BILLY VANPELT WINS MODIFIED FEATURE, AND TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP AT BLACK ROCK

DUNDEE,N.Y....8/29/97...Billy "The Kid" VanPelt picked up his second win of the

season in the Modified division at the Black Rock Speedway last Friday night.

But it was one of the most important wins of his season, as it garnered him

the track championship. Earl Harp picked up his second win in a row in the

Super-Stocks. Bryan Rhoads was victorious in the Pro-Stock division, and Shawn

Brace got his second win of the season in the 4 Cyl. Stocks.

The point championship in the 358 Modified division came down to the last

race of the season for this headline class. Coming into this night, VanPelt

had a one point lead over Jeff Kappesser, and which ever driver finished the

best on this night would be the champion. Jeff Kappesser would start in the

eighth spot, while VanPelt would start 18th. When the green flag dropped, Lyle

Sherwood jumped out to the early lead followed closely by Buddy Morseman, and

Chuck Kennison. Marty Conlon was also on the move and was up to fourth by lap

four. Chuck Kennison wheeled his Twin Tier Buick 9X into the lead on lap 6 and

he was being chased by Sherwood, Conlon, Dylan DeWert and Buddy Morseman.

Looking farther back in the field, the point leaders were running 9th and

11th, with Kappesser ahead of VanPelt on lap 11. On this lap the yellow flag

was waved as the fourth turn was blocked with spinning cars. Fred Buckley,

Billy Borden, Darryl Ruggles and Steve Hartman were involved. On the re-start,

Kennison continued to lead with Marty Conlon glued to his rear crash rail. Lap

16 found VanPelt in the 6th spot all the way up from 18th on the grid, at this

point "Kappy" was 9th. One lap later the high flying VanPelt was in the third

spot, and he set his sights on Kennison and Conlon. With two laps to go Van

Pelt put the hammer down and went by Conlon and Kennison, and went on for the

popular win. Kappesser was mired in traffic and finished 10th, giving the

track championship to VanPelt. What a finish to a great season of racing in

the Modified division. In victory lane, Jeff Kappesser was the first one to

shake Billy's hand on the victory, and the track title! Finishing second was

Chuck Kennison, third went to Marty Conlon, fourth was Terry Hough, and

rounding out the top five was, Dylan Dewert. Heat wins went to, Buddy

Morseman, Chuck Kennison, Lyle Sherwood, and Walt Mitchell.

In the Big Flats Manufactured Housing Feature for the Modifieds, John

Moravec was declared the winner, after original winner, Joe Shields was

declared light at the scales. Finishing second was Tim Burnett, third was

Steve Hartman, and the fourth and final qualifying spot went to, Fred Buckley.

In Super-Stock racing, Earl Harp, out of Bath,N.Y., picked up his second win

in as many weeks. Early racing in this event saw Mike Brenning and John

Rekczis battle for the lead. Dale Welty was on his way up through the field,

and took the lead at the 1/2 way point, but his lead would be short lived as

he pulled up in turn one with a flat tire. He would return and finish 11th. On

the re-start Earl Harp took the lead and went on for the win. The drive of the

race had to be that of Rich Karlnoski, as he finished second to Harp, after

starting 21st!! Third at the line was, Dave Fultz, fourth was Donnie Smith,

and rounding out the top five was, Mike Carapella. Heats went to, Dave Fultz,

Dale Welty, and Larry Knowles. The consi was won by, Steve Perry.

In Pro-Stock racing, Bryan Rhoads came out the winner. He started on the

pole in this event, but Brian Hilliard jumped out to the early lead and Rhoads

was a tight second. Point leaders Steve Brace and Steve Clark were racing for

4th and fifth. The race for the lead continued to be a wheel to wheel battle

between Rhoads and Hilliard until Hilliard got out of shape and slipped back

to fourth. This moved a quick running Steve Clark up to second, and he set

his sights on Rhoads for the lead. As the checkers were waved it was Bryan

Rhoads with the win, Clark held on for second, Steve Brace got third, fourth

went to, Brian Hilliard, and rounding out the top five was, Chris McCann.

