Barton, Hebing, and Bochek are winners in the First Annual Fall Classic at Raceway 7

Conneaut, OH (September 12, 2003) - The 2003 season came to a close on Friday night at Raceway 7 with the running of the First Annual Fall Classic. Dick Barton of Ashville, NY was the winner of the 50-lap Late Model main worth $5,000. Chuck Hebing from Ontario, NY was the Modified winner collecting $3,000. Scott Bochek from Cheswick topped the Open Stocks, picking up $1500.

The 50-lap Late Model Feature started with Ron Davies and Dick Barton on the front row as the top 12 starters in all of the mains redrew for their starting positions. Barton took command immediately as Davies fell back in the early going. Ryan Markham moved to second place on lap 2, as the yellow waved on lap 3. Jay Watson passed Davies on lap 5 to take third, as the yellow appeared again on lap 7. Watson moved to second on the restart, as Jim Dandy, Jr. moved to fifth. Yellows on laps 15 and 18 slowed the pace, as Barton still showed the way. The top five stayed the same through the halfway mark, but Davies regained third from Markham on lap 27 before the next caution period. Markham had trouble on the restart, as he would retire from the event. On the next restart on lap 29, Watson pushed very bad in turn two, dropping him all the way out of the top five. Barton would now be leading Dandy, Davies, Scott Gurdak, and Chris Hackett who pitted early in the event. Hackett moved to fourth on lap 31 before the final caution period of the race. Barton set sail on the final run to the finish, as he would take his second victory of the season by 1.516 seconds. For the 2003 champion who earned his fourth track title this season, the victory was his 31st all time victory at the track, leaving him two behind all-time leading winner Chub Frank. Watson and Dandy both dropped out in the closing laps. Davies would come back for second, as Hackett's charge through the field netted him third. Ed Carley was fourth, with Gurdak fifth. Bob Close, Alex Ferree, Dan Armbruster, Mark Osburn, and Brent Rhebergen completed the top ten.

Tim McCreadie and Dave Murdick led the 30-lap Modified Feature to the green flag with McCreadie taking the lead. Fourth starting Chuck Hebing moved to second before a yellow flag on lap 1. The two drivers raced for the lead on the restart, with Hebing making the pass to take the lead on lap 5. Restarts on laps 5, 6, and 8 slowed the pace, but the lap 8 caution period would be the final one of the race. From this point forward it would be all Hebing, as he raced away from the field in a convincing victory. The margin of victory was 6.075 seconds, and just 10 of 19 finishers were on the lead lap at the finish. McCreadie settled for second. Kevin Bolland from 12th starting spot made a late pass of Lonny Riggs to finish third. Ron Smoker was fifth, as Murdick, Tommy Kristyak, Andy Priest, Rex King, and Josh Skarzenski rounded out the top ten.

The 20-lap Open Stock Feature started with Danny Exley and Rusty Wheeler gaining front row spots from the redraw. Through a restart on lap 1, it was Wheeler showing the way from the drop of the green flag in a very competitive event. Fifth starting Darrell Bossard moved up to challenge, taking the lead from Wheeler on lap 6. There were a pair of yellows on lap 9, as Dave Ferringer would take the lead on the restart. Scott Bochek had advanced from 12th starting spot to second at this point, and took the lead on lap 11. Bossard regained second before the next yellow on lap 15, but exited the event in the closing laps. A final restart on lap 16 set up the run to the finish, as Bochek would score the win by 1.021 seconds. Rich Howell made a late charge to the front after starting ninth, netting second place money. Despite battling a smoking car, Rick Prosser charged from 16th starting spot for third. Bobby Whitling raced from 19th to finish fourth, as Exley was fifth. Gary Robinson, Pat Gorton, Mike Beck, Mike Stoneman, and Andy Buckley filled the top ten.

In preliminary action, for the 38 Late Models on hand Heat race winners were Jim Dandy, Jr., Greg Fenno, Ron Davies, and Dick Barton, as Lynn Geisler and Dan Armbruster took the Last Chance Races. A field of 39 Modifieds assembled, with Lonny Riggs, Chuck Hebing, Tim McCreadie, Tommy Kristyak winning Heat races. Last Chance Race wins went to Scott Gurdak and Tim Doran. With 70 Open Stocks on hand, Heat winners were Jeff Walters, Darrell Bossard, Rusty Wheeler, Danny Exley, Steve D'Apolito, and Russ Kapalin. Last Chance Race winners were Bobby Whitling, Matt Thomas, and Wade Mohawk.

All events for the Late Models and Modifieds were scored with the AMB-it computerized scoring system. The Stock Feature was the only one of their events where transponders were mandatory. The detailed results are available by visiting http://raceway7.mylaps.com/index.jsp on the web.

