted his Mark Cerrone Inc.,/Good Guys Transmissions entry by Jon Miller on lap three and was never seriously challenged after that point.

Rick Schumacher led at the get go with Miller a tight second. Miller took over the top spot on lap two hoping to win his first ever open wheeled feature race however it was Kerwin coming away with the lead on lap three. Mark Potter took over the third position followed by Jeff McGinnis. Kerwin had to endure several caution flags as the Sportsman struggled to put a couple of green flag laps together. Kerwin continued to lead the field through the finish as he collected his second in a row. Potter, McGinnis, Rob Kott, and Miller rounded out the top five.

Dave Schulz of Somerset, NY captured his fourth straight Bobcat of Buffalo Pro Stock main event of the season as he topped the twenty-one car strong field last Friday night. Piloting his Blue Moon Potatoes sponsored machine, Williams took over the top spot on lap fifteen and led the remaining five circuits.

Dave Williams and Butch Zimmerman drag raced into turn one and continued to run side by side for two laps before Williams secured the top spot. Dan Shoop moved into second on lap three dropping Zimmerman to third. Dennis Kirkpatrick and Pete Stefanski rounded out the top five. Zimmerman had his great run go sour as he lost power on lap six. Stefanski continued his charge to the front and took over the lead position on lap eight. Schulz moved into the second position on lap fifteen and quickly challenged Stefanski on the lowside. The bottom certainly worked for Schulz as he made the winning pass. Stefanski, Williams, Shoop, and Mike Williams rounded out the top five.

Alex Morris finally got the monkey off his back last Friday night and collected his second Clarks Burgerhouse Streetstock main event. Morris took over the top spot on lap three and led the remaining twelve circuits.

Kenny Washburn took the early lead followed closely by Joe Rickard and Morris. Two time winner Digger Lester brought out the first caution after contact mid field send Lester airborne. A pair of flat tires sent Lester pitside. Contact between Washburn and Rickard on the restart sent Rickard around in turn two. Washburn maintained the lead but lost the handle in turn two allowing Morris by for the lead. Morris, Washburn, Wayne Close, and Lester ran nose to tail as the field took the two to go signal from starter Jipp Ortiz. Contact between Washburn and Lester sent Digger around on the back stretch. Washburn was sent tail for his part in the altercation. Morris showed the fast way around the final two laps to the checkered followed by Close, Roger Israel, Dave Jowdy, and Webb Nashwinter.

Dave Stolzenburg of Olcott, NY captured his first checkered of the 2003 season aboard the Clarks Burgerhouse Streetstock feature #2. Stolzenburg took over the top spot on lap five and led the remaining distance.

John Dietz grabbed the lead at the drop of the green followed by Dan Baughman, Dave Nichols, Dave Stolzenburg, and John Schultz. Nichols lost the handle on the front stretch bringing out the caution on lap two. Dietz maintained the top spot on the restart but lost power on the front stretch…just moments later Schultz also spun in turn two. Baughman inherited the lead followed by Stolzenburg, Matt Gillingham, Mike Short, and Kenny Brant. Stolzenburg took over the top spot on lap five with Baughman a tight second. Stolzenburg continued to show the fast way around going on to win the feature main. Baughman, Gillingham, Short, and Schultz.

Pitnotes…Congratulations to Jon Miller and Pat McCoy who captured their first checkered flags in open wheeled competition at Ransomville and to Derek Boyle who enjoyed his first win ever in racing competition. Tough luck for modified veteran Rick Hoctor who blew up his powerplant in heat action. Next week finds the DIRT Sportsman and ProStock Tours making stops at Ransomville along with a gigantic fireworks display.

Congratulations to Collin Smith, Tyler Walker, Adam Vanderheite, Michael Robinson, and Darrell Borkenhagen who won the go-features during the exhibition Friday night.

JOHNSTONS RESTAURANT & DIG SAFELY NY SUMMARY:

MIGHTY TACO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: DANNY JOHNSON, Rich Vinson, Don Spatarico, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Robbie Krull, Randy Chrysler, Chad Brachmann, Brian Stevens, Pete Cosco, Todd Gordon, Rob Pietz, Ricky Richner, Mark Golding, Mark Sylvies, and Vic Coffey. Heat winners: Ricky Richner and Vic Coffey.

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH:SCOTT KERWIN, Mark Potter, Jeff McGinnis, Rob Kott, Jon Miller, Sean Kott, Rick Schumacher, Mike Nash, Scott Just, Doug Coons, Ryan Weipert, John Smith, and Rob Winters. Heat winners: Jon Miller and Pat McCoy.

BOBCAT OF BUFFALO PROSTOCK FEATURE FINISH: DAVE SCHULZ, Pete Stefanski, Dave Williams, Dan Shoop, Mike Williams, Dan Mayer, Steve Miller, Roger Chrysler, Dennis Kirtpatrick, Steve Lewis, Dan Schulz, Nick Micallef, Steve DeVos, Mike Martin, Tom Greene, Kevin House, Scott Gribben, Matt Hartsock, John Panattoni, and Butch Zimmerman. Heat winners: Butch Zimmerman and Dave Williams.

CLARKS BURGERHOUSE STREETSTOCK FEATURE FINISH #1: ALEX MORRIS, Wayne Close, Roger Israel, Dave Jowdy, Webb Nashwinter, Kenny Washburn, Joe Rickard, Digger Lester, Lucas Jonathon, Steve Shoop, Shawn Graham, and Bill Holtz Jr..

CLARKS BURGERHOUSE STREETSTOCK FEATURE FINISH #2: DAVE STOLZENBURG, Dan Baughman, Matt Gillingham, Mike Short, John Schultz, Rick Simons, Kenny Brant, Derek Boyle, Joe Passero, Jake Huff, Martin Peunic, Wayne Washburn, Dave Nichols, Charles Harvey, John Dietz, and Jaren Israel.

Heat winners: Alex Morris, Lucas Jonathon, & rookie Derek Boyle.