HEARN SCORES HAT TRICK IN EAST BAY FINALE
DIRT DIARY: FLORIDA TOUR 2001 - Day #4 (Sun. Feb 11)
GIBSONTON,FL...The East Bay Raceway portion of Florida Tour 2001 for the DIRT Modifieds closed out Sunday night with Brett Hearn capturing the 50-lap main event in the final leg of Bay Area competition.
Hearn earned $5,000 for his third straight victory in the Sunshine State after leading from the opening green to the checkered flag in the caution-free finale.
"It's good to get out of the cold from up north but I can't even describe how much fun it really is winning down here with the car working so good," said Hearn, following his all-time record-tying ninth Florida Tour triumph during the 25th Winternationals. Pennsylvanian Kenny Brightbill racked up his nine feature race wins at Volusia Speedway Park and the Tampa Fairgrounds from 1978-87.
"I really can't sum up the season after just three races but everything we worked on during the off-season is coming off just like we planned. This car is somewhat experimental and we didn't know exactly what to expect right out of the box on Wednesday. Right now I can't wait to try it out at Volusia," added Hearn, who also won a dash on Saturday as well as heats on Friday and Sunday to accompany his feature race triumphs.
Hearn was the last to draw for his heat race assignment and he selected the worst possible number to start last in the second of three qualifiers. But after grabbing the lead on lap four of the 10-lap heat, the no. 3 Budweiser Racing/TEO machine was once again considered tops in the field. The 'heads-up' feature start format placed the Sussex, N.J. speedster outside the pole and he easily out-dragged front row partner Ray Swinehart to take charge around the spongy 1/3-miler in the 50-lap modified main.
And once out front Hearn put on a 16-minute display of his trackside talents as he weaved through traffic without a single miscue.
The leader first hit traffic on lap eight and by the time he passed under the checkers he had lapped up to the fourth-place car of Jamie Mills. From lap 10 on the top-four order of Bob McCreadie, Swinehart and heat three winner Mills remained intact for the duration while eventual fifth-place finisher Danny Johnson secured his position by lap 21.
At the midway mark the front-five stretched out their advantage ahead of top-10 runners Tim McCreadie, J.R. Heffner, Tim Fuller, Jimmy Horton and Frankie Caprara, with Hearn already putting Horton down a lap on the scorecard. At the line Hearn had opened up a half-track margin of victory while only Fuller improved one spot and 10th-place finisher Doug Hoffman (started 21st) had replaced Horton among the front runners.
Ironically, the best race of the night and probably the entire week didn't include Hearn. It was the special 'Glenn Donnelly Appreciation Dash' that was added to the program by East Bay President Stanley Kolan with only 10 laps the distance and 10 cars lined up to battle for the $2,000 first-place prize.
The side-by-side showdown that resulted between Danny Johnson and J.R. Heffner kept the crowd buzzing well after it was over. Running the high side, outside front row starter Johnson led the opening five circuits yet still needed to wrestle it back from fourth-place starter Heffner on lap 8. But Heffner never gave up aboard his no. 74 A.Colarsusso & Son/TEO entry, sliding under Johnson as the paired exited the fourth and final turn to forge the dramatic finish.
"I had watched Danny running high early on and my car worked really well down low," said Heffner, who finished 19th in the final Florida Tour 2000 points standings with his best feature race finish of 10th registered at Volusia. The Lebanon Valley Speedway regular from Averill Park, N.Y. finished ninth in Friday's 30-lap opener and placed sixth in the 12-lap dash on Saturday.
"When he drifted a little high in turn three I knew what I had and just threw it in the middle of the track until the finish. This is a great way to end our week here, it's a fun place to race and I hope we get a chance to return next winter," Heffner commented.
Rounding out the field in the non-stop race were third-place finisher Pat Ward, Doug Hoffman, Tim Fuller, Chris Shultz, Jimmy Horton, Deron Rust, pole-winner Gary Hager and Mike Perrotte. The line-up was determined by a pre-race draw among all 23 drivers in attendance although only 10 slips of paper were marked with numbers to dictate the actual starting ine-up.
The DIRT Modifieds continue the trip to Florida when they make their 14th appearance at Volusia on Feb. 12-17. Practice kicks off the activity on Monday while full programs are scheduled Tues., Thr., Fri. and Sat. at the popular Barberville oval.
Complete raceday results and updated Florida Tour point standings continue to be posted daily on www.dirtmotorsports.com.
