Todd Stewart Grabs First 358 Win At Can-Am

LAFARGEVILLE NY: 7/25/98-Another full night of racing was held this past Saturday at the Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville NY and the big winner of the night was rookie 358 DIRT Modified driver Todd Stewart from Kingston Ont. who picked up his first ever 358 win at the fast 1/2 mile clay oval. Other winners on Security Supply, Coors Beer, Caskinette-Lofink Ford, McDonald's Reataurants and WWTI Newswatch 50 night were Steve Hall, Larry Bezner, Wayne Side, Al Pitts and Kyle Sharp, all repeat winners in 1998.

Stewart and another rookie competitor George McIntyre brought the field of starters to the green in the 25 lap 358 DIRT Modified feature and Stewart wasted little time opening up a lead. The race went 19 laps until the first and only caution flew and Stewart had held a comfortable lead while everyone tried to make their way to the front. With five laps to go Dale Eggleston was shown in second followed by Lansing Petzoldt, Dale Planck and Jeff Sykes. The two leader had put some distance between themselves and the rest of the competitors leaving no less than six cars fighting for positions 3 through 8. At the checkers it was Stewart followed by Eggleston, Petzoldt, Planck and Sykes. At the post race inspection Eggleston was found to have an illegal carburetor and a fine will be announced on Monday after officials contact the DIRT office.

Larry Lamb and Scott MacCue took the green on the front row of the 15 lap DIRT Sportsman feature with Lamb taking the early lead. Lamb, who has been running strong every week this season at Can-Am and held the top spot until lap 4 when rookie Ryan Baye took over. Baye saw his lead last only one lap when Steve Hall made his way around with MacCue settling into second ahead of Baye. Two minor cautions slowed the event before halfway but Hall was strong and remained in the lead. The final caution came out on lap 13 and gave everyone one last run at Hall for the win but Hall added to his win list and increased his point lead by coming across the line in first. Baye made his way back up to finish second followed by Ben Tucker, MacCue and Jeff Narrow.

The IMCA Modifieds had 12 cars take the green for their 12 lap feature and pole sitter David Crusson took the lead on lap one over Kevin Chant who started on the outside of row one. The caution flew after one lap for Larry Bezner who got up in a tangle in turn two but on the restart Crusson was able to hang on to the number one position. Neal Edgar took over the lead on lap 3 with Eddie O'Neil and second but Bezner was making his way back to the front to challenge for the lead. As they came around to get the halfway sign Bezner made his move and grabbed the lead away from Edger. Bezner went on for the popular win over Frank Caprara, Neal Edger, Ron O'Neil and Jim Graves.

Wayne Side started forth in the 10 lap Late Model feature but wasted no time getting to the front. The caution was waved on lap 1 and 2 for Stan Gates who having troubles while Ron McConnell made his way up to second and Richard Stevenson into third. Two more cautions were needed for minor spins but it was not enough for anyone to get by Side for the lead and the win. McConnell came across the line in second followed by Scott Kelsey, Tim Busler and Stevenson.

Brian Rogers took advantage of his front row starting position to lead lap number one of the 12 lap Street Stock feature but Doug Murphy was right there to take the lead away on lap 2. The race would go with no cautions and the pack had the fans cheering as they used the entire race track trying to make their way to the front. Nick Makuch was the first driver to take a shot at the lead when he took over from Murphy on lap 3, then it was Bill Eiseles turn from lap 5 through 7 but it was Al Pitts who came up to lead the all important lap 12. Pitts increased his point lead with the win, completing the top five were Eisele, Makuch, Rogers and Murphy.

The 10 lap Economy Stock feature was a wild one that saw Steve Gilmore take the lead on lap one from the outside of the front row. The caution would fly often in this event for a number of problems but Ernie Taylor found his way to the front on lap 2 from his 8th starting position. With five laps to go Taylor was still shown as the leader with Kyle Sharp and Roger Bushey right there waiting for a mistake. Taylor picked up his second win of the year over Sharp, Bushey, Charles Duffany and Rick Dusckas. At the post race inspection Taylors engine did not pass the compression test conducted by officials and Sharp was later declared the winner.

Next Saturday night will be a complete show of heats and features for all six divisions with racing being sponsored by Jefferson Concrete. Gates will open at 5 with first heat taking the green flag at 7:00. For more information call teh speedway at (315) 658-4431.

PEPSI-COLA/MT DEW

358 DIRT MODIFIED FINISH: Todd Stewart, Dale Eggleston, Lansing Petzoldt, Dale Planck, Jeff Sykes, Pat O'Brien, Bill Wilcox, Danny O'Brien, George McIntyre, Jim Narrow, Dave Bartlett, Tim McCreadie, Lee Gill, Steve Bilow, Scott Parliament, Bob Bennett, Ryan Bartlett DNS: Sandy Roberts, Rick Wilson

FSTLUBE OF WATERTOWN

DIRT SPORTSMAN FINISH: Steve Hall, Ryan Baye, Ben Tucker, Scott MacCue, Jeff Narrow, Mike Clark, Matt Butler, Dave Surace, Todd VanTassel, Dave O'Connor, RJ Gibbons, Darren Catellier, Kevin Therrien, Larry Lamb, Craig Collier, Rich Hall DNS: Mark Yorker

IMCA MODIFIED FINISH: Larry Bezner, Frank Caprara, Neal Edger, Ron O'Neil, Jim Graves, Eddie O'Neil, John Bell, Kevin Chant, David Crusson, Neal Bryden, Scott Zipprich DNS: Debbie Stevenson

LATE MODEL FINISH: Wayne Side, Ron McConnell, Scott Kelsey, Tim Busler, Richard Stevenson, Murray Walts, Scott Gates

STREET STOCK FINISH: Al Pitts, Bill Eisele, Nick Makuch, Brian Rogers, Doug Murphy, Steve Rookie, Laurie Handschuh, Andy Wells, Ron White, Clint Middlemiss

ECONOMY STOCK FINISH: Kyle Sharp, Roger Bushey, Charles Duffany, Rick Dusckas, Andrew Howard, Kevin Presely, Don Scales, Earl Simmons, Ken Partridge, Rich Woods, Jeff Hunter, Billy Gardner, Steve Gilmore, Kevin Duffany, Joseph Combs, Jim Stuckey, Al Doxtater, Les Sanford, Bill Billings, George Sanford, Terry Kimball