TITTLE, WILKINSON, CARD, AND RAFFERTY CLAIM FIVE MILE FEATURES
KIRKWOOD, NY..6.28/97....Butch Tittle was the first Modified repeat winner of the year Saturday at Five Mile Point Speedway. Mike Wilkinson, Gary Card, and Joe Rafferty also claimed victories on CD 100, Parts Plus Auto Stores and WIX Filters Night.
Butch Tittle took the lead on lap 6 from Roy Sheilds in the caution filled DIRT Modifieds feature. Tittle held off a late charge by Mike Colsten to claim the win. His win made him the first repeat winner of the season at the Point.
Colsten was second ahead of Shields, Jeff Rudalavage and Dan Hineline. Sixth through tenth went to Chuck Akulis, Joe Donahue Jr, Tim Olenksi, Jim Witko Jr, and Dick Sungren.
The DIRT Sportsman feature was a dandy featuring a four car battle for the lead. Mike Wilkinson held the top spot as he battled with Dave Locke in the beginning. Bobby Yeager and Eddie White then joined in the hunt and made it a four car battle for the top spot.
Yeager moved ahead of Locke with five laps to go and tried every groove to get around Wilkinson. After a season of nothing but hard luck, Wilkinson was not to be denied as he went onto claim his first Five Mile Point win.
As good as the Sportsman feature was, the Street Stock feature probably outdid it. Rob Harder took the lead from Joe Scofeild at the halfway point and was followed by Dave Rumsey.
The three cars put on a tremendous battle for the lead, swapping positions on virtually every lap. Card made his move on the inside on lap 18 to take the lead from Harder. Rumsey followed him intos econd on next lap and tried hard to move around Card on the final lap.
Card held off the challenge and claimed his first win of the season. Rumsey was second ahead of Harder, Walt McClenan and Greg McKernan. Sixth through tenth went to Jamie Shea, Ricky Whitman, Scofeild, Doug Nelson, and Randy Gates.
The Pure Stock feature was also highlighted by a three car battle for the lead. Joe Rafferty slipped ahead of Matt Lipka on lap five but Lipka and Reed Maryott stayed right in his heels to the finish. That was how they came across the line with Rafferty taking his first win of the season.
Fourth and fifth went to Charlie Gilbert and Al Collingwood respectivly. Larry Hillis III, Mike Rafferty, Jim Palmer, Bryan Post, and Rob Henry completed the top ten finishers.
This Saturday is the 33rd Annual IRv Health Memorial featuring a 50 lapper for the Modifieds along with a full show of DIRT Sportsman, Street Stock and Pure Stocks. It's Old Timers Night and many drivers fromt he past will be on hand.
It's also Senior Citizens night. All seniors age 62 and older will be admitted free. The night will be capped off with fireworks. Race time will be at 6:30 pm, one half hour earlier than normal.
COUNTER POINTS...Rafferty's win came on he and his wifes anniversary...There have been 24 different feature winners in 25 races this year at the Point...Roy Sheilds won the Parts Plus Autostores Dash for Cash.
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MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: BUTCH TITTLE, Mike Colsten, Roy Sheilds, Jeff Rudalavage, Dan Hineline, Chuck Akulis, Joe Donahue Jr, Tim Olenski, Jim Witko Jr, Dick Sundgren, Jerry Northrup, Ralph Mele, Bill Huff, Glenn Knapp, Bob Hamm Jr, Randy Davenport, Mike Dennis, Dick Marcinko, Larry Croker, Dick Longstreet, Ron Mawson Jr, Jim Witko Sr, Mike Clapeprton, Dave Calaman, Brent Tittle.
DIRT SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH: MIKE WILKINSON, Bobby Yeager, dave Locke, Eddie White, Gary Stage, Jim Gabriel Jr, Don Hart Jr, Ladd Yeomans, Jim Crawn, Bill Walters, Bob Lane, Eddie McKernan, Chad Cook, Dennis Dietrich, John Patchowski, Richard Ives, Jim Toy, Jason Raught.
STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH: GARY CARD, Dave Rumsey, Rob Harder, Walt McClenan, Greg Mckernan, Jamie Shea, Ricky Whitman, Joe Scofeild, Doug Nelson, Randy Gates, Roger Salai, Larry Hillis, Art Darling Jr, Butch Klinger (DNS), Jerry Tonti (DNS).
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH: JOE RAFFERTY, Matt Lipka, Reed MAryott, Charlie Gilbert, Al Collinwood, Larry Hillis III, Mike Rafferty, Jim Palmer, Bryan Post, Rob Henry, Rich Powell, Randy Purcival, dan Slezak, Bill Clark.