TIM McCREADIE 3 OF 4 AT CAN-AM
LAFARGEVILLE NY: 5/16/98...Another long night was on the schedule this past Saturday at the Can-Am Speedway, with (3) rained out features yet to be completed from May 2nd, the annual appearance of the Mid-State Vintage Stock Car Club and a complete show of all six weekily divisions.
In the rained out Economy Stock feature defending track champion Roger Bushey used his front row starting spot to take the lead at the drop of the green and lead all ten laps. Rick Dusckas was second followed by Andrew Howard, Ernie Taylor and John Eiss. Wayne Side and Ronnie McConnell were on the front row for the postponed 10 lap Late Model feature and McConnell was shown as the leader of lap 1. Side made his move for the lead one lap later and took the top spot away. Side went on for the win over Tim Busler, McConnell and Scott Kelsey. Steve Hall started in the 4th position in the 15 lap DIRT Sportsman event from May 2nd and was looking for win number three in a row at Can-Am. Mike Clark was the early leader but by lap 4 Hall had made his way to the front and grabbed the first spot away. Hall never looked back as he went on for his thrid win a row with Clark second, Matt Butler with a great run in third, Ryan Baye had another top five finish in forth and Tim VanBrocklin completed the top five.
The regular program of all six divisions sponsored by Fastlube of Watertown and the FK Gailey Co. was up next, and 98 cars were signed in to compete on the fast 1/2 mile clay oval. Regular handicapping would begin with this weeks features placing many of the faster cars near the back of the starting line-ups and making for wild action on the hard dusty clay surface that the days weather and extra races had created.
Erv Miller and Billy Gardner were the front row for the Economy Stock feature and Gardner lead the way at the drop of the green. Gardners excellent run came to an end on lap 4 when he spun coming off of turn two. Miller had the lead on the restart but a pile up in turn two eliminated top runners including Miller, Andrew Howard and Clint Middlemiss. Rick Dusckas now had the lead but it would last only one lap before John Eiss took over. Eiss went on for his third win in four races with Dusckas, Kyle Sharp, Ken Partridge and Roger Bushey finishing up the top five.
Al Pitts started in the 5th spot but had the lead on lap one in the Street Stock 12 lap feature. This week would be a little different for Pitts though as Bill Eisele managed to take the lead away on lap 3. Eisele looked like he would be the one to break the Pitts win streak but Pitts came right back and wrestled the top spot back on lap 5. Pitts remains unbeaten in 1998 with win number 4, Eisele picked up his 4th second place finish of the season. Steve Rookey finished third with Doug Murphy and Brian Rogers forth and fifth.
Even though only (4) Late Models took the green for their second feature of the night, it was a race that may go down in Can-Am history. Scott Kelsey retired from the race early on lap 2 leaving three cars in competiiton. Wayne Side would be the next car to pit with trouble leaving Tim Busler and Ronnie McConnell to fight for the lead. As the two exited turn four on lap six contact was made sending Busler to the wall and McConnell suffering a broken front end, at the same time Side was on his way back out of the pits. McConnell was still the leader but could not steer the car around to complete the one lap he needed to win. Side took the green on the restart, the only car on the race track, but ran the final laps at a slow pace and accumulated enough laps to be declared the winner. McConnell was credited with second with Busler third and Kelsey forth.
John Bell and Larry Bezner lead the field of 14 IMCA Modifieds to the green with Bezner taking the lead. Bezner was very strong and looked as though he was on his way to his first Can-Am win in IMCA competition but on lap 9 he began to slow allowing young Frank Caprara to close in. Caprara took advantage of Bezners misfortune and grabbed the lead on lap 10. Caprara went on for his second Can-Am win of the season followed by Neal Edger, Debbie Stevenson, Jim GRaves and Bezner.
Newcomer Mark Yorker and Dave Surace sat in row one for the start of the DIRT Sportsman event and Yorker wasted little time moving in front and setting the pace. The caution flag was flying often not allowing Yorker to open up an advantage. On lap 4 Rich Hall took over the top spot a began to pull away using the very bottom of the race track. While Hall, Yorker and Jeff Narrow held on to the first three positions Steve Hall was making his way to the front from starting position number 16. Hall made his way into the top five by lap 7 and took over therunner up spot on lap 12. The DIRT Sportsman feature win would again go to a Hall, but this time it was Canadian Rich Hall. Steve Hall came across second with Narrow third, Yorker with a great run in forth and Dave O'Conner completing the top five.
