PAT O'BRIEN FIRST TO REPEAT IN 358 MODS AT CAN-AM CLARK, GRAVES, MCCONNELL, PITTS AND MILLER OTHER WINNERS

6/28/97...There had been 7 regular Saturday night shows this season at the

Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville and the fans had been treated to 7

different winners in the headline 358 DIRT Modified division, showing

that the fast 1/2 mile clay oval is one of the most competitive on the

DIRT circuit. This past Saturday it was Route 37 Building Supply night

and a great crowd was on hand to see over 85 cars do battle in the 6

division show.

A full field of 24, 358 DIRT Modifieds were brought to the starters

green by front row starters Randy Conners and Kevin Martin. Martin, who

as suffered bad luck nearly every weekend this season at Can-Am, jumped

into the early lead with Conners and Jeff Sykes following. After a

caution on the first lap for Tim Fuller and Tim McCreadie, who were

slowing on the front straightaway, and Bob Ostrander who collected an

infield tire after the caution was thrown, Martin began to pull away

with a comfortable lead and looked as though he was the man to beat on

this Saturday night. Sykes moved around Conners for third on lap 4 and

began to close in on the leader, but those who started near the back of

the pack were making their way to the front under a long green flag run.

The next caution would come out on lap 10 for Bob Bennett who slowed on

the back stretch. Martin and Sykes continued in the front now being

chased by Rick Wilson who was looking for his first win of '97 at Can-Am,

Pat O'Brien and Conners, who was having his best run of the season. On

the restart Martin again pulled into the lead but Wilson who took over

second from Sykes on lap 12 moved in with O'Brien right on his bumper.

By lap 15 the stage was set and the fans were about to be treated to a

great battle for the top seven positions. O'Brien moved around both

Wilson and Martin for the lead on lap 18 and opened up a sizeable lead

but the race was now for second with Martin, Wilson, Sykes, Fuller,

McCreadie and Steve Roberts all running together switching spots each

lap. The fans were cheering for their favorite driver as the one to go

sign was given. O'Brien held on for the win followed by Wilson,

McCreadie, Martin and Sykes.

The DIRT Sportsman had a difficult time putting consecutive laps

together as four cautions slowed their 15 lap feature. Scott Britton and

Mike Clark, both feature winners this season at Can-Am, had the front row

and it was Clark who was into the lead quickly. Clark opened up a good

lead over Todd Stewart and Britton early in the event and held on through

two early cautions. By the halfway point on lap 8, Clark and Stewart

showed the way with Britton, Billy Caprara and Rich Hall the top five.

The caution would fly again on lap 9 for Britton who spun exiting turn

two moving Joe Cook into the fifth position. When the race resumed Clark

again pulled away. One more caution on lap 13 set up a two lap dash to

the finish that was claimed by Clark, his second win of the season. He

was followed by Caprara, Stewart, Rich Hall and Steve Hall.

The IMCA Modifieds, who have had just one caution in the last four

weeks also had a case of yellow fever, as four cautions flew in their 12

lap event. Ron O'Neil and Tom Horning were the two front row starters

and Horning jumped into the early lead. A caution on lap 3 involving

Glen Erwin, Debbie Stevenson, Ron and Eddie O'Neil slowed the pace but on

the restart Horning again moved into the lead but was now being pressured

by last weeks winner Jim Graves. Two consecutive cautions flew on laps 5

and six. On the restart the motor in the Horning 17 blew giving the lead

to Graves who hung on for his second win in a row at Can-Am, he was

followed by Ron O'Neil, Erwin, Eddie O'Neil and Stevenson.

The Late Model feature went with only one caution and that was for

front row starters Luke Gibeau and Walt VanTassel who tangled in turn

four on the first lap. When racing got underway rookie Scott Kelsey was

shown as the leader. Kelsey ran a great race and held the lead over Pete

Papin and Ronnie McConnell through lap 10 when last weeks winner

McConnell powered past for the lead. McConnell, who picked up his first

ever win last Saturday went on for two in a row over Kelsey, with his

best finish of the season, Ben Tucker, Papin and Howard Dennee.

