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DAVE ELY BLISTERS EVERYTHING IN SIGHT TO WIN URC RISLONE SPRINT SERIES
OPENER SATURDAY NIGHT AT BRIDGEPORT
Dave Ely of West Lawn, PA was perfect on Saturday night when the United
Racing Company opened their sixty-first season as the Nation's Oldest
Traveling Sprint Car Organization at the Bridgeport Speedway. Ely,
driving the Gene Franckowiak owned URC sprinter, was dominant in
warm-ups, flawless on his way to winning his qualifying heat race then
blistered all competitors to collect the $2,000 first place prize in the
25 lap URC feature event. Ely led all twenty-five laps and was pretty
much uncontested for the entire distance. Ely now finds himself on top
of the point chase in his quest to winning the URC Rislone Sprint Car
Championship.
An outstanding field of thirty-five URC sprints turned out for the
Bridgeport Speedway URC sprint series opener with a count of seven
"rookie drivers" taking part in the show. The entire rookie field did
an outstanding job with special recognition going to Brett Schoenly and
Chuck Palmucci who qualified for the feature event. Schonely finished
14th in the feature and earned the Fred's Trailer Parts Hard Charger
Award for advancing nine spots in the main event.
Three heat race events were presented with victories going to Mark
Bitner, Dave Ely and Brian Seidel as Davey Sammons, driving the
Palladino #99 won the Don Ott "B" Main.
In the twenty-five lap URC Rislone Sprint feature, Dave Ely earned the
pole for winning the opening heat race of the night. At the drop of the
green, Ely quickly established a commanding lead as Mark Bitner followed
in second. Jason Clauss was holding down third as defending URC
Champion Curt Michael (driving the Bill Gallagher owned 5G) was on a
charge and racing in fourth by lap four.
The first caution of the race was displayed on lap seven when Adam
Gordon and Jamie Bodo tangled in turn two. On the restart, Ely again
ran to hide from the field with Bitner in a solid second as Curt Michael
tried to reel in the leaders. Jason Clauss and Kyle Purks made up the
top five as BPG sponsored sprint car of Chris Coyle was on a charge as
well.
At the halfway point, Ely was on point followed by Bitner, Michaels,
Jason Clauss and Coyle. The top three remained unchanged in the second
half of the race. Then on lap twenty-one, the yellow was displayed when
Randy West spun and came to a stop in turn three. On the restart, Tim
Hogue came to a stop in turn four and the yellow flag was out again.
With just three laps remaining, Bitner and Michael had their last shot
to take the wheel from Ely, but when the green flag fell, Ely was off
like a flash. With the checker flag waiving, Ely took the win, his
first of 2008 and ninth career URC victory. Bitner delivered a solid
second place finish followed by Curt Michael, Chris Coyle and Jason
Clauss.
FEATURE FINISH: Dave Ely, Mark Bitner, Curt Michael, Chris Coyle, Jason
Clauss, Kyle Purks, Ed Aikin, Becca Anderson, Robbie Stillwaggon, Justin
Collett, Kevin Welsh, Davey Sammons, Scott Pursell, Brett Schoenly,
Chuck Palmucci, Dave Betts, Randy West, Gary Gollub, JJ Grasso, Brian
Seidel, Tim Hogue, Gary Joey Biasi, , Scott McClaren, Adam Gordon, Jamie
Bodo. DNQ- - Brandon Weibley, Rory Janne, Dave Gable, Jimmy Reppert,
Dom Buffalino, Art Liedl, Joe Zuczek, Mares Stellfox, Mike Kostic, Andy
Best.
LikeWise Construction Fast Time of the Night- - -Davey Sammons
Don Ott "B" Main Winner- - -Davey Sammons
Fred's Trailer Repair Hard Charger - - - Brett Schoenly
COMING EVENTS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL/MAY
Saturday, April 19 Delaware International Speedway
Saturday, April 26 New Egypt Speedway
Saturday, May 10 Delaware International Speedway
Saturday, May 17 Selinsgrove Speedway $3,500 to win Jack Gunn
Memorial.
For more information, please visit www.urcsprints.com
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