PETE BICKNELL, SCOTT KERWIN, DAVE SCHULZ, DIGGER LESTER AND JAREN ISRAEL CAPTURE RANSOMVILLE CHECKEREDS

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(Helen and Alex Bruce Photos)

Mr. Small Block, Pete Bicknell

Ransomville, NY...Pete Bicknell of St. Catharines, Ontario won his second Mighty Taco Modified feature event of the season at the big "R" last Friday night. Bicknell took over the lead on lap twenty-one and held it through the final nine circuits for the win.

Rick Hoctor and Mark Golding drag-raced for the lead through the first circuit with Hoctor taking the position just before the caution flew for Ron Cartwright who spun in turn three. Hoctor maintained the lead on the restart but it was Brian Stevens on the move as he took over the second position. Stevens continued to the front and took over the top spot on lap five. The cream of the crop quickly rose to the top as Pete Bicknell and Danny Johnson moved into the top three. Bicknell went to work on the bottom of Stevens as Johnson tried to close the distance. The top two diced side by side for several circuits as they put on the show of the season!!! Bicknell made the bottom groove work on lap twenty-one as he took over the lead. Johnson, Don Spatorico, and Scott Wood rounded out the top five. As the final laps clicked off, Bicknell showed the fast way around and captured his second win of the season. Stevens, Johnson, Wood, and Robbie Krull rounded out the top five.

Scott Kerwin of Newfane, NY became the fifth different winner in as many events aboard the Original Pizza Logs Sportsman division. Kerwin piloted his Mark Cerrone, Inc./Good Guys Transmissions entry by Jeff McGinnis for the lead and the win.

Scott Kerwin #7

Pat McCoy led the field to the green and took the early lead followed by McGinnis, Kerwin, Mike Nash, and Rob Kott. McGinnis moved in and challenged McCoy on the high side of lap two however a caution for Scott Just slowed the field. McGinnis led the field to the restart with Kerwin a tight second. These two battled side by side for several go-rounds with Kerwin taking the lead on lap eight. Stewart Friesen took over the third position which set up a great three car battle for the top spot. Friesen continued his charge to the front as he took over the second position from McGinnis and moved in on Kerwin. As the field got the five to go signal from starter Jipp Ortiz, there were just two car lengths separating the two. Kerwin would maintain his advantage over Friesen and capture the feature win. Friesen, McGinnis, Kott, and Scott George rounded out the top five.

Dave Schulz of Somerset, NY topped the Bobcat of Buffalo ProStock field last Friday night for the third time this season. Schulz piloted his Blue Moon Potatoes sponsored machine by John Panattoni on lap fourteen and went on for the win.

Dave Schulz #12s

Opening nights feature winner Steve Devos took the initial lead followed by Steve Miller, Panattoni, Dan Shoop, and Butch Zimmerman. Pete Stefanski spun in turn two bringing out the caution. Miller challenged Devos on the bottom and took over the top spot on lap five. Miller looked strong as he pulled away from the field however something must have been a miss on his racer as he lost the handle in turn one and spun on lap seven. Panattoni took over the top spot followed by Devos, Schulz, Mike Williams, and Roger Chrysler. Schulz moved into second and quickly pulled in on leader Panattoni. Schulz and Panattoni raced side by side on lap fourteen but contact between the two sent Panattoni into the moat and around Kinser Way. Schulz took over the top spot and led through the checkered for his third of the season. Chrysler came home in second followed by Devos, Williams, and Dan Mayer

Digger Lester #76

Seventeen year old Digger Lester of Wilson, NY topped the field aboard the Clarks Burgerhouse Streetstock main for the second time in 2003. Lester took the lead from Ken Washburn on lap twelve and led the remaining three laps.

A total of fourteen Streetstocks took the green with Ken Washburn taking the lead. The green would be very short lived however as contact mid-field between Eric Ben and John Schultz resulted in Schultz getting a wheel off the front stretch and flipping wildly into the catch fence. Schultz emerged a-okay but the same couldn't be said for his racer. Washburn maintained the lead on the restart over Dan Baughman, Mike Short, Digger Lester, and Dave Nichols. A great battle for second with three wide action between Lester, Baughman, and Short. Lester secured the position just before half way and moved in to challenge Washburn. Lester moved to the bottom of Washburn on the back stretch and took the lead on lap 12 and held it through the checkered. Washburn, Baughman, Short, and Shawn Graham rounded out the top five.

Jaren Israel #10

Jaren Israel of Wilson, NY collected his third win of the season aboard the second Clarks Burgerhouse Streetstock main. Israel took the lead away from Dave Stolzenburg on lap thirteen and held it through the final circuits.

The drop of the green flag found Stolzenburg take the early lead with Morris a tight second. The front stretch fence seemed to be a magnet for the Streetstocks as contact sent Martin Peunic and Doug Kneppel hard into the moat. Both drivers were okay. Stolzenburg chose the outside lane for the restart putting past champion Morris on the inside. The two raced side by side for the entire sixth lap until Stolzenburg slipped high in turn one allowing Morris by. Just two turns of the wheel later, Morris slipped high in turn four and allowed Stolzenburg back by for the lead. Unfortunately for Morris, a flat tire was the culprit and he headed pitside. Wayne Close took over second followed by Jaren Israel, Webb Nashwinter, and John Dietz. Israel moved in to challenge Close on lap eleven taking the position. Israel moved in on leader Stolzenburg and took over the number one position on lap thirteen and went on for the checkered.

Rollover Winner Mark Pahl

PEPSI-COLA SUMMARY:

MIGHTY TACO MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH….PETE BICKNELL, Brian Stevens, Danny Johnson, Don Spatarico, Robbie Krull,

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH…SCOTT KERWIN, Stewart Friesen, Jeff McGinnis, Rob Kott, Scott George, Mark Potter, Kevin Wills, Dave Just, Sean Kott, Jon Miller, Kyle Inman, John Smith, Pat McCoy, Mike Nash, Dave Kubiniec, Wiepert, Rick Schumacher, Scott Just, Doug Coons, Tony Purgarich, and Rob Winters .Heat Winners….Stewart Friesen, Jeff McGinnis, and Scott Kerwin.

BOBCAT OF BUFFALO PROSTOCK FEATURE FINISH…DAVE SCHULZ, Roger Chrysler, Steve Devos, Mike Williams, Dan Mayer, Pete Stefanski, Scott Gribben, Dan Shoop, Dave Williams, Butch Zimmerman, Steve Lewis, Matt Hartsock, John Panattoni, Steve Miller, Nick Micallef, Sean Keus, Brett Martin, Dennis Kirkpatrick, and Mike Martin.Heat Winners….Steve Devos and Butch Zimmerman.

CLARKS BURGERHOUSE STREETSTOCKS FEATURE FINISH #1…DIGGER LESTER, Ken Washburn, Dan Baughman, Mike Short, Shawn Graham, Eric Ben, Dave Nichols, Derek Boyle, Jake Huff, Steve Shoop, Kenny Brant, Rich Lippart, Matt Gillingham, and John Schultz. Heat Winners…Shawn Graham, Alex Morris, and Dave Stolzenburg Jr..

CLARKS BURGERHOUSE STREETSTOCK FEATURE FINISH #2…JAREN ISRAEL, Dave Stolzenburg, Wayne Close, Webb Nashwinter, John Dietz, Lucas Jonathon, Roger Israel, Dave Jowdy, Rick Simmons, Brian Sparks, Charles, Harvey, Alex Morris, Joe Rickard, Martin Peunic, Doug Kneppel, and Bill Holtz Jr..