AKULIS EXTENDS STREAK TO FIVE
FIFTY-FIVE MODIFIED TEAMS converged here at Penn Can last Friday night in quest of the bounty placed on point leader Chuck Akulis, but all went away empty-handed as the Stolarcyk Motorsports team rallied to score win number five on high banks of this third-mile oval.
As the green flag dropped the standing-room only crowd saw Johnson City's Matt Solomon push the Binghamton Whaler Modified into the lead while John Parks and father/son team of Carl and Mike Nagel gave chase. Back in the field, two of Penn Can's best were making their way to the front as Mark Terry and Akulis picked off car after car, and by lap number nine Terry had moved into 5th while Akulis was riding in the 12th spot.
As the race approached the half-way point Scranton's Bob Puckett made his bid for the lead, moving past Solomon into the lead. His glory was shortlived, however, as the car rolled to a stop on the backstretch, sidelined with mechanical troubles and ending his dream of collecting the $400 bounty on Akulis.
As the green returned, Solomon retook the lead with Mark Terry, George Watson, Carl Nagel, Gary Griffin, and Akulis close behind. Akulis went to work in earnest, picking off another car on each ensueing lap until finally, as the Whalermobile entered turn 3, Akulis dove for day light and emerged in front as the leaders completed lap number 18. From there it was all Akulis as he opened a Six car lead while Solomon and Terry staged an edge-of-your-seat battle for 2nd. Solomon barely edged Terry for the runner-up spot as the pair crossed the stripe, while Gary Griffin and George Watson rounded out the top five spots.
A TWENTY-THREE CAR FIELD took the green in the "B" Modified feature in which "Flyin' Brian" Weaver captured his 2nd "B" of the season over Bernie Griffin. Weaver took the lead on the first lap and fended off the challenges of a persistent Dick Longstreet until Griffin moved in to challenge for the lead. Weaver nosed out Griffin at the wirw with Longstreet 3rd, Bill Dianella 4th, and Ron Ford 5th.
At Penn Can, even the Consi fields resemble a feature event, as sixteen cars took the green in each of the two consis, trying to capture one of the two qualifying spots in each event.
Jim Sherman returned to his winning ways in the Late Model feature, taking the lead from Jamie Page on the 5th lap and never looking back. Page held off the challenges of 2 time winner Curt Tunilo to finish 2nd while Allen Coy and Mike Hinds finished 4th and 5th.
Mike Clapperton took his first ride ever down Penn Can's Victory Lane Friday night, taking the lead from Mark DeVaul following a 5th lap caution period and then fending off the efforts of Dave Flynn, Ed Reddon, and DeVaul. Last when his week's winner Mike Frederick moved in to challenge, but was side-lined suspension broke after moving into 2nd place. Flynn, DeVaul, Decker, Reddon, and Rick French then staged a back and forth battle for the DeVaul number 2 spot, with Flynn capturing the place position and Reddon, crossing the line in order. Decker, and
Tonight the Victoria 200 Qualifying Series moves to Penn Can Speedway, with the winner of the event seeded in the Fulton Speeday 200 lap event which boasts one of the largest purses in Northeastern dirt racing. The first driver across the line gets the spot, with the understanding that the Victoria 200 is a small-block event and the Penn Can representative may have to change motors for that race. "If the winner of the qualifying spot is one of our regulars," said Promoter Seward Rice, "we're going to give him an additional $500 to help with his expenses when he goes to Fulton to represent the Penn Can." A driver must have competed in at least 2 prior events this season at Penn Can to qualify for the $500 incentive.
Coming up next week it's Mid-season Championship time and the competitors will really be geared up for a victory. The Modifieds will run 40 laps, with the winner pocketing $1200. If Chuck Akulis should win again tonight, the bounty on him would go to $600 making the night worth a cool $1800 to a new winner! So be sure and be with us next week here, where the RACE FAN IS NUMBER ONE!
"SEE YOU AT THE RACES!!!" MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps) CHUCK AKULIS, WINDSOR, NY 2.Matt Solomon, Johnson City, NY 3.Mark Terry, Krikwood, NY 4.Gary Griffin, Peckville, Pa 5.George Watson, Scranton, Pa 6.Carl Nagel, Windsor, NY 7.Dick Marcinko, Jessup, Pa 8.John Parks, Susquehanna, Pa 9.Joe Donahue, Kinuick, Blakely, Pa Jr, Kirkwood, NY 10.Joe
"B" MODIFIED WEAVER, FEATURE (15 laps) BRIAN CONKLIN, Peckville, Pa 3.Dick Longstreet, Scranton, Pa NY 2.Bernie 4.Bill Dianella 5.Ron Ford, Afton, NY 6.Bud Griffin, Cary, Harpursville, NY 7.Spike Reed 8.Dale Porecca, Newfoundland, Pa 9.Jeff Rudalavage, Eynon, Pa 10.John Bair, Walton, NY