DECKER DOUBLES AT CCFS
by Gary Spaid
WEEDSPORT, NY...It took two weeks and a lot of rain to finally record DIRT sanctioned race number 400 at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway into the record books. Billy Decker not only won the delayed 50-lap main event for DIRT Modifieds, but also won the regularly scheduled 50-lap feature making for a $6,000 pay day.
And what a day it was! Rains forced a five and a half hour delay, making what was to have been an afternoon event starting at 2 p.m., into an evening marathon starting at 7:30 p.m.
Mike Button won the rain delayed 20-lap Sportsman feature and Vince Vitale earn top honors in the regularly scheduled 20- lap main event. One 40-lap enduro race went to Bill Juhl.
A titanic effort by track crew and fans alike put the speedway into descent shape for racing after a freak afternoon shower totally drenched the area. The start of the rain delayed sportsman feature from last week, on lap 10, saw the front rows loop coming out of the fourth turn on the wet surface causing a multi-car tangle. A second effort to restart the race was more effective as the drivers now had a better feel for the speedway surface. Mike Button maintained his lead over Steve Hall and Jim Spano, as these three put on a show. Spano was able to pass Hall on the next lap to take second. The remainder of this event saw the cars stay pretty much in line with Button taking a close victory over a charging Spano and Hall. Jim LaRock and Loren Lincoln rounded out the top five.
The rain delayed 50-lap DIRT Modified feature was next on the race card. As the field took the green, Pat Ward slid his car high into the first turn and flipped over the banking, rolling gently. The car was placed back onto all fours and continued in the race. The restart saw a multi-car tangle in the front stretch involving six cars. All were able to continue. From the drop of the green Billy Decker was in the lead from his outside pole starting position.
The field now settled into a pace with Decker leading Steve Paine, Tim Fuller, Jeremie Corcoran and Pat O'Brien. On lap 13 the yellow flew for a third time went father and son, Bob and Tim McCreadie came to a halt on the backstretch. Both cars were towed to the pits. Fortunately this allowed Alan Johnson time to pit and change a right rear flat tire on his Mitsubishi sponsored number 24. He was able to return to the race without losing a lap.
Up front the battle remained constant with Decker followed by Paine and Fuller. Danny Johnson had taken fourth from Corcoran on lap 17. A brief yellow on lap 25 flew when Frank Caprara brought his FX1 to a stop in the third turn. During this yellow eighth place, Pat O'Brien dropped from the race. A fifth caution, two laps later, flew when Jimmy Phelps also stopped on the track. After lap 28 the race remained green till the finish. At the line it would be Decker followed by Paine, Danny Johnson, Fuller and Corcoran. Pat Ward was able to bring his car home for a seventh place finish after having been upside down on that first lap.
It was now time to run a complete regular program! Sportsman heats were won by Hall, Vince Vitale and Chad Brachmann. Russ hefti won the sportsman consolation race. Modified heats went to Chuck Bower, Todd Milton, Jimmy Phelps and Bob McCreadie. Butch Tittle took top honors in the consolation.
In the 50-lap modified feature Bower took the lead at the drop of the green, followed by Jimmy Phelps, Bob McCreadie and Milton. Within five laps the leaders were entering lapped traffic when McCreadie and Milton made wheel contact entering the third turn. Milton's car was sent sliding sideways through the turn as one car after another slammed into his car. Fourteen cars were involved in the accident, seven were unable to continue. The race had to be red flagged at this time. No drivers were injured in this accident.
Jimmy Phelps had just taken the lead from Bower when the yellow had flown. On lap seven, Tim McCreadie slowed to a stop on the backstretch causing a second yellow. Brian Weaver was able to take the lead on the restart as Phelps had to pit during this yellow. Weaver was able to hold the lead for one circuit when Decker, charging from his fifteenth starting spot, took the command on lap eleven.
Pat Ward was hooked to Decker's rear bumper as these two began to stretch their advantage by nearly half a lap over Weaver. Bower was running fourth in a battle with Gary Tomkins, Tim Fuller and Alan Johnson.
At the finish only nine cars were on the lead lap as Decker scored his second victory of the evening. Ward finished a close second, as lapped traffic almost allowed Ward the opening he was looking for near the end of the race. Weaver came home a distant third followed by Alan Johnson and Tomkins.
