JOE PLAZEK KEEPS LAND OF LEGENDS SUPER DIRT SERIES WIN AT HOME
CANANDAIGUA, NY..7/31/97....Joe Plazek may just have wanted to maintain
the Skoal Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT Series as a hometown thing,
or better yet he just wanted to repeat a major win at the track
where his first major victory came in 1985. Well last Thursday he
was able to maintain his lead in a tight fought battle and take
home the $6,000 first place prize for winning this year's Skoal
Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT Series race, presented by TuffOil, on
live national television during the "Rush Hour on DIRT" program.
The 97-lap main event began with pole sitter kenny tremont
taking the early lead. By lap four, Plazek, who had started in
third, was running second. And on lap nine, Plazek was able to
complete the pass for the lead. But as in many races, that would
not be the only lead change of the race.
Lap 14 saw the first caution fly when Steve Paine came to a
stop in the second turn with a flat tire. Jimmy Horton was now
running second with Tremont third followed by Doug Hoffman, Jack
Johnson, Tim Fuller and Billy Decker.
At the green, Plazek maintained his lead as Horton jockeyed to
claim the first position. The yellow flew for a second time on lap
21 when Bryon Turner came to a stop on the speedway. The side-by-
side restart saw Horton out fox Plazek and take the lead, lap 22.
Billy Decker also took advantage of the Horton move, shoving Plazek
back to third. These three then set up a run by themselves, with
Jack Johnson running a more distant fourth.
Two more caution would allow some shuffling of position, as
Plazek regained second with Johnson in third followed by Decker.
But on the long runs, Horton was still able to maintain his lead.
With 29 of the 31 starters still running by the halfway mark,
lapped cars would become a problem for the leaders. Decker, who had
taken second back from Plazek on lap 48, was now able to used this
lapped traffic to hang Horton up behind a slower car. Decker then
shot into the lead on lap 66. It then looked as if Decker was in
a race by himself. He was able to maintain distance between himself
and the battle for second between Horton and Plazek. On lap 86
Plazek retook second and set his sights on Decker in first. One lap
later, Plazek powered past Decker for the lead as the two cars
exited turn four.
With just two laps remaining Vic Coffey slowed on the speedway
forcing starter Tommy Burton to throw the yellow. The restart saw
a scramble for position. Plazek was able to maintain his lead and
claim the victory. Decker finished second followed by Jack Johnson,
Bob McCreadie and Jimmy Horton faded to fifth. It was Plazek's
second victory in this year's series,as he also won back on July 2,
at the New York State Fairgrounds mile.
Alan Johnson, driving the Rick Grosso number R24 for the first
time, was the first driver across the finish line without a
guaranteed spot for the Syracuse 300. He will represent Canandaigua
at that event.
In the accompanying sportsman race Dale Darling lead all 20-
laps. Only one caution slowed the race, that coming on lap three
for Keith Stell. Following Darling across the finish line were
Scott Ridley, Karl Comfort, Vince Vitale and Loren Lincoln.
Finger Lakes Notes: Danny Johnson was awarded ninth place SDS
points after a possible scoring error over which number 6 crossed
the finish line first. He will remain on record as eleventh in the
race...Brett Hearn missed the Canandaigua setup altogether, but
retained his points lead going into Lebanon Valley's Mr. DIRT Track
USA event this Thursday live on "Rush Hour on DIRT" television
...Alan Johnson and Jeff Heotzler both had to switch to back up
cars and start at the back of the field...Track conditions have
been improving weekly at Canandaigua. A slick track surface played
tricks with race team set ups for this race.
TUFFOIL presents the FINGER LAKES FRENZY SKOAL BANDIT RACING sm
SUPER DIRT SERIES NIGHT SUMMARY
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: G. Farnsworth, R. Holden, K. Comfort, L. Lincoln, M.
Button.
HEAT 2: D. Darling, L. Dusett, T. Henderson, S. Ridley, P.
Guererri.
HEAT 3: V. Vitale, B. Hoff, L. Lauffenburger, C. Graham, J.
Haers.
FEATURE (20-laps): DALE DARLING, Scott Ridley, Karl Comfort,
Vince Vitale, Loren Lincoln, Todd Henderson, Randy Holden, Lance
Lauffenburger, Chuck Graham, Paul Guererri, Rich Swarthout, Mike
Button, Gary Farnsworth, Bill Hoff, Lance Dusett, Steve Gray,
Jerry Haers, Rob Richmond, Jim LaRock, Bob Champion Jr., Keith
Stell, Chris Ridsdale, Tyke Morris.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: T. Fuller, D. Johnson, J. Horton, B. Turner, S. Schultz.
HEAT 2: B. Decker, J. Plazek, J. Johnson, R. Bliss Jr., C. Donk.
HEAT 3: B. Hearn, K. Tremont, S. Paine, G. Tegg Jr., S. Prentice.
HEAT 4: T. McCreadie, B. Varin, D. Hoffman, V. Coffey, B.
McCreadie.
CONSI: G. Tomkins, C. Bower, J. Moravec, P. Ward, A.J. Romano, S.
Schrader, T. Griffin, S. Boudinot.
ADDED: A. Johnson, J. Heotzler and D. Camara.
FEATURE (97-laps): JOE PLAZEK, Billy Decker, Jack Johnson, Bob
McCreadie, Jimmy Horton, Jeff Heotzler, Steve Paine, Alan
Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Tim McCreadie, Danny Johnson, Brett Hearn,
A.J. Romano, Steve Schultz, John Moravec, Bobby Varin, Dave
Camara, Doug Hoffman, Kenny Tremont, Bryon Turner, Scott
Schrader, Ray Bliss Jr., Pat Ward, Gil Tegg Jr., Vic Coffey, Tim
Fuller, Scott Prentice, Scott Boudinot, Charlie Donk, Troy
Griffin, Chuck Bower.