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KIRKWOOD, NY…Three weeks ago Jim Crawn brought out a brand new Modified at Five Mile Point Speedway and the competition knew it could change things in the division at the quarter mile oval. After a fifth and a second place finish with the new mount Crawn returned to victory lane on Saturday night snatching the $1,000 bounty from Stewart Friesen. The victory in the 30 lap feature netted the former track champion $2,000 and perhaps more importantly vaulted him into the Modified point lead.
Much anticipation awaited the start of the 30 lap Modified feature event on Saturday night at the Point. Friesen had dominated the division so far in 2007 and with the $1,000 bounty placed on him the fans in attendance knew anything could happen. Last week Friesen held off Crawn for the victory but on Saturday night Crawn was ready to turn the tables. Dan Hineline and Bobby Puckett paced the starting field for the drop of the green flag. To no ones surprise Puckett took advantage of the very fast outside line of the quarter mile to take the lead. Several thrilling battles ensued throughout the field as Crawn was looking to beat Friesen to the front of the field.
Crawn moved into the runner up slot on lap 4 after working past rookie Jesse Kline he then immediately began to pressure Puckett for the lead. Friesen was on the move as he made his way past Mike Colsten, J.R. Crouse and another rookie, Eric Palmer to break into the top five. On lap 7 Crawn moved around Puckett for the lead. By the midway point Friesen had charged up to second place and tried to close the gap that Crawn had opened up. A caution on lap 23 would give Friesen his shot at the number position as the field was bunched up for the restart. Puckett and Hineline quickly emerged in a great battle for third place as Friesen tried to keep pace with Crawn. The remainder of the race would go caution free as Crawn would move on for his first win of the season and collect the $2,000 victory. Friesen wound up in second with Puckett, James Cornell and Hineline completing the top five. Jim Gabriel, Jr. Brian Malcolm, Kline, J.R. Hulburt and Tom McGurrin rounded out the top ten. Only two cautions slowed the event. Top five point leaders: (Crawn 263, Friesen 261, Crouse/McGurrin 243, Malcolm 224).
In victory lane Crawn commented, “This new car feels great and we learn something new every week with it. We’re happy to get this win, Stu has really been fast and it was fun racing with him tonight again.” He added, “It’s good to be one spot ahead of him this week.” Lastly Crawn said, “We feel good about our chances the remainder of the season and can’t wait for the STAR Series race this Wednesday, it should be a lot of fun.” In a rare runner – up role Friesen had this to say in reference to Crawn’s win, “He is a past champion here and one of the best so we always expect him to be tough to beat and tonight he was one better than us. We’re looking forward to racing him for the championship the rest of the season.”
The 2007 Sportsman division has been tremendous once again as there have been seven different winners in eight events. Andy Stout has been fast all year long but a string of bad luck had kept him out of victory land until Saturday. Stout took advantage of an outside front row starting spot to jump out to the lead at the drop of the green in the 20 lap feature event. Stout looked strong once again as he opened up his lead over the field. Eric Stephens, Jr. continued his recent strong performances by working his way into second place during the first half of the event. Brian Puckett has had to start deep in the field all season this week he took advantage of his eighth starting spot to make an earlier charge to the front. Joey Colsten recorded his first FMP win on April 21st and put on a show for the fans after starting back in the twelfth position. As the laps wound down in the feature Stout continued his strong pace out front as Colsten worked his way past former winner Butch Klinger and Puckett to break into the top five. At the finish it would be Stout recording his first ever FMP win with Stephens holding off a late charging Colsten for second. Klinger and Puckett rounded out the top five. By virtue of his fifth place finish Puckett takes over the point lead with Brad Grim. Each have tallied 350 points. Here is the remainder of the top five in points (Klinger 336, Mike Marold 332, Jamie Batzel 298).
John Rohacevich has taken a liking to Five Mile Point Speedway in the IMCA Modified division. Rohacevich has been calling the speedway home in recent weeks and this past Saturday he almost landed in victory lane, almost. Defending Track Champion Mike Stolaryck put an end to his bid with a lap 19 pass enroute to his third victory of the season. Rohacevich finished in second followed by Gary Dence, Mike Stoddard and Gary Roberts. Despite not recording a win yet this season Roberts consistency has paid off as he leads the point battle with 257. Joe Cole is second with 249 followed by Stoddard (246), KC Cole (238) and Brad Weaver (237).
