Weaver Wins Fall Finale At Penn Can Speedway

Susquehanna, PA...9/18/99... Hurricane Floyd played havoc with Penn Can Speedway dumping inches of rain on the track the day before the Fall Foliage Finale. All of this did not stop the running of the annual event sponsored by Pine Line Auto and Main Engines. Forty six modifieds signed in to try for starting positions in the seventy five lap feature under a clear cool night sky. The huge winner of the event was Brian Weaver of Conklin, New York who survived the seventy five lap feature and took home the top honors. With Weaver already having a spot in the Victoria 200 the prestigious starting spot went to second place finisher and track champion Butch Tittle of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. In the sportsman feature a heated battle between August winner Don Hart and Jim Crawn came down to the finish with Crawn getting the win and the guaranteed starting spot in next week’s National Quarter Mile Championship at Five Mile Point Speedway. Cory Fachini of Adams, Mass. made the long haul to claim the win and the regional IMCA modified points. Mike Nagel and Mike Clapperton lead then field down to the green flag in the modified feature. Clapperton jumped out to the lead with Nagel and Kirk Horton following closely. A seventh lap caution slowed things when Al Rudalavage pitted for a flat tire.

When racing resumed, Clapperton and Horton battled for the lead with Horton gaining the lead briefly. Clapperton took the lead back on lap eleven. Battling back in the pack were the strong running cars of Brian Weaver, Butch Tittle, and Bobby Trapper using the outside groove to move up through the field. A lap twenty one caution stacked cars up in turn one with Brian Weaver among the cars having to restart in the rear of the pack. Racing continued with Clapperton leading the way. Horton and Nagel continued to chase with Jeff Bronson and George Kostelansky now moving into the picture. Also moving through the field after going to the back were Mike Colsten and Tom McGurren. At the half way point in the race Clapperton held the lead followed by Kostelansky, Bronson, Tittle, and Nagel. Kostelansky fine run ended on lap forty three when he pulled pit side out of power. Clapper held the advantage on the restart with Keith Hoffman now moving into the top five and challenging. By lap fifty Clapperton looked like a sure winner until disaster struck on lap fifty four when his front end broke coming down the home stretch. This gave the lead to Tittle with Weaver second, Bronson third followed Hoffman who would break one lap later.

With fifteen laps remaining Tittle and Weaver put on the show. Weaver finally took the lead on lap sixty one and held it to the finish winning his first Penn Can feature of the year. Tittle finished in the second position and took the Fulton spot. Making a strong late race charge getting the third spot was Dominic Roselli followed by Bronson, McGurren, and Al Rudalavage. Bill Deckelman lead the sportsman field to the green and jumped out to a lead early in the feature. Don Hart and Jim Crawn both kept close to Deckelman early. Hart managed to get the lead on lap five with Crawn in tow. Tim Ross, Dave Rumsey, and Ed Strada all move their cars to the front and joined the battle. Hart and Crawn battle back and forth for the lead with Deckelman fighting it out with Ross and a fast charging Chad Coo. A lap seventy caution brought the top five nose to tail for a eight lap race to the checker. Crawn held the top spot with Hart trying to get by with Cook, Deckelman and Ross challenging. Crawn stayed strong and picked up the win. Hart stayed second with Deckelman, Cook, and Ross rounding out the top five. In the IMCA modified feature Mike Stoddard lead the sixteen car field to the start. He put his car in the lead followed by Joe Price and Bob Chapman. The cars on the move through the field were Cory Fachini and Rich Michael. Stoddard lead through the early stages with Fachini moving into second on lap eleven. Stoddard looked very strong until sparks started coming from under the car. The mechanical problem slowed Stoddard with Fachini getting the lead on lap fifteen. Fachini, Michael, and Stoddard road out in front to the checker. Price came home fourth at the flag, with Chapman fifth. Penn Can Notes: Track conditions were not idea as the rain made the track very soft. The annual Penn Can Speedway Banquet will be held December 3rd at the Montdale Country Club. The track will close for the season with the Opening date for 2000 scheduled for the last Friday in April.

Fall Foliage Finale Modified Feature: Brian Weaver, Butch Tittle, Dominic Roselli, Jeff Bronson, Tom McGurren, Al Rudalavage, Mike Colsten, Randy Decker, Al Shiffler, Jeff Rudalavage, Harry Marvin, Rod Hunsinger, Scott Landers, Keith Hoffman, Mike Clapperton, Kirk Horton, George Kostelansky, Jim Wrench, Mike Nagel, Chuck Akulis, Bob Trapper, Butch Cerullo, Paul Jenson, John Geurnsey, Dave Jenkins, Carl Nagel, Steve Babicek.

Fall Foliage Finale Sportsman Feature: Jim Crawn, Don Hart, Bill Deckelman, Chad Cook, Tim Ross, Ed White, Dave Rumsey, Bill Thorton, Dennis Dietrich, Pete Lyon, Biil Bray, Dave Crandell, Kevin Timinski, Ed Strada, J. Markle, Tim Ross, Jim O’Hara, Gary Smith, John Smith..

Fall Foliage Finale IMCA Feature: Cory Fachini, Rich Michael, Joe Price, Bob Chapman, Jason Clause, Tim Murphy, Sean Lias, Don Alvord, Mike Smith, Don McKane, Tom Rose, Tom Paige, Chuck Sharpsteen, Ray Brot, Brain Becker