Horton, Stone, Shea, Decker, And Smith Win At Penn Can Speedway

Susquehanna, PA... The racing program at Penn Can Speedway looked very much

in doubt when a heavy storm hit the speedway just before the gates were

scheduled to be opened. After the rain stopped, the dedicated track crew

worked hard to get the surface back into racing condition for a great night

of racing. Kirk Horton of Eldred, New York became the season’s second repeat

modified winner holding off a very determined Carl Nagel for the win. Dan

Stone again proved to be the class of the late model field as he won his

sixth feature event in a row at the speedway. Jamie Shea regained his early

season form and claimed the street stock win with Brain Decker getting win

number four in the pure stocks. Point leader Mike Smith won his fourth race

of the year in the IMCA modified main event on Don’s Automotive Mall and

Gary’s U-Pull-It Night

Mike Frost and Alan Shiffler brought the twenty seven can modified field

to the start with Frost jumping out to the early lead. Rusty Harrington and

Carl Nagel were glued to Frost’s bumper in the early going with Kirk Horton

and veteran Doug Worthing making their way through the field. Carl Nagel

made the pass of Frost on lap four for the lead with the caution coming out

one lap later with the car of Rick Virkitis stalling in turn one.

When action resumed, Nagel was at the point now followed closely by

Frost, Horton, and Rusty Harrington. The caution again flew on lap seven

when Harrington spun in turn four collecting seven racers. Most cars were

able to continue but popular Chuck Akulis who was forced to retire with

front end damage.

Nagel continued to be the leader followed by Horton and a strong running

Jeff Bronson. Worthing was now in the fifth spot with Butch Tittle and Brian

Weaver now moving into contention. Caution reappeared on lap twelve with Al

Rudalavage stopping in turn one.

With the field coming back to the green, Horton used the outside groove

to take the lead over Nagel. Horton kept the car out front with the battle

now for the other top ten position switching back and forth each lap. Nagel

held strong in second. Bronson’s great run ended with mechanical problems on

lap twenty.

Horton held off all challenges for the last ten green flag laps. Nagel

came across second followed by Butch Tittle, Brain Weaver, and Doug

Worthing. The remainder of the top ten were Mike Nagel, Mike Colsten, Bill

Huff, George Kostelansky, and Al Rudalavage.

The late model main event proved to be another great clean race with

side-by-side racing and very few yellow flags. Dan Stone had won five races

in a row at the speedway. All eyes watch and waited to see if he could get

by the field and score another win. Stone waited patiently early in the

feature while Jim Sherman jumped to an early lead. Stone used the inside

groove to make many passes early. Sherman held off Randall Paxton the first

part of the feature waiting for the challenge from Dan Stone. Stone moved

into second on lap seven and finally made the pass for the lead on the ninth

circuit. The battle now raged for second between an ever improving Randall

Paxton, Dave Passetti, and Billy Marvin. As laps wound down Passetti got by

Paxton and fought hard to hold off Marvin only giving up the second spot on

the white flag lap. Passetti settled for third followed by Al Coy who got by

Paxton late in the race.

The street stock feature saw Tony Nalaschi jump out to the early lead.

The point leaders, Scott Conover and Rich Keehle both started back in the

pack and work their way up through the pack early. The cars of Pete Gulick,

Joe Domiano, and Jamie Shea were also moving into contention. On lap ten

Shea moved past Nalaschi to take the lead. Shea was able to survive two mid

race restarts to hold of Conover and a surprisingly strong Brett Spoor who

came home third after missing several weeks of action. Domiano brought his

car home fourth followed by Tracy Gregory.

Pure stock high point men Brian Decker and Chad Stone gave the fans their

money’s worth as the to rivals battled lap after lap for the lead with each

other. Decker tried everything he could to get by Stone lap after lap. Stone

seemed to be the strongest of the two as Decker could only get to the door

of Stone trying to make the pass. Things changed on the last lap after

taking the white flag. Decker raced Stone hard into turns one and two and

got the better grip coming out of turn two. He made the pass for the lead

going down the backstretch in a great pure stock battle. Stone settled for

second followed by three time winner Ken Sparks, Nate Evans, and Bill

Hawkins.

The large field of IMCA modifieds were lead to the green by Mike

Stoddard. Stoddard jumped to an early lead as the cars of the two point

leaders Mike Smith and Cory Fachini started their drive to the front.

Stoddard got out of shape on lap three giving the lead to Smith. Smith

worked hard the remainder of the race holding off Steve Hartman, Sean Lias,

and Bob Chapman to claim his forth Penn Can feature of the season.

PENN NOTES: Next week will see two night of racing as the special make-up

date for the North South Street Stock Series will be Sunday July 20th. Gates

open a three with racing at 5:00. Joining the street stocks will be the pure

stocks running a special race sponsored by B&D Exhaust Warehouse, the IMCA

modifieds, and the Central New York Mini Sprints.

Gary’s U-Pull-It Don’s Automotive Modified Feature: Kirk Horton, Carl Nagel,

Butch Tittle, Brian Weaver, Doug Worthing, Mike Nagel, Mike Colsten, Bill

Huff, G. Kostelansky, Al Rudalavage, Jim Witko Sr, Dave Zona, Al Shiffler,

Harry Marvin, Tom McGurren, R. Harrington, John Guernsey, Jeff Bronson, Rick

Holgate, Rick Whitney, Mike Schane, Rick Virkitis,Jim Mahaney, Mike Frost,

Mike, Frederick, Garth Tonkin, Chuck Akulis..

Gary’s U-Pull-It Don’s Automotive Late Model Feature:,Dan Stone, , Billy

Marvin, Dave Passetti, Al Coy, Randall Paxton, G. Sharpsteen, Al Whitaker,

Chad Hollenback, Jeremy Stone, Rich King, John Brewer, Jim Sherman, Bill

Karp, Dave Perry, DNS: L. Sparks, Scott Hunsinger

Gary’s U-Pull-It Don’s Automotive Street Stock Feature:Jamie Shea, Scott

Conover, Brett Spoor, Joe, Domiano, Tracy Gregory, Rich Keehle, Pete Gulick,

Tony Nalaschi,Glen Wilcox, Doug Nelson, John Green, Chris Hunsinger, Dick

Vauter, Dan Podwika, Chris Piasecki, Rick Brown, Dan Vauter, Craig,Trella,

DNS: Fred Christ, Charlie Gilbert

Gary’s U-Pull-It Don’s Automotive Pure Stock Feature:, Brian Decker, Chad

Stone, Ken Sparks, Nate Evans,Bill Hawkins, Eric Pribula, Jeff Cleveland,

Shawn Olenski, Ray Linquist, Keith Wilkins, Rob Warner, Shep. Blodgett,

Daryl Ellis

Gary’s U-Pull-It Don’s Automotive IMCA Modified Feature:, Mike Smith, Steve

Hartman, Sean Lias, Cory Fachini, Bob Chapman, Tom Eiklor, Mike Stoddard,

Mike Bungay, Geo. Catazano, Curt Stiles, John Thayer, Don Alvord, John

Conway, Paul Rooney, Gil Sharpsteen, Billy House