MARATHON NIGHT SEES ALAN JOHNSON WIN TURNING STONE CASINO RESORT 100, SPORTSMAN MAIN TO TIM CLEMONS
ELBRIDGE, NY...A full night of racing on the first day of the Dynomax Performance Mufflers Wheels Weekend finally came to an end at 2:35 a.m. Sunday morning after a early Saturday afternoon rain shower that forced officials to spend most of that afternoon trying to pack the track and make it race ready. Racing finally started with over an hour of time trials followed by some 25 qualifying races for all divisions.
In victory lane stood Alan Johnson, Phelps, NY, after winning the curfew shortened Turning Stone Casino 100. Tim Clemons won the 30-lap Sportsman Sunoco Fuels Super DIRT Series race and Nathan Peckham took top honors in the Street Stock special added to the weekend activities.
The 100-lap Turning Stone feature for 358-Modifieds was to have been a 150 lap affair. Due to the hour and the long day already officials decided to shorten the event and pay the same purse.
Pat Ward was the early leader in the 100 lapper. He was followed by Billy Decker, Chuck Bower and Brett Hearn. The first yellow came on lap 17 when Todd Burley slowed on the track with a flat tire. Ward continued out front as Alan Johnson took fourth from Hearn on lap 24.
On lap 27 Decker caught Ward and took the lead. Chad Brachmann also got by Ward and Alan Johnson in one fell swoop charging through turns three and four. Danny O'Brien brought out the next yellow as he came to a stop in the second turn. The restart saw Pete Bicknell slow in the same turn as O'Brien and drop from the race.
The restart saw Brachmann take command of the lead as Decker fell back to second. Alex Hoag looped his car on the front stretch on lap 41 for the third yellow of the race. Brett Hearn and Alan Johnson were now battling for third behind Brachmann and Decker.
Tim McCreadie brought out the next yellow as he left the speedway surface off turn two. brachmann continued to hold off Decker and collect the Holley Halfway Leader Bonus. A lap later Decker passed Brachmann for the lead.
Alan Johnson found a new grove, the high line around the speedway. He passed Brachmann for second on lap 57 and sailed high around Decker for the lead on lap 76.
Johnson held on for the $5,000 victory. Billy Decker came home second some 1.881 seconds behind Johnson. Hearn, Brachmann and Steve Paine rounded out the top five finishers. The average speed of the race was 79.664 mph and took 47 minutes to complete.
The worst accident for the 358-modified division came in the first consolation race when Loren Browe slide sideways into the back of another car on the backstretch and dug in sending his car flipping wildly towards the woods off the backstretch. Browe emerged shaken but uninjured.
The DIRT Sportsman were involved in a 30-lap feature. Tim Clemons won the second heat and started on the outside pole. He took the lead at the drop of the green and was never headed. On lap 5 Scott George lost a right front wheel and came to a stop on the front chute. He jumped out of his car and threw his steering wheel at the passing car driven by Loren Lincoln, showing his disapproval.
The restart saw Clemons pull Phil Vigneri in second and Jeff McGinnis in third. Tom Perrego and Donnie Wetmore Jr. caused the next yellow when then came together and stopped in the first turn on lap nine.
The worst accident of the race came on lap 16 when Greg Doust got sideways exiting the fourth turn in front of the pack. All of the cars were able to squeeze by the disabled Doust machine, as it slide towards the infield. Dick Park Jr. and Loren Lincoln had no place to go and impacted heavily with the Doust car. Both Lincoln and Doust were out of the race.
Jeff McGinnis was now running second with Vigneri a distant third. With just four lap remaining Series's points leader, Randy Chrysler, grabbed third from Vigneri. Clemons took the win with McGinnis and Chrysler in second and third. Vigneri came home fourth followed by Canandaigua's Todd Henderson in fifth.
Eldon Payne, who was leading in track points going into the race, saw his points championship become a shared issue when Tim Sears caught Payne Jr. at the finish line, in lapped traffic, and tied Payne Jr. for the 2002 Rolling Wheels raceway Sportsman title.
The Street Stock feature was slowed multiple times by yellows, all for minor incidents. Nathan Peckham took the lead on lap three passing pole sitter Howie Keegel. Peckham held off the late charges by Nick Rizzo to take the win. Rizzo finished second followed by Dave Arbus.
Also having to be shortened was the enduro race won by Matt Parker.
ROLLING WHEELS WINDOWS: There were 72 sportsman, 62 358-modifieds, 31 street stocks, 31 modifieds and 24 enduro cars in the over crowded pit area. the overflow from these 220 cars in the pits forced many teams to be innovative when it came to pit space. Some teams decided to pit on the asphalt infield pit road just to have a dry place to work....It was announced that pastor David Wells will undergo by-pass surgery on Monday, September 23. Our prayer and those of the many race teams and fans go with him....The modified time trials locked in the top 12 cars into the front six rows of the Paine Motorsports 200. The fastest timer was Tim Fuller turning in a lap of 21.281 seconds (105.728 MPH). The fastest timer in the 358-modified time trials was Alan Johnson with a lap of 21.594 seconds (104.196 mph). In the Sportsman Randy Chrysler turned in fast time with a lap of 22.435 seconds (100.290 mph)....