The 12 lap Street Stock feature came to the line with Brian

Salisbury and Will Glass on the front row. Salisbury was the early leader

but Al Pitts and Nick Makuch, the two drivers that have dominated the

class in 1997 were on their way to the front. Makuch took the lead away

from Salisbury on lap four but Pitts showed his strength and captured the

lead one lap later. This race would go caution free after lap 3 and

Pitts picked up the win over Makuch, Tiger Chapman, Bill Eisele and

Salisbury.

The marathon race of the evening was the 10 lap Economy Stock

feature. Kevan Therrien and Charles Duffany led the 16 starters but

trouble began at the drop of the green when Therrien failed to pick up

speed. Randy Allen was the first official leader of the event and led

laps one and two but as the leader rounded turn four contact was made

with Andrew Howard sending Allen to the rear and Howard to the pits. Erv

Miller was the next leader and held on through numerous cautions and

confusion until the final lap when Kyle Sharp moved under Miller down the

back stretch, the two raced side by side through the final turns with

Sharp stealing the win away. Sharp was later disqualified at a post race

inspection and the win was awarded to Miller. Craig Collier, Keith

Middlemiss, Mark Baltz and Rick Dusckas rounded out the top five.

The ladies Powder Puff saw two cars compete and Cindy Busler pick up

the win in her husband Tim's number 20 Late Model.

Next Saturday night will be McDonald's Restaurant and White's

Building and Lumber Supply night at the Can-Am Speedway. If you are

traveling to the 1000 Islands Area of New York State this coming 4th of

July weekend stop in at the Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville for some

great dirt track racing action. Gates open at 5 with racing getting

started at 7pm sharp, for more information call the Speedway at (315)

658-4431.

Last weeks article was ommitted by mistake, the winners were Lansing

Petzoldt (358 DIRT Modified). Kevin Fleming (DIRT Sportsman), Jim Graves

(IMCA Modified), Ronnie McConnell (Late Model), Bill Eisele (Street

Stock) and Andrew Howard (Economy Stock)

PEPSI-COLA/ MT. DEW

358 DIRT MODIFIED FINISH: Pat O'Brien, Rick Wilson, Tim McCreadie, Kevin

Martin, Jeff Sykes, Steve Roberts, Tim Fuller, Lee Gill, Lansing

Petzoltd, Dale Eggleston, Randy Conners, Dave Bartlett, Jim Narrow, Barry

Poitras, Jeff Hoff, BJ Vock, John Ramsey, Bob Melone, Rick Amo, Steve

Bilow, Bob Bennett, Doug Crews, Bob Ostrander DNS: Chuck Bower

FASTLUBE OF WATERTOWN

DIRT SPORTSMAN FINISH: Mike Clark, Billy Caprara, Todd Stewart, Rich

Hall, Steve Hall, Joe Cook, Jeff Narrow, George McIntyre, Jason Blair,

Kevin Fleming, RJ Gibbons, Tim VanBrocklin, Scott Britton, Dave Surace,

Scott MacCue, Larry Bivens DNS: Pete Schroy, Matt Butler

BERNHEISEL RACE CARS

IMCA MODIFIED FINISH: Jim Graves, Ron O'Neil, Glen Erwin, Eddie O'Neil,

Debbie Stevenson, Tom Horning

LATE MODEL FINISH: Ronnie McConnell, Scott Kelsey, Ben Tucker, Pete

Papin, Howard Dennee, Stan Parker, Walt VanTassel, Ryan Rarrick, Tim

Busler, Luke Gibeau

APPLEDALE FARMERS MARKET

STREET STOCK FINISH: Al Pitts, Nick Makuch, Tiger Chapman, Bill Eisele,,

Brian Salisbury, Steve Halladay, Will Glass, Steve Rookey, Andy Wells,

Richard Daye, Harold Ludlow, Terry Ingersol DNS: Laurie Handschuh

ECONOMY STOCK FINISH: Erv Miller, Craig Collier, Keith Middlemiss, Mark

Baltz, Rick Dusckas, Brian Heggarty, Clint Middlemiss, Charles Duffany,

Randy Allen, Tim Guild, Ken Partridge, Andrew Howard, Roger Bushey,

Hunter Grimes, Kevan Therrien