"HOT SHOES" HOLMES POWERS TO NASCAR MODIFIED

WIN AT UTICA-ROME RACEWAY ON COOL EVENING

VERNON, NY...Ron "Hot Shoes" Holmes powered his way to a convincing 25

lap NASCAR Modified feature win at Utica-Rome Raceway last Sunday night.

It was the third NASCAR Modified career feature win on the "Electrifying

Fast Half-Mile Track" for the Oneida, N.Y. driver. The entire four

division show was completed in just over three hours which was much

appreciated by everyone in attendance on the very cold evening.

Mike Jacobs raced out to the early lead at the start of the NASCAR

Modified main event from the outside pole starting position. Jacobs only

led the initial circuit, as a strong running Mike Hulsizer took over the

top spot on lap two. With ten laps complete Mike Hulsizer continued to

lead the way with Holmes, Jeremy Smith, Rich Price and Paul Jensen

following in the top five.

Holmes took the lead away from Hulsizer on lap 11. Once in front

Holmes was never again challenged as he went on to the convincing win on

the tacky and dust free surface. Holmes started from the 18th position

and worked through the field for the victory. The win for the driver of

the Ralph’s Collision NASCAR Modified was worth $1,500. Three time

Utica-Rome Track Champion Paul Jensen worked up to a second place

finish, his best outing of the season to date.

J.J. Michaels, the winner of the opening two NASCAR Modified

features of the season at the track had to settle for a third place

finish. Michaels worked up from the 19th starting spot. Young Jeremy

Smith finished a strong fourth, in just his first season of competition.

Veteran Dave House completed the top five, in another top finish for the

veteran driver. Roger Phelps, John Barker, Billy Wilcox, Rich Price and

Mike Hulsizer completed the top ten feature finishers.

NASCAR Modified qualifying heat race wins were claimed by Jeff

Kotary, Smith and Price. Michaels was the winner of the consolation

race.

Jamie Christian won his first NASCAR Sportsman feature race of the

season last Sunday night. Christian was followed across the finish line

by John Kinsella, Ron Richardson, Jack Miller and Tony Buffa.

Gerry Newman was another first time winner for the 1998 season in

the Street Stock ranks. The lady racer was chased across the finish line

by Rich Keller, Jerry Holmes, Wayne Archer and Tom Denton.

Veteran Dave Mannise won his second Pure Stock finale of the season

last Sunday night. Mannise was followed on this occasion by Jim Thomas,

Rick Dote, Jeff Thorp and Tom Donahue.

Professional NASCAR Winston Racing Series entertainment will

continue this Sunday, June 14 at Utica-Rome Raceway. It will be Military

Appreciation Night with all Military Identification Card Holders

admitted for just $5. And the kids will battle in Big Wheel races during

intermission. Race time is set for 6 p.m. with the NASCAR Modifieds,

Sportsman, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks all in action. For more

information please call (315) 829-4557.

RACE SUMMARY

NASCAR MODIFIED FEATURE---Ron Holmes, Paul Jensen, J.J. Michaels, Jeremy

Smith, Dave House, Roger Phelps, John Barker, Billy Wilcox, Rich Price,

Mike Hulsizer, Lance Lauffenburger, Gus Schmidt, John Ramsey, Bob

Sitterly, Pete Taylor, Jeff Kotary, Joel Thomas, Mark Schoonover, Jim

Rothwell, Ted Lamb, Brian Murphy, Mike Jacobs, Doug Fuller and Steve

Hulsizer.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE---Jamie Christian, John Kinsella, Ron Richardson, Jack

Miller, Tony Buffa, Bill Shantel, Pete Campione, Bill Trexler Jr., Paul

Carey, Tim Mayne, Greg Carner, Bill Ashcraft, Steve Davis, John

Cunningham, Dan Yankowski, Tony Ross, Willy Decker, John Christian, Jim

Smith, Brian Johnson, Butch Reiter and Steve Kotary.

STREET STOCK FEATURE---Gerry Newman, Rich Keller, Jerry Holmes, Wayne

Archer, Tom Denton, Joe Palmer, Dave Bargabos, Bill Knapp, Dave Moyer,

Geoff VanRiper, Ed Kotary, Paul Stoneburg, Stan Clark, Ricky Breed,

George Kiskiel, Bill Shantel Jr., Chris Palmer, Don Newell, Steve

Weatherbee and J.B. Dockstader.

PURE STOCK FEATURE---Dave Mannise, Jim Thomas, Rick Dote, Jeff Thorp,

Tom Donahue, Rick Trexler, Dave Arbes, Steve Delano, Billy Gibson, Art

Newman Jr., Dave Meeks, John Tanney, Mike Burke, Herm Staats, Jason

Rood, Jeff Pastorella and Lou LeVea.