DYNOMAX PERFORMANCE MUFFLERS WHEELS WEEKEND DAY 1 SUMMARY
SPORTSMAN
TIME TRIALS: Randy Chrysler 22.435 (100.290 mph), Tim Clemons 22.517, Phil Vigneri 22.713, Donnie Wetmore Jr. 22.760, Jeff McGinnis 22.788, John Plumb 22.898, Tim Sears 22.971, Ryan Phelps 22.974, Gary Gallerie 22.994, Kevin Wills 23.001,Daryl Hagen 23.039, Todd Henderson 23.043, David Van Horn 23.044, Rob Ledingham 23.053, Bob Henry Jr. 23.062, Rob Bussey 23.142, Chad Chevalier 23.150, Greg Doust 23.230, Adam Fermi 23.258, Steve Way 23.270, Scott George 23.278, Ryan Odasz 23.297, Mark Potter 23.298, Tom Perrego 23.343, Mike Button 23.365, Steve Captor 23.373, Russ Hefti 23.389, Dan Wiesner 23.413, Frank Brinell 23.438, John Pfeffer 23.439, Ron Loveless 23.447, Jeremey Pitcher 23.452, Brian Sage 23.461, Greg Sleight 23.475, Dick Park Jr. 23.502, Alan Sturhann 23.506, George Bosse 23.528, Tim Jones 23.534, Loren Lincoln 23.550, Jamie Yannone 23.581, Paul Gaboury 23.607, Ryan Richardson 23.668, Jim Livingston 23.675, Mike Holmes 23.705, Mark Yorker 23.708, Jack Meeks 23.719, Chad Phelps 23.725, Brad Malloy 23.759, Scott Binns 23.759, Adam Moore 23.847, John Juhl 23.847, Gus Hurlburt 23.853, Billy Shantel Jr 23.902, Jessica Zemken 23.922, Mark Cammuso 23.943, Mike Conrow 23.958, Jay Mallory 24.115, Shane Donath 24.161, Jeff Jones 24.292, Eric Richardson 24.318, Terry Knoblach 24.456, Lance Willix 24.647, John Mulder 24.688, Paul Benz 24.873, Dave Kubiniec 25.180, Don Burke 25.285, Amy Pheffer 25.970, Paul Carey NT.
HEAT 1: R. Chrysler, B. Henry Jr., R. Odasz.
HEAT 2: T. Clemons, G. Gallerie, M. Potter.
HEAT 3: Ph. Vigneri, T. Perrego, C. Chevalier.
HEAT 4: D. Wetmore Jr., E. Payne Jr., G. Doust.
HEAT 5: J. McGinnis, D. Hagan, A. Fermi.
HEAT 6: T. Henderson, J. Plumb, R. Hefti.
HEAT 7: T. Sears, D. Wiesner, D. Park Jr.
CONSI 1: M. Button, R. Phelps, R. Ledingham.
CONSI 2: B. Sage, T. Jones, G. Bosse.
CONSI 3: K. Wills, S. Way, L. Lincoln.
FEATURE (30-laps): TIM CLEMONS, Jeff McGinnis, Randy Chrysler, Phil Vigneri, Todd Henderson, Tim Sears, Eldon Payne Jr., Bob Henry Jr., Gary Gallerie, Mark Potter, Daryl Hagan, Ryan Odasz, Brian Sage, John Plumb, Adam Fermi, Chad Chevalier, George Bosse, Dan Wiesner, Bill Shantel Jr., Mike Button, Dave VanHorn, Kevin Wills, Ryan Phelps, Paul Carey, Tim Jones, Dick Park Jr. Steve Way, Greg Doust, Loren Lincoln, Russ Hefti, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Rob Ledingham, Tom Perrego, Scott George.
