SHEPPARD WINS HIS FIRST AT CAYUGA COUNTY; DOUST TOPS SPORTS GO
WEEDSPORT, NY...Matt Sheppard, from Waterloo, NY, looked "hot" right out of the box last Sunday, winning his first live televised Empire Series race at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway. Greg Doust, from Jamesville, NY, topped the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman main. Dave Marcuccilli won the Street Stock feature, while James Werner won the 4-cylinder Enduro.
Jeff Brownell Jr. grabbed the lead of the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature at the drop of the green flag. He raced side-by-side with Todd Milton, who came up one lap short last week with a broken drive shaft. Milton was able to complete his pass and was recorded as the leader on lap three.
Ryan Phelps moved into second followed by Brownell Jr., Chuck Bower and Matt Sheppard. On lap nine Sheppard moved low in the third turn and drifted Phelps to claim second. He then pulled within striking distance of Milton. These two would break away from the rest of the field.
A real battle was developing behind the two leaders. Gary Tomkins finally passed Phelps for third and then pulled out to a three car lead over Phelps. Behind Phelps it was Tim McCreadie, Vic Coffey and Chuck Bower.
As the leaders drew into lapped traffic, Milton was able to use the lapped traffic to put a lapped car between himself and Sheppard. Each time Sheppard quickly made up the distance he lost.
On lap 33, with just two laps remaining the question on everyones' lips was "could Milton hold out for the final two laps?" That was answered when Sheppard drew high exiting the second turn and blasted into the lead.
At the finish it was Sheppard with the win followed by Milton, Tomkins, McCreadie and Tim Fuller. Milton expressed his disappointment following the race at losing his second television show in a row in the final two laps. The race went green-to- checkers and averaged 73.925 mph around the .375 mile oval.
The yellow flew five times during the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman main. A battle for the lead saw Jason Potter lead Mike Bowman. Bowman came right back and took the lead on lap two. Potter then regained the lead on the next lap and held on to it through lap six. Greg Doust got the better of Potter on a lap seven restart.
In the closing laps Bob Henry Jr., driving Jim Kite's regular ride, moved into second and threatened to pass Doust, who at first had his hands full holding back a charging Mike Bowman. On lap 18 Henry Jr. made his move ducking low and securing the runner up position.
Doust took the win followed by Henry Jr., Bowman, Eldon Payne Jr. and Ryan Richardson rounding out the top five. The average speed of the race was 68.149 mph.
Three Sportsman played tag with the wall during the race. On lap one Phil LaVare hit the third turn wall for the first yellow. On lap nine it was Rob Relfe's turn at the concrete, hitting the third turn wall. On lap 11 Jim Dallett took his turn, hitting the first turn cement.
The Street Stock main would go green-to-checkers with Dave
Marcuccilli leading all 15 laps. Steve Woodworth finished some
three car lengths back in second. An equal distance back in third
was multi-time winner dan Hoffman Sr. Ron Hawkins just inched out
Mike Minutolo at the finish line to claim fourth.
CAYUGA CHAT: Two major accidents scared the evening. Sportsman driver Chris Mangarelli saw his steering falter sending his car straight into the first turn cement wall. The danced on top of the wall before rolling down the outside embankment. The second accident came in the modified consi. When four wide action became too much Brian Michaels had his car squeezed tightly. Michaels hopped a wheel and then sent Jimmy Phelps dancing on top of the back stretch cement, finally leaving the ball park. Phelps returned and landed a ride in the Ricky Breed number 34 for the feature, however he never made the feature starting grid...The Weedsport Speedway opened 50 years ago tonight, July 24, 1955. That day Ron Narducci took the opening Sportsman victory.
This Sunday the Colton TV Empire Series continues featuring the DIRT Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks. Rounding out the program will be the regular 4-cylinder Enduro. Race time begins at 7 p.m. sharp. Kinney Drug Stores returns as the primary sponsor on the evening.
BASS PRO SHOPS/ITHACA GUN presents the COLTON RV EMPIRE SERIES, RACE #3 NIGHT SUMMARY
ENDURO
FEATURE (25-laps): -TOP 3- James Werner, Bill Werner, Carl Wilkins
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: D. Marcuccilli, R. Hawker, S. Woodworth, M. Minutolo, D. Jones.
FEATURE (15-laps): DAVE MARCUCCILLI, Steve Woodworth, Dan Hoffman Sr., Ron Hawker, Mike Minutolo, Dale Guernsey, Don Jones, Mike Lavarnway, Jimmy Brown, DNS: Eric Chapman, Robert Kelley.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: G. Doust, R. Richardson, J. Livingston, J. Potter, J. Juhl.
HEAT 2: M. Bowman, T. Juhl, S. George, J. Pitcher, A. Pfeffer.
HEAT 3: E. Payne Jr., D. Wetmore Jr., R. Hefti, B. Henry Jr., P. LaVare.
FEATURE (20-laps): GREG DOUST, Bob Henry Jr., Mike Bowman, Eldon Payne Jr., Ryan Richardson, Scott George, Jeremy Pitcher, Jason Potter, Tom Juhl, Rob Pratt, Lance Willix II, Jim Livingston, Donnie Wetmore Jr., John Juhl, Jim LaRock, Amy Pfeffer, Harvey Caulkins, Jim Dallett, Rob Relfe, Russ Hefti, Steve Doell, John Juhl II, Phil LaVare.
DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1: J. Brownell Jr., R. Phelps, A. Johnson, J. Pfeffer, M. Bliss.
HEAT 2: T. Milton, M. Sheppard, T. McCreadie, B. Decker, R. Bliss.
HEAT 3: C. Bower, J. Haers, G. Tomkins, V. Coffey, T. Fuller.
CONSI:
FEATURE (35-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Todd Milton, Gary Tomkins, Tim McCreadie, Tim Fuller, Vic Coffey, Billy Decker, Ryan Phelps, Pat Ward, Alan Johnson, Chuck Bower, Justin Haers, Darryl Ruggles, Jeff Brownell Jr., Derrick Podsiadlo, Brian Michaels, Mike Payne, Shawn Beardsley, Mike Ward, Joel Batzel, Vince Vitale, Bob McCreadie, Ray Bliss, John Pfeffer.