HEARN EARNS SECOND "RUSH HOUR" VICTORY ON SUPER DIRT SERIES
ELBRIDGE, NY..7/3/97....Brett Hearn seems to like winning televised
races, as he picked up his second straight "Rush Hour" feature,
winning the 97-lap Skoal Bandit Racing sm Super DIRT Series race
at Rolling Wheels Raceway on Thursday, July 3, 1997. Also
entering victory lane this evening was sportsman star Jim Gabriel
Jr.
Jeff Heotzler, starting on the outside pole, took the lead
at the drop of the green over Bob McCreadie and pole sitter Ray
Bliss Jr. But before the race was even two laps old the yellow
flew when Doug Hoffman drifted high in the fourth turn with a
flat left rear tire. He was able to pit, without losing a lap.
Heotzler continued his domination for two laps more and the
yellow flew again when Tom Sears, Chris Tuthill and Tim McCreadie
were all involved in a third turn shunt.
Bob McCreadie was now putting pressure on Heotzler at the
front of the field. On lap nine, when the yellow flew for the
stopped car of Chris Tuthill in the fourth turn, McCreadie slowed
and drove directly into the pits with a brake problem. He was
able to return at the back of the field, and looked as if he was
only going to be able to ride out the distance. However a second
pit stop on lap 15, when the yellow flew as Danny Johnson blew a
motor and stopped in the second turn, seemed to remedy his
problems.
On lap 18 the yellow flew for the fifth time when Frank
Cozze stopped in the fourth turn. One more tangle on lap 21,
would prove to be the last caution until the closing laps of the
97-lapper.
Heotzler found himself in a battle for the lead with Brett
Hearn, as these two raced side-by-side for a number of laps.
Finally on lap 48, Hearn inched ahead at the start-finish line to
take the lead. Heotzler, who had chosen to run DIRT soft Hoosier,
had found his tires going away and was unable to correct his
extreme lose condition. Hearn, who was on DIRT hard Hoosiers was
able to draw away and hide nearly a full straight away ahead of
Heotzler.
Much of the closer competition was taking place from third
back. Alan Johnson, aboard the Bobar Service Center modified,
closed in on Heotzler. On lap 94, Johnson, in an attempt to pass
for second spun in the fourth turn, after possible contact with
the inside barrier in that turn. He recovered, but returned a lap
down to leader Hearn. Jack Johnson, who drove a solid race
inherited third, just ahead of Bobby Varin and the previous
night's winner Joe Plazek. These top five would come across the
finish line in that order. Twenty-four of the 30 starters were
still running at the end of the race. As Hearn already held a
guaranteed starting spot for the Syracuse 300 presented by Eckerd
Drug Stores, second place Jeff Heotzler was given the guaranteed
spot from Rolling Wheels.
In sportsman action Steve Hall took the lead with Billy
Caprara and Karl Comfort in close pursuit. On lap three the only
yellow of the event flew when Gary Farnsworth drove over the brim
in the third turn and off the speedway surface. He was able to
quickly return to the event, but later exited on lap 11.
Hall led Jim Gabriel Jr. until lap 12, when Gabriel was able
to pull off the move for the lead as they started to lap cars.
Gabriel led the rest of the distance to claim the 20-lap victory.
Hall came home in second followed by Jason Barney, Tim Sears and
Mike Clark.
The next racing event at Rolling Wheels will be on Labor Day
evening, September 1, 1997. On tap will be the 26th annual Robert
N. Petrocci Memorial 75 for DIRT Modifieds. New this year will be
points will be given towards the overall Mr. DIRT point chase at
both this event and the same day event in the afternoon at the
New York State Fairgrounds. Points used for this "Summer Slam"
will be the 60-to-win listing posted at the back of the DIRT Rule
Book for each event. Race time on Labor Day will be at 7 p.m..
EASY CARE/BILL TROUT LINCOLN MERCURY FIRECRACKER NIGHT SUMMARY
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: B. Caprara, L. Lauffenburger, J. Sorenson, D. Fellman, R.
Fennical, N. Luce.
HEAT 2: K. Comfort, Ti. Sears, M. Clark, B. Krull, C. Schultz, V.
Vitale.
HEAT 3: S. Hall, J. Gabriel Jr., G. Farnsworth, J. Barney, D.
Fallis, R. Hill.
CONSI: J. Spano, G. Sleight, A. Palmer, M. Hufcut, J. Haers, D.
Hart.
FEATURE (20-laps): JIM GABRIEL JR., Steve Hall, Jason Barney, Tim
Sears, Mike Clark, Billy Caprara, Vince Vitale, Billy Krull, Jim
Sorenson, Greg Sleight, Drew Fallis, Jim Spano, Alton Palmer,
Karl Comfort, Mark Hufcut, Neil Luce, Dave Fellman, Rick Hill,
Jerry Haers, Rick Fennical, Chris Schultz, Gary Farnsworth, Don
Hart, Lance Lauffenburger.
MODIFIED SKOAL BANDIT RACING sm SUPER DIRT SERIES SUMMARY
HEAT 1: B. Hearn, R. Bliss Jr., D. Johnson, F. Cozze, G. Tegg Jr.
HEAT 2: T. McCreadie, J. Heotzler, J. Plazek, P. O'Brien, C.
VonDohren.
HEAT 3: S. Prentice, J. Horton, B. McCreadie, T. Dwyer, B.
Decker.
HEAT 4: B. Varin, A. Johnson, D. Hoffman, S. Bottcher, B. Turner.
CONSI 1: P. Ward, J. Johnson, C. Tuthill, K. Tremont, T. Sears.
CONSI 2: G. Tomkins, J. Phelps, J. Higbie Jr., S. Paine, T.
Fuller.
FEATURE (97-laps): BRETT HEARN, Jeff Heotzler, Jack Johnson,
Bobby Varin, Joe Plazek, Jimmy Horton, Bob McCreadie, Doug
Hoffman, Billy Decker, Steve Bottcher, Craig VonDohren, Steve
Paine, Scott Prentice, Gil Tegg Jr., Alan Johnson, Tim McCreadie,
Jerry Higbie Jr., Tim Fuller, Pat O'Brien, Tim Dwyer, Gary
Tomkins, Pat Ward, Kenny Tremont, Ray Bliss Jr., Bryon Turner,
Jimmy Phelps, Frank Cozze, Danny Johnson, Chris Tuthill, Tom
Sears.