It was a DANDY Fall Fest, as Jim Dandy, Jr. races to victory in Challenger's Fall Fest VII
Indiana, PA (October 28) - The Challenger Raceway wrapped up 2001 with the Seventh Annual edition of Fall Fest, delayed two weeks and twice due to inclement weather. Scoring the biggest victory of his career to earn the Fall Fest championship for the MACS Late Models was Jim Dandy, Jr. The Niles, Ohio driver in his second season in the Late Model division turned back a talented field of competitors, making a late charge to the front in winning the 75-lap main event, worth $15,000.
And if winning the MACS Late Model portion of the program wasn't enough, Dandy also scored the victory in the York Triathlon Series portion of the program. In addition, he was asked to substitute in a Pure Stock division car, and was leading that feature before the car failed, dropping him from competition. By the way, Dandy's given name is Alan Dellinger, but he races under the name of Jim Dandy, Jr. His father had raced under the name of Jim Dandy in his career, that started during a stint in the Armed Forces.
After the main event, it was Mike Blose from New Bethlehem, PA being awarded the 2001 championship in the MACS Late Model Series. Other drivers celebrating at Fall Fest VII included Jeff Hoffman from Franklin, PA with his feature win in the Big Block Modifieds. Dandy earned the win in the York Triathlon Series Modified main event, as Todd Roncaglione from Linesville, PA notched the Triathlon Series Championship for 2001. The Pure Stock win went to Joe Kelley from Mt. Pleasant, PA, making the charge from 20th starting position to do so. In the Stewart Bus Line Super Point Challenge for the Pure Stocks, Jeff Walters and Butch Lambert ended up tied for the title and will be co-champions. The Strictly Stock feature win went to Gary Churchfield from Plum, PA, for his first career feature victory. The long trip from Laurel, DE was a successful one for Eric McKinney, as he made a late move to gain the victory in the TUSA Dwarf Car feature race. A grand total of 275 cars from 14 states and Canada participated in the Fall Fest activities, with six divisions taking place.
The 75-lap Fall Fest VII Championship Race started with Billy Drake and Bart Hartman atop the starting grid. Hartman moved to the lead as the green flag flew, and Drake eventually yielded second to Davey Johnson on lap 7. Drake later faded back farther, yielding third to Jim Dandy, Jr. before the first yellow flag of the race appeared on lap 11. The race at the front would be uneventful at the front of the field through the first third of the race, but behind the top three positions were changing every lap. Lap 25 would be quite eventful, as race leader Hartman got tangled up in race traffic, and a spin would take him from the lead. Johnson would be the new leader on the restart, ahead of Dandy and Todd Andrews. Johnson would lead the way through the halfway mark, but Dick Barton had gained third ahead of Andrews on lap 35. Lap 42 would see the ninth yellow flag of the race appear, and would set up a long period of green flag racing with just one more yellow in the late going.
Johnson continued to lead, but Barton had taken second from Dandy just prior to the yellow and was now all over Johnson for the lead. Barton would take the lead on lap 45, using the low groove to perfection. With a side-by-side battle for the lead, Johnson would nose back ahead on lap 48. Johnson now inched ahead, but the high groove was coming in as Dandy regained second on lap 53. Johnson and Dandy raced for the lead in race traffic at lap 59, but Johnson was able to stay ahead at the time. Dandy moved down off of the high groove with a move on lap 66, his move inside of Johnson would see him as the race leader on lap 67.
The final yellow flag waved on lap 69, when fourth running John Flinner from 18th starting spot slowed with a problem, setting up a six-lap race to the finish. The race for the lead continued, as Johnson nosed back ahead on lap 71. Dandy regained the lead on lap 72, as Johnson closed in for one late charge. But Dandy, the driver in his second year in the Late Model ranks drove the race of his life, and would hold on to collect the biggest win of his career, worth $15,000. Johnson would be forced to settle for a close second. Barton's strong run netted him third place. From starting position 20, Scott Rhodes was strong in the late going and raced home to finish fourth. Todd Andrews was fifth, ahead of Miles Stitzinger, Wally Fox, Scott Haus, 2001 Challenger champion Dave Norton. With his tenth place finish, Mike Blose earned the 2001 MACS point championship.
