JOHNSON TOPS ROLLING WHEELS, ORTIZ STARTS SERIES OFF RIGHT

ELBRIDGE, NY...One hundred and two stocks cars descended on Rolling Wheels Raceway last Sunday for the running of the annual "Spring Fling", featuring a 50-lap feature for the DIRT Modifieds. Danny Johnson took the 50-lap victory by three car lengths over his older brother, Alan Johnson. In the Pro-stocks their 20-lap feature marked the first event in that division's Championship Series. Jip Ortiz took the victory. And in the sportsman division a guaranteed starting spot for Syracuse in July was on the line, with the win going to Jim Davis.

The 50-lap DIRT Modified feature saw 31 cars take the green with Tim Fuller jumping into the lead from his outside poll starting spot. Danny Johnson quickly took second followed by Vince Vitale and Mike Perrotte.

On lap five the yellow flew when Tom Sears Jr. coasted to a stop in the fourth turn. Fuller maintained his lead on the restart. The second yellow of the event came on lap 12 when Gary Tomkins looped his Pennzoil sponsored car in the first turn. This time the restart proved very interesting. Bob McCreadie seemed to be slowed as he made sideways contact with the inside fourth turn barrier. This caused a number of cars to stack up behind the Kinney number 9. Only McCreadie and Doug Hoffman were unable to continue after the accident.

Danny JohnsonJohnson made his move on the restart, grabbing the lead on lap 13 from Fuller. On lap 17 the yellow flew for the fourth time when Chuck Hebing went off the first turn banking. During this yellow the number 27z, driven by Ray Bliss Jr., started on fire under the hood. Bliss quickly jumped from his car as safety workers scrambled to save his car. When the fire was out, the safety crew pushed Bliss's car back to the pit area. Johnson continued his lead over Fuller. However on lap 25, Fuller lost second to Alan Johnson aboard his Mitsubishi sponsored Bicknell. Top contenders Tim Fuller and Mike Perrotte both broke, Fuller leaving on lap 40 and Perrotte seven laps later.

Suddenly, on lap 41, the fans jumped to their feet as Jimmy Phelps barrel rolled off the first turn banking after contact with another car. Phelps emerged uninjured from the wrecked car.

Danny Johnson cruised home the winner over brother Alan. Tim McCreadie finished third followed by Steve Paine, who made a late race move for the position, and Scott Prentice.

Fan favorite Gary Balough, aboard the black Mitsubishi sponsored Bicknell suffered a flat tire early in the event, restarted at the back of the field and worked his way back to a fine fifteenth place finish.

Jim DavisIn sportsman action Jim Davis lead from the drop of the green flag. Justin Haers, who was to have been at college graduation ceremonies, was able to bunch up on Davis's rear bumper after a lap 10 caution for Chad Brachmann stopping on the front chute with a flat tire. Brachmann was lucky as young matt Sheppard was pulling high to make a pass and brushed wheels with the Brachmann car.

Late in the race Karl Comfort passed Haers and tried to move in on Davis. His efforts fell one car length short at the checkers with Davis taking his first Rolling Wheels victory. Matt Sheppard finished third followed by Haers, Chris Shultz and Joe Beyea.

Forty-nine cars were on hand for the first Pro-stock Automotive Recyclers Association of New York Series race. Heat wins went to Joe Stefanski, Rob Noriczaki, Frank Twing, Tom Kuck and Jip Ortiz. Stefanski lead in the early stages of the race. Tom Kuck made contact with another car, flipping into the air directly beneath the starter's stand and then barrel rolling five times down the main straight. His car landed on it's wheels and Kuck was able to climb out to the delight of the fans.

Jip OrtizOn the restart Jip Ortiz was able to pass Stefanski and pull out a five car advantage. Ortiz went on for the victory as 23 of the 31 starters were still running at the finish, all on the lead lap.

Rolling Wheels returns to action on Wednesday, May 31, when the World of Outlaws comes to town, along with a 25-lap DIRT Modified special. Race time is set for 7 p.m., with WoO time trials starting at 6:45 p.m..

