RAY BLISS HAMMERS DOWN HIS FIRST WIN AT BREWERTON SPEEDWAY

BREWERTON, NY. .6/27/97 . There's nothing sweeter than a first time winner and Brewerton Speedway

was the place to be on Friday night June 27 as Ray Bliss Jr. won his first ever DIRT big

block modified feature event as he held off Jumpin' Jack Johnson and Bob McCreadie. IMCA

competitor, and second time visitor, George Catanzano captured his initial

Brewerton win while Troy Van Allen won in the dwarf division and Ed Granoski broke a long

drought to garner first in the four cylinders.

It was Brewerton Old Timers Reunion Night as the pioneers of the Central New York racing

scene watched today's competitors in action during New York State Lottery-Casey's Truck

Salvage World Night.

Bliss has been flirting with success throughout the 1997 season, but it all came

together for the Western New York competitor. Dana Wagner took his small block to the early

lead, but on the second lap restart it was Ray Bliss taking over at the point. He

was in control, but Jack Johnson was breathing down his tail. It was full bore, wheel to

wheel racing and at the halfway point it was Bliss, Johnson, Billy Gill, Bobby Varin and Gil

Tegg filling the top five positions. Johnson challenged, diving low ti!

me and time again, but he couldn't pull off the pass. McCreadie was working his way from

deep in the pack. On the 30th lap the yellow came out for a stalled car. It was a flag that

Bliss didn't want to see. Johnson and McCreadie lined up on the leader's

bumper, but neither of the top DIRT drivers could take advantage of the opportunity.

At the checker the crowd rose to its feet to cheer the first ever feature win by Ray

Bliss Jr. Jack Johnson settled for second followed by Bob McCreadie, a late charging Billy

Decker and Billy Gill.

George Catanzano, a Lebanon Valley regular, appeared at Brewerton for only the second

time. It was a shoot out throughout the main event. Dane Keller took the early lead, but on

the second circuit his brother Rob went to the top. With the starter displaying the

crossed flags the top five included Rob and Dane Keller, Catanzano, Tom Horning and

John Thayer. Horning roared from fourth to second on the 11th lap and then took the lead with

just five laps to go. However, Horning broke in the waning laps and

Rob Keller went back to the front. On the restart Rob Keller drifted a bit in the second

turn. Catanzano took advantage and dove under for the lead. Catanzano chalked up the win with

Rob and Dane Keller following. Neil Edgar and Ed O'Neil were fourth and

fifth respectively.

In the dwarf division it was Troy Van Allen and Greg Furlong dicing lap after lap. Scott

Nash jumped to the lead at the green, but it was Van Allen moving past in the early going.

Furlong then dove to the lead, but Van Allen came back. The battle ended on

the twelfth lap when Furlong broke an axle. Van Allen crossed the line nine seconds ahead

of the runner up for a convincing win.

In the four cylinder division Ed Granoski, Bill Klinkowsky and Jim Olin ran to the point

in the early going. As the race progressed it was Granoski and Klinkowsky pulling away. At

the checker it was Granoski with his second win of the year followed by

Klinkowsky and Gary Morrisette.

Pit Stops-Rob Keller and Sean Lias won the IMCA heats; Decker, Bob McCreadie and Tim

Fuller the Mods, Greg Furlong and Chuck Weiland and the four cylinder prelim winners were

Bill Klinkowsky and Granoski...Lou Fray won the Atlantic Coast Old Timers...

Chuck Hebing was a first time modified visitors...The four cylinder main went green to

checker...It was a great night for the Brewerton Old Time Reunion as more than 50 were on

hand.

Modified-Ray Bliss Jr., Jack Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Billy Decker, Bill Gill, Bob Varin,

Pat Ward, Dana Wagner, Jim Phelps, Chuck Bower, Bob Melone, Gil Tegg, Tim McCreadie, Sean

Beardsley, Scott Prentice, Roger Phelps, Donnie Wetmore, Tim Fuller, Bucky

Hayes, Chuck Hebing and Bill Smith.

IMCA-George Catanzano, Bob Keller, Dane Keller, Neil Edgar, Ed O'Neil, Jim Graves,

Carmen Vona, Dick Weiland, Glen Erwin, Curt Stiles, John Thayer, Jim Walsh, Ron O'Neil, Tom

Horning, Buddy Lewis, Don Alvord, Kevin Auyer, Coleen Finch, Bill Anderson, Sean

n Lias, Tony Finch.

Four Cylinders-Ed Granoski, Bill Klinkowsky, Gary Morrissette, Bob Haws, Nick Leonard,

Ken Klinkowsky, Ray Chittenden, Jim Olin, Eric Clark, Jonathan Amidon, Jody Case, Dave

Bargabos, Tim Koch, Chris Bargabos, Chuck Powelczyk, George Kirchoff, Rick Wilk,

Billy Clark and Julio Garcia.

Dwarfs-Troy Van Allen, Chuck Weiland, Ed Bell, Eric Crawford, Kevin Doll, Scott Nash,

Pat Pontello, Butch Wadsworth, Bob Bird, Martin Amyot, Jim Fredenburg, Greg Furlong, Clark

Weston, Alan Zipprich, Pat Waters, Buddy Lewis, David Orr, C.J. Crawford, Frank Doll.