The MACS Late Models assembled an exceptional field of 81 drivers. Heat race winners were Davey Johnson, Jim Dandy, Jr., Bart Hartman, Todd Andrews, Billy Drake, Scott Haus, Dick Barton, and Miles Stitzinger. The E-Main winner was Dave Lyon. On the rescheduled date, the D-Main was not required due to drivers not returning. Therefore, the C-Main was won by John Flinner, with Rob Blair winning the B-Main.
Jeff Hoffman led every lap in securing the feature victory in the 25-lap Big-Block Modified feature race. Starting from the outside of the front row, Hoffman quickly moved ahead of Bob Wearing, Jr. at the drop of the green flag. After early yellows on lap 3 and lap 5, Hoffman pulled away from the field leaving a thrilling battle for second behind him. Wearing would feel a challenge from Lou Gentile, and they swapped the position before Wearing finally inched ahead. The final yellow flag would wave on lap 14, bunching the field a final time. Hoffman would again break away from the field, and he would go on to take the feature win by a comfortable margin in an impressive effort. Wearing would hold on to secure runner-up honors. The battle was for third in the closing laps, as Kevin Hoffman made a late pass of Gentile to take the position. Jeff Schaffer was fifth. Jeff Hoffman and Wearing topped the heat races for the 16-car field.
The 30-lap main event for the York Triathlon Series Modifieds started with Jim Dandy, Jr. and Todd Roncaglione leading the field to the green flag. Roncaglione clinched his first York Series championship by just starting the event, and with that out of the way he quickly moved to the race lead as the race began. A first lap restart was needed, but it would be followed by an extended period of racing under the green. Roncaglione continued to show the way, as Dandy raced for second with Larry Kugel. Dandy soon moved away from Kugel, and closed on Roncaglione as the laps clicked by. Making a pass on lap 10, Dandy would find himself the new race leader. The next yellow flag would appear on lap 22, followed by a later yellow on lap 23. Bunching up the field would not affect the outcome, as Dandy raced away to add to his incredible Fall Fest VII record. Roncaglione would finish second, as his York Series championship was earned with no finishes out of the top ten. 2001 Challenger champion Chuck Kennedy advanced from tenth starting position to finish third. Maryland's Darrell Schimmel was fourth, with Jim Bertges finishing fifth. With a field of 48 entries, Roncaglione, Kevin Decker, Dandy, Kugel, and Craig Perigo were the heat race winners. Dandy was the winner of the American Racer One-on-One and the Dash, with Fred Bratchie and Carl McKinney winning the Last Chance Races.
Andy Buckley and Rob Kosecki led the 20-lap Pure Stock feature to the green flag with Kosecki taking the lead. Jim Dandy, Jr. was asked to substitute for an absent Jeff Buccella, and he had quickly moved from sixth starting spot to second in a car that he had sat in for the very first time. On the first restart of the race on lap 3, it was Dandy nosing ahead of Kosecki to take the lead on lap 4. When the yellow flag waved again on lap 5, it would be the final restart of the event. Dandy began inching away from the field, as Kosecki raced for second place with Jeff Walters. Kosecki finally nosed ahead of Walters into second as the field reached the halfway mark. While leading the race on lap 12, a problem developed on race leader Dandy's car, forcing him to the infield and out of the event. The new leader would be Kosecki on lap 13, ahead of Walters, Brian Duffy, and 20th starting Joe Kelley. The race for the lead was a thriller, as Kelley continued to move forward. He was third by lap 17, and second a lap later. Kosecki and Kelley crossed the line side-by-side as the white flag waved, and at the line it was Kelley securing the victory over Kosecki. Duffy turned in a strong outing in his first start at the track to finish third. From 17th starting position, Butch Lambert charged to finish fourth with Jeff Walters fifth, and by virtue of those finishes they were tied for the point championship in the Stewart Bus Line Super Challenge points. The heat race winners were Russ Kapalin, Buccella, Walters, and Kosecki in the 48-car field, as Lambert was the Last Chance Race winner.
