Mike Ricci And Mike Schane Split Lake Moc-A-Tek Holiday Honors
(Lakeville, Pa.) Mike Ricci picked up the win in the 50 lap 358
Modified Independence Day Firecracker 50 which was run at Lake Moc-A-Tek
on Tuesday, July 3rd. Mike Schane came home the winner of the companion
50 lap Sportsman feature.
For Ricci the win was his fourth of the 2001 racing season aboard
his Gen Plus/Apple Valley Golf Course sponsored #76 Teo ProCar. Ricci
started deep in the 25 car starting field as 358 Modified rookie Joey
Grammes grabbed the early lead. While Grammes was leading, Ricci was
steadily picking his way toward the front of the filed. As the race
passed the halfway point Grammes continued to lead while Bobby Puckett,
Ed Strada Jr., and Ricci were locked in a tight battle for the runner-up
position.
After challenging Grammes for the lead during the first half of the
race, Bobby Puckett's race came to an end as he pulled to the infield
with mechanical problems. Strada and Ricci battled for the second
poision with Ricci working past Strada just past the 30 lap mark. Ricci
then went ot work on Grammes for the top spot. Joey was able to hold
Ricci at bay fer several laps, but the defending track champion was not
to be denied. The 39th lap would prove to be decisive as Ricci was able
to work underneath Grammes and was able to take away the preferred low
groove and power into the top spot. Ricci would lead the rest of the way
to win his fourth feature of the 2001 campaign at Lake Moc-A-Tek.
Joey Grammes turned in a superb drive to pick up the second place
finish with Ed Strada Jr. finishing third. Invader Brian Davis finished
fourth with Troy Weisenfluh claiming the fifth spot. Frank Yankowski,
Bill Thornton Jr., Tom Rudalavage, Bill Grammes, and Nick Barassi
completed the top ten.
The 50 lap Sportsman feature saw Lake Ariel, Pa.'s Mike Schane pick
up the feature event win aboard his Besten's Collision/Timinski Logging
#M16. The win was Schane's second straight triumph in a Holiday special
at Lake Moc-A-Tek as Schane also won last year's 50 lap event on Labor
Day Weekend.
Schane drove a heady, intelligent race to pick up the win. The pace
of the race was slowed numerous times in the early and middle stages as
he Sportsman drivers had a tough time stringing together any sustained
stretch of green flag racing. For most of the race, it appeared as if
the victory would be decided between defending track champion Ralph Mele
and invader Scott Singley. The two battled for many laps, but the battle
got a bit too close in the first turn when Singley got into the back of
Mele and turned the race leader around. As a result of the contact,
Singley was also sent to the rear of the filed.
This incident turned the lead over to Schane, who led the rest of
the distance to pick up the win. Rick Mill recovered from an early race
incident to pressure Schane over the closing laps, finally earning a
second place finish. Brad Grammes was the highest finishing Lake
Moc-A-Tek regular in third with Rocky Rosetti and Mick Search rounding
out the top five. Leroy Long finished sixth with Mark Forte seventh.
Mele recovered to finish eighth with Darren Stout and Scott Singley
rounding out the top ten finishers.
Racing continues this Saturday night at the Lake Moc-A-Tek Speedway
with a regular five division racing card. Racinng gets underway at 6PM
sharp with a regular five division racing card on tap. Lake Moc-A-Tek
Speedway is located on Pennsylvania Rte 590 approximately seven miles
East of Hamlin, Pa. To get to Lake Moc-A-Tek, take Exit 17 (formerly
Exit 5) off I-84 and head toward Hamlin to the stop light. Turn right
onto Pa. Rte 590 and travel about seven miles where signs are posted
leading right into the speedway parking lot. Promoter Charlie Bray can
be contacted at 610-759-0809. The race day weather hotline is
(570)-226-5602.
RACE SUMMARY:
358 MODIFIEDS (50 laps): 1. MIKE RICCI 2. Joey Grammes 3. Ed Strada Jr.
4. Brian Davis 5. Troy Weisenfluh 6. Frank Yankowski 7. Bill Thornton Jr.
8. Tom Rudalavage 9. Bill Grammes 10. Nick Barassi 11. Brian Malcolm 12.
Brian Cobb 13. Mike Hendershoot 14. Alan Kellogg 15. Barry White 16. Bill
Reese 17. Bobby Puckett 18. Russ Strausser 19. Alan Shiffler 20. Dom
Roselli 21. Everett Haubrich 22. Stacy Jackson 23. Gary Butler 24. Paul
Koch 25. Gary Griffin
SPORTSMAN (50 laps) : 1. MIKE SCHANE 2. Rick Mill 3. Brad Grammes 4.
Rocky Rosetti 5. Mick Search 6. LeRoy Long 7. Nick Forte 8. Ralph Mele 9.
Darren Stout 10. Scott Singley 11. Alex Knopka 12. Bob Grammes 13. Billy
Harris 14. Joey Tinnes Jr. 15. Kevin Kresge 16. Ted Stout 17. Rich
McTigue 18. Rod Frable 19. Pat McBride 20. Anthony Reggie 21. Art Liedl
22. Ricky Rutt 23. Bill Reese 24. Rick Holsten 25. Jeff Geigas