Tremont is King of the Track, Bachetti, Salisbury and Groff Take Wins!

Saturday August 23, 2008

By: Rodney Rescott

West Lebanon, NY--But first, the Big Block Modifieds had to finish the 4th installment of the King of the Track presented by Saxton Signs and Waste Management. The remaining 24 laps was had to be run this week due to fog delay from last week.

On the front of the field was the Rich Salisbury’s #24S and the #55 of Mike King. When the green flag dropped, Salisbury was out front and in control until lap 14 when the power plant sprung a leak, sidelining Salisbury from the remainder of the event. King took control and paced the field.

But lingering back in 3rd was the #34B of Andy Bachetti, as he meandered behind King for most of the event. But as the laps started winding down, the #34B began to pick up steam. Bachetti closed on King with just 2 laps left and tried to pass for the win. King held on to see the white flag. As they exited turn 2, Bachetti once again tried to shoot the gap. King moved to the top to block the fast lane, but the #34B already committed to the bottom.

As they exited turn 4 for the checkers, Bachetti took over the top spot, and went on to take the win. King finished 2nd, followed by J.R. Heffner, Kenny Tremont Jr., and Mark Flach finished a solid 5th.

With that finish, Tremont rapped up the title of King of the Track by a mere 2 points over Heffner, and took home the $4,000 paycheck for his efforts.

With the big money paid out, the Benjamin Moore Paints 358 Super Series took to the high banks for their 24 lap event. The #8 of Ray Hoard was on the point and the #24S of Rich Salisbury in tow. But the lead was short lived as the #4 of Andy Bachetti charged around the outside of both Salisbury and Hoard on lap 4 to take the lead.

Once the #4 was out front, nobody was gonna catch him. As the checkers finally flew, Bachetti took the win, with Salisbury finishing 2nd, Matt Quinn was 3rd, followed by Ray Hoard and Kenny Tremont Jr.

Rewind 3 weeks ago, on the first lap of the 30 lap Big Block Modified main event, Steve Hough in his #34 makes contact with the #24S of Rich Salisbury sending Salisbury into the outside wall, ending his night. Fast forward to this past Saturday night, Salisbury blew up his #24S, Hough offers his big block modified to race, while he races his small block in the Coor’s Light 30 lap feature event.

At the green flag, Salisbury, who started on the front row, took control of the field ahead of the #20 of Matt Quinn and the #7 of John Ruchel. But the field was clean and green for the first half of the race with the #34S of Salisbury still out front, Quinn in tow and the #98 of Marshall up to 3rd.

The first caution flew on lap 28 with the #87x of Paul Gilardi making contact with the outside wall in turn 4. Salisbury once again was out front, but the caution flew once again as the #45 of Wayne Jelley slowed on the front stretch. Heavy contact between the #518 of Kyle Sheldon and the #7 of John Ruchel sidelined both for the remainder of the race.

The green flew again, but no one was gonna touch the #34S of Salisbury, capturing his first big block modified win of his career, and in the mean time made history as Steve Hough’s cars have won the last 3 races in a row, with 3 different drivers. (Hough, Bachetti, and Salisbury)

Following Salisbury was Quinn, Marshall was 3rd, Mark Flach Jr was 4th, and Keith Flach rounded out the top 5.

The Sportsman division took to speedway for their 20 lap feature event with the #2 of Kale Groff took control early, and never gave it up. The caution flew a few times for spinning cars, then for the #80 of Kory Sandstedt, #00 of Chris Kokosa, #25 of Frank Harper.

But that did not shake the rookie, as he saw checkers for the first time in Sportsman class, Pierce finished 2nd, Jeff Watson was 3rd, Neil Stratton 4th, and Chris Tryon completed the top 5.

The Pro Stocks were on deck for their 20 lap feature event that had a special $800 to win check from DeVries Lumber. Out front early was the #118 of Jeff Kelmel with the #315 of Jon Routhier in tow. But by lap 3, the #44 of Steve Hankle took over the top spot and never looked back. Even a few cautions late in the event that included heavy contact by the #76 of Kevin Arnold with the outside wall ended his night, and even a spinning #315 and light contact with the #24 of Robbie Speed wasn’t enough to shake Hankle form the top spot.

At the checkers, Hankle takes his first career win, and thee DeVriess Lumber $800 check, followed by a late charging Paul LaRochelle, Jay Casey, Jason Casey, and Robbie Speed completed the top 5.

