JUSTIN HOLLAND RECORDS FIRST WIN IN NINE YEARS AT FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY IN 30 LAP SUNOCO MODIFIED MAIN EVENT. BOB MILLS COLLECTS THE BOUNTY ON TOMMY GROOVER IN THE FACTORY STOCKS.
KIKRWOOD, NY…Justin Holland returned to Sunoco Modified victory lane on Saturday at Five Mile Point Speedway. It was his first victory at the speedway since 2012. The division has now seen four different feature winners in four weeks. Rookie campaigner Bryce Bailey was the winner in the 25 lap Insinger Performance Crate Sportsman main event. He too was the fourth different winner in as many weeks.
Scott Landers and Joey Colsten led the twenty-three car starting field to the Jim Olin’s green flag in the 30 lap Sunoco Modified feature event. It was Landers taking advantage immediately at the start. Holland was one to watch right from the drop of the green as he immediately began to charge from seventh forward using the outside of the quarter mile oval. During the early stages Landers held the point as Frank Yankowski worked into second. Holland was already up to third place by lap 4 and set his sites on Yankowski for the runner-up position. The caution flew on lap 6 as Brett Tonkin slowed on the track and headed pit side. Tonkin made it back out on to the track before racing continued which would be the second straight week he would have to charge forward from last.
On the restart Holland wasted no time as he worked past Yankowski for second place. Another yellow came out on lap 8 and this put Holland alongside Landers for the restart. Landers chose the inside lane for the restart which worked to Holland’s advantage. When the green flew the duo ran side by side but Holland continued to be dialed in on the high side of the quarter mile and took over the lead on the same circuit. For the second consecutive week Danny Creeden was one to watch as he made a charge from the twelfth starting position toward the front. By the mid-way point of the race Creeden had worked all the way into the top five. At this point Holland continued to lead with Landers, Brian Malcolm, Yankowski and Creeden making up the top spots.
The final caution of the race flew on lap 23 as Nick Rochinski slowed with rear end issues in the 20r. Rochinski entered the night as the Modified point leader. On the restart Holland was flawless as he quickly pulled away again. Malcolm tried to challenge Landers for second place but Landers was up to the task as he opened his margin over Malcolm. Creeden was now working the extreme outside of the quarter mile as he battled with Yankowski side by side over the final laps. On lap 29 Creeden got past Yankowski and continued his run on Malcolm during the final lap. At the finish it was Holland scoring the popular win. Landers wound up with a season best second. Malcolm and Creeden were scored a tie for third place at the finish with Yankowski ending up fifth. Brian Puckett wound up sixth. Tonkin charged from last back to seventh place at the finish which was enough to put him in the point lead. Barry White came from fourteenth to eighth at the wire. P.J. Goodwin and Joey Colsten completed the top ten.
Rookie Bryce Bailey and Dominic Roselli started on the front row for the 25 lap Insinger Performance Crate Sportsman feature. Bailey took the lead right from the start and never looked back leading all twenty-five laps. In the early stages Bailey opened up his lead over Roselli but as the laps wound down Roselli did close within reach. The race went caution free with Bailey leading all twenty five laps for his first ever win in the class and at the speedway. Roselli had another good run with his second place finish. Brad Weaver, Seth Zacharias and Ray Leonard completed the top five finishers. Defending Track Champion Gary Smith continues to lead the points in the division but with his win Bryce Bailey jumped all the way to second in the standings.
A bounty was posted on Factory Stock driver Tommy Groover prior to Saturday’s racing action. Groover had won all three regular season point races. The bounty bonus started at $300 this past Saturday and ultimately only lasted one night. Billy Shoemaker and Jerry Fassett, Jr. started on the front row for the 20 lap Factory Stock feature. Fassett darted out to the race lead at the drop of the green. Bob Mills quickly moved forward from his fourth starting spot and he chased down the race leaders. Groover started ninth on the field after mechanical woes in his heat race slowed his efforts. On lap two Mills took over the race lead from Fassett. Groover was trying to work his way through the field as was a number of hard chargers. Defending Track Champion Justin Slezak was back after two transmissions went sour the week prior and he was advancing with Groover from his eighth starting spot. Out front Mills opened up his lead as four cautions slowed the action in the first four laps. On lap 4 Slezak was forced pit side after his hood came loose. He did return before racing went back green. On the restart Groover had advanced all the way to second with Charlie Towner in third. On the restart it quickly became a two car battle for the win and potential bounty. Mills held the point but Groover kept pace lap after lap. Groover tried all routes from the top to the bottom of the speedway to make a move on Mills. Mills was flawless as he held his line not allowing Groover to strike. On the final lap Groover made one last bid and looked to have a shot but again Mills held steady and went on for the win while collecting the bounty. Groover finished second as the theme continued between these two. The duo has won every 2021 race including the Spring Championship Series events for the class. Charlie Towner, Fassett and Todd Koegel completed the top five finishers.
