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SUSQUEHANNA, PA – Over the course of the past month, Pat Ward hasn’t had much luck. The driver out of Genoa, N.Y. got a right rear flat while running third, was wrecked while battling for the lead and had a last lap pass in the final corner cost him a victory.
On Tuesday night at the Penn-Can Speedway Ward’s luck finally turned. Ward drew the pole position after finishing second in his heat race event and led the entire Hot Summer Night’s Race of Champions Dart Dirt South Region 75-lap main-event to claim his first ever RoC victory and his first victory at Penn Can in almost two decades.
“It feels really good to go out and win one of these things,” stated Ward. “We finally had a good draw and a good car on the same day.”
He pocketed $4,000 for his efforts plus an additional $500 for being the first 358-Modified finisher.
Ward, driving a John Wight owned Enders powered Bicknell, took the lead at the drop of the green flag and never relinquished the top spot even though he raced in heavy lapped traffic for much of the extra-distance affair due to the tight confines of the 1/3rd mile oval.
At the finish, Ward was chased to the line by Olyphant, Pa. driver, Jeff Rudalavage who finished in the runner-up position after starting alongside Ward on the front row.
Race of Champions Dart Dirt North Region Champion, Ronnie Johnson, brought his Enders powered Teo Pro Car home in the third spot.
Grandview Speedway’s all-time feature winner, Craig Von Dohren, of Oley, Pa., brought his no.1c home in the fourth spot while current Penn-Can Modified point leader, Mike Gular, completed the top five.
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STARTING UP FRONT: Ward took full advantage of his pole starting position. He bolted out in front when racing action commenced with Rudalavage immediately falling in line behind him as the duo worked the bottom of the speedway.
“We were really lucky to start up front,” stated Ward. “I don’t know if it was good enough to win had to started tenth or 12th though.”
HEAVY TRAFFIC: Within ten laps, Ward had caught the tail of the field and began working meticulously through traffic as Rudalavage sat right behind him waiting for a mistake. Ward worked both the outside and inside lanes as he negotiated his way around the slower cars.
BUMPER TAP: On lap 20, Ward had closed in on the no.11 of Billy Thorton. Several times Ward tried to pass him to no avail. Finally, on lap 23, Ward gave Thorton a shot in the bumper on the back straightaway to make him aware of his presence.
“I went to go around him a couple of times and he came up on me and I had to slam on the brakes,” said Ward. “I didn’t know if he knew I was there or not so I finally gave him a tap on the bumper and he moved out of the way.”
SPINNING AROUND: The race was slowed for the first time on lap 28 as Alan Johnson slowed in turn four and came to a stop with ride owned by Butch Getz. The next two cautions were for spinning cars. The first was for Vic Coffey as he spun in turn four. The next came on lap 42 with Gular going around and making contact with the infield tires in turn four.
THE BIG ONE: With Ward continuing to lead, a torrid battle was on going for positions just outside the top five. This battle ended swiftly on lap 55 when Brian Weaver and Joey Grammes came together in turn three collecting Stewart Friesen, Jeff Strunk and Dan Vauter.
WAITING FOR COMPANY: Ward continued to lead as the race neared its conclusion but he was expecting many of the drivers who started farther back to come up and challenge him.
“I was worried about those guys running the 9:1 motors,” stated Ward. “I know the 53 (Gular) and nine (Weaver) are really good here with those and I kept thinking I heard someone back there.”
NOT OVER YET: As Ward raced into turn three on the final lap, the caution came out. Joey Grammes spun in turn four setting up one final restart. This extended the event but it was a relief for Ward who was in the midst of heavy lapped traffic.
“I really didn’t want to race with those guys at the back of the field so I backed down a little,” said Ward. “I wasn’t sure how close anyone was to me so I didn’t want to go and try to pass them and then lose the race like that.”
ONE SPOT SHORT: Ward led the final lap to secure the victory with Rudalavage finishing in the runner-up spot. Rudalavage, who resumed racing this season after being a car owner last year, was happy with the outcome even though he came up one spot short.
“We came out of this one unscathed,” said Rudalavage. “I earned a little money tonight to help pay the bills so over all it was a pretty good night.”
NEEDED MORE DRIVE: Rudalavage’s car was getting into the turns well but he couldn’t get the necessary drive off the corner to mount a serious charge on Ward without the help of lapped traffic.
“I needed to be a lot better off the corners,” commented Rudalavage. “I tried to force the issue getting into the corners but he (Ward) could drive away from me off the corners. Lapped traffic was really tough for both of us and that was really the only time I had an opportunity to get to him.”
FIRST TIMER THIRD: Johnson, of Duanesburg, N.Y., finished in the third position after starting third in his first ever appearance at ‘the Can.’
“Starting position was everything for us,” stated Johnson. “You really couldn’t pass out there tonight. I’m not sure how it normally but I was just happy we were able to maintain where we started in order to get a solid finish.”
QUALIFYING: Four heat races were held for the 30 cars attempting to qualify with wins going to Jerry Higbie Jr., Coffey, Gular and Weaver. The sole consolation event was won by Jeff Strunk.
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In other racing action, Jeff Crambo captured the win the 25-lap Sportsman Invitation; Denny Decker captured the 25-lap Homer Ferrante Memorial Pure Stock feature.
Penn Can Speedway Results 7/31
Modified Feature (75-laps): Pat Ward, Jeff Rudalavage, Ronnie Johnson, Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Kevin Bates, Vic Coffey, Jerry Higbie, Mike Colsten, Ryan Phelps, Jeff Hoetzler, Wade Decker, Joey Grammes, Dan Vauter, Bobby Varin, Carl Nagel, Garth Tonkin Jr., Brian Weaver, Jeff Strunk, Stewart Freisen, Billy Thornton, Ken Titus, Alan Johnson, Al Rudalavage, Mike Nagel, Bobby Trapper, DNQ: Brett Tonkin, Chad Cook, Darwin Greene, Brian Franko
Sportsman Feature (25-laps): Jeff Crambo, Dan Pompey, Brad Brightbill, Mike Lartz, Danny Creeden, Chris Stull, Jimmy Howard, Justin Holland, Larry Wight, Gary Card Jr., Mike Dimorier, Tim Howell, Alex Konopka, Mike Nagel Jr., Shawn Mills, Josh Purcell, Mike Loney, Ed White, Paul Rooney, Chris Wood, Mike Austin, Brian White, Joey Colsten, Butch Klinger, Grant Hilfiger, Casey Plummer, DNQ: Eric Griffin, Jeff Leslie, Steve Yankowski, Paul Strohl, Sam Dwy, Chance Spoonhower, Christine Martin, Randy Brokaw, Mike Senecal, Ray See Jr.
Homer Ferrante Memorial Pure Stock Feature (25-laps): Denny Decker, Rich Green, Steve Deinhardt, Tom Garren, Chad Stone, Norm Whittmore, John Cooper Jr., Jon Carpenter, Mahlon Shoemaker, Dee Ramey, Rich Talada, Kurt Decker, Doug Stack, Josh Ellis, Toby Sparks, Shane Wolf, Harry Marvin III, Josh Towner, Mike Codington, Nate Shay, Ryan Stone, Eric Beach, Charlie Gilbert
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