POUR LANCE'S COFFEE & WATER SERVICE-PHELPS CEMENT

PRODUCTS- RUMETCO SALES NIGHT SUMMARY

PRO-STOCKS

HEAT 1: J. Stefanski, T.J. Fitzgibbons, D. Weisner, M. Schulz.

HEAT 2: R. Noriczaki, D. Spice, B. Beldon, M. Fritz.

HEAT 3: F. Twing, D. Conant Jr., L. Burnett, D. Kish.

HEAT 4: T. Kuck, B. Guzzardi, B. Hallett, D. Ebersole.

HEAT 5: J. Ortiz, J. Miller, K. Sargent, S. Govertsen.

CONSI 1: T. Walker, P. Retter, B. Michel, P. Hobbs, J. Burton.

CONSI 2: A. Dembeck, C. Cleveland, P. McCoi, B. Tanner, J. Dayman

ADDED: T. Barron.

FEATURE (20-laps): JIP ORTIZ, Joe Stefanski, T.J. Fitzgibbons, Brett Beldon, Mark Schulz, Bill Hallett, Rob Noriczaki, Beamer Guzzardi, Phil Retter, Ken Sargent, Dan Spice, Jon Miller, Dan Weisner, Lee Burnett, Scott Govertsen, Bubba Tanner, Pat McCoi, Tom Walker, Darrin Kish, Tom Barron, Patrick Hobbs, Jim Burton, Dave Conant Jr., Frank Twing, Jeff Dayman, Andy Dembeck, Mike Fritz, Tom Kuck, Darryl Ebersole, Carl Cleveland, Brian Michel.

SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1: J. Plumb, J. Haers, T. Juhl, J. Johnson, S. Hall, J. Beyea.

HEAT 2: J. Davis, S. Gray, K. Comfort, J. Spano, E. Payne, T. Morris.

HEAT 3: C. Brachmann, R. Swarthout, C. Shultz, M. Sheppard, B. Henry Jr., G. Doust.

CONSI: C. Mitchell, M. Lavarnway, G. Carner, B. Haws, R. Cartwright, J. Juhl, H, Desormeau, J. LaRock.

FEATURE (20-laps): JIM DAVIS, Karl Comfort, Matt Sheppard, Justin haers, Chris Shultz, Joe Beyea, John Plumb, Jimmy Johnson, Steve Hall, James Spano, Greg Doust, Bob Henry Jr., Steve Gray, Jim LaRock, Mike Lavarnway, Eldon Payne, Geoff Carner, Bob Haws, Rich Swarthout, Craig Mitchell, Henry Desormeau, Tom Juhl, Tyke Morris, John Juhl, Chad Brachmann, Ron Cartwright.

MODIFIED

HEAT 1: V. Vitale, T. Sears Jr., J. Phelps, B. Varin, T. McCreadie.

HEAT 2: T. Fuller, S. Prentice, G. Tomkins, K. Tremont, B. McCreadie.

HEAT 3: M. Perrotte, A. Johnson, D. Hoffman, P. Ward, T. Milton.

HEAT 4: D. Johnson, A. Bachetti, C. Bower, S. Paine, A.J. Romano.

CONSI: C. Hebing, P. Bicknell, R. Bliss Jr., V. Coffey, J.R. Heffner, D. Axton, J. Corcoran, J. Burke, M. Forrette, G. Balough, J. Brownell.

FEATURE (50-laps): DANNY JOHNSON, Alan Johnson, Tim McCreadie, Steve Paine, Scott Prentice, Bobby Varin, Vince Vitale, Chuck Hebing, Jeremy Corcoran, Chuck Bower, A.J. Romano, Kenny Tremont, Pat Ward, J.R. Heffner, Gary Balough, Maynard Forrette, Jim Burke, Mike Perrotte, Todd Milton, Vic Coffey, Jimmy Phelps, Andy Bachetti, Tim Fuller, Tom Sears Jr., Dave Axton, Ray Bliss Jr., Jeff Brownell, Bob McCreadie, Doug Hoffman, Gary Tomkins, Pete Bicknell.