Brace holds a slim three point lead going into the last race of the season.

Heat wins in the division went to, Ed Sutryk, and Brian Hilliard.

Shawn Brace picked up his second win of the season in the 4 Cyl. Stock

division last Friday night at the Black Rock . Eddie Mills out of

Risingville,N.Y., took the lead on a lap four re-start, and was being closely

pursued by Shawn Brace, Karl Weichenthal, and Tommy Stewart. Later in the

event Mills and Brace Made contact that dropped Mills to an eighth place

finish. Brace went on for the win, with Tommy Stewart a close second. Third

was Karl Weichenthal, fourth was Colby Peterson, and rounding out the top five

was Chris McCann. Heats were won by Brian Austin, and Eddie Machuga.

Racing will continue this Friday at Black Rock as P&P Promotions and Lane's

Yamaha present the Empire Super Sprints, also on the program will be the Mini-

Sprints, Pro-Stocks, 4 Cyl. Stocks, 1 on 1 spectator races and a 4 Cyl. Stock

Powder Puff race. Gates open at 5:30, and racing gets under way at 7:30.

BLACK ROCK SPEEDWAY,"PARTY AT THE ROCK" RACE SUMMARRY:MODIFIEDS(25 lAPS)BILLY

VANPELT, Chuck Kennison, Mart Conlon, Terry Hough, Dylan Dewert, Chris Lewis,

Tim Sebring, Fred Buckley, Lyle Sherwood, Jeff Kappesser, Dave Machuga, Mark

Hawkins, Tim Burnett, Steve Hartman, Charlie Donk, Walt Mitchell, Don Lawson,

John Moravec, Steve Mandell, Billy Borden, Buddy Morseman, Stacy Jackson,

Darryl Ruggles, Roy Shields.

BIG FLATS MANUFACTURED HOUSING FEATURE:MODIFIEDS(15 LAPS)JOHN MORAVEC,Tim

Burnette, Steve Hartman, Fred Buckley, Pat Golley, Aaron Jacobus, Darryl

Ruggles, John Flock,Jim Schuyler.

SUPER-STOCKS:(20 LAPS)EARL HARP, Rich Karlnoski, Dave Fultz, Donnie Smith Jr.,

Mike Carapella, Larry Knowles, Jeremy Potrzebowski, Mike Brenning, Gene

Balmer, Rob Conklin, Dale Welty, John Rekczis, Carl Cleveland, Del Cummings,

Kevin Chilson, Bob Buono, Cam Sutherland, Bill Miller, Steve Kent, Quinn

Sutherland, Luke Gudinas, Steve Perry, Donnie Smith Sr., Tony Harris.

PRO-STOCKS:(20 LAPS)BRYAN RHOADS, Steve Clark, Steve Brace, Brian Hilliard,

Chris McCann, Ralph Champion, Steve Williams, Darren Hadley, Bry Weiskoff Tim

Haire, Chuck Pruden, Eric VanSkiver, Ken Ham, Art Brown, Ed Sutryk, Tracey

Rhoads, Tim Freeland, Brian Knowles, Dave Yehl, Dan Standish, Mike VanDyke,

Jason Clugstone.

4 CYL. STOCKS(15 LAPS)SHAWN BRACE, Tom Stewart, Karl Weichenthal, Colby

Peterson, Phil Yaw, Terry Cornish, Dan Dykes, Ed Mills, Todd Stone, Ray Hyer,

Jake Clancey, Russ Fuller, Roger LaBar, Kim Latorra, Keri Conklin, Kevin

Young, Bob Stewart, Jack Champion, Bob Johnson, Brian Austin, John Crane,

Kenny Hunt, Ryan Davenport, Eddie Machuga