RICK WILSON SHAKES BAD LUCK AT CAN-AM WITH 1ST FEATURE WIN OF 1997

LaFARGEVILLE NY:8/2/97... Another great crowd was on hand at the Can-Am

Speedway this past Saturday night to witness some of the best racing of

the 1997 season in all 6 weekly divisions. Jefferson Concrete and Erie

Materials were the evenings sponsors and they did a great job in giving

the entire night a festive atmosphere complete with ballons and frisbies.

The racing saw four repeat winners and two new winners celebrate

victories.

The 358 DIRT Modified feature saw a full field of 24 cars take the

starters green and it was Bob Melone in the 15 taking the early lead.

Melone, who makes the long haul up every Saturday night from his home in

Rome N.Y. has had nothing but bad luck this season at Can-Am, but once

again looked strong in the early laps. Melone would lose the lead on lap

2 to Rick Wilson, who has also had his share of bad luck this season at

Can-Am. Wilson and Melone would show the way with Wilson opening up a

huge lead while top runners Tim Fuller, Pat O'Brien, Lee Gill and Tim

McCreadie were making their way to the front of the competitive field.

The first caution of the event flew on lap 10 for the A1 of Bucky Hayes.

On the restart Wilson again took command but another quick yellow for

last weeks winner Lansing Petzoldt bunched up the pack, Melones bad luck

would continue and again this week he was forced to the pits with

mechanical problems. Tim Fuller made a run at Wilson on lap 11 and then

it was Gill taking a shot at the lead on lap 12. At the halfway point it

was Wilson over former track champion Dave Heaslip, who had started back

in the 15th position, Fuller, O'Brien and McCreadie. Wilson was showing

his dominance as on each restart he pulled away to a comfortable lead.

The last caution came on lap 19 for the 27 of Jim Narrow who slowed with

problems. Heaslip would have one last chance at the win but Wilson would

return to victory lane at Can-Am, Heaslip came across second with Fuller,

McCreadie and O'Brein rounding out the top five.

Nineteen DIRT Sportsman took the green for their 15 lap feature and

it was Rich Hall taking advantage of his outside front row starting spot

who jumped out to the early lead. Billy Caprara was the first car to put

pressure on Hall and pulled along side on a number of occasions but could

not find the power to get by. Last weeks winner Todd Stewart had a

night he would like to forget as on lap 2 he locked bumpers with Rob

Galloway and was forced to the rear, one lap later he was involved in a

crash on the front straightaway with Shane Donath and would retire for

the evening. When racing resumed Hall again pulled away with Caprara and

Mike Clark giving chase. The long green flag run would end on lap 12 for

Matt Butler who slowed between turns three and four bunching up the field

for a 3 lap shoot-out. Hall was strong on the restart and held on for

his first win of 1997 at Can-Am. Caprara, Jeff Narrow, Clark and Steve

Hall completed the top five.

The IMCA Modifieds were up next and again this week the race was run

caution free. Debbie Stevenson and Ron O'Neil held the front row and it

was O'Neil taking the lead into turn one. Stevenson settled into second

spot as both drivers are still looking for their first win of the season

at Can-Am. Jim Graves moved around Stevenson and into the number two

position on lap 4 and began to run down the leader O'Neil. Grave got

along side of O'Neil on lap 6 to take the lead but O'Neil would not give

up and grabbed the lead back on lap 7. While the two battled for the top

spot a great race was taking place for third thru fifth between

Stevenson, Eddie O'Neil and point leader Tom Horning. Graves made the

move for the lead on lap 8 and went on for his forth win of the season

over Ron O'Neil, Eddie O'Neil, Horning and Stevenson.

Tim Busler in the 20 was the early leader in the 12 lap Late Model

feature taking the lead away from fellow front row starter Tom Cormier.

Busler has looked very strong all season at Can-Am but is still looking

for his first win in 1997. Stan Parker ran in the second spot until lap

3 when Jeff Papin took over. The only caution of the event would come

out on lap 6 for the spinning car of Parker. Busler again showed the way

after the restart but Ronnie McConnell was on the move and went by Papin

for the runner-up spot on lap 7. McConnell caught the leader and fought

for the lead until lap 10 when McConnell made the inside move into turn

three under Busler stick, and took over the number one position.

