STEVE PAINE WINS HOT FEATURE ON COOL OPENING NIGHT
CANANDAIGUA, NY..4/25/98...Waterloo's Steve Paine returned to the
"Land of Legends", Canandaigua Speedway, and made this return to
his former home track extremely successful as he pulled down the
victory in the 35-lap DIRT Modified season opener. Howie Albrecht
claimed the feature win in the caution scared sportsman main
event, while top honors in the street stock main went to Tommy
Barron.
The 35-lap main event started with Danny Johnson on the pole
driving the THUM Modified. He was to have started one row back,
but when Pat Ward, winner of the first heat race, was forced to
re-qualify his backup machine, the inside rows were advanced one
spot each. Outside of the "Doctor" was last year's track champion
Joe Plazek.
Danny jumped into the lead at the drop of Tommy Burton's
green flag with Plazek in hot pursuit. The first of seven yellow
flags flew on lap three when Bobby Varin slowly limped to a stop
in the second turn driving the Fred Tanner Roofing number 111.
The restart saw Plazek out power the Johnson machine and
take the lead. New comer Billy Decker was next to pass Johnson,
taking second place on lap six. Gary Tomkins now was challenging
for third and was able to move the Bill Trout Lincoln/Mercury
number 84 into third on lap eight.
The yellow flew for the second time on lap eleven when Gill
Tegg Jr. slowed with a flat tire coming out of the fourth turn.
Tegg was unable to maintain his momentum and loss a lap. The
restart saw Plazek able to hold Decker at bay. But by now Steve
Paine was making himself known in the top five.
The real news was the bonsai charge being mounted by
Rochester's Chuck Hebing. Hebing took two cars as he drove low in
turns three and four. As he sailed down the front straight he
took the outside line with Tomkins in the middle and Danny
Johnson on the inside. These three entered the first turn knowing
something had to give. The results saw Tomkins spin and ARANY
rookie modified driver Rob Culmone tap the inside wall going into
the first turn. All of this resulted in the yellow flag flying
for a fourth time.
Bob McCreadie exited the race on lap 17 when his car lost a
spring and shock destroying the handling on his car. On lap 22
the yellow flew when Charlie Donk threw a wheel off while going
through the second turn. Donk magnificently handled the three
legged beast and safely came to a stop in the infield.
With the laps rounding down Paine began a brilliant charge
on the leader Plazek. With just two laps remaining Paine dove
under Plazek going into the third turn and successfully completed
the pass for the lead. He then blew out to a ten car advantage as
the checkers flew. Plazek finished second followed by Pat Ward,
who had to use his back up car and come from the back of the
field. Fourth went to Decker with Vic Coffey driving his Billy
Taylor prepared Sweeteners Plus mount into a fine fifth.
In the accompanying sportsman main event the top three cars
remained in contention almost all race long. Todd Henderson lead
the first lap then handed the lead over to Howie Albrecht on lap
two. Henderson retook the lead on a lap four restart. On lap
seven Vince Vitale began the leader. Then with just four laps
remaining Albrecht successfully retook the front position.
The sportsman main saw six yellows and red flag. The later
came on lap 18 when Todd Preston flipped his car over the second
turn armaco. He was uninjured but a delay of ten minutes was
needed to remove his car.
Vitale come home second to Albrecht. Paul Guererri came back
from a poor heat race result to finish third. Last years ARANY
DIRT Sportsman rookie of the year, Matt Gerber, finished in
fourth followed by Tim Johnson.
Henderson, who had to pit under the red flag situation after
a side bar was found to be dragging on the speedway, would be
penalized two spots for a late restart jump. He came home in
ninth.
Tommy Barron took over the lead from Dave VanArsdale on lap
eight and cruised home to his first win of the 1998 season. Bill
Hallett ran a steady race to finish second. Les Whyte, fresh off
a lap five pit stop finished in third. Rounding out the top five
were Dick Werner and Randy Miller.
New for the year to the speedway are the Entry Street Stock
division. Leroy Lewis took the inaugural victory for this class.
More of these cars are expected in the very near future.
LIME ROCK SPEEDWAY NIGHT SUMMARY
ENTRY STREETS
FEATURE (5-laps): LEROY LEWIS, Mike Minotolo, Brad Strinruck
STREET STOCKS
HEAT 1: D. VanArsdale, T. Hanagan, J. Burba, S. Young, D. Pipgas.
HEAT 2:S. Fremouw, B. Hallett, J. McGuigan, L. Whyte, R. Miller.
FEATURE (15-laps): TOM BARRON,Bill Hallett, Les Whyte, Dick
Werner, Randy Miller, Rick Miller, Jim Burba, Jim Gagne, Todd
Hanagan, Steve Pesarek, Derek Pipgas, Brian Thompson, Scott
Fremouw, Jim McGuigan, Dave VanArsdale, Steve Young, Brian
Boudreau.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: T. Henderson, H. Albrecht, L. Dusett, M. Gerber, T.
Johnson.
HEAT 2: M. Button, A. Vargo, J. Urckfitz, C. Warner, C. Ridsdale.
HEAT 3: V. Vitale, S. Oplinger, D. Vail, P. Guererri, G.
Farnsworth.
FEATURE (20-laps): HOWIE ALBRECHT, Vince Vitale, Paul Guererri,
Mike Gerber, Tim Johnson, Chris Ridsdale, Cliff Warner, Steve
Oplinger, Todd Henderson, Wade Czymmek, Rick VanNeil, Mike
Button, Gary Farnsworth, Dave Starken, Russ Hefti, Todd Preston,
Dan Vail, Jason Urckfitz, Randy Holden, Steve Siraguse, Lance
Dusett, Andy Vargo.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: P. Ward, A. Johnson, G. Tomkins, J. Phelps, T. Fuller, S.
Schultz.
HEAT 2: J. Plazek, B. Decker, S. Paine, C. Donk, G. Tegg Jr., J.
Moravec.
HEAT 3: D. Johnson, V. Coffey, B. Varin, C. Bower, S. Boudinot,
B. Turner.
CONSI: S. Schrader, C. Hebing, S. Glover, P. Ward, B. McCreadie,
R. Culmone, J. Ventura, M. Ward, R. Bliss Jr.
FEATURE (35-laps): STEVE PAINE, Joe Plazek, Pat Ward, Billy
Decker, Vic Coffey, John Moravec, Chuck Hebing, Scott Schrader,
Steve Glover, Jimmy Phelps, Chuck Bower, Bryon Turner, Ray Bliss
Jr., Scott Boudinot, Mike Ward, Alan Johnson, Gil Tegg Jr., Danny
Johnson, John Ventura, Charlie Donk, Bob McCreadie, Gary Tomkins,
Steve Schultz, Rob Culmone, Tim Fuller, Bobby Varin.