The 18-lap Strictly Stock feature started with Joe Starcher and Jeff Bastin on the front row, but fourth starting Bill Hebenthal moved by both to take the lead on lap 1. Dan Mazzaferro moved up to challenge before the first yellow flag appeared on lap 4. On the restart, Bryan Imler joined the lead battle. Imler made a move on lap 8 to pass Hebenthal, and would be the new race leader. When the second and final yellow appeared on lap 14, it would be a tough break for race leader Imler as he was forced to pits during the caution period. Gary Churchfield would be the new leader, but Randy Reed would pass with two laps remaining, and went on to score an apparent victory. But when Reed's car failed a post-race tech inspection, Churchfield would inherit the victory. It was the first career feature win for the third year driver. Mazzaferro was scored second ahead of Hebenthal, Marshall Detwiler, and Starcher. Heat race winners in the 18-car field were Reed and Tom Taylor.
The 25-lap Team United Sanctioning Association Dwarf Car feature started with John Calloway and Tom Billingham on the front row. Calloway took the early lead, as three quick yellows in the first three laps slowed the pace. On the lap 3 restart, Calloway would feel a challenge from eighth starting Tracy Fritter, as Fritter would take the lead on lap 6. Fritter moved away from the field, but after a lap 11 restart Calloway posed a stiff challenge for the top spot. Calloway would make another challenge on a lap 15 restart, but lost several positions with a bobble in turn four. With laps winding down it was Fritter continuing to lead, but the man on the move late in the event was Eric McKinney. The Delaware driver had gone to the tail of the field after a spin on lap 1, but was showing in fourth on lap 18. Three laps later he was second, and gaining steadily on race leader Fritter. The deciding caution flag on lap 22 was the break that McKinney needed, bunching the field one last time. Making his move past Fritter on the restart, McKinney would lead the remaining distance to secure the feature win. Fritter was a close second, over 20th starting Eric Hay, Billingham, and 19th starting Landis Musser. With 64 cars participating in the program, the heat winners were Billingham, Kevin Doll, Calloway, Mike Vammino, Bruce Walkup, and McKinney. The Last Chance Race winner was Ron Riccio.
This concludes the 2001 racing season at the Challenger Raceway. On behalf of the Lentz family, thanks to everybody for making Fall Fest and the entire season so successful. Plans are already being made for the 2002 season, and for the Awards Banquet to be held in March. These plans will be announced at a later date.
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Challenger Raceway results for Sunday, October 28, 2001.
Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Late Models - Car Count - 81.
October 13 Heat winners - Davey Johnson, Jim Dandy, Jr., Bart Hartman, Todd Andrews, Billy Drake, Scott Haus, Dick Barton, Miles Stitzinger.
October 13 E-Main winner, Dave Lyon.
D-Main was not required, all cars were moved to the C-Main.
C-Main winner - John Flinner.
B-Main winner - Rob Blair.
Championship Feature - 1)Jim Dandy, Jr. 2)Davey Johnson. 3)Dick Barton. 4)Scott Rhodes. 5)Todd Andrews. 6)Miles Stitzinger. 7)Wally Fox. 8)Scott Haus. 9)Dave Norton. 10)Mike Blose. 11)Rodney Sweitzer. 12)John Flinner. 13)Shawn Mahloy. 14)Ron Davies. 15)Rob Blair. 16)Tom Myers. 17)Bart Hartman. 18)Ryan Markham. 19)Doug Eck. 20)Billy Drake. 21)Rob King. 22)Dutch Davies. 23)Doug Crawford. 24)Bob Wearing, Jr.
