RUDOLPH WINS BIG BLOCK MODIFIED SPECIAL, AS VOGT, EUCKER AND WATSON ALL FIND THEIR WAY TO RACEWAY 7’S VICTORY LANE.
CLOSE RACING SUPPLY RACE REPORT:
Monroe Center, OH (July 21, 2023) By Marc Hoegerl:
To start off Raceway 7’s weekly story. With heavy hearts our condolences go out for longtime
Raceway 7 PR guy and friend Jay Pees, who passed away on July 21st from an extended illness.
Jay had been a big part of the Raceway 7 family since 1993. Jay had also been one of the top racing photographers in the tri-state area, to go along with his further PR duties at neighboring tracks. The racing community has truly lost one of its biggest icons, as well as one of its greatest family members. We, at Raceway 7, were so fortunate to have such a great man in our company throughout these memorable years.
On a gorgeous mid-summer evening, Jake Eucker would pick up his 2nd win of the season in the Lakeview Ford Econo Mods. Alexis Vogt would nail down her first ever Raceway 7 wins in the Sunnyside Farm Transit Mini Stocks. Ransomville, NY’s, Erick Rudolph would grab the victory in the Big Block Modifieds Special and Joel Watson would get his first Raceway triumph of the season in the Whelen UMP Modifieds.
Fowler, OH’s, Jake Eucker would take advantage of his front row starting position, and never look back, capturing his 2nd Raceway 7 Lakeview Ford Econo Mod victory of the season. 2021 champ Jarett Young would come home 2nd, June 30th feature winner Garrett Calvert was 3rd, Zach Etzel, with another fine run was 4th, and points leader Dennis Lunger would round out the top 5.
Alexis Vogt, who has been so close to picking up her first ever Raceway 7 Sunnyside Farm Transit Mini Stock feature win, would finally seal the deal. Vogt would hold off the challenges of point’s leader Brian McGarvie throughout the 12 lap main event, to christen Raceway 7’s victory lane, for the first time in her career. McGarvie would come home in the bridesmaid spot, Derrick Randolph in another podium finish was 3rd. Zach Downes was 4th, as Phil Powell would round out the top 5.
The Big Block Modifieds made their first appearance at Raceway 7, since June 29, 2018, for a $1,500 to win special event. Erick Rudolph, no stranger to victory lane, would grab the lead at the outset and go unchallenged the entire 25 lap main event. This would be Rudolph’s 2nd career Big Block Modified win at the Ashtabula County based speed plant. Following the Ransomville NY native across the line would be, Chas Wolbert, Brad Rapp, and early retiree Garrett Krummert.
The nightcap would see the 18 car field of UMP Modifieds hit the surface. Joel Watson who has been on a lengthy dry spell in 2023, would finally get the job done, holding off a fierce late race challenge from regional standouts, Dave Hess Jr. and Nate Young, recording his first Raceway 7 Whelen UMP Modified triumph of 2023. This would also be Watson’s 63rd career Raceway 7 feature win in the division, to go along with 8 UMP Modified track titles. June 2nd winner Dave Hess Jr. would have to settle for 2nd. Points leader, and 5 time winner in 23’ Nate Young was 3rd, as Troy Johnson and Warsaw, NY’s Michael McGee would complete the top 5.
LAKEVIEW FORD ECONO MODS (18 Entries)
Heat Race Winners: Jarett Young, Garrett Calvert, Jake Eucker
Feature: 1)Jake Eucker 2)Jarett Young 3)Garrett Calvert 4)Zach Etzel 5)Dennis Lunger 6)Kyle Adkins
7)Casey Harmon 8)Alex Brockway 9)Buzz Seitz 10)Gary Sullivan 11)Kevin Vanderhoof 12)Dale Reiser 13)Donald Watson 14)Carter Bidwell 15)Drew Barnes 16)George Vestal 17)Alex Seikkinen DNS)Brandon Porter
Lap Leaders: Eucker (1-15)
SUNNYSIDE FARM TRANSIT MINI STOCKS (15 Entries)
Heat Race Winners: Steve Campbell, Alexis Vogt
Feature: 1)Alexis Vogt 2)Brian McGarvie 3)Derrick Randolph 4)Zach Downes 5)Phil Powell 6)Zoey Gill 7)Trisha Jacklett 8)Mike Barr 9)Devin Haefke 10)Tristan Start 11)Billy Joe Seamans 12)Steve Campbell 13)Andy Richards 14)Jess Mullins DNS)Josh Robson
Lap Leaders: Vogt (1-12)
BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (4 Entries)
Heat Race Winner: Brad Rapp
Feature: 1)Erick Rudolph 2)Chas Wolbert 3)Brad Rapp 4)Garrett Krummert
Lap Leaders: Rudolph (1-25)
WHELEN UMP MODIFIEDS (19 Entries)
Heat Race Winners: Troy Johnson, Eric Reinwald, Nate Young
Feature: 1)Joel Watson 2)Dave Hess Jr. 3)Nate Young 4)Troy Johnson 5)Michael McGee 6)Dustin DeMattia 7)Dan McDonald 8)Chad Wright 9)Casey Bowers 10)Brent Rehbergen 11)Bud Watson 12)Alan Atkinson 13)Dan Davies 14)Brandon Grossman 15)Chuck Steinle Jr. 16)Justin Sax 17)Eric Reinwald 18)Mark Titus DNS)Josh McDonald
Lap Leaders: J. Watson (1-20)
NO RACES FOR: Evergreen Lake Park Campground RUSH Crate Late Models, Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks, Bonnell’s Collision RUSH Modifieds.