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By: Joseph Achzet - glenridgepr@cottontaildesign.com
Fultonville, NY - After wet grounds forced opening days rescheduling and Friday rains pushed the racing back from Saturday to Sunday, the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park opened its 2008 season to a cool spring day and bright sunny skies.
Rosendale, New York's Mike Ricci had never visited Glen Ridge before Sunday but it didn't take the short track specialist long to take to the speedway, as he picked up a convincing heat race victory in the first modified heat of the night and would draw a front row starting spot for the feature event. As the green flag flew Ricci would quickly take control of the race but an accident in turn 1 would slow the field before a lap was complete. Invaders and teammates Matt Sheppard and Jeff Brownell Jr. would be caught in the mess along with 2006 track champion Randy Hotaling. As the green flag would fly again Ricci would take command of the race once more. The man on the move however was South Glens Falls, New York's Floyd Billington. Despite being behind the wheel of a new chassis combination for 2008 Billington showed the form that landed him 5 feature victories in 2007 and he quickly made his way to third behind 2007 track champion Craig Hanson. As the field drew in on traffic Billington would take over the second spot setting sail after Ricci. After their first lap accident Matt Sheppard and Jeff Brownell were on the move. The teammates would swap positions taking turns leading each other through traffic. Brownell's charge would come to a premature end as his #29 Bicknell mount would suffer a flat left rear tire and retire to the infield with a handful of laps remaining. Sheppard continued his charge through the field making a late race pass on Hanson to take home the fourth spot. Up front however it would be all Mike Ricci as he took the checkers for his first time at the Ridge. Billington would be second followed by Jamike Sowle, Sheppard and Hanson. Heat race victories were claimed by Ricci, Hotaling, and Sowle.
The Budget Sportsman feature would get off to a rocky start having a quick caution and a red flag in the first 4 laps. The red flag was triggered by a spectacular crash by Don Bellen. As Bellen exited turn 2 he clipped a tire lining the inside of the track breaking a left front spindle on his #1 mount and lost the left front tire. As Bellen entered turn number 3 he couldn't hold the car down and clipped the back of Jeremiah Munson's #351 mount breaking the right front spindling sending the right front tire airborne. Bellen's ride would then nose into the track sending over in a quick flip. He would walk away uninjured but would be done for the race. Up front it would be Frank Christiano. The Hackensack, New Jersey native would hold the top spot with Clifton Park, New York's Fred Proctor holding the second spot. Trouble would strike Proctor as he retired to the infield off turn 4 ending his race. After claiming his first victory in 36 years, the Dancing Bear, John Constantino was looking to make it 2 at the Ridge, charging his way through the field from his last place starting position to third. Constantino's charge would fall short as a flat tire would stop his fine run with 2 laps to go. Up front it would be all Christiano as he would take the victory unchallenged. Brian Jones would finish second followed by Angela Hoard, Constantino, and Chris McCoy. Heat race victories went Christiano and Proctor.
After an intimidating 2007 and the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Dave Bayes returned to the speedway in his black #3 looking to add to his impressive win total. On the drop of the green flag Chuck McSpirit would jump out to the early lead challenged by Brian Cosselman. Cosselman using the inside of the speedway to perfection would keep constant pressure on McSpirit while back in the back Luke Horning and Rocky Warner would make their way through the field until Horning would lose the handle on his 22H spinning and collecting up Warner. Both drivers would continue but would not be a factor for the rest of the race. Meanwhile up front Dave Bayes would start to pressure the leaders. Cosselman's day would come to an as troubles sidelined his 2c. Up front Bayes would take the spot away from McSpirit. As the laps wound down McSpirit would keep Bayes in site but would not be able to challenge, as Bayes would cruise to the victory. McSpirit would be second followed by McSpirit. Heat race victories went to Brian Cosselman and McSpirit.
As the cruisers took to the speedway for their first event of the year Chris Andrew and Jamie Warner would lead the field to the green. Andrew would not fire on the start sending the field scrambling. Warner would take over the top spot as he was chased by Pat McSpirit. Kerry Hollenbeck was soon on the move in his 33K as he swept to the outside by McSpirit and by Warner. Hollenbeck would have issues in turn 3 as his car suddenly slowed handing the top spot back to the Warner. Hollenbeck would get things going again and quickly caught Warner and retake the lead only to get to high in turn 2 and give the spot back to Warner. As the laps ticked by Hollenbeck would take the lead over and over only to lose it again after making a mistake. At the checkers Hollenbeck would recover to take the victory followed by Warner, and McSpirit. The heat race victory went to Chris Andrew.
The Glen Ridge Motorsports park continues its 2008 season next week, April 13th with a regular show plus an enduro. Gates open at 11am with racing scheduled for 1pm. For more information visit the Glen Ridge web site at http://www.thenewglenridgemotorsportspark.com.
Modifieds
Feature: Mike Ricci, Floyd Billington, Jamike Sowle, Matt Sheppard, Craig Hanson, Al McCoy, Erik Nelson, Bob Vedder, Vinnie DeCicco, Richie Price, Tim Mayne, Randy Hotaling, Jeff Brownell Jr., Chuck Allen, Joe Carnibucci, Jeff Sheely, Jackie Brown, Don Hart, Keith Shoemaker, Danny Tyler
Heat 1: Mike Ricci, Danny Tyler, Jeff Brownell Jr., Floyd Billington, Matt Sheppard, Tim Mayne
Heat 2: Randy Hotaling, Jackie Brown, Erik Nelson, Don Hart, Bob Vedder, Keith Shoemaker
Heat 3: Jamike Sowle, Craig Hanson, Jeff Sheely, Al McCoy, Richie Price, Chuck Allen, Joe Carnibucci, Vinnie DeCicco, Floyd Billington
Budget Sportsman
Feature: Frank Christiano, Brian Jones, Angela Hoard, John Constantino, Chris McCoy, Alex Alberti, Steve Douglass, Kory Wilder, Robert Gray, Fred Proctor, Don Bellen, Jeremiah Munson, Andy Graves
Heat 1: Frank Christiano, Jeremiah Munson, Angela Hoard, Andy Graves, Brian Jones (DNS), Jay Smith (DNS)
Heat 2: Fred Proctor, Alex Alberti, Steve Douglass, John Constantino, Kory Wilder, Chris McCoy, Robert Gray (DNS), Don Bellen (DNS)
Street Stocks
Feature: Dave Bayes, Chuck McSpirit, Dave Sullivan, Rocky Warner, Rob VanAernam, Randy Cosselman, Sam Surnear, Cliff Haslun, Leo Brady, Brian Cosselman, Luke Horning, Steve Cosselman
Heat 1: Brian Cosselman, Dave Sullivan, Randy Cosselman, Luke Horning, Leo Brady, Rocky Warner (DNS)
Heat 2: Chuck McSpirit, Dave Bayes, Steve Cosselman, Rob VanAernam, Cliff Haslun, Sam Surnear
Cruisers
Feature: Kerrie Hollenbeck, Jamie Warner, Pat McSpirit, Tarcey Walthers, Nathan Sitterly, Bobby Rhinehardt, Chris Andrew
Heat : Chris Andrew, Jamie Warner, Bobby Rhinehardt, Nathan Sitterly, Kerrie Hollenbeck, Tarcey Walthers, Pat McSprit |
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