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KIRKWOOD, NY…On a night at Five Mile Point Speedway that honored “Irish” Joe Donahue one of his former on track competitors graced victory lane. Sixty-seven year old Carl “Bubby” Nagel emerged the victor of the 50 lap STAR Series Modified opener. Donahue a former FMP Modified Champion and Top 50 driver of all time passed away on Monday, April 30th. He and Nagel had many memorable battles at the quarter mile and Saturday’s victory served as one of the most fitting Modified wins in recent memory.
The STAR Series Modified 50 lap event was held over from last Saturday night after rains postponed the event on lap 22. When racing resumed this past Saturday Joey Grammes and Nagel sat on the front row. On lap 23 Grammes ran into problems as his car let out a burst of smoke and led while leading. The caution immediately flew as the field drew in on him. Grammes was able to fire the car back up and continued on from the rear of the field. On the restart Nagel took command of the point and he would never be seriously challenged for the lead. Another former Track Champion Jim Crawn closed in on several occasions but could never make a real challenge for the win. After the lap 23 caution for Grammes the caution would not fly again during the remainder of the 50 lap grind. At the finish it would be Nagel, Crawn and J.R. Crouse in the top three. Grammes rallied back to finish in fourth with Bob Hamm, Jr. completing the top five.
The regularly scheduled Modified 30 lapper found Glenn Knapp and rookie Jesse Kline on the front row. At the drop of the green Kline motored out front but a caution would bunch of the field only one lap in. On the restart Dan Hineline took command as a great battle developed between Gary Griffin, Stewart Friesen and Tom McGurrin for the second slot. As the race approached the halfway mark Hineline continued to lead as Friesen applied the pressure for the top spot. The second caution of the race flew on lap 18 as the Griffin car went up in smoke. On the restart Hineline maintained the point. Friesen tried high and low and eventually made the winning move on the next circuit. Friesen quickly pulled away as Hineline, McGurrin and now J.R. Crouse had a tremendous race for the runner up slot. The trio ran three wide for second as the laps wound down. At the finish Friesen would go on for his second win of the season with Hineline, McGurrin, Crouse and Kline rounding out the top five.
For the second straight Saturday Grant Hilfiger held the early lead in the 20 lap Sportsman feature event. Hilfiger has looked strong in both outings but on this night defending Track Champion Brad Grim used his track experience to move past on lap 7. Hilfiger remained close throughout but could not make another bid for the lead. Grim would go on for his first win of the season with Hilfiger winding up in second. Brian Puckett was impressive after making a late race charge on the extreme outside of the quarter mile. Puckett started ninth and came across the line in third at the checkered. Mike Marold had a solid run for fourth with Rick Raisner having a steady drive for fifth.
Like 2007 Tom Eiklor got the jump on the competition in the IMCA Modified 20 lap feature event. Eiklor notched a win early last season and is hoping this past Saturday’s victory will carry some momentum throughout the season. Eiklor started in the fifth position and wasted no time as he made his way to the lead on the first lap. A brief bobble on lap 10 gave Mike Stoddard the point with Gary Roberts in tow. Roberts moved past Stoddard on the next circuit but Eiklor was on the move and recaptured the lead himself on lap 14. At the finish it would be Eiklor, Roberts, Stoddard, Joe Cole and Brad Weaver in the top five.
Doug Stack has been a perfect three for three in Pure Stock action at Five Mile Point Speedway in 2007. Stack missed last Saturday’s racing due to a family commitment but has otherwise been undefeated. This week Stack took command on lap 3 and would lead the remaining 17 laps for the victory. Mahlon Shoemaker made his return to racing to pick up a second place finish with Charlie Gilbert coming across the stripe in third. Last weeks winner Steve Polhamus wound up fourth with Shannon Butts completing the top five.
The held over Lightning Cat feature was won by Mark Andrus. The regularly scheduled Cat feature ended in a dead heat between Mike Taylor and Klem Underwood. Casey Vaughan was the League of Their Own victor.
HELD OVER STAR SERIES MODIFIED FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH FROM LAP 22: CARL NAGEL, Jim Crawn, J.R. Crouse, Joey Grammes, Bob Hamm Jr., James Cornell, Joel Batzel, Jeremy Smith, Tommy McGurrin, Brian Malcolm, John Sowle, Stewart Friesen, Dan Hineline, Jesse Kline, Brian Decker, Ken Titus, Darrin Schuler, Barry White, Butch Getz, Eric Palmer, Eric Bonham, Jerry Curry, Glenn Knapp, Brent Wilcox.
HELD OVER LIGHNTING CAT FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: MARK ANDRUS, Klem Underwood, Dave Simms, Gary Kinne, Brian Backus, Mike Taylor, Chris Taylor, Andy Brigham, John Darrah, Chris Wheeler, Brandon Campbell, Travis Hayes, Philip Clapper.
REGULAR SCHEDULED MODIFIED FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: STEWART FRIESEN, Dan Hineline, Tommy McGurrin, J.R. Crouse, Jesse Kline, Bobby Puckett, Jeremy Smith, Jim Crawn, Eric Palmer, Carl nagel, James Cornell, Chris Ostrowsky, Darrin Schuler, Bob Hamm Jr., Joel Batzel, Brian Malcolm, Jerry Lifold, Glenn Knapp, Dave Calaman, Gary Griffin, Tom Oleski, Barry White, Stan Frankenfield, Brian Decker.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: BRAD GRIM, Grant Hilfiger, Brian Puckett, Mike Marold, Rick Raisner, Shaun Walker, Andy Stout, Les Gillette, Butch Klinger, Nick Rochinski, Jason Griffin, Gary Easterday, Jerry Tonti, Jamie Batzel, Byran Pitcher, Harry Cook Jr., Eric Stephens.
IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: TOM EIKLOR, Gary Roberts, Mike Stoddard, Joe Cole, Brad Weaver, Tyler Stoddard, KC Cole, Jeremy Shaw, Mike Stolarcyk III, Gary Dence, Scott George.
PURE STOCK FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: DOUG STACK, Mahlon Shoemaker, Charlie Gilbert, Steve Polhamus, Shannon Butts, Harry Marvin III, Eugene VanAlstyne, David Conklin, Mike Codington, Joe Rafferty Jr., Steve Mattscheck, Josh Towner, Nick Austin, Chuck Culbertson.
MODIFIED RUNNING ORDER ON LAP 22: Joey Grammes, Carl Nagel, Jim Crawn, Stewart Friesen, Brian Malcolm, J.R. Crouse, James Cornell, Bob Hamm Jr., Jeremy Smith, Joel Batzel, Brian Decker, Ken Titus, Jesse Kline, John Sowle, Tommy McGurrin, Butch Getz, Darin Schuler, Eric Bonham, Barry White, Jerry Curry, Dan Hineline, Glenn Knapp, Eric Palmer, Brent Wilcox.
REGULAR SCHEDULED LIGHTNING CAT FEATURE OFFICIAL FINISH: TIE FOR FIRST PLACE: TIE FOR VICTORY BETWEEN MIKE TAYLOR AND KLEM UNDERWOOD, Mark Andrus, Gary Kinne, Chris Wheeler, Brandon Campbell, Andy Brigham, Joe Vaughan, Chris Taylor, Travis Hayes, Josh Wilder, Josh Mudge, Charles Phelps, John Darrah, Philip Clapper, Brain Backus, Dave Simms.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: CASEY VAUGHAN, Jennifer Taylor, Mandy Hart.
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