Scott Kilmer captured his 6th win of 2008 in the Limited Pro Stocks. In the Pure Stocks, the winners were: PS#1 - Lloyd Hamlin, PS#2 Jeff Kreutiziger, and PS#3 was captured by Phil Wood.

Next Saturday brings the Modified Points to a close presented by Doherty Brothers Construction. This season ending event will feature a special $4,500 paycheck from Royal’s Garage and DeVries Building Supply. More big payday’s will be on tap as the Sportsman will race for a $1,250 bonus, and Pro Stocks will run for $1,050.

Then it’s the annual season apex, as the Kings 200 Weekend takes over the Valley of Speed. This 2 day event will feature the Lucas Oil ESS Sprints on Friday night accompanied by the Sportsman class, Limited’s, Pure Stocks, and 4 cylinders. Then on Saturday, it’s the Budweiser 200 and the Benjamin Moore Paints 358 Race of Kings Twin Challenge and the Pro Stocks.

For ticket information or a full schedule of events, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, click on “Speedway” or call the speedway offices at (518) 794-9606, (518) 794-9965.

Saturday August 23, 2008 -

Held Over 08/16 Feature (24 Laps) - 1) Andy Bachetti, 2) Mike King, 3) J. R. Heffner, 4) Kenny Tremont Jr, 5) Mark Flach Jr, 6) Brian Berger, 7) Donnie Ackner, 8) Guy Sheldon, 9) Wayne Jelley, 10) Eddie Marshall, 11) Paul Gilardi, 12) Hector Stratton, 13) John Ruchel, 14) Matt Quinn, 15) Lorne Browe, 16) Keith Flach, 17) Steve Hough, 18) Kyle Sheldon, 19) Skippy Fox, 20) Dave McFeeters, 21) J. C. Flach, 22) Jeff Trombley, 23) Dan Humes, 24) Ryan Larkin, 25) Rich Salisbury, 26) John Hewitt, 27) Mark Pullen, 28) Rob Pitcher

Modified "King of the Track" Final Standings (Race 4 of 4) - 1) Kenny Tremont Jr (206), 2) J. R. Heffner (204), 3) Guy Sheldon (196), 4) Andy Bachetti (181), 5) Mark Flach Jr (168)

Modified Results (30 Laps) - 1) Rich Salisbury, 2) Matt Quinn, 3) Eddie Marshall, 4) Mark Flach Jr, 5) Keith Flach, 6) Kenny Tremont Jr, 7) Andy Bachetti, 8) Hector Stratton, 9) J. R. Heffner, 10) Guy Sheldon, 11) Donnie Ackner, 12) Brian Berger, 13) Mike King, 14) Lorne Browe, 15) John Ruchel, 16) Wayne Jelley, 17) Steve Hough, 18) J. C. Flach, 19) Kyle Sheldon, 20) Dave Mcfeeteers, 21) Paul Gilardi, 22) Rob Pitcher 23) Ryan Larkin, 24) Dan Humes, 25) Skippy Fox, 26) Jeff Trombley

358 Modified Super Series Results (24 Laps) - 1) Andy Bachetti, 2) Rich Salisbury, 3) Matt Quinn, 4) Ray Hoard, 5) Kenny Tremont Jr, 6) Art Collins, 7) Ernie Palmer, 8) J. R. Heffner, 9) Tom Faxon, 10) Steve Hough, 11) K. C. Goewey, 12) Mark Pullen, 13) Wayne Keyes, 14) Kevin Winters, 15) John Hotchkiss, 16) Derek Schibi

Sportsman Results (20 Laps) - 1) Kale Groff, 2) Chad Pierce, 3) Jeff Watson 4) Neil Stratton, 5) Chris Tryon, 6) Kyle Hoffman, 7) Brian Sandstedt, 8) Kyle Armstrong, 9) Kim Lavoy, 10) Chris Lynch, 11) Frank Harper, 12) Whitey Slavin, 13) Brett Haas, 14) Wayne Keyes, 15) Jeff Kelly, 16) Kevin Petrucci, 17) Kevin Winers, 18) Danny Sanchez, 19) Chris Kokosa, 20) R. J. Daley, 21) Ed Harkin, 22) Alex Bell, 23) Kolby Schroder, 24) Kory Sandstedt, 25) Alan Houghtaling, 26) Paul Knox, 27) Chris Bradbury