FLORIDA TOUR 2001 RACE RESULTS @ East Bay Raceway - Sat., Feb. 11
DIRT Modified 'Glenn Donnelly Appreciation' Dash-For-Cash (10L)
FIN
ST
CAR#
DRIVER
TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1
4
74
J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY
A.Colarusso & Son/TEO/Raspuzzi
2
2
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Prudential Sec./Troyer/C.C. Perf.
3
3
42p
Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
Gypsum Express,Ltd./TEO/Finger Lakes
4
6
27
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
J & J Shop-Planned Poultry Renovations/Troyer/Enders
5
8
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
B&F General Machine-Dixon Steel-Afco/TEO/Enders
6
5
24
Chris Shultz/Holmes,NY
Liberty Rock Crushing-Bicknell Racing Products/TEO/JPM
7
9
901
Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
Wallace Securities-Miles Concrete/Olsen/Feil
8
10
396
Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
Bodie's Dairy Markets-Heck Masonry/TEO/Beston Automotive
9
1
44
Gary Hager/Stewartsville,NJ
Atlantic Towing-Quality Drywall/TEO/Burnett
10
7
35
Mike Perrotte/Elizabethtown,NY
Adirondack Auto/Troyer/Enders
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Johnson (1-5), Heffner (6-7), Johnson (8-9), Heffner (10).
CAUTIONS: 0.
TOTAL PURSE: $5,500.
FLORIDA TOUR 2001 RACE RESULTS @ East Bay Raceway - Sun., Feb. 11
DIRT Modified Feature (50L)
FIN
CAR#
DRIVER
TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1
3
Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
Budweiser Racing-WLR Const-Cavallaro Prod/TEO/Feil-Enders
2
9
Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame-F.X. Caprara/Troyer/Morrison
3
33
Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Reinford Racing Engines
4
30
Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
I.G.Burton Car Dealrshp-L&W Ins.-Mills Bros.Markets/Troyer/Myers
5
27j
Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Prudential Sec./Troyer/C.C. Perf.
6
56
Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
Finch's Trucking-Gypsum Wholesalers-Syr.Frame/TEO/Finger Lakes
7
m1
Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
B&F General Machine-Dixon Steel-Afco/TEO/Enders
8
74
J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY
A.Colarusso & Son/TEO/Raspuzzi
9
fx1
Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
Manheim Auto Auction-Auto Value-F.X.Caprara Cars/Troyer/Gor-Den
10
27
Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
J & J Shop-Planned Poultry Renovations/Troyer/Enders
11
42p
Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
Gypsum Express,Ltd./TEO/Finger Lakes
12
32c
Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Prudential Sec./TEO/C.C. Perf.
13
Z
Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehl
14
24
Chris Shultz/Holmes,NY
Liberty Rock Crushing-Bicknell Racing Products/TEO/JPM
15
8
Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot/Troyer/Enders
16
44
Gary Hager/Stewartsville,NJ
Atlantic Towing-Quality Drywall/TEO/Burnett
17
396
Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
Bodie's Dairy Markets-Heck Masonry/TEO/Beston Automotive
18
79
Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
Len & Jo's Restaurant/Bicknell/Quality Engines
19
93
Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
D.P. Barlett & Sons Plumbing Heating & AC/Olsen-TEO/Bow-Tie
20
901
Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
Wallace Securities-Miles Concrete/Olsen/Feil
21
35
Mike Perrotte/Elizabethtown,NY
Adirondack Auto/Troyer/Enders
22
60
Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
Zoom'N Groom-B&B Auto Sales/Olsen/Feil
23
30+
Mike Frost/Factoryville,PA
Lartz Industries-Serenity Lodge/Troyer/Frost
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADER: Hearn (1-50).
CAUTIONS: 0.
HEAT WINNERS: Swinehart, Hearn, Mills.
DONNELLY DASH WINNER: J.R. Heffner.
TOTAL PURSE: $16,650.
CARS ENTERED: 23.
FLORIDA TOUR 2001 PIT NOTES
Sun. Feb 11
*The DIRT Modified car count was cut by one in the Sunday finale at East Bay when the Team Caprara crew arrived to find sheet metal missing for the #fx1x small-block entry driven Saturday night by Frankie Caprara's new crew chief Dale Planck. On just the second circuit of the 12-lap dash run Saturday, a turn one/two skirmish involving Planck forced the orange Troyer mount pitside with extensive sheet metal damage. The bent side and quarter panels were then stored under the team hauler overnight to save for next day repair. But upon returning to the pits the following day all the pieces were gone, forcing Planck to scratch from competition and dedicate all his time to dialing in Caprara's car for the duration of the last show.