McConnell went on for his second win in a row with Busler hanging on for

second, Walt VanTassel, Papin and Cormier completed the top five.

Richard Daye in the R50 and Will Glass in the 28 paced the Street

Stock field for their 12 feature, but it was Bill Eisele in the 18 who

was shown as the leader of lap 1. Eisele, who started in the 5th spot,

would soon be challenged by Al Pitts for the top spot. Pitts had his car

working to perfection and he pulled around Eisele and into the lead on

lap 4. The first caution flew on lap 6 for newcomer Mike Allen as he

spun between turns three and four. On the restart Pitts opened up a lead

over Eisele and Glass but the yellow would fly again as Laurie Handschuh

and Daye tangled in turn two with Daye going to the pit area for repairs.

Pitts again moved away from the competition and went on for the easy win

over Eisele, Glass, Steve Halladay and Steve Rookey.

Andrew Howard in the 21 and Kyle Sharp in the 12s were the front row

for the 10 lap Economy Stock event. Howard, a multi-time feature winner

in 1997, shot to the lead while Sharp and Clint Middlemisss settled into

second and third. Howard, who seems to either win or break at Can-Am

this season opened up a comfortable lead with Sharp holding onto second

and Roger Bushey, former track champion John Eiss and rookie Randy Allen

the top five at the halfway point. A caution on lap 6 for a stopped

Craig Collier and a tangle between Bushey and Allen would bunch the field

together for the final 4 laps. Howard would hold on after the restart

for the win with Sharp, Eiss, and Rick Dusckas the rest of the top five.

Next Saturday night will be photo and autograph night at Can-Am

sponsored by Neighborhood Markets and Pepsi-Cola/Mt. Dew. Drivers will

have their cars on display from 4 to 6 at the Speedway for fans to take

pictures and get their favorite drivers autographs. Gate open at 5pm

with racing getting underway at 7:00, for more information call the

Speedway at (315) 658-4431.

PEPSI-COLA/MT. DEW

358 DIRT MODIFIED FINISH: Rick Wilson, Dave Heaslip, Tim Fuller, Tim

McCreadie, Pat O'Brien, Jeff Sykes, Dave Bartlett, Steve Bilow, BJ Vock,

Dale Eggleston, Sandy Roberts, Kevin Fetterly, Lansing Petzoldt, Rich

Amo, Bob Bennett, Delbert LaGrow, Jim Narrow, Joe August, Bucky Hayes,

Lee Gill, Doug Crews, Bob Melone DNS: Steve Roberts, Jeff Hoff, Paul

Moreland

FASTLUBE OF WATERTOWN

DIRT SPORTSMAN FINISH: Rich Hall, Billy Caprara, Jeff Narrow, Mike

Clark, Steve Hall, George McIntyre, Joe Cook, Rob Galloway, RJ Gibbons,

Dave O'Conner, Dave Surace, Scott Britton, Bill Mazurowski, Buddy Rogers,

Matt Butler, Todd Stewart, Shane Donath DNS: Rick McCreadie, Larry

Bivens

BERNHEISEL RACE CARS

IMCA MODIFIED FINISH: Jim Graves, Ron O'Neil, Eddie O'Neil, Tom Horning,

Debbie Stevenson

LATE MODEL FINISH: Ronnie McConnell, Tim Busler, Walt VanTassel, Jeff

Papin, Tom Cormier, Ben Tucker, Stan Parker, Ryan Rarrick, Luke Gibeau

DNS: Scott Kelsey

APPLEDALE FARMERS MARKET

STREET STOCK FINISH: Al Pitts, Bill Eisele, Will Glass, Steve Halladay,

Steve Rookey, Brian Salisbury, Terry Ingersoll, Andy Wells, Nick Makuch,

Laurie Handschuh, Richard Daye, Mike Allen

ECONOMY STOCK FINISH: Andrew Howard, Kyle Sharp, John Eiss, Rick

Dusckas, Erv Miller, Ken Partridge, Mark Baltz, Roger Bushey, Clint

Middlemiss, Hunter Grimes, Randy Allen, Mike Baxter, Les Sanford, Craig

Collier, Kevan Therrien