In regular evening sportsman action Vince Vitale took the lead on lap three from Steve Hall and cruised home the victor. Jim Spano again was able to pass Hall in the closing stages, in this case on the last lap, and finish second. Hall was third followed by Mike Button and Chad Brachmann. Vitale's victory earned him a guaranteed starting spot for the 1999 July 4, 20-lap sportsman feature at the New York State mile's Independence Day Special.
Bill Juhl took the lead from Ron Hawker on lap 27 to score his first victory in the 40-lap enduro series presented by the Pit Stop Convenience Stores.
The Cayuga County Fair Speedway will be quiet this Sunday to make way for the running of the 19th annual 99-lap DIRT Challenge Cup at Rolling Wheels Raceway in nearby Elbridge, NY. Also on the race card will be sportsman and pro-stock racing action. Race time at Rolling Wheels this Sunday will be at 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
COMPUTER EXCELLENCE-AUTO FINISHERS-SAM DELL CAR & TRUCK STORES
AUTO TRADER-PHELPS CEMENT NIGHT SUMMARY ENDURO
FEATURE (40-LAPS): BILL JUHL, Ron Hawker, Mike Potts, Tim Hettis, Tom Hitchcock (top 5)
SPORTSMAN
DELAYED FEATURE FROM 4/11 (20-LAPS): MIKE BUTTON, Jim Spano, Steve Hall, Jim LaRock, Loren Lincoln, Tim Sears, Ben Tucker, Ron Davis, Joe Beyea, Chad Brachmann, Vince Vitale, Pete Campione, Matt Sheppard, Greg Doust, Ryan Baye, Russ Hefti, Jeff Corner, Rodney Plantz, John McKenney, Wade Czymmek, Mike LaVarnway.
HEAT 1: S. Hall, R. Plantz, J. Haers, P. Campione, Ti. Sears.
HEAT 2: V. Vitale, G. Doust, J. Spano, L. Lincoln, S. Davis.
HEAT 3: C. Brachmann, B. Tucker, J. LaRock, M. Button, M. Sheppard.
CONSI: R. Hefti, J. Beyea, R. Baye, P. Benz, R. Davis, R. Cartwright, Ji. Johnson, T. Preston, C. West.
FEATURE (20-LAPS): VINCE VITALE, Jim Spano, Steve Hall, Mike Button, Chad Brachmann, Greg Doust, Jim LaRock, Rodney Plantz, Jimmy Johnson, Matt Sheppard, Loren Lincoln, Pete Campione, Ron Davis, Joe Beyea, Justin Haers, Ben Tucker, Ron Cartwright, Paul Benz, Ryan Baye, Steve Davis, Russ Hefti.
MODIFIED
DELAYED FEATURE FROM 4/11 (50-LAPS): BILLY DECKER, Steve Paine, Danny Johnson, Tim Fuller, Jeremie Corcoran, Scott Prentice, Pat Ward, Brian Weaver, Gary Tomkins, Vic Coffey, Danny O'Brien, Mitch Gibbs, Chuck Bower, Alan Johnson, Bobby Varin, Todd Milton, Steve Glover, Tom Sears Jr., Ray Bliss Jr., Butch Tittle, Mike Colsten, Roger Phelps, Jimmy Phelps, Pat O'Brien, Frank Caprara, Bob McCreadie, Tim McCreadie, Scott Ridley.
HEAT 1: C. Bower, M. Colsten, G. Tomkins, J. Corcoran, K. Tremont.
HEAT 2: T. Milton, B. Weaver, M. Gibbs, T. Fuller, J. Burke.
HEAT 3: J. Phelps, T. McCreadie, P. Ward, B. Decker, D. Johnson.
HEAT 4: B. McCreadie, A. Johnson, T. Sears Jr., S. Paine, V. Coffey
CONSI: B. Tittle, B. Varin, R. Phelps, T. Burley, J. Kubinec, D. O'Brien, S. Ridley, M. Potvin, S. Prentice.
FEATURE (50-LAPS): BILLY DECKER, Pat Ward, Brian Weaver, Alan Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Chuck Bower, Steve Paine, Tim Fuller, Kenny Tremont, Vic Coffey, Bob McCreadie, Scott Prentice, Butch Tittle, Bobby Varin, Mike Colsten, Steve Glover, Scott Ridley, Roger Phelps, Jim Burke, Joe Kubinec, Jimmy Phelps, Tim McCreadie, Tom Sears Jr., Jeremie Corcoran, Todd Milton, Mitch Gibbs, Danny Johnson, Danny O'Brien, Todd Burley.