For the second straight season Defending Pure Stock Champion Charlie Gilbert finds himself with an early season bounty placed on him. Gilbert recorded his third straight victory of the season on Saturday after a last lap pass of Doug Stack. Stack was again fast by leading the first 19 laps of the event as Gilbert kept pace. On the final lap Stack developed a bad push as Gilbert went past for the win. Each of the two have three feature wins to their credit this season. Harry Marvin, III wound up in second with Mike Codington, Steve Polhamus and Kevin Beach rounding out the top five. For Beach it was his first appearance of ’07. Stack finished in sixth after his last lap problem. Top five Pure Stock point leaders: (Gilbert 386, Polhamus 358, Marvin 352, VanAlstyne 296, Rafferty 292).
Gary Kinne took the lead on lap 7 and went on to lead the distance in the 12 lap Lightning Cat feature go. For Kinne it was his third win of the season. He also took over the point lead with the victory. Top five Lightning Cat point standings (Kinne 370, Underwood 358, Brigham 336, Simms 298, Clapper 236).
Counter points…Twenty nine Modifieds led the way for a pit full of 111 competitors that did battle on Saturday night…Jesse Kline holds a six point lead in the Modified Rookie of the Year battle with Eric Palmer…Both drivers had successful Sportsman careers and are making their mark in the Modified class…Joe Rafferty, Jr. went through his high school graduation ceremony prior to his seventh place finish on Saturday night…Wendy’s Restaurants and Pilot Truck Stop sponsored the kids bicycle races and due to the huge response four divisions of racing were held…The Kiddie Rides prior to the races were a big hit with the youngsters that waited in line for their opportunity to go for a ride around the quarter mile….
MODIFIED OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: JIM CRAWN, Stewart Friesen, Bobby Puckett, James Cornell, Dan Hineline, Jim Gabriel Jr., Brian Malcolm, Jesse Kline, J.R. Hurlburt, Tom McGurrin, Gary Griffin, J.r. Crouse, Chris Ostrowsky, Ken Titus, Carl Nagel, Eric Palmer, Brent Wilcox, Stan Frankenfield, Darrin Schuler, Matt Smith, Mike Colsten, Bob Hamm Jr., Glenn Knapp, Barry White. DNQ: Jack Admundson, Chris Grbac, Chad Cook, Dan Morden, Mike McCollum.
SPORTSMAN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: Andy Stout, Eric Stephens Jr., Joey Colsten, Butch Klinger, Brian Puckett, Jamie Batzel, Nick Rochinski, Denny Smith, Rich Wallace, Rich Budd Jr., Les Gillette, Jerry Tonti, Mike Nagel Jr., Paul Harrington, Casey Plummer, Doug Stepenchuk, Jason Griffiths, Grant Hilfiger, Brad Grim, Mike Lartz, Mike Marold, Bob Ferguson. DNS Don Caldwell.
IMCA MODIFIED OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: MIKE STOLARYCK III, John Rohacevich, Gary Dence, Mike Stoddard, Gary Roberts, James Cornell, Joe Cole, Kevin Cole, Scott George, Brad Weaver, Jeremy Shaw, Tyler Stoddard.
PURE STOCK OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH: CHARLIE GILBERT, Harry Harvin III, Mike Codington, Steve Polhamus, Kevin Beach, Doug Stack, JoeRafferty Jr., Rob Loucks, Cory Bond, Duane Codington, Gene VaAlstyne, George Frantz, Josh French, Dave Conklin, Nick Austin, Glen Robinson, Todd Sutliff, Brian Mills, Chuck Culbertson, Shannon Butts..
LIGHTNING CATS: Gary Kinne, Andy Brigham, Bill Gregory, Jason Bond, Craig Decker, Josh Wilder, Barry Wallace, Tom Velez, Rob Storey, Klem Underwood, Phil Clapper, Dave Simms, Dave Nixon, 47. DNS Joe Vaughn
BRC LAZER LATE MODEL SERIES: DAVE ZONA, Bud Phillips, Dan Stone, Jamie Griffiths, Jeremy Randall, Brett Spoor, Billy Marvin, Dan Snyder, Jim O’Hara, Keith Mudge, Tracy Gregory. DNS Alan Coy.
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