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By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA-July 8, 2007- Sunshine and blue skies graced the Big Diamond Raceway for Sunday’s Naftzinger’s Used Auto Parts Nutty Buddy Enduro Series Race Number Three. Mike Reichert of New Ringgold scored an exciting late race victory in the 6/8 Cylinder 100-lap enduro, and Bill Price Jr. of Luzerne won a hard earned 100-lap 4 Cylinder triumph.
A good turnout of 40-6/8 Cylinder cars took part in their Enduro race. Phil Levering, a former Roadrunner driver at the speedway, was scored the race leader throughout nearly the entire distance. Levering held a comfortable advantage, working professionally through lapped traffic. As the event drew to a close, however, Levering’s machine began to lose power. Approaching the two-to-go signal, heavy smoke began to pour from Levering’s machine.
The Reichert brothers (Mike and Chris) stormed past the ailing Levering vehicle. They raced closely through the final pair of corners, and M. Recheirt (who originally started 30th) held off C. Reichert for the victory. It was Mike’s second win in three events, and Chris’s third straight runner-up finish. Brad Krause, Michael Benulis, and Jason Brown each earned their best finishes of the season finishing third through fifth.
Bill Price Jr. and Ollie Stewart entertained the crowd as they exchanged the lead in the 4-cylinder event on several occasions. On the 60th circuit, Price (originally started from 23rd) overhauled Stewart for what turned out to be the winning pass. Price proceeded to beat Stewart by a few car lengths as they raced to the checkered flag. Roadrunner competitor, Chris Holland finished third ahead of opening day winner Jeff Sheetz. Tony Wetzel, who drives a #27x replica painted car honoring the Late Mike Geiser (a former Small Block Modified driver at the track), finished fifth.
Price incidentally is a pavement racer, making a rare start on the dirt.
Following the enduros, test and tune sessions were held throughout the evening. Around thirty-five different racing machines were in attendance for the practice sessions. Divisions represented included Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Enduro cars, Super Sportsman, Tobias Sprinters, Xcel 600 Modifieds, ARDC Midgets, Late Models, and Legend Cars.
Kauffman’s BBQ Chicken sponsors a four division card of auto racing this Friday evening July 13. The 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, and Xcel 600 Modifieds are slated to appear. Gates open at 5:00PM with warm-ups at 7:00PM, and racing goes green at 7:30PM.
The next Nutty Buddy Enduro Series event (race number 4 of 5) is scheduled for Sunday August 5, with a starting time of 4:00PM.
6/8 Cylinder Enduro (100-laps): 1) #63-Mike Reichert, 2) #327-Chris Reichert, 3) #51-Brad Krause, 4) #54-Michael Benulis, 5) #8-Jason Brown, 6) #6-Shawn Naftzinger, 7) #3-Jamie Naftzinger, 8) #F0F-Dan Strenkoski, 9) #777-Robert Staller Jr., 10) #20-Dave Burkert, 11) #16-Pappy Felker, 12) #14-Bob Engle, 13) #1X-Cory Student, 14) #43x-Richard Petey, 15) #102-TJ Fitzpatrick, 16) #58-Doug Naftzinger, 17) #2-Ron Kriner, 18) #29B-Ricky Bender, 19) #49-Chuck Dietzel, 20) #302-Ralph Bankes Jr., 21) #15W-Jesse Wagner, 22) #19-Nick Reichert, 23) #84-Ralph Bankes III, 24) #36-Bee Luckenbill, 25) #34-Eric Ankenbrandt, 26) #94-Robert Bankes, 27) #666-Chuck Detweiler, 28) #911-Sam Detweiler, 29) #86-Joe Costello, 30) #33-Keith Owens, 31) #43-Tim Vidal, 32) #44D-Leo Securda, 33) #01-Christopher Lord, 34) #301-Michael Kiehl. DQ: #39-Phil Levering, #75-Howie Bott, #46-Kevin Brown, #7-Steve Fessler. DNS: #10-Shon Elk, #83-Jeff Krause.
4 Cylinder Enduro (100-laps): 1) #48-Bill Price Jr., 2) #X3-Ollie Stewart, 3) #8-Chris Holland, 4) #54-Jeff Sheetz, 5) #27x-Tony Wetzel, 6) #39x-Rob Pyle, 7) #11-Jeremy Krauss, 8) #7-Brian Flannery, 9) #85-Wayne Krauss, 10) #55-Joe Caracappa, 11) #44-Kevan Schaeffer, 12) #15T-Tim Fitzpatrick Jr., 13) #19x-Jimmy White Jr., 14) #15-Earl Eichert Jr., 15) #24-Larry Spencer, 16) #23-Dutch Brensinger, 17) #10-Erik Osenbach, 18) #28JR-James Foose Jr., 19) #19-Mike Odwazny, 20) #29-JoAnne Cromyak, 21) #115-Shaun Miller, 22) #56-Andrew Tobash, 23) #66-Kevin Holland, 24) #333-Tanner Detweiler, 25) #83-Dale Shoemaker, 26) #127-Gary Grim, 27) #2W-Jamie Wagner.
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