GABRIEL TOPS CAYUGA COUNTY FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2000
WEEDSPORT, NY...Jim Gabriel Jr. from Binghamton, NY, topped the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature last Sunday at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway. Matt Sheppard picked up his eighth DIRT Sportsman win, in eleven outings at the speedway this season. In the Enduro classes, Barb Anderson topped the special women's Powder Puff main event, while Tim Hettis maintained his dominance of the Pit Stop Convenience Stores 40-lap Enduro.
The 35-lap modified feature saw Gabriel jump into the lead from his outside pole starting position. Gary Tomkins and Scott Ridley were in a battle for second. On lap two Tomkins slide sideways, almost losing the handle on his car, when Ridley made contact, straightening Tomkins back into position. The first yellow flew on lap four when Dave Axton looped his new number 98 off the first turn and into the corn field. Axton, quickly returned to the back of the field.
But before another lap could be completed, the yellow flew again when Jeff Brownell slowed with a flat tire in the fourth turn. Gabriel lost the lead to Tomkins on this lap five restart. Tomkins then proceeded to build a solid advantage over Gabriel. That lasted until lap 11 when the rear end let lose in the Tomkins machine, allowing Gabriel to re-assume the front spot.
The worst accident of the night came on lap 12 when Danny Johnson, running in fourth tried to cut low in front of Tim McCreadie. McCreadie had no place to go except tap the back of the Sweetener's Plus Troyer of Johnson. This send Johnson spinning across the track, collecting a number of top runners. When the dust had cleared eleven cars were involved in this accident.
Keith Hoffman, a 358-Modified, made his presence known to Gabriel as he took over second on the restart. Alan Johnson, aboard his Mitsubishi Generators then passed Hoffman for second on lap 18 and tried to take off after Gabriel. With the green remaining out for the remainder of the race, Gabriel was able to cruise home the winner. Alan Johnson finished second followed by Pat Ward, who had to charge from the back of the field after being involved in "The Accident" on lap 12. Hoffman and Tim Fuller rounded out the top five.
The 20-lap sportsman feature saw Jim LaRock, from Jordan, as the earlier leader. Tom Juhl was able to pass LaRock on lap six, but just a quickly lost his lead to Matt Sheppard. Sheppard, the dominant sportsman driver in Central NY, shot by Juhl and built up a half straight away lead. He went on to claim the win, his eighth of the year at Cayuga County. Juhl finished second followed by Jim Spano, rookie John Plumb and Greg Doust.
Barb Anderson, from Jordan, won the 6-lap Powder Puff Enduro car feature. Barb's husband is Bill Anderson, who currently competes weekly at the nearby Brewerton Speedway in the IMCA division. Tim Hettis won the 40-lap enduro.
Tony Buffa geared up for the Drwaf Car All Star Championships to be held on August 27 at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway. Buffa inched out Troy vanAllen for the 15-lap Drwaf Car victory.
This Sunday the racing action moves to the Rolling Wheels Raceway and Cayuga County Fair Speedway will remain dark for one week. Race time at Rolling Wheels will be at 6 p.m. sharp.
AAMACO TRANSMISSIONS OF AUBURN-COLD FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT-K&S
CAR WASH NIGHT SUMMARY
ENDURO
FEATURE (40-laps): TIM HETTIS, John Underwood, Don Potts, Dave Maucuccilli, Nathan Peckham. (TOP 5)
POWDER PUFF (6-LAPS): BARB ANDERSON, Heather Hettis, Barb Amadon, Lynn Blassidale, Melanie Tanner, Pam Horning, Tracy Davis, Tina Faye.
DWARF CARS
HEAT 1: T. Buffa, D. Boyce, C. Chandler, W. Younglove, B. Teliska, B. Mayer.
HEAT 2: T. VanAllen, S. Nash, D. Napp, K. Gamlen, C. Crawfer Jr., D. Forbes.
FEATURE (15-laps): Tony Buffa, Troy VanAllen, Chic Chandler, Don Boyce, Alan Barker, Ken Gamlen, Scott Nash, Carl Crawfer Jr., Pat Pontello, Bill Teliska, Bob Garafolo, David Orr, Lee Babcock, Brenda Brice, Bob Mayer, Joe Garafolo, Dwayne Napp, Wayne Younglove, Darin Forbes, Todd Simons.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: B. Haws, M. Lavarnway, M. Sheppard, T. Juhl, G. Doust, G. Morrisstette.
HEAT 2: T. Mettler, R. Plantz, J. Spano, J. Beyea, J. LaRock, M. Camuso.
FEATURE (20-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Tom Juhl, James Spano, John Plumb, Greg Doust, Joe Beyea, Eldon Payne, John Juhl, Bob Haws, Tom Mettler, Gary Morrissette, John Pfeffer, Jim LaRock, Bob Henry Jr., Mike Lavarnway, Mark Camuso, Rodney Plantz, Russ Hefti, Bill Englert.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: J. Phelps, B. McCreadie, T. Fuller, G. Tomkins, K. Hoffman, V. Vitale.
HEAT 2: P. Ward, C. Bower, J. Gabriel Jr., T. McCreadie, D. Johnson, T. Sears Jr.
HEAT 3: A. Johnson, T. Milton, S. Ridley, S. Prentice, J. Brownell, R. Bliss Jr.
CONSI: D. Axton, M. Ward, R. Bartlett, J. Corcoran, B. Wilcox, S. Lead.
FEATURE (35-laps): JIM GABRIEL JR., Alan Johnson, Pat Ward, Keith Hoffman, Tim Fuller, Dave Axton, Chuck Bower, Scott Ridley, Scott Prentice, Ryan Bartlett, Mike Ward, Jeremie Corcoran, Brent Wilcox, Steve Lead, Jimmy Phelps, Ray Bliss Jr., Tom Sears Jr., Todd Milton, Bob McCreadie, Danny Johnson, Tim McCreadie, Gary Tomkins, Jeff Brownell, Vince Vitale.