Bob McCreadie Takes Firsts
CANANDAIGUA, NY...6/7/97....Who would have thought that Bob McCreadie
would be listed as a new winner this late in the season at
Canandaigua. But last Saturday McCreadie took his first feature
win at the speedway in 1997. He joined first time ever winner
Chuck Graham, who earned the victory in the DIRT Sportsman
division. The only driver repeating on the season was Tom Barron
with his win in the street stock division.
One of the best, and most competitive features ever run at
Canandaigua Speedway was staged last Saturday. The start saw just
21 cars take Ben Viatle's green flag, with Gil Tegg Jr. driving
the Darrell Simmons car number 32 taking the lead. Troy Griffin,
driving a small black modified found the low side of the speedway
to his liking and he was able to squeeze by Tegg for the lead on
lap two. Griffin then held off both Tegg and Darryl Ruggles
throughout the next six laps. Then on lap seven, Ruggles was able
to pass both Tegg and Griffin for the lead.
The front pack was all in close contact with one another.
Bob McCreadie was now running third with Gary Tomkins and Joe
Plazek rounding out the top five.
Gil Tegg Jr. was able to pull off the move of the year, by
retaking the lead on lap 17. McCreadie was now in second with
Ruggles in third, all three running as close as being under a
blanket together.
On lap 20 the complexion of the race was about to change.
The yellow flew for new comer Bill Gill, who parked his mount on
the inside of the second turn. On the restart a number of drivers
began to make contact with one another. On lap 24 the yellow had
to fly again when Gary Tomkins' mount was forced off the track
and into the inside of the first turn. In the meanwhile McCreadie
was able to have taken the lead one lap earlier, on lap 23.
The ensuing restart saw McCreadie maintain the lead he had
built for himself. But now it was going to be just one lap at a
time! The Tomkins accident led to a spin on the restart in turn
one by Vic Coffey on lap 25. Then on the lap 26 restart Coffey
and Scott Schrader found themselves looped in the fourth turn
after Schrader tried to stick the nose of his Denny's Restaurant
car in between the two cars of Coffey and Greg Tatich.
The next restart saw Joe Plazek, running in second, slow to
a stop along the back stretch, out of the race and out of the
track points lead. Finally the jinx was broken and the field
started to complete laps again. McCreadie held on for his first
Canandaigua win of the year. He was followed across the finish
line by Alan Johnson, Tegg Jr., Moravec and Pat Ward.
In sportsman action Chuck Graham led from start to finish,
which doesn't sound hard if there were no cautions in the race.
This event featured a double caution on lap nine. A multi-car
tangle resulted on the first effort to restart the main. Through
all of this Graham held strong with Rich Swarthout running a
strong second. At the finish Graham earned his first ever victory
in the sportsman division. Swarthout held on for second but in a
post race inspection his car was found to have had an illegal
hood scoop configuration. Swarthout was stripped of his points
for the evening as well as his earnings. He was still credited
for a second place finish. Rounding out the top five were Karl
Comfort, Mike Button and Lance Dusett.
The street stock division saw one intense struggled for the
lead. Through it all Tom Barron held the front position. He
passed Scott Fremouw for the front spot after Fremouw spun in
another race car's fuel, spilled on the track, while leading.
This moved Barron into the front position. Les Whyte put up a
valiant fight over the last few laps but was unable to catch the
high flying Barron. Following Barron across the finish line were
Whyte, Rick Miller, Foster Hughes and Steve Pesarek in a brand
new car for 1997.
This Saturday night will be Peter Koch Chrysler/Dodge and
Jeep night at the speedway. Koch Motors supplies DIRT with a
completely stocked Safety Truck for the DIRT Circuit. It will be
a regular night of racing at Canandaigua featuring the street
stocks, sportsman, modified and enduro divisions. Race time will
be at 7 p.m..
CANANDAIGUA MOTORS NIGHT SUMMARY
STREET STOCK
HEAT 1: F. Guererri, S. Fremouw, Ri. Miller, F. Hughes, L. Whyte.
HEAT 2: B. Brown, T. Barron, C. Ferguson, D. VanArsdale, B.
Fremouw.
FEATURE (15-laps): TOM BARRON, Les Whyte, Rick Miller, Foster
Hughes, Steve Pesarek, Randy Miller, Nick Rizzo, Betty Fremouw,
Dean DeMallie, Jim Burba, Scott Fremouw, Jason Whipple, Carl
Reynolds II, Dave Aurand, Tim Smith, Dave VanArsdale, Billy
Brown, Jim McGuigan, Dave McQuay, Scott Trotter, Chris Ferguson.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: C. Graham, V. Vitale, P. Guererri, K. Stell, B. Hoff, D.
Starken.
HEAT 2: H. Albrecht, M. Button, K. Comfort, R. Swarthout, S.
Gray, B. Champion Jr.
HEAT 3: L. Dusett, T. Henderson, R. Holden, S. Ridley, S. Joy, L.
Lincoln.
FEATURE (20-laps): CHUCK GRAHAM, Rich Swarthout, Karl Comfort,
Mike Button, Lance Dusett, Howie Albrecht, Scott Ridley, Todd
Henderson, Vince Vitale, Paul Guererri, Bill Hoff, Randy Holden,
Steve Gray, Dale Darling, Keith Stell, Jon Kuluszo, Jim LaRock,
Lance Lauffenburger, Loren Lincoln, Dave Starken, Rob Richmond,
Scott Joy, Jerry Haers, Bob Champion Jr.
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: B. Varin, S. Schrader, B. Turner, J. Plazek, C. Donk.
HEAT 2: D. Ruggles, A. Johnson, T. Griffin, J. Moravec, B. Gill.
HEAT 3: T. Bauer, B. McCreadie, G. Tomkins, G. Tegg Jr., P. Ward.
FEATURE (35-laps): BOB McCREADIE, Alan Johnson, Gil Tegg Jr.,
John Moravec, Pat Ward, Gary Tomkins, Ted Bauer, Bryon Turner,
Bobby Varin, Charlie Donk, Scott Schrader, Troy Griffin, Greg
Tatich, Vic Coffey, Darryl Ruggles, Joe Plazek, Jeff Hoff, Bill
Gill, Ron White, Ray Bliss Jr., Tim Burnett.