DANNY JOHNSON COLLECTS HIS THIRD WIN AT RANSOMVILLE ON THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION

by...Tana Robinson

RANSOMVILLE, NY..6/13/97....Pepsi presented the first ever EVE of Destruction last Friday night. Friday the thirteenth proved to be a good night for the Doctor as he came from tail starting position to take the win in the 35 lap main event.

Rick Bitterman and Dave Kubiniec sat on the front row for the feature go with Bitterman taking the early lead. Kubiniec, Ricky Richner, Russ Zimmerman and Don Spatarico rounded out the top five. Lap 2 found Bitterman slip up high in turn two, losing several positions and Kubiniec by for the lead.

The first caution flew on lap 6 for George Jowdy who spun off the back stretch. Todd Burley also headed pitside during this caution with a flat tire.

On the restart, Kubiniec showed the way as yet another caution flew almost immediately. Tim Murdoch, Alan Johnson and Scott Kerwin all came together in turn one but were able to continued on. As the yellow came out, Bitterman slowed quickly on the front stretch but a little to quickly for Vic Coffey as he collected the back end of the Bitterman mount. Both were running third and fourth but had to go tail as they ended up looking the wrong way on the front stretch.

Kubiniec maintained the lead on the restart followed by Don Martin, Mark Sylvies, Don Spatarico and Brian Stevens. Pete Bicknell and Danny Johnson had worked their way into the top ten by half way. As the laps clicked off, Johnson picked his way through traffic and by lap 18 into second. He went to work, reeling in the leader and took the lead from Kubiniec on lap 22. Bicknell and Alan Johnson came up to second and fourth with a hand full of laps remaining. Bicknell began to reel in Danny Johnson, catching him on the last lap. The crowd was on their feet as Bicknell moved in on Johnsons bumper in the final turns. Johnson was able to maintain the lead and win his third feature at Ransomville for 1997. Bicknell, Alan Johnson, Don Martin and Mark Sylvies rounded out the top five.

PEPSI MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH...DANNY JOHNSON, Pete Bicknell, Alan Johnson, Don Martin, Mark Sylvies, Scott Wood, Brian Stevens, Robbie Krull, Dave Kubiniec, Doug Gordon, Rich Vinson, Todd Burley, Tim Murdoch, Fred Cade, Vic Coffey, Rick Hoctor, Wayne Conn, Scott Kerwin, Don Spatarico, Rick Bitterman, Harry Sitler, Russ Zimmerman, Ricky Richner and George Jowdy.