ALAN JOHNSON WINS SUMMER NATIONALS: STEVE MILLER CAPTURED PRO STOCK CHECKERED
Ransomville, NY ... Alan Johnson took top honors last Tuesday night in the nineteenth annual Coors Light Summer Nationals. This Turning Stone Casino 358 Modified Super DIRT Series event was one that shouldn't have happened when one looked high in the sky Tuesday afternoon. After heavy afternoon rain showers, it took persistent efforts by the track crew and the awesome dedicated racing fans to allow another Summer Nationals to go into the records books. In the thirty-one year history of this special August event, there has yet to be a rain out.
Johnson took control at the get-go and led the entire distance aboard his Jake Spraker Used Cars & Trucks sponsored #1J. Johnson piloted his Bicknell chassis to a flawless race to capture his second Turning Stone Casino 358 main in a row and further extend his points lead. Stewart Friesen's third place finish secured him with a Super DIRT Week guaranteed spot.
Justin Haers and Johnson showed the thirty car strong field to the green flag in the one hundred lap main event. Johnson took the early lead followed by Haers, Stewart Friesen, Pierre Dagenais, and Matt Sheppard. Ransomville points leader Danny Johnson suffered a right rear flat on lap three and headed pitside. Another top five contender, Robbie Krull, also headed pitside. Danny was able to return prior to the restart but headed right back pitside with apparent mechanical difficulties.
Alan maintained the top spot on the restart with Haers and Friesen battling for second. Sheppard advanced to fourth with Chad Brachmann in tow. Alex Hoag drifted high in turn two and collected Jason Boyle in the process. Boyle suffered a flat tire due to the contact. Once again, Alan led the way on the restart as Friesen advanced to second. Brachmann followed into third as Haers and Planck battled for fourth.
Scott Wood slid into the infield on lap fifteen and brought out the yellow flag. Friesen and Planck battled side by side for second as Ricky Richner and Matt Sheppard raced for fourth. Brachmann seemed to fade slightly aboard his Original Pizza Logs entry as he slid back to sixth. Sheppard took over the fourth spot putting Richner back to fifth in his Jetport Lounge car. At 1/3 complete, Johnson was starting to encounter slower traffic as Planck and Friesen settled in second and third. Johnson had a tremendous amount of trouble getting by the lapped car of Luke Carleton which allowed Planck and Friesen to close the gap. Richner's great run came to an early end as he headed pitside on lap forty-eight. Boyle also headed pitside.
AJ Slideways continued to show the fast way around the half-mile oval as Planck and Friesen ran bumper to bumper in second and third. Sheppard and Hearn rounded out the top five. With Johnson in command, Friesen continued to challenge Planck for the runner up spot. The two switched lanes on several occasions but it was Planck hanging on. Johnson went on to take the checkered over Planck, Friesen, Sheppard, and Hearn.
Steve Miller of Olcott, NY captured his first Bobcat of Buffalo ProStock feature main last Tuesday night at the big R. Miller took the lead at the drop of the green and held off persistent challenges by points leader Dave Schulz as the final laps clicked away.
Miller grabbed the early lead followed by Steve Lewis, Mike Martin, Steve DeVos, and Dan Shoop. The event went clean and green through the first six laps prior to Lewis losing power on the front stretch and bringing out the caution. DeVos also headed pitside during this caution making the top five now Miller, Martin, Shoop, Dave Schulz, and Pete Stefanski. Miller set the pace on the restart and maintained the top spot as Schulz advanced to second. Dan Mayer moved into third with Stefanski in fourth at half-way.
Attrition was certainly a problem on Tuesday as only twelve ProStocks remained as the field took the five to go signal. The top four ran nose to tail in a tight battle for the top spot with Miller looking for his first win of the season. Disaster for visitor Jim Johnson as he went up in a ball of smoke on lap fifteen. Miller set the pace and maintained the top spot on the restart with Schulz a close second. Stefanski moved into third and as the white flag flew, Stefanski took a look underneath Schulz in turn four. The two came together resulting in Schulz spinning into the muck in turn four. Miller went on for the win followed by Mayer, Shoop, Tom Greene, and Dave Williams.
COORS LIGHT & HARD COPY WHOLESALE SUMMARY:
BOBCAT OF BUFFALO PROSTOCK FEATURE FINISH…STEVE MILLER, Dan Mayer, Dan Shoop, Tom Greene, Mike Williams, Kevin House, Brett Martin, Dave Schulz, Pete Stefanski, Steve DeVos, Rich Vinson, Mike Martin, Butch Zimmerman, John LaZore, Steve Lewis, Sean Keus, and Roger Chrysler. Heat Winners…Steve Lewis and Steve Miller.
TURNING STONE CASINO 358 MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH…ALAN JOHNSON, Dale Planck, Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Chad Brachmann, Pete Bicknell, Tim Fuller, Randy Chrysler, Justin Haers, Pierre Dagenais, Alex Hoag, Fred Carleton, Ron White, Mark Golding, Todd Gordon, Rich Vinson, Alan Jacobs, Jason Boyle, Rick Richner, Todd Burley, Brian Stevens, Rob Pietz, Scott Wood, Ed Cain, Chuck Hebing, Danny Johnson, Robbie Krull, Pete Cosco, Rick Hoctor. Heat Winners…Dale Planck, Justin Haers, and Piette Dagenais.