BRETT HEARN WINS DIRT CHALLENGE CUP

ELBRIDGE, NY..5/3/98....Brett Hearn recorded his fourth DIRT Modified

feature of the season, but more importantly he won the 98-lap

DIRT Challenge Cup race at Rolling Wheels Raceway. Also earning a

victory on opening day at Rolling Wheels was Steve Hall in a 20-

lap DIRT Sportsman feature.

Kenny Tremont Jr. took off in the lead at the drop of the

green for the 98-lap main event. He was closely pursued by Hearn.

On lap three, Tremont drifted high in the second turn allowing

Hearn to take the lead. Tremont fell back to second followed by

Gary Tomkins, Jeff Heotzler, and Tim McCreadie.

On lap eight, the yellow flew as debris on the front stretch

broke the pace of the race. Mike Colsten, who was black flagged

earlier pitted and became the first one to drop out of the race.

Also pitting was Vic Coffey. He too called it a day.

On lap 27 the second yellow flew as Bryon Turner saw his

motor explode in the fourth turn. Maynard Forrette, Bob McCreadie

and Scott Prentice all headed pit side at this time. Only

Forrette would return, many laps down. Pat Ward, driving from the

back of the field moved into the top five.

Hearn continued to lead as Heotzler seemed to be gaining

strength. On lap 41, Heotzler was able to pass Tremont for

second. He then set off after Hearn. Frank Cozze, who came from

the back of the starting field found himself getting around

McCreadie for fifth behind Tomkins.

Jimmy Horton fell from the battle on lap 58. The front of

the field remained Hearn, Heotzler, Tomkins, Pat Ward, Tremont,

and Cozze. Joe Plazek dropped out on lap 68.

On lap 74 the right rear torsion bar broke on the Heotzler

car. But Heotzler was able to run strong and remain second. The

caution flew on lap 87 when Tim Fuller drove off the third turn

and came to a stop. By now Ward was able to take third from

Tomkins.

On the start Hearn was able to hold Heotzler at bay even

though the torsion bar was broken. Ward made a charge on Heotzler

but fell short. On last yellow flew on lap 94 when Ward slowed on

the speedway out of gasoline, ending an excellent effort on his

part.

At the checkers it was Hearn followed by Heotzler, Tomkins,

Tremont, and Tim McCreadie.

In the accompanying sportsman main event Mike Clark quickly

took the lead at the drop of the green flag. he was followed by

Billy Walters, Jim Spano and Chad Brachmann. The yellow flew the

first of three times on lap four when Alton Palmer looped his car

in the second turn. He dropped from the race.

The restart saw Chad Brachmann take the lead from Clark only

to see the yellow fly again, lap seven, when the cars of Paul

Benz and Don Hart came together on the front straight, with

Benz's car climbing on top of the Hart car.

Brachmann held the lead on the restart but the yellow flew

quickly for the final time of the race as Greg Sleight spun

coming out of the second turn.

On lap 10, Steve Hall was able to pass Brachmann for the

lead and take off unchallenged from the rest of the field. Jim

Spano took second from Brachmann two laps later. The top three

would run this way to the checkers. Rounding out the top five

were Rich Swarthout and Vince Vitale.

The worst accident of the day came during the second

modified consi when five cars piled up in the third turn. All

drivers were uninjured.

The next event at Rolling Wheels will be on Sunday, May 17,

when the modifieds will be running a 50 lap feature and the

sportsman will again race a 20 lap feature. Joining these two

divisions will be the street stocks in a 20-lap Hoosier Tire

Championship event. Race time will be at 2 p.m., with gates

opening at noon.

HARRY'S TIRE & SUPPLY-PHELPS CEMENT-TRADER TARGET PUBLICATIONS-

GLEASON HOME BUILDERS NIGHT SUMMARY

SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1: M. Clark, R. Miller, G. Sleight, V. Vitale, A. Palmer.

HEAT 2: Billy Walters, C. Brachmann, L. Dusett, D. Hart, J.

LaRock.

HEAT 3: J. Spano, P. Guererri, R. Hall, R. Swarthout, M. Gerber.

HEAT 4: S. Hall, M. Button, J. McKeaney, J. Cronin, C. Warner.

CONSI 1: C. Schultz, S. Oplinger, D. Dietrich, R. Lyons.

CONSI 2: C. Ridsdale, G. Doust, R. Baye, P. Benz.

FEATURE (20-laps): STEVE HALL, Jim Spano, Chad Brachmann, Rick

Swarthout, Vince Vitale, Rick Miller, Lance Dusett, Mike Clark,

Steve Oplinger, Rich Hall, Paul Guererri, Chris Schultz, Matt

gerber, Jim LaRock, Billy Walters, Greg Sleight, Jim Cronin, Ryan

Baye, Don Hart, Russ Lyons, John McKeaney, Dennis Dietrich, Cliff

Warner, Chris Ridsdale, Mike Button, Paul Benz, Greg Doust, Alton

Palmer.

MODIFIED

HEAT 1: K. Tremont, B. Varin, J. Plazek, M. Gibbs.

HEAT 2: B. Hearn, C. hebing, T. Fuller, B. Gill.

HEAT 3: T. McCreadie, J. Chester, J. Phelps, J. Johnson.

HEAT 4: G. Tomkins, G. Tegg Jr., M. Forrette, V. Coffey.

HEAT 5: J. Heotzler, D. Hoffman, A.J. Romano, J. Horton.

CONSI 1: P. Ward, D. Johnson, B. Turner, B. McCreadie, B. Decker.

CONSI 2: F. Cozze, C. Bower, B. Tanner, J, Hauser, M. Colsten.

GUARANTEES ADDED: T. Dwyer, S. Paine, S. Prentice, A. Johnson.

FEATURE (98-laps): BREET HEARN, Jeff Heotzler, Gary Tomkins,

Kenny tremont, Tim McCreadie, Doug Hoffman, Billy Decker, Frank

Cozze, Bobby Varin, Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson, Jack Johnson,

Steve Paine, Mitch Gibbs, Gil Tegg Jr., Chuck Bower, A.J. Romano,

Roger Phelps, Billy Gill, Pat Ward, Jimmy Chester, Jimmy Hauser,

Bill Tanner, Tim Fuller, Joe Plazek, Jimmy Horton, Tim Dwyer,

Maynard Forrette, Bob McCreadie, Scott Prentice, Bryon Turner,

Chuck Hebing, Vic Coffey, Mike Colsten.