This concludes the 2003 racing season at Raceway 7. For the most complete source of Raceway 7 information, please visit the track's web site at www.raceway7.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Raceway 7 results for Friday, September 12, 2003.

Late Models - Car Count - 38.

Heat winners - Jim Dandy, Jr., Greg Fenno, Ron Davies, Dick Barton.

Last Chance Race winners - Lynn Geisler, Dan Armbruster.

Feature - 1)Dick Barton. 2)Ron Davies. 3)Chris Hackett. 4)Ed Carley. 5)Scott Gurdak. 6)Bob Close. 7)Alex Ferree. 8)Dan Armbruster. 9)Mark Osburn. 10)Brent Rhebergen. 11)Rich Gardner. 12)Al Crocker. 13)Jim Dandy, Jr. 14)Jay Watson. 15)Jeremy Miller. 16)Todd Andrews. 17)Greg Fenno. 18)Todd Roncaglione. 19)Ryan Markham. 20)Brian Emory. 21)Bruce Hordusky. 22)David Scott. 23)Lynn Geisler. 24)Matt Lux. 25)Dutch Davies.

Did not qualify - Mickey Wright, Mike Wonderling, Kevin Santee, Bill Henry, Darrell Bossard, Brian Huffman, Terry Porter, Joe Farrell, Dave Hess, Jr., Bill Cunningham, Andy Kania, Eric Ensell, Randle Chupp.

Modifieds - Car Count - 39.

Heat winners - Lonny Riggs, Chuck Hebing, Tim McCreadie, Tommy Kristyak.

Last Chance Race winners - Scott Gurdak, Tim Doran.

Feature - 1)Chuck Hebing. 2)Tim McCreadie. 3)Kevin Bolland. 4)Lonnie Riggs. 5)Ron Smoker. 6)Dave Murdick. 7)Tommy Kristyak. 8)Andy Priest. 9)Rex King. 10)Josh Skarzenski. 11)Jim Rasey. 12)Rodney Beltz. 13)Dave Schrader. 14)Bob Dorman. 15)Dean Pearson. 16)Lou Blaney. 17)Del Rougeux. 18)Scott Gurdak. 19)Carl Murdick. 20)Jim Weller. 21)Gary Risch, Jr. 22)Tim Doran. 23)Mike Sutton. 24)Chanda Reitz.

Did not qualify - Rob Kristyak, Gary Risch, Sr., Jason Longwell, Gary Rankin, Jimmy Weller III, Dave Reges, Garrett Krummert, Ken Moy, Jr., Arnie Kent, Dave Willoughby, Pete Simpson, J.R. McGinley, Nick Ritchey, Steve Slater, Conny Allen.

Open Stocks - Car Count - 70.

Heat winners - Jeff Walters, Darrell Bossard, Rusty Wheeler, Danny Exley, Steve D'Apolito, Russ Kapalin.

Last Chance Race Winners - Bobby Whitling, Matt Thomas, Wade Mohawk.

Feature - 1)Scott Bochek. 2)Rich Howell. 3)Rick Prosser. 4)Bobby Whitling. 5)Danny Exley. 6)Gary Robinson. 7)Pat Gorton. 8)Mike Beck. 9)Mike Stoneman. 10)Andy Buckley. 11)Steve D'Apolito. 12)Russ Kapalin. 13)Jim McFadden. 14)Darrell Bossard. 15)Steve Keith. 16)Doug Iorio. 17)Dave Ferringer. 18)Matt Thomas. 19)Ken Zimmer. 20)Butch Lambert. 21)Rusty Wheeler. 22)Wade Mohawk. 23)Gary Miller, Jr. 24)Jeff Walters. 25)Mike Kinney.

Did not qualify - Pete Boyle, C. Ritchie, Stan Woomer, Krystal Patrick, Rick Norco, Mike Harmon, Gary Norman, Scott Myers, John Swabik, Jim VanCise, Rusty Moore, Bill Hanna, Lee Rider, Chad Stevenson, Brian Crandall, Kevin White, Dr. John Hobbs, Steve Webb, Bruce Gabriel, Justin Kreider, Bruce Smith, Jeremy Stafford, Barrett Brown, Mike Miller, Dennis Fenton, Arthur Edwards, Jerry Flavell, Bill VanVolkenburg, Ryan Herb, John Sousa, Tim Mann, Dan Lewis, Shaun Hooks, Ed Cornell, Mike Mathieson, Bruce Burlingame, Bob Gabrielson, Joel Watson, Wayne Mohawk, Ron Kennedy, Rich Bates, Josh Lucas, Eric Baun, Jeff Cusano, Mike Smith.