PRENTICE WINS FIRST OF YEAR AT CAYUGA COUNTY

WEEDSPORT, NY...Scott Prentice, from Central Square, NY, picked up his first DIRT Modified feature win of the 2001 campaign, winning the Oswaco Beverage-Expert Tire 35-lap main event last Sunday at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway. James Spano topped the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature, while Jim Cronin picked up the victory in the Pit Stop Convenience Stores enduro. Pole Sitter Vince Viatle took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature. Scott Prentice, the outside pole sitter, maintained an even distance between himself in second and Vitale in the lead. At times Prentice was able to slightly close the gap.

On lap five the yellow flew when Jim LaRock looped out his new DIRT Modified ride to the inside of the fourth turn. The restart saw a multi-car tangle in the first turn, which actually started to develop after A.J. Romano received a helping bump in the rear end lifting his rear tires. This sent the field scrambling. Involved in the melee were Mike Ward, Jim Gabriel Jr., Dave Axton, Tom Sears Jr. and Romano.

Prentice took the lead on the lap six restart from Vitale. He then built a five car lead over Viatle. The racing for positions three back became intense. Chuck Bower was hold on to third when his left front wheel broke forcing him from the event. This moved Tim Fuller into third.

However the yellow flew on lap 20 to bunch up the pack. Tom Sears Jr. had come to a stop in the fourth turn causing the yellow. Prentice was able to hold his advantage on the restart over Vitale. Danny Johnson was now on the move passing Decker for fourth and challenging Fuller for third. Hotter then Danny seemed to be last week's feature winner Tim McCreadie. McCreadie sliced through the field and was on Johnson's rear end on lap 33. McCreadie then tried to challenge Vitale for second but fell short by inches at the finish line.

Prentice took the win by 1.8 seconds, followed by Viatle and McCreadie. Fuller and Danny Johnson rounded out the top five. The 20-lap Sportsman feature saw Spano leap from the pole to take the lead immediately. But before the first lap was completely finished the yellow flew as Rob Bussey had a left front tire go flat on the back stretch. The restart saw yet another yellow fly when Chris Ostrowsky and Joe Beyea came together on the back stretch. Ostrowsky's car was damaged too much to continue.

Spano began to build his lead over, first John Juhl and then later over Tom Juhl as the race went back under green. On lap eight the yellow popped out again as Robert Haws, John Plumb and Gary Gallerie were all involved in a multi-car tangle in the first turn.

Spano still continued his lead. The final yellow of the race came on lap 11 when newcomer Chad Phelps slowed with a flat front tire in the third turn.

Spano held on for the win followed by Tom Juhl, Justin Haers, Steve Gray and John Juhl.

CCFS RUMBLES: Plans are in the work for a powder puff race at Cayuga County possibly on August 19...O Town, the band created from the television series "Making the Band", will be playing at Weedsport on July 31. Advance sale tickets are available through DIRT HQ at 1-315-834-6606.

This Sunday, July 29, will see the return of the ESCDA Dwarf cars, along with a complete program of Modified, Sportsman and Enduro action. Race time will be at 7 p.m. sharp.

BUDWEISER/OWASCO BEVERAGE-EXPERT TIRE NIGHT SUMMARY

PIT STOP CONVENIENCE STORES ENDURO

FEATURE (TOP 5): JIM CRONIN, Bill Juhl, Troy Reeves, Tim Hettis, Nathan Peckham.

SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1: J. Juhl, J. Spano, T. Juhl, B. Henry Jr., R. Plantz.

HEAT 2: J. Haers, J. Bowman, J. Plumb, R. Haws, G. Doust.

HEAT 3: R. Hefti, S. Gray, M. Lavarnway, G. Gallerie, R. Richardson.

CONSI: C. Phelps, J. Beyea, R. Loveless, R. Bussey, C. Ostrowsky, W. Chyrywaty.

FEATURE (20-laps): JAMES SPANO, Tim Juhl, Justin Haers, Steve

Gray, John Juhl, Joe Beyea, Bob Henry Jr., Rodney Plantz, Gary

Gallerie, Ryan Richardson, Rob Bussey, Walt Chyrywaty, Robert

Haws, Ron Loveless, Chad Phelps, Russ Hefti, John Plumb, Greg

Doust, Mike Lavarnway, Jim Bowman, Chris Ostrowsky.

MODIFIED

HEAT 1: S. Prentice, T. Fuller, J. Phelps, B. Varin, T. Sears Jr.

HEAT 2: B. McCreadie, C. Bower, V. Vitale, B. Decker, J. Gabriel Jr.

HEAT 3: P. Ward, A.J. Romano, T. McCreadie, G. Tomkins, D. Johnson.

FEATURE (35-laps): SCOTT PRENTICE, Vince Viatle, Tim McCreadie, Tim Fuller, Danny Johnson, Billy Decker, Gary Tomkins, Pat Ward, Jim Gabriel Jr., Bobby Varin, Jimmy Phelps, Mike Ward, Tyke Morris, Jim LaRock, Tom Sears Jr., Dave Axton, Bob McCreadie, Steve Lead, Chuck Bower, A.J. Romano, Matt Sheppard.