Did not qualify - Eric Moore, Brandon Wearing, Lynn Geisler, Matt Urban, Brad Fiesler, Sammy Stile, David Scott, Kirk Bradley, Jerry Redden, Gary Lyle, Rusty Whitmore, Ken Herman, Dave Lyon, Jason Carnahan, Nick Jones, Matt Lux, Rick Lias, Bobby Stokes, Chris Hackett, Bobby Bertges, Matt Gaston, John Haggerty, Dave Peterman, Scott Brady, Mel Minnick, Loyd Swain, Greg Kunes, Ron Slavic, Rich Gardner, Jim Bernheisel, Mickey Wright, Glenn Ray, Tony Lombardi, Jeff Rhine, Jim Yoder, Bob Close, Jackie Boggs, Jim Lepro, Steve Casebolt, Rick Isadore, John Lobb, Keith Barbera, Floyd Kline, George LaBarbera, Jerry Johnson, Ed Carley, Randy Lobb, Larry Wright, Denny Chamberlain, Jeff Smith, Rick Singleton, Bill Cunningham, Dan Armbruster, Rick Briggs, George Fultz, Doug Drown, Dave Wirt.
Big Block Modifieds - Car Count - 16.
October 13 Heat winners - Bob Wearing, Jr., Jeff Hoffman.
Feature - 1)Jeff Hoffman. 2)Bob Wearing, Jr. 3)Kevin Hoffman. 4)Lou Gentile. 5)Jeff Schaffer. 6)Rodney Beltz. 7)Carl Murdick. 8)George Sankey. 9)Gary Rankin. 10)Gary Risch, Jr. 11)Mark Frankhouser. 12)Richard Kress. 13)Lee Miller. 14)Del Rougeux, Jr. Did not start, Jim Faas, Dick Rankin.
York Triathlon Modifieds - Car Count - 48.
October 13 Heat winners - Todd Roncaglione, Kevin Decker, Jim Dandy, Jr., Larry Kugel, Craig Perigo.
Dash winner - Jim Dandy, Jr.
Last Chance Race winners - Fred Bratchie, Carl McKinney.
Feature - 1)Jim Dandy, Jr. 2)Todd Roncaglione. 3)Chuck Kennedy. 4)Darrell Schimmel. 5)Jim Bertges. 6)Russ Dunn. 7)Carl McKinney. 8)Craig Perigo. 9)Gerry Schimp. 10)Denny Perigo. 11)Mike Hess. 12)Dave Hess, Jr. 13)Jim Myers. 14)Kevin Decker. 15)Jeff Taylor. 16)Kari Petrosky. 17)Ron Roncaglione. 18)Fred Bratchie. 19)Rick Meglaye. 20)Bob McCann. 21)Bruce Dreistadt. 22)Larry Kugel. 23)Arlan Coy. Did not start, Jeff Rudrick.
Did not qualify - George Englert, Hurb Danner, Jim Abbott, Jack Smith, Brian Jakosh, Jim Struble, Randy Hall, Mark Rector, Jeff Jones, Kris Pisarcik, Rich Logan, Chuck List, Butch Lambert, Shawn Shingledecker, Bob Rougeaux, Joe Kelley, Jim Baker, Scott Jones, Junior Green, Mike Samuelson, Tim Rhoades, Bobby Watt, Holly Nelson, J.B. Dandy.
Pure Stocks - Car Count - 48.
October 13 Heat winners - Russ Kapalin, Jeff Buccella, Jeff Walters, Rob Kosecki.
Last Chance Race winner - Butch Lambert.
