HEBERT AND JOHNSON GRAB MODIFIED WINS IN CAN-AM OPENER
LAFARGEVILLE, NY…..David Hebert and Alan Johnson captured Modfiied feature event wins in the DIRT Big Block and 358 Modified classes respectively as Caprara’s Can-Am Motorsports Park opened its doors Saturday night for the Trans Meridian Airlines/Cole Muffler and Brake Can-Am Kickoff.
Jason Barney jumped out to the early lead in the 30-lap DIRT Modified feature event with Alan Johnson challenging for the top spot while Lee Gill worked his way into contention. David Hebert was also in the mix, taking the lead on lap 5.
Hebert continued to hold on to the top spot in the middle stages of the event, while Johnson’s bid for a win ended with a mechanical problem. Lee Gill took over the runnerup position and began to pressure Hebert for the lead as Pat O’Brien moved his way into the top three from his ninth starting spot.
In the final run to the checker, Gill made several attempts to steal the lead away, but Hebert held on for the win with Gill a few car lengths back in second. Pat O’ Brien was third, followed by Jason Barney and Danny O’ Brien.
DIRT Modified heats were won by Barney and Johnson.
Bruce Sawyer and Mike Adderley lead a 28-car field down to the green flag for the 25-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature event, with Adderley holding the lead for the first two laps. On lap 3, John Ramsey took over the top spot and held it until lap 5 when Alan Johnson moved to the outside lane and took over the lead.
Frankie Caprara was also on the move, getting the second spot a few laps later. After a lap 8 caution, Caprara nearly stole the lead away from Johnson on the restart, only to see Johnson pull away once again. Adderley settled into a battle for the third spot with Willy Decker and Ramsey.
During a lengthy green flag period in the middle of the race, Johnson was able to maintain his lead, and held it once again after a restart for 4 laps to go to record the win. Caprara took the second spot, followed by Adderley, Decker, and Ramsey.
358 Modified heat races were won by Sawyer, Adderley, and Ramsey.
The 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature event saw Kyle Dingwall take the early lead. Matt Butler tucked in behind. Butler took over te top spot for three laps, with Dingwall returning to the point just before the halfway point.
Jack Meeks took his turn at the top spot on lap 10 and held the lead until the final restart with two laps to go. Scott Webb charged at Meeks on that restart and muscled his way by Meeks to take the lead with Lance Willix in tow. Webb held off Willix for his first career win, with Willix, Meeks, Dingwall, and Butler rounding out the top five.
DIRT Sportsman heats went to Butler, Dingwall, and Webb.
The 20-lap IMCA Modified feature saw Chris Taylor jump into the lead at the start of the event and hold on to the lead in the first half of the race while Larry Bezner and Rich Keller battled for the runnerup spot. A tangle on the frontstretch saw Keller nose into te frontstretch wall and Bezner make a pit stop to repair damage to the right rear corner of his car.
Rob Keller then stepped into the challenger’s role, battling Taylor tooth and nail for the lead for several laps until he too encountered problems. Benzer came back through the field and looked to have a shot at the leaders at race’s end, only to slip off the track in turn three.
Taylor survived a pair of last lap restarts to hold off Jon Dumas for the feature win, with defending track champion Paul Calhoun taking the third spot. John Mason and John Carr completed the top five.
IMCA Modified heats went to Kevin Buff, Taylor, and Bezner.
Dave Mannise took the lead from Steve Gilmore and held off Dave Pope for the win in the 15-lap Pure Stock main event. Shane Ray, Travis Andrews, and Fran Bryant rounded out the top five.
DJ Forbes took the win in the 15-lap Dwarf car feature event over Mike Isabelle and Rob Garafolo.
Racing action continues at Caprara’s Can-Am Motorpsorts Park next Saturday night as Exiss Trailers, Advantage Auto Stores, and Real Rock 100.7 present the DIRT Modifieds, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, IMCA Modifieds, and Pure Stocks. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and racing will start at 7 p.m.
RACE SUMMARY-CAPRARA’S CAN-AM MOTORSPORTS PARK
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2004
DIRT MODIFIEDS-DAVID HEBERT, Lee Gill, Pat O’ Brien, Jason Barney, Danny O’Brien, Dale Planck, Frankie Caprara, Bill Gill, Ryan Bartlett, Ted Lamb, Todd Stewart, Gus Schmidt, Zac Aubertine, Danny Bilodeau, Alan Johnson, Kyle Wilson, Bob McCreadie.
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS-ALAN JOHNSON, Frankie Caprara, Mike Adderley, Willy Decker, John Ramsey, Danny Bilodeau, Ryan Bartlett, Larry Welling, Perry Francis, Eric Goureau, Richard Chauvin, Gus Schmidt, Brian McDonald, Mike Prentice, John Lazore, Bill Cook, Rob Galloway, Greg Monica, Delbert LeGrow, Pierre Charette, Bruce Sawyer, Doug Fuller, Justin Mason, Tom Jock, Steve Bilow, Bob Bennett, Patrick Dupree, David Orr.
SPORTSMAN-SCOTT WEBB, Lance Williix, Jack Meeks, Kyle Dingwall, Matt Butler, Scott Parliament, Jason Potter, Clayton Brewer, Jessica Zemken, Jeff Stevenson, Shawn Donath, Marcel Percore, Tim Van Brocklin, Tim Alton, Andy Howard, Jordan Benett, Rob Bellinger, Brad Winters, Ryan Poole, Tom Schroy, Scott Goodrich, Rick Amo, Bill Eisele, Jeff Robinson, Pete Schroy, Rick McCready, Chris Mile.
IMCA MODIFIEDS-CHRIS TAYLOR, Jon Dumas, Paul Calhoun, John Mason, John Carr, Brian Copp, Dale Caswell, Chris Thurston, Rick Duskas, Kevin Buff, Rick Reed, Tom Docteur, Terry Gardner, Larry Bezner, Rayn Scott, Kevan Cook, Neil Edgar, Rob Keller, Dan Hiltz, Jerry Frobare, Jake Rataboy, Rich Keller.
PURE STOCKS-DAVE MANNISE, Dave Pope, Shane Ray, Travis Andrews, Fran Bryant, Dana Aikins, Steve Gilmore, Charles Duffany, Dion Oakes, Andy Wells, Kevin Duffany, Brian Holder, Andy Wells, Ken Hamm, Jason Gilmore, Frank Hyatt, Bill Gardner, Steven Gilmore, Mike Cousins, Zeke McKeown, Chuck Cushman, Harvey Arquette, Steve McIntyre, Ryan Rarrick, John Holden, Tim Reynolds, Les Sanford.
DWARF CARS-DJ FORBES, Mike Isabelle, Rob Garafolo, Tim Devendorf, Dan Williams, Steve Miller, Lowell Zehr, John Byrnes, Brad Shova, Kelly Skinner, Doug Williams, Darren Austin, Jhon Behron, Rick Demo, Joe Garafolo, Jeff Barker.