Mike Hulsizer and Jeremy Baye were hoping to take advantage of their front row starting spots to turn their bad luck around at Can-Am in 1998. Hulsizer faired the better on the start and lead his first laps ever at Can-Am. Danny O'Brien was the man on the move though and he had the 17D flying as took over the lead on lap 5 after starting back in position number 11. Tim McCreadie continued his strong season and moved from position number 18 on the start to second with O'Brien. O'Brien was comfortable out in front keeping a safe distance between himself and the competition while brother Pat, Bill Wilcox and Rick Wilson made their way toward the front. With the white flag waving it looked like had the win in hand until he exited turn two catching his left front wheel on the inside tire barrier breacking the wheel off and giving the lead and the win to McCreadie. Pat O'Brien was second with Wilcox, Wilson and Jeff Sykes the remainder of the top five.
The Mid-State Vintage Stock Car Club was also on hand for their only appearance of the season. A large field of coupes and coaches from the past showed up and put on a great show for the fans. Winner in their respective divisons wer Andy Berkman, Tom Traynor and Mel Vice.
Next Saturday night things will get back to normal at Can-Am with a comlete show in all six divisons plus an Economy Stock Powder Puff for the ladies. Racing will be sponsored by Pizza Hut and WWTI TV50. Gates will open at 5:00 with racing getting the green flag at 7:00 pm. For more information call the speedway at (315) 658-4431 or E-Mail can be sent to can-amspeedway@juno.com. Check us out on the internet www.can-amspeedway.com.
ECONOMY STOCK FINISH
FROM 5/2: Roger Bushey, Rick Dusckas, Andrew Howard, Ernie Taylor, John Eiss, Ken Partridge, Clint Middlemiss, Hunter GRimes, Craig Collier, Kevin Presley, Don Scales, Les Sanford, Joseph Combs, Kevin Therrien, Billy Gardner, Jeff Hunter, Erv Miller
LATE MODEL FINISH
FROM 5/2: Wayne Side, Tim Busler, Ronnie McConnell, Scott Kelsey DNS: Dan Jalbert
FASTLUBE OF WATERTOWN FINISH
FROM 5/2: Steve Hall, Mike Clark, Matt Butler, Ryan Baye, Tim VanBrocklin, Rich Amo, Jeff Narrow, Scott Britton, Todd VanTassel, RJ Gibbons, Rich Hall, Scott MacCue, Larry Lamb, Ben Tucker, Dave Surace, Mark Yorker, Ron Wadsforth
ECONOMY STOCK FINISH: John Eiss, Rick Dusckas, Kyle Sharp, Ken Partridge, Roger Bushey, Billy Gardner, Ernie Taylor, Les Sanford, Kevin Presley, Hunter Grimes, Kevin Therrien, Joseph Combs, Jeff Hunter, Craig Collier, Wesley Churchill, Charles Duffany, Erv Miller, Andrew Howard, Clint Middlemiss, Don Scales, Kevin Duffany
STREET STOCK FINISH: Al Pitts, Bill Eisele, Steve Rookey, Doug Murphy, Brian Rogers, Lance LaLonde, Laurie Handschuh, Rich Murtaugh DNS: Scott Shedd
LATE MODEL FINISH: Wayne Side, Ronnie McConnell, Tim Busler, Scott Kelsey
IMCA MODIFIED FINISH: Frank Caprara, Neal Edger, Debbie Stevenson, Jim Graves, Larry Bezner, Glen Erwin, Neal Bryden, Colleen Finch, Ron O'Neil, Tony Finch, Eddie O'Neil, Rob Keller, John Bell, Dan Hudson
FASTLUBE OF WATERTOWN
DIRT SPORTSMAN FINISH: Rich Hall, Steve Hall, Jeff Narrow, Mark Yorker, Dave O'Conner, RJ Gibbons, Larry Lamb, Dave Surace, Todd VanTassel, Matt Butler, Scott MacCue, Rich Amo, Ben Tucker, Larry Bivens, Scott Britton, Tim VanBrocklin, Ryan Baye, Rick McCreadie, Mike Clark DNS: Ron Wadsforth
PEPSI-COLA/MT. DEW
358 DIRT MODIFIED FINISH: Tim McCreadie, Pat O'Brien, Bill Wilcox, Rick Wilson, Jeff Sykes, Lee Gill, George McIntyre, Dale Planck, Lansing Petzoldt, Jeff Hoff, John Ramsey, Dale Eggleston, Doug Fuller, Kevin Martin, Scott Parliament, Billy Hoff, Mike Hulsizer, Jeremy Baye, Jim Narrow, Ty Hunt, Danny O'Brien, Todd Stewart, Bob Bennett, Dave Bartlett DNS: Dave Reilly, Larry Wenk, Bob Ostrander, George Horning, Jay Hopkins