Feature - 1)Joe Kelley. 2)Rob Kosecki. 3)Brian Duffy. 4)Butch Lambert. 5)Jeff Walters. 6)Nick Reges. 7)Jeff Detwiler. 8)Tommy Dembowski. 9)Fred Pfeifer. 10)Andy Buckley. 11)Brian Douglas. 12)Mike Miller. 13)Terry Wheeler. 14)Russ Kapalin. 15)Craig Lobb. 16)Jeff Buccella, replaced by Jim Dandy, Jr. 17)Dan Bauman. 18)Bobby Whitling. 19)Jim Byers. 20)Bryan Kerns. 21)Dave Ferringer. 22)Dan Smeal. 23)Dwight Boice. 24)Tom Truxell.
Did not qualify, Mike Hilla, Jr., Phil Leddon, Chuck Cook, John Oaks, Herb Loper, Tim Rankin, Bill Pluta, Jr., Don Rodgers, Bob Nelson, Pat Hanley, Ryan Pisarcik, Dan Shellhouse, Paul Pittsenbarger, Rod Laskey, Chuck Sullivan, Dale Zufall, Jim Zufall, Adam Fulton, Dave Plofchan, Bob Sloss, Bob Rosman, Don McGuire, Lenny Wright, Jim McFadden.
Final Stewart Bus Line Super Point Standings - 1) tie 386, 18, Jeff Walters and 27, Butch Lambert. 3)374, 36D, Rob Kosecki. 4)356, 79, Tommy Dembowski. 5)281, 00H, Mike Hilla, Jr. 6)268, 12, Randy Caldwell. 7)267, 38R, Nick Reges. 8)252, J19, Jason Fosnaught. 9)197, 55, Chris Schneider. 10)187, 66, Joe Kelley.
Strictly Stocks - Car Count - 18.
October 13 Heat winners - Randy Reed, Tom Taylor.
Feature - 1)Gary Churchfield. 2)Dan Mazzaferro. 3)Bill Hebenthal. 4)Marshall Detwiler. 5)Joe Starcher. 6)Jeff Bastin. 7)Crev Warr. 8)John Mazey. 9)Tom Taylor. 10)Ron Kimmel. 11)Bryan Imler. 12)Bill Sigafoes. 13)Jason Bainey. 14)Bill Morrone. Disqualified, Randy Reed. Did not start, Charlie Boring, Sean Zeiler, Ron Hanna.
TUSA Dwarf Cars - Car Count - 64.
October 13 Heat winners - Tom Billingham, Kevin Doll, John Calloway, Mike Vammino, Bruce Walker, Eric McKinney.
Last Chance Race winner - Ron Riccio.
Feature - 1)Eric McKinney. 2)Tracy Fritter. 3)Eric Hay. 4)Tom Billingham. 5)Landis Musser. 6)John Calloway. 7)Ron Riccio. 8)Kris Pauley. 9)Steve White. 10)Jim Adams. 11)Tyler Hall. 12)Jim Kurpakis. 13)John Evans. 14)Nick Hendricks. 15)Doug Peterman. 16)Randy Triplett. 17)Ron Nester. 18)Frank Dunkle, Jr. 19)Dan Hageman. 20)Mike Vammino. 21)Kevin Doll. 22)Tim Jackson. 23)Glenn Richards. 24)Jack Nutter. Did not start, Matt Neely, Bruce Walkup, Tyler Reno, Shannon Buckingham.
Did not qualify - Todd Minner, Steve Dutton, Larry Coen, Jeff Dellinger, Tony Buffa, Kevin Meadows, Bill Vargo, Ray Pugliese, K.R. Liles, Lynn Knepper, Butch Summers, Rick Buttle, Gerald Smith, Jeremy Duncan, Rusty Hoge, Chad Barney, Bobby Walls, Michael Hay, Ken Gamlen, Troy Jacobs, Robert Johnson, John Sigman, Mark Brighton, Don Droney, Terry Hall, Wally Billiry, Brandon Sawyer, Tom Curtis, Jeff Barker, Jeff Johnson, Scott Nash, Wayne Young, Larry Neely, Kirk Claypool, John Mollick, Jeff Barclay.