MARSHAL WINS HIS SECOND NYS FAIR TITLE
SYRACUSE, NY...Eddie Marshall from Pound Ridge, NY won the 50th running of the New York State Fair Modified Championship last Monday, Labor Day. Most news and weather reports placed the event in jeopardy with Hurricane Dennis closing in on the Northeast. However sunny, hot weather welcomed the race fans.
The 50-lap classic saw Kenny Tremont lead the pack down to Dave Farney's green flag. Outside of Tremont was the 1990 event winner, Eddie Marshall. At the drop of the green Marshall blew into the lead. As the first lap was being completed Steve Bottcher fell from the field and exited into the pit area.
Marshall held a five car lead on fourth place starter Frank Cozze, when the first of five yellows slowed the field on lap seven. The defending Fair champion had a tire go flat causing this yellow.
The restart saw the yellow fly a second time, slowing the pace of the race, which would take just over 40 minutes to complete. This yellow flew when Jimmy Horton suffered a flat tire.
Marshall continued to led Cozze, Tremont, and Jack Johnson. For Johnson it was his 25th start in this 50 year old event. Horton would return to the race losing three laps in the pits. Marshall was able to stretch his lead to nearly ten car lengths, turning laps in the 31 second bracket.
On lap 19 the yellow flew as Bobby Varin shredded a left front tire, causing his car to spin and tap the wall in the second turn. Marshall continued to lead.
On lap 37 Jimmy Horton exited to the pits with a broken rear suspension. Tires were becoming an issue on this extremely hot sunny day. A number of teams pitted with right rear tires almost bald.
On lap 39 Doug Hoffman blew a rear tire in the second turn to bring out the yellow for a fourth time. This closed the field together and allowed both Cozze and Billy Decker to pull up on Marshall. Tremont, who had been running third most of the race exited to the pits.
On the restart Decker pulled ahead of Cozze and tried to catch Marshall. Marshall still showed the power, pulling away to a six car lead. On lap 46 the yellow flew when Brett Hearn slowed at the top of the fourth turn with a flat tire. He was able to change the tire without losing a lap.
Marshall flew home the winner, earning the guaranteed seventh starting spot in the Eckerd 300 in October and the pole at the Robert N. Petrocci Memorial at Rolling Wheels Labor Day evening.
Decker finished second followed by Danny Johnson, Steve Paine, Jack Johnson and Gary Tomkins. All to six drivers picked up guaranteed spots for the Eckerd 300.
Also on hand were the MidState Vintage Racers. Sammy Reakes III won the 50's/60's feature.
The next event at Syracuse will be the running of Super DIRT Week, October 6 through the 11.
MILLER LITE presents THE 50TH ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE FAIR CHAMPIONSHIPS
MIDSTATE VINTAGE RACERS
50'S/60'S HEAT: J. Ackerman, C. Morden, S. Reakes III, L. Witter, P. Sonnenberg, B. Litzenburger.
50'S/60'S FEATURE (10-laps): SAMMY REAKES III, Jeff Ackerman, Larry Witter, Pat Sonnenberg, Brad Litzenburger, Tom Toomey, Dick Ackerman, Gordie Wood, Denis Bouthillier, Ralph Arrandale, Don Larmon, Jeff Gilbert, Casey Morden.
70'S HEAT: C. Brougham, A. Smith, Car 98, D. Mathews, A. Amell, R. Taggert.
70'S FEATURE (10-laps): CAR 98, A. Doc Smith, Doug Mathews, Ally Amell, John McNamee, Chris Brougham, Richard Taggert, Stan Gates.
DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1: (32.81 sec) F. Cozze, B. Hearn, D. Blaney, D. Hoffman, V. Coffey.
HEAT 2: (32.60 sec) S. Bottcher, T. Milton, R. Johnson, G. Tomkins, B. McCreadie.
HEAT 3: (31.88 sec) E. Marshall, B. Varin, R. Pitcher, P. Ward, D. Johnson.
HEAT 4: (31.41) K. Tremont, J. Johnson, B. Decker, B. Christmann, T. Fuller.
CONSI: S. Paine, J. Cottrell, C. Bower, C. Kokosa, T. McCreadie, J. Hoffman, J. Higbie Jr., J. Horton, S. Nowakowski.
ADDED: A. Johnson.
FEATURE (50-laps): EDDIE MARSHALL, Billy Decker, Danny Johnson, Steve Paine, Jack Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Tim Fuller, Ronnie Johnson, Doug Hoffman, Brett Hearn, Chuck Bower, Vic Coffey, Frank Cozze, Dave Blaney, Chris Kokosa, Pat Ward, Jeff Hoffman, Kenny Tremont, Jimmy Horton, Jack Cottrell, Todd Milton, Steve Nowakowski, Bud Christmann, Jerry Higbie Jr., Rob Pitcher, Bobby Varin, Alan Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Tim McCreadie, Steve Bottcher.