FIRST TIME MOD WIN TO MILTON: FERRI WINS WESTERN REGION RUN
WEEDSPORT, NY...Late afternoon showers did not deter the management at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway from putting on a show. Todd Milton had to be thrilled with this decision as he picked up his first ever big block DIRT Modified feature win driving for car owner Paul Vitale. A special 30-lap Western Region Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series race was won by Adam Ferri. In Street Stock action Dave Marcuccilli took his turn at dancing on his car's roof in victory lane. A caution and red filled enduro was finally won by Dan Mack.
Todd Milton blasted into the lead of the 35-lap DIRT Modified main at the drop of the green form his pole starting position. Ray Bliss, Ryan Phelps and Bob McCreadie were all in a tight battle behind Milton. On lap two Vince Vitale took a violent spin down the back stretch after having been slammed in the rear by another car to bring out the first caution of the race.
Milton was able to stretch out his advantage on the restart leading Matt Sheppard by nearly a full three seconds before the youngster from Waterloo, NY, started to close the gap on Milton. By lap 13 Sheppard was on the tail of Milton. But before he could make a move the second yellow flew on lap 16. Jim Burke had looped his new modified in the fourth turn.
The final yellow of the race came on lap 21 when Billy Decker slowed with mud built up in his rear wheel. through all of this Milton maintained his lead over Sheppard. Behind Sheppard a tight battle was taking place between McCreadie, Phelps Jack Johnson and Alan Johnson for the third spot. Also entering the picture was Tim Fuller.
On lap 29 McCreadie seemed to almost lose his car in the fourth turn. This allowed both Fuller and jack Johnson to move up to third and fourth respectively.
On the final lap Sheppard made a last ditch effort move to the inside down the back stretch to try and take the lead. His effort fell short by .117 seconds behind Milton at the finish line. Coming home in third was Fuller followed by McCreadie and Jack Johnson. The average speed of the race was 70.371 mph.
Thirty cars came down to take the green in the 30-lap Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series/Western Region main event. The first lap proved difficult in the sportsman as it did in the Modifieds and Street Stocks. Mike Conrow got high and scrapped along the outside first turn cement wall to bring out the yellow. Greg Doust was scored the leader of the first lap.
On the restart Doust maintained his lead over Adam Ferri, Bob Henry Jr., Dick park Jr. and Russ Hefti. A wild jumble involving the 19 Jr, of Rob Ledingham, almost spelled disaster on lap five. Two laps later the yellow was out. On the restart Ferri was able to out drag Doust and take the lead.
On lap 10, Jim Dallett looped in the first turn and sent the field scrambling Caught up in the accident were Ricky VanNeil and Eric Richardson.
The final two yellows of the race came back-to-back on laps 16 and 17, both for minor spin outs.
Ferri led a dash to the checkers and out distanced Hefti at the finish by over a full straight away, .751 seconds. Henry Jr. came home in third followed by Doust and Park Jr.. The race averaged some 69.481 mph. It was Ferri's second win in just two appearances at Cayuga County in 2004.
"We use our Merrittville setup here," stated an elated Ferri. "That setup seems to fit my driving style the best."
A major crash on the fist lap of the Street Stock main saw half the field tangled in the second turn. this accident came about as pole sitter Mike Minutolo did not seem to be able to get his car in gear on the start, bunching up the entire starting field.
Dave Emmons took over the lead on lap two and seemed to be able to hold back any challengers. On lap eight, second place runner Jamie Eldridge slammed a glancing blow off the inside fourth turn wall without losing his position. the yellow flew on the next lap for a bumper found in the fourth turn.
The final restart saw Marcuccilli take advantage of a faltering Emmons and take the lead. Marcuccilli then stretched out his lead. At the finish it was Marcuccilli followed by Eldridge, Colton Chappius, Nat Peckham and Eric Chapman.
CCFS LOVE NOTE: "I love you Rochelle, will you marry me!" was the tow behind sign displayed above the speedway by an airplane before the start of the races. This event had been planned by sportsman driver Tom Juhl. He and his crew were in the infield having pictures taken and being interviewed when the plane flew over. At the correct moment, Tom dropped to his knees and presented his girlfriend with an engagement ring. Rochelle, by the way said, "Yes!".
This Sunday will be Big Dog County 103.5 FM/1420 AM WACK Radio, as well as River Forest Campground night at the speedway. Joining the regular program of DIRT Modified, Sportsman, Street Stock and Enduro racing will be the Mini-Sprints from Central NY. Race time will start at 7 p.m. sharp.
TANNER CONSTRUCTION/NUCOR STEEL NIGHT SUMMARY
ENDURO (25-laps): - TOP 3- DAN MACK, Josh Hefti, Carl Werner.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: M. Minutolo, J. Eldridge, D. Hoffman Sr., E. Chapman, D. Emmons, D. Marcuccilli.
FEATURE (15-laps): DAVE MARCUCCILLI, Jamie Eldridge, Colton Chappius, Nat Peckham, Eric Chapman, Jim Cronin, Dave Emmons, Mike Minutolo, Frank Burnell, Dan Hoffman Sr., Steve Woodworth.
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: G. Doust, B. MacTavish, E. Richardson, K. Bates, J. Livingston.
HEAT 2: D. Park Jr., M. Conrow, M. Bowman, S. George, R. Ledingham.
HEAT 3: A. Ferri, R. Hefti, T. Juhl, J. Pitcher, G. Panunte.
HEAT 4: B. Henry Jr., K. Wills, L. Lincoln, J. Dallett, R. VanNeil.
CONSI:
SUNOCO SPORTSMAN SDS -WEST REGION-(30-laps): ADAM FERRI, Russ Hefti, Bob Henry Jr., Greg Doust, Dick Park Jr., Mike Bowman, Eldon Payne Jr., Loren Lincoln, Boyd MacTavish, Jim Livingston, Tom Juhl, Greg Panunte, Kevin Bates, Kyle Inman, Scott george, Kevin Wills, Ryan Richardson, Rob Ledingham, Brian Sage, Jeremy Pitcher, Bill Bleich, Jason Potter, Mike Conrow, Donnie Wetmore Jr., Henry Desormeau, Eric Richardson, Ricky VanNeil, Donnie Wetmore Sr., Jim Dallett, John Juhl II.
DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1: T. Milton, M. Sheppard, P. Ward, J. Pfeffer, G. Tomkins.
HEAT 2: B. McCreadie, C. Bower, T. Fuller, R. Phelps, M. Ward.
HEAT 3: R. Bliss, A. Johnson, J. Johnson, V. Vitale, J. Phelps.
FEATURE (35-laps): TODD MILTON, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller, Bob McCreadie, Jack Johnson, Pat Ward, Gary Tomkins, Alan Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Ryan Phelps, Billy Decker, John Pfeffer, Mike Ward, Jeff Brownell Jr., Jimmy Burke, Billy Dunn, Shawn Beardsley, Ray Bliss, Mike Bliss, Chuck Bower, Justin Haers, Vince Vitale.