*Frank Caprara, grand dad of teenage driving sensation Frankie, was in attendance on Sunday to watch both his grandson finish ninth and long-time recipient of F.X. Caprara Car Co. sponsorship support, Bob McCreadie, settle for runner-up laurels in the 50-lap Modified main. The elder Caprara resides on Bear Island in the West Palm Beach area during the winter months after spending the summertime back home in Watertown, N.Y. Among his neighbors while relaxing in Florida are former Boston Celtics basketball legends Bob Cousy ---master of the two-handed set shot--- and John "Hondo" Havlicek, captain of a handful of NBA Championship squads in Bean Town. "As much of a great basketball player as John was he is an even better person off the court," said Caprara, who established F.X. Caprara as one of the premier automobile dealerships in the Empire State's north country.
*Other north country news: Watertown veteran McCreadie and one of his prized students, Tim Fuller, from nearby Edwards, will once again be maintstays on the CNY DIRT circuit when the Spring season begins in April. Brewerton Speedway on Friday, Canandaigua on Saturday, Cayuga County on Sunday and all Rolling Wheels Raceway specials fill their schedules with the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series headlining the agenda. "If we're competitive and having some good finishes we'll follow the Series, if not we'll concentrate on paying the bills closer to home," said McCreadie, who was voted by fans as DIRT Motorsports' Most Popular Driver all four years that ballots were counted. While McCreadie stands as DIRT's winningest big-block driver with 291 career triumphs, he is just two victories shy of reaching the century mark at his favorite track in Canandaigua, N.Y. "I'm going to follow Bob wherever he goes," quipped Fuller, whose owner car Bob Faust traded in his Olsen mounts for TEOs prior to the 2001 season although the familiar black no. m1 B&F General Machine color scheme remains intact.
*After missing last year's trip to Florida, 2000 Frogtown Int'l Speedway DIRT 358-Modified points champion Mike Perrotte returned this past week with a pair of no. 35 Adirondack Auto/Troyer entries. "I'll keep coming down here every chance I get," said Perrotte, 45, who finished ninth in 1999 Tour points and 20th in the final '98 standings. "East Bay is a nice track, the people are friendly and everybody's treated fairly. And this place probably has the best food of any track I've ever been." In 2001 Perrotte plans to compete weekly at Albany-Saratoga(Fri.) and Frogtown(Sat.), in all specials staged at Rolling Wheels plus selected big-block and small-block Super DIRT Series events. "I'm down here pretty much for practice. Costs of coming down to Florida aren't quite as bad as some make them sound, its just the professional teams that run that makes it tough to take home a big chunk of the purse. Everybody knows somebody to room with down here anyway and most teams have motorhomes to stay in if they don't. My father lives here in Tampa and we'll stay with one of our crewman's sisters in Deland next to Volusia. When we're back at the track we'll try and have some fun no matter where we finish."
*Track president Stanley Kolan offers the biggest reasons why drivers like Perrotte will keep traveling from the Northeast to the Gibsonton, Fla. oval as long as DIRT Modifieds are invited back. From the competing teams to track employees, members of the media to the vital sponsors and ultimately to the fans that continue to fill his grandstands, Kolan gives everyone a good excuse to return to his Bay Area baby. "We've done a lot of work, we're having a lot of fun and the best part is that the fans and drivers like what we're doing," said Kolan, who has had a financial stake in the East Bay property since February of 1997. "Catch the spirit is our motto. And we hope by being friendly and considerate it will keep it growing for years to come." Kolan's attention to the "small things" that make the East Bay experience so special includes constant interaction between every faction of his personal racing community. Primary examples: during the 25th Winternationals every driver winning a feature race or cash dash poses with Kolan and is presented with the traditional flat (16 pints) of "Chandler" strawberries in victory lane ceremonies; during the 17-day festival of speed Kolan stages a pitside barbecues to show his appreciation to the race teams, their families and crews; the VIP Tower is adorned with Silver Anniversary streamers this season and mementos are handed out nightly as constant reminders of their stay at East Bay --- one night roses were given out to a random group of ladies in attendance and Frisbees were distributed to every guest on yet another night; lottery tickets, scratch-off game cards, bumper stickers and pens were items passed around the suite every evening. Food and drink were available in unlimited quantities for the duration of every show. "We'll have two more towers for media and sponsors in turns one and four ready for next year," Kolan added. "The one we have right will be knocked down and replaced with another twice its size. Hospitality space won't be a problem around here anymore." Regarding the return of the DIRT Modifieds to East Bay in 2002, "next year we'll try and rearrange the schedule, maybe run Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully, the new dates can attract more cars and fans as well as establish a base for future events to grow."