AKULIS MODIFIED IS 1988 CHAMPION

Windsor's Chuck Akulis captured fourth Modified track his championship Friday night at Penn Can Motor Speedway while notching his 8th win of the 1988 Binghamton Whalers season feature in the event. Akulis again displayed his prowess by besting a 52-car field which included many of the Northeast's finest dirt drivers.

Scranton's George Watson moved the Main Machine small-block into the early lead and threatened to run away from the field. A caution flag denied Watson his early advantage and fellow Scranton drivers Dave Jenkins and Jim Sanderson gave chase. Akulis, starting in the 10th row, picked his way toward the front and emerged in 4th spot az the race reached the half-way point. Akulis blasted underneath Sanderson as the two navigated the 1st and 2nd turns, and soon Watson also succumbed to the Kissacky-owned Motorsports machine. Stolarcyk On lap 18, Akulis took the lead for good and motored to a comfortable lead, while Watson notched his best finish of the 1988 season by finishing 2nd. Butch Tittle staged a late-race rally to finish 3rd with Lynn Highhouse, in the Dixon Steel Fabricating Olsen Eagle, hot on his heels for 4th. Local favorite Dick Sundgren of End well rounded out the top five finishing positions.

Bobby Puckett staged a near wire-to-wire victory in the 24-car "B" Modified feature, out-distancing Green- town, Pa's Dale Porecca for the win. Ron Mawson, Dick Marcinko, and Matt Solomon, behind the wheel of the Whaler- mobile, all crossed the line in order.

Randy Decker entered the night tied with Dave Flynn for the most Street Stock victories in 1988, but when the checkered flag fell Decker had captured win number 4 and increased his point lead over runner-up Mike Frederick.

Steve Gall, Dave Flynn, and John DiMichele staged the battle for the early lead, with Flynn moving past Gall on the 2nd lap. Decker then began his quest for the top spot, and by lap seven was running side-by-side with leader Flynn. The caution flew as Mike Frederick staged a spectacular flip on the backstretch but Frederick took it all in stride, and after the crew righted the car. Frederick returned to the racing action and proceeded to score an impressive 8th chased Decker place finish. Flynn across the line with two-time winner Bill Trego 3rd, Wayne Perricone 4th, and Mickey Rosa 5th.

Jim Sherman notched his 5th win of the year in the Binghamton Whalers Late Model feature, taking the lead from Randy Leuthe on the 2nd lap after runner-up Gary Roberts lost a wheel coming off the 4th turn. Montrose, Pa's Allen Coy moved the Snake Creek Marine #53 into the runner-up spot and set his sights on Sherman. But Sherman was undaunted, and used the horsepower of his recently rebuilt motor to blast his way into Victory Lane. "Jim really needs a win tonight," said Rose Sherman of her husband before the start of the race, "after all the mechanical problems he's has for the past 4 weeks." Sherman received his "moral-booster," and enters this week's SPECTACULAR just a few points behind leaders Curt Tunilo and Allen Coy. Coy held on to finish 2nd with Larry Mills 3rd, Leuthe 4th and last week's winner, Jamie Page, finishing 5th.

The Binghamton Whaler Hockey organization, a strong supporter of auto racing in the Twin-Tier area, was the sponsor of the night's racing activities, and bolstered the purses in all 4 feature events of the evening. On behalf of Seward Rice and the staff of Penn Can many thanks to Trainer Jon Smith General Manager Tom Mitchell, and the entire Whalers organization for their support of racing at Penn Can Motor Speedway.

This week marks the birthday of Penn Can founder "Pappy" Beavans, and the huge birthday card signed by hundreds of drivers, sponsors, and fans is evidence of the love and respect that the racers have for one finest. On behalf of everyone at Penn Can Speedway.. of racing's

"HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY, PAPPY!"

MODIFIED FEATURE (25 lapa) CHUCK Tittle, AKULIS, WINDSOR, NY 2.George Watson, Scranton Saylorsburg Honesdale, Pa Pa 3.Butch 4.Lynn Pa 5.Dick Highhouse, Sundgren, End well, NY 6.Bill Mead, Montrose, Pa 7. Mark Terry, Reynolds, Sanderson Kirkwood, NY 8.Carl Scranton Pa Scranton Pa Jenkins, Scranton, Pa 9. Jim 10.Dave

"B" MODIFIED FEATURE (15 laps) 2. BOBBY PUCKETT, SCRANTON, PA Dale Poxecca, Greentown Pa 3. Ron Mawson, Pittston, Pa 4.Dick Marcinko, Jessup, Pa 5.Matt Solomon Johnson City, NY

1st Heat: Car1 Nagel 2. John Parks 3.Tim Bunsic

2nd Heat: Sanderson 2. Watson 3.Tittle 3rd Heat: Gary Griffin 2.Scott Landers 3.Brian Weaver

4th Heat: Akulis 2.Jenkins 3.Reynolds 5th Heat: Bernie Griffin 2 Mike Colsten

3. Joe Donahue, Jr

1st Consi: Mark Terry 2.Sundgren 2nd Consi: Highhouse 2 Ron Gleason

LATE MODEL FEATURE (15 lapa) JIM SHERMAN, SUSQUEHANNA, PA 2.Allen Coy. Montrose, Pa 3.Larry Mills, Deposit, NY 4.Randy Leuthe 5.Jamie Page, Afton NY 6.Bryce Williams, Elk Lake. Pa 7.Jim Banks 8.Mike Hinds, Montrose, Pa 9.Curt Tunilo, Mud Creek, Pa 10.Lou Sparks, Jr, New Milford, Pa

1st Heat: Chuck Towner 2.Gary Roberts 3.Page

STREET STOCK FEATURE (20 laps) RANDY DECKER, SUSQUEHANNA, PA 2.Dave Flynn Factoryville, Pa 3.Bill Trego, Moscow, Pa 4.Wayne Perricone, Honesdale, Pa 5.Mickey Reddon, Thompson, Pa 7.Mark De Vaul, Windsor, NY 8.Mike Ross 6.Ed Windsor, NY 9.Mike Stoddard, Port Frederick, Crane, NY 10.George Leatso, Conklin, NY

1st Heat: Frederick 3.Ross 2.Bob Trapper

Heat: 3.Decker 2.Brian Franko Flynn 3rd Heat: Reddon 2.Trego 3.Stoddard