The 20 lap Street Stock feature event found Bobby Wagner and Don Reeves leading the field to the green flag for the start. Wagner led the first two circuits but last weeks winner Gene Sharpsteen took over on lap 3. Sharpsteen was looking for the repeat win as he opened his lead over now second place contender Doug Polhamus. Sharpsteen looked strong out front when suddenly on lap 8 the car shot to the right of the speedway. This dropped him back to third as both Polhamus and Jerry Lobell, Jr. worked past. Sharpsteen was able to recollect the car despite something going wrong with the right front wheel. Polhamus led the balance of the feature and went on for his second win of the season. Lobdell, who was also looking for win number two finished second. Sharpsteen hung for third place. Abe Romanik and Don Reeves had strong runs for fourth and fifth place.
Adam Gilbert was a repeat winner in the Futures Sportsman division. Gilbert led all twenty laps after taking the lead from Joe Buchanan at the start. Matthew Backus finished second with Ned Fitch coming from sixth to finish third. Buchanan and Dale Folejewski completed the top five.
The Gilbert family collected more honors as Bethany Gilbert led all 12 laps in the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder Novice class to claim her first ever victory. Bethany and Adam are the first married couple to win feature events on the same night at the speedway. Austin Slater, Lucas Plaisted, Josh Griffin and Jason Seymour were the top five finishers.
Brian Salmini led the first 6 circuits of the Front Wheel Drive Four Cylinder Expert feature on Saturday. Andy Bolles took over on lap 7 on the way to his third victory of the season in the 20 lap feature go. Salmini finished second with Doug Newbigging, Dave Simms and John Maynard completing the top five.
Jason Sullivan and Bob Hamm sat on the front row for the 20 lap 600 Modified feature event. Sullivan raced out to the advantage at the drop of the green over Hamm. Out front Sullivan set the tone as Hamm was able to stay close but not make any serious challenges for the lead. Sullivan went on to lead all 20 laps for the apparent victory. Unfortunately, Sullivan failed post race technical inspection and Hamm was declared the winner. Rich Powell, James Randall, Nick Robinson and Mike Furman were the top five finishers.
SUNOCO RACE FUELS MODIFIED OFFICIAL FEATURE FINSH (30 LAPS): JUSTIN HOLLAND ($1,200), Scott Landers, Brian Malcolm/Dan Creeden (tie), Frank Yankowski, Brian Puckett, Brett Tonkin, Barry White, P.J. Goodwin, Joey Colsten, Brad Szulewski, Brian Mady, Jason Andrews, Aleia Geisler, Bobby Puckett, Brandon Fritch, Arthur Bray, Gregg Turner, Nick Rochinski, Mark Goodwin, Brian Franko. DNS – Jesse Kline, Glenn Knapp. Heat Winners: Brian Malcolm, Scott Landers, Brian Puckett.
INSINGER PERFORMANCE CRATE SPORTSMAN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (25 LAPS): BRYCE BAILEY, Dominic Roselli, Brad Weaver, Seth Zacharias, Ray Leonard, Gary Smith, Jason Feinberg, Blaine Klinger, Doug Smith, Alan Komar, Matt Brewer, Leo McGurrin, Dan Solomon, Mark Longstreet, Matt Sobiech, Jake Mele. Heat Winners: Bryce Bailey, Dominic Roselli.
FACTORY STOCK OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): BOB MILLS, Tom Groover, Charlie Towner, Jerry Fassett Jr., Todd Koegel, Billy Shoemaker, Justin Slezak, Mike Chilson, Cody Fassett. DNS – Josh Dumas. Heat Winners: Bob Mills, Jerry Fassett Jr.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOUR CYLINDER OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS): ANDY BOLLES, Brian Salmini, Doug Newbigging, Dave Simms, John Maynard, Greg Slater, Mike Jenks, Jeff Hayes, Josh Wilder. Heat Winners: John Maynard, Brian Salmini.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOUR CYLINDER OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (12 LAPS): BETHANY GILBERT, Austin Slater, Lucas Plaisted, Josh Griffin, Jason Seymour, Scott Beach. Heat Winner: Bethany Gilbert.
STREET STOCK OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): DOUG POLHAMUS, Jerry Lobdell, Gene Sharpsteen, Abe Romanik, Don Reeves, Josh Butler, Bobby Wagner, Josh Hislop, Phil Burns, David Stalker. Heat Winners: Doug Polhamus, Gene Sharpsteen.
FUTURE SPORTSMAN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): ADAM GILBERT, Matt Backus, Ned Fitch, Joe Buchanan, Dale Folejewski, Billy Fiske, Kyle Smith, Kyle Walsh, Amanda Scholtisek, Josh Fedo. Heat Winners: Adam Gilbert, Matt Backus.
600 MODIFIED OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): BOB HAMM, Rich Powell, James Randall, Nick Robinson, Mike Furman, David Brown, Kevin Whitman, Dustin Jones, Chelsie Bebe. DQ -Jason Sullivan. Heat Winners: Bob Hamm, Jason Sullivan.