JOHNSON POWERS HIS BIG BLOCK TO VICTORY, GAMLIN WINS DWARF SERIES RACE
WEEDSPORT, NY...A late afternoon shower reeked havoc as the racing last Sunday evening started nearly forty minutes late. Danny Johnson, who held a lock on the 358-Modified track title, appeared with a bib block and proceeded to romp to victory. This was his first big block win of the year at Cayuga County. His other three victories all came in 358-Modified powered machines. Vince Vitale took the victory in the DIRT Sportsman non- point feature, his fifth win of the year at Cayuga County. Also on hand were the Dwarf cars. Forty-one little screamers were on hand for the race, with Ken Gamlin powering himself into victory lane.
The 35-lap DIRT Modified feature wasn't a full lap complete when a massive pile up ensued in the fourth turn. Jeff Hoff, who started fifth, bounced off the fourth turn concrete wall and into Chuck Bowers's new machine. The resulting pile up behind these two collected eleven cars and forced Dave Farney to red flag the race with the turn blocked. Out of the race as a result of this accident were: Bob McCreadie, Chuck Bower, Jeff Hoff, Tom Sears Jr., Steve Lead and Todd Milton.
The restart saw Ray Bliss Jr. power into the lead followed by Jim Burke and Scott Ridley. On lap four a second pile up occurred when Burke looped his car going into the fourth turn. Involved were five machines: Gary Tomkins, Scott Prentice, Mike Ward, Burke and Billy Decker, who's car climbed on top of both Burke and Prentice's machines. All of the cars were able to continue.
On the restart Ridley was able to take the lead from Bliss. Bliss, who was suffering some mechanical problem came to a stop in the fourth turn on lap seven to create a yellow. Ridley now had his hands full trying to hold off Danny Johnson and Tim McCreadie. On lap 12, both Ridley and Johnson crossed the start- finish line in a dead heat, with Johnson able to nose slightly ahead as this duo exited the second turn.
From this point on it was all Danny Johnson. Tim Fuller made a last ditch effort to pass Johnson, dogging him for some eighteen laps. Both Johnson and Fuller held a fifteen car advantage over the third place finisher Tim McCreadie. Pat Ward finished a distant fourth with Vic Coffey, in fifth, on his rear bumper.
The 358-Modified track points ended with this race. Danny Johnson (754) won his first 358-Modified title at Cayuga County. The rest of the top five in 358 points were: Tim Burnett (504), Mike Ward (464), Jay Hopkins (340) and Jim Burke (334).
The 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature was all Vince Vitale, as he took the lead on the first lap. Only one yellow slowed the race on lap six. Wade Czymmek was hit from the rear entering the third turn by Ron Davis. Davis in turn was collected by Jeremy Pitcher. These three cars slide high into the wall, resulting in Davis's car flying out and over the third turn wall. Davis emerged uninjured, but his car was cradled to the pits. Tom Collins Jr. earned his best finish of the year at Cayuga County, finishing second to Vitale. Russ Hefti, Joe Beyea and Steve Gray rounded out the top five finishers.
The 25-lap Dwarf feature saw 32 cars take the green flag from Dave Farney. The early leader was outside pole sitter, Bob Garafolo in his number 27 machine. On lap eight, Garafolo lost the lead to Ken Gamlin in his Arby's sponsored mini-sedan. The worst accident of the event came on lap 11 when Ray Crawford looped his machine on the front stretch and was collected by Jim Redinger right at the start-finish line. Both drivers were slow to exit their respective cars, but did not need additional medical attention.
On lap 13, Gamlin's teammate, Troy VanAllen took his Arby's number 2X into the lead and started to pull away from the rest of the field. Two short yellows later, one for debris and the other for a car stopped on the front straight, VanAllen held a three car advantage over Garafolo, Gamlin, and Ken Titus. On lap 23,as VanAllen entered the third turn a plume of smoke appeared out of his exhaust headers. Van Allen slowed and pulled off the track at the exit of the fourth turn. This put Garafolo in the lead. But Gamlin was quick to recover what his teammate had lost. Gamlin passed Garafolo for the lead before lap 24 could be recorded in the record books. Gamlin then went on to claim the victory. Garafolo finished second followed by Tony Buffa, Brent Selleu and Gordie Isham.