358-MODIFIEDS
TIME TRIALS: Alan Johnson 21.594 (104.196 mph), Brett Hearn 21.596, Matt Sheppard 21.658, Chuck Bower 21.697, Steve Paine 21.750, Chad Brachmann 21.771, Billy Decker 21.822, Ryan Baye 21.851, Danny O'Brien 22.006, Mike Adderley 22.035, Dave Rauscher 22.074, Frankie Caprara 22.103, Pat Ward 22.112, Jimmy Phelps 22.114, Tim Fuller 22.118, Justin Haers 22.137, Tom Sears Jr. 22.142, Chris Shultz 22.158 Pete Bicknell 22.172, Brian Malcolm 22.183, Rick Richner 22.192, Todd Burley 22.216, Ted Lamb Jr. 22.236, Danny Johnson 22.239, Larry Lampman Jr. 22.334, Tim McCreadie 22.359, Kenny Tremont Jr. 22.367, Vic Coffey 22.385, Pierre Dagenais 22.439, Gus Schmidt 22.500, Mike Shane 22.543, Mitch Gibbs 22.598, Alain Boisvert 22.646, Roy Shields 22.679, Joel Doiron 22.694, John LaVala 22.719, Jason Barney 22.729, Roger Phelps 22.744, Tommy Meier 22.765, Billy VanPelt 22.788, Jeff Captor 22.837, Russell Henderson 22.892, Eric Mack 22.903, Dave Reilly 22.926, Bob McCreadie 22.943, Lorne Browe 23.003, Tom Juhl 23.012, Steve Roberts 23.094, Lance Harting 23.097, Jason Harrington 23.109, Karl Comfort 23.150, Chris Ostrowski 23.161, Jimmy LaRock 23.404, Derrick Podsiadlo 23.449, Richard Chauvin 23.500, Ron Cartwright Sr. 23.684, Ron Cartwright Jr. 23.723, Billy Cook 23.744, Tom Jock Jr. 23.864, Ken Baker 23.899, Perry Francis 24.155, Lee Gagliardi 24.228, Alan Shiffler 24.395, Alex Hoag 28.497.
HEAT 1: M. Sheppard, D. O'Brien, T. Fuller.
HEAT 2: C. Bower, J. Haers, M. Adderley.
HEAT 3: S. Paine, T. Sears Jr., D. Rauscher.
HEAT 4: C. Brachmann, D. Johnson, F. Caprara.
HEAT 5: B. Decker, P. Ward, P. Bicknell.
HEAT 6: R. Baye, T. McCreadie, J. Phelps.
CONSI 1: T. Burley, V. Coffey, R. Richner.
CONSI 2: C. Shultz, G. Schmidt, J. Captor.
CONSI 3: L. Lampman Jr., B. Malcolm, R. Phelps.
FEATURE (100-laps): ALAN JOHNSON, Billy Decker, Brett Hearn, Chad Brachmann, Steve Paine, Chuck Bower, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Tom Sears Jr., Jimmy Phelps, Justin Haers, Todd Burley, Mike Adderley, Rick Richner, Jason Barney, Vic Coffey, Frankie Caprara, Ryan Baye, Gus Schmidt, Larry Lampman Jr., Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie, Alex Hoag, Jeff Captor, Pete Bicknell, Danny O'Brien, Chris Shultz, Roger Phelps, Dave Rauscher, Danny Johnson, Brian Malcolm, Richard Swarthout.
MODIFIEDS
TIME TRIALS (Top 12 locked into front 6 rows): Tim Fuller 21.281(105.728 MPH), Brett Hearn 21.329, Tim McCreadie 21.427, Steve Paine 21.454, Frankie Caprara 21.465, Alan Johnson 21.489, Pat Ward 21.513, Chuck Bower 21.573, Chris Shultz 21.671, Tom Sears Jr.21.682, Jack Johnson 21.781, Billy Decker 21.799, Dave Axton 21.803, Kenny Tremont Jr. 21.807, Bob McCreadie 21.862, Vince Vitale 21.908, Vic Coffey 21.909, Butch Tittle 21.979, Danny Johnson 21.989, Steve Hulziser 22.112, Jimmy Phelps 22.299, Gary Tomkins 22.346, AJ Romano 22.376, Bobby Varin 22.453, Joe Beyea 22.468, Jason Barney 22.780, Mike Ward 22.834, Bruce Kline 22.865, Richard Chauvin 22.878, Pierre Dagenais 22.896, John LaValla 23.122, Jermey Corcoran 23.237, Brian McDonald 23.368, Alan Schiffler 24.386, Tom Juhl NT, Ray Bliss, Jr. NT.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT 1: H. Keegel, J. Reeves, V. Vanderwall, N. Rizzo, B. Steinruck, M. Rasbeck.
HEAT 2: T. Hettis, D. Marcuccilli, J. Cronin, R. Marsden, C. Pursey..
HEAT 3: C. Kersmi, N. Peckham, A. Arbus, K. Collins, S. Woodward, P. Norman.
CONSI: D. Manise, J. Basom, M. Murphy, B. Flask, D. Pope, E. Ben, A. Depuy
FEATURE (15-laps): NATHAN PECKHAM, Nick Rizzo, Dave Arbus, Tim Hettis, Russ Marsden, Howie Keegel, Joe Reeves, Charles Pursey, Dave Pope, Adam Depuy, Brad Steinruck, Steve Woodward, Mike Rasbeck, Justin Basom, Phil Norman, Kevin Collins, Vance Vanderwall, Eric Ben, Mike Murphy, Dave Manise, Jim Cronin, Dave Marcuccilli, Chuck Kersmi, DNS: Bill Flask.
FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO: Top 5 - MATT PARKER, Greg DeChick, Dan
Hoffman, Carl Werner, Shawn Gardner