CAN-AM SPEEDWAY WINS TO SYKES, CAPRARA, KELLER, TUCKER, PITTS AND BUSHEY
LAFARGEVILLE, NY...7/5/97....Some familar names returned to the winner's circle at the Can-Am Speedway this past saturday on McDonald's Restaurants and White's Lumber and Building Supply night. Another great crowd was on hand and the racing was close and competitive in all six divisions.
The 358-modifieds took to the fast half mile with Steve Bilow and BJ Vock on the front row. As the cars came through turns three and four on lap two Vock got sideways and Kevin Martin touched the back bumper spinning the 29V in front of the pack collecting Chuck Bower, Tim McCreadie, Lee Gill, Steve Roberts and others with most returning to the speedway. On the restart Jeff Sykes took the lead while those involved in the accident worked their way to the front. Tim McCreadie had made his way into the top 10 by lap five, but as he entered turn one contact was made sending the number 94 into a series of quick barrel rolls. The car appeared to be heavily damaged, but Tim got out on his own. Sykes again pulled away on the restart and by the halfway mark it was Dale Eggleston, Pat O'Brien, Martin and Rick Wilson in the top five. A number of cautions for minor spins annd mechanical problems slowed the race but each time Sykes was able to hold the top spot. Sykes went on to win number two in 1997 at Can-Am followed by Eggleston with another consistant finish to keep himself towards the top of the point standings, high point man O'Brien, Petzoldt and Bower who came back from the accident on lap two.
Before the DIRT Sportsman feature began all the drivers stopped on the front starightaway to pay tribute to their fellow competitor Kevin Fleming who was killed in a racing accident Wednesday night at the New york State Fairgrounds. Kevin's position was left open in the starting line up and his family, crew and friends came down and stood were Kevin's number 6 would have been during the playing of the National Anthems.
When the racing got underway Joe Cook jumped into the lead from his outside pole starting spot. Cook lost the lead on lap three to pole sitter Scott Britton. George McIntyre was the next to take a shot at the lead as he moved around Britton on lap six, but it was Steve Hall who was on the move as he took his car on the outside and grabbed the lead away on lap ten. Hall, still looking for his first win at Can-Am in 1997, began to open up some distance but on lap twelve his car went up in smoke as he entered turn one giving the lead to rookie Jeff Narrow. Narrow has been strong all year and it appeared as though tonight was his night, but Billy Caprara chased the leader down and with one lap to go was on the rear bumper. Narrow went to the low side in turns three and four on the final lap while Caprara went to the high side. Caprara got a great run off of turn four and beat the rookie to the line by just three feet. Narrow was second followed by high point man McIntyre, Mike Clark and Cook.
It was an all O'Neil front row for the IMCA Modified feature as eddie and Ron brought the field to the green. After a rare night last week that saw a number of cautions this week would go green-to-checkered. Ron grabbed the early lead away from father Eddie and held on until lap seven when Rob Keller moved around for the number one spot. Keller went on for the win over Ron O'Neil, Jim Graves and Tom Horning.
The 12 lap Late Model feature was another one that would not be decided until the last turn of the final lap. Walt VanTassel was the early leader over Luke Gibeau and Tim Busler. Jeff Papin took over on lap four and looked like he was the one to beat but Ben Tucker had others ideas as he moved in on the leader. A caution with one to go gave one last shot at the win. As Papin entered turn three on the final lap his car pushed high and that was all Tucker needed to drive under for the win. Papin, VanTassel, Ronnie McConnell and Busler rounded out the top five.
Terry Ingersol took advantage of his front row starting position to take the lead on lap one of the Street Stock feature event. Will Glass, outside front row starter, took over on lap two and looked very strong as he pulled away from the pack of sixteen cars. Mechanical problems began to show and Glass slowed handing the lead over to Al Pitts on lap four. Pitts was on a rail in the number one spot but it was Laurie Handschuh who had everyone's attention as she was having one of the best runs of her career in the number two spot. A late caution with one to go tightened the field up but Pitts was just too strong and went on for another win in 1997, Handschuh, Nick Makuch, Tiger Chapman and Steve Rooky completed the top five.
Rookie Randy Allen took the lead at the drop of the green in the 10 lap Economy Stock feature, Allen has shown lost of strength in 1997 but accidents and mechanical problems have kept him out of victory lane so far this season. Roger Bushey moved to the lead on lap two bringing Kyle Sharp with him. The two ran bumper-to-bumper with Sharp getting a look at the lead on every lap along with third place runner Rick Dusckas. The three looked as though they were tied together lap after lap but it was Bushey who held on for the win over Sharp, Dusckas, Mark Baltz and Keith Middlemiss.
Next Saturday will be Renzi's Old Fashioned Meat Market and Hayor, Freyer and Coon Insurance night at Can-Am. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing getting the green flag at 7 p.m.. For more information call the speedway at (315)658-4431.
PEPSI-COLA/Mt. DEW 358 Modified Finish: SYKES, Eggleston, O'Brien, Petzoldt, Bower, Roberts, Martin, Hoff, Narrow, Melone, Amo, Fetterly, Vock, Gill, Wilson, Hayes, Bilow, August, McCreadie, Ostrander, Crews, Bartlett, Smith.
FASTLUBE of WATERTOWN DIRT Sportsman Finish: CAPRARA, Narrow, McIntyre, Clark, Cook, Stewart, Surace, Britton, Gibbons, Blair, Butler, Vanderlinden, Hall, VanBrocklin, Ridsdale, MacCue, Bivens.
BERNEISEL RACE CARS IMCA Modified Finish: KELLER, R. O'Neil, E. O'Neil, Graves, Horning, Stevenson, Erwin.
Late Model Finish: TUCKER, Papin, VanTassel, McConnell, Busler, Gibeau, Parker, Kelsey, Rarrick.
APPLEDALE FARMERS MARKET Street Stock Finish: PITTS, Hanschuh, Makuch, Chapman, Rookey, Salisbury, Wells, Stevens, Daye, Moore Glass, Slate, Halladay, Ingersol.
Economy Stock Finish: BUSHEY, Sharp, Dusckas, Baltz, K. Middlemiss, Miller, Allen, C. Middlemiss, Duffany, Grimes, Therrien, Partridge, Billings, Collier.