This Sunday will feature the 99-lap, $6,000 to win, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series for DIRT Modifieds on hand. A huge field of Modifieds is expected as the next day, Labor Day, will be the running of the 50th annual New York State Fair Modified- Sportsman Championship.
Also at Cayuga County on the 5th will be the sportsman, along with the final enduro of the year. Both the big block and sportsman track championships are up for grabs. In the afternoon the annual Blow Out Sale will be held at the DIRT Warehouse located just behind the DIRT Offices. Race time on Sunday will be at 7 p.m. sharp. Cayuga County Fair Speedway is located just off exit 40 of the New York State Thruway, along Route 31, east of the village of Weedsport.
COMPUTER EXCELLENCE-AUTO FINISHERS OF AUBURN NIGHT SUMMARY
DWARF CARS
HEAT 1: B. Selleu, T. VanAllen, B. Berts, G. Isham, E. Crawford, P. Pontello.
HEAT 2: B. Garafolo, T.J. Forbes, R. Charland, C. Pierce, T. Buffa, P. O'Malley.
HEAT 3: K. Titus, C.J. Crawford, E. Lawton, S. Nash, C. Crawford, D. Copp.
HEAT 4: K. Gamlin, B. Charland, D. Knapp, M. Weigelt, D. Orr, C. Pierce.
CONSI: D. Gruel, R.J. Grimshaw, J. Redinger, A. Barker, L. Babcock, B. McCarthy.
ADDED: S. Tourje, W. Younglove.
FEATURE (25-laps): KEN GAMLIN, Bob Garafolo, Tony Buffa, Brent Selleu, Gordie Isham, Mark Weigelt, Eric Crawford, T.J. Forbes, Pat Pontello, Scott Nash, Ed Lawton, Carl Crawford, Ken Titus, C.J. Crawford, Duane Knapp, Barry Berts, David Orr, Alan Barker, Dennis Copp, R.J. Grimshaw, Bob McCarthy, Dave Gruel, Troy VanAllen, Steve Tourje, Cliff Pierce, Paul O'Malley, Lee Babcock, Ray Charland, Jim Redinger, Bob Charland, Curt Pierce, Wayne Younglove.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: V. Vitale, W. Czymmek, T. Collins Jr., J. Beyea, J. Pfeffer.
HEAT 2: R. Hefti, T. Mettler, R. Davis, J. Pitcher, J. LaVarnway.
FEATURE (20-laps): VINCE VITALE, Tom Collins Jr., Russ Hefti, Joe Beyea, Steve Gray, Tom Mettler, David Allen, Mike LaVarnway, Jeremy Pitcher, John Pfeffer, Jim LaRock, Matt Chapman, Bill Englert, Steve Nasholts, Darryl Hagen, Brian Murphy, Wade Czymmek, Ron Davis.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: J. Burke, B. McCreadie, T. Milton, J. Gabriel Jr., C. Kennison.
HEAT 2: J. Phelps, R. Bliss Jr., S. Ridley, T. Sears Jr., D. Johnson.
HEAT 3: C. Bower, T. Burnett, T. McCreadie, M. Ward, G. Tatich.
HEAT 4: J. Hoff, V. Coffey, P. Ward, S. Prentice, T. Fuller.
CONSI: B. Decker, B. Hoff, D. Axton, S. Lead.
ADDED: G. Tomkins, B. Varin.
FEATURE (35-laps): DANNY JOHNSON, Tim Fuller, Tim McCreadie, Pat Ward, Vic Coffey, Gary Tomkins, Billy Decker, Scott Ridley, Scott Prentice, Jim Gabriel Jr., Bobby Varin, Bill Hoff, Ray Bliss Jr., Tim Burnett, Chuck Kennison, Mike Ward, Dave Axton, Jimmy Phelps, Jim Burke, Bob McCreadie, Chuck Bower, Jeff Hoff, Tom Sears Jr., Steve Lead, Todd Milton, Greg Tatich.