|
By: Rodney Rescott
West Lebanon, NY: The weather finally gave the Valley of Speed the green light to race for some big money this past Saturday night. Madsen Overhead Doors and Wentworth Construction put up $3,000 to the winner of the 30 lap Big Block Modified feature event.
The front row of Rich Salisbury and Ryan Larkin brought the field to the start, but the race came to a grinding halt as the #39 of Larkin rocketed up the track backwards collecting several cars including Eddie Marshall’s #98, Kyle Sheldon’s #518, and the #14 of Lorne Browe. All returned to racing action after the brief red flag was lifted.
Once the field got back to green, Salisbury jumped out to the lead with the #87x of Paul Gilardi on his rear deck. But with just 1 lap logged in the books, the caution flew again slowing the field. Salisbury once again took control of the filed at the restart with Gilardi in tow. But Salisbury’s lead was short lived as the #87x of Gilardi took over by lap 5, and began to pull away.
Donnie Ackner driving the #64 was settled into 2nd, but he began to get pressure for both the defending champ J.R. Heffner, and the Wild Child, Andy Bachetti. A caution on lap 12 bunched the field again, this time for the #97 of Bill Singer. On the next restart, Heffner powered past the #34B of Bachetti in turns 1 and 2. Heffner began to work over Gilardi for the top spot, but the caution again slowed the field on lap 18.
On the restart, Bachetti swung past Heffner and it was his turn to try and rattle the #87x. One more caution slowed the field, but it was not going to be enough as Gilardi captures his first win of the ‘08 season, and a sweet $3,000 check from Madsen Overhead Doors by just a mere half a car length.
Behind the #87x, Bachetti settled for 2nd, followed by a hard charging Mark Flach Jr. Heffner dropped to the 4th spot followed by the #115 of Kenny Tremont Jr.
The Sportsman 20 lap feature was also action packed full of racing excitement. Kevin Lynch aboard the #09 jumped out front early. The caution came out early for the Sportsman too by lap 1. At the restart, Lynch powered out front again, but this time the #83 of Chad Pierce hung right in Lynch’s tracks. And by lap 3, Pierce powered by Lynch for the top spot. But Pierce couldn’t hold on for long as the #22 of Jeff Watson slid along the top side of the high banks and shot by turn 2.
Once Watson took the top spot, he began to pull away. But the thorn in his side was the #00 of Chris “Speed Racer” Kokosa, as he closed up on Watson as the two hooked up and pulled away. With a good half straight away lead, they then began to dice it out for the lead. But the caution flew on lap 17, bunching the field back up. At the restart, Watson drifted high in turn 1 giving Kokosa room to shoot through the bottom. But the #00 carried too much speed and he too drifted high coming through turn 2 giving the #22 of Watson the top spot back.
And with just two laps left, that was all that Kokosa had, as Watson drove home for the win.
Kokosa settled for the runner up spot, followed by the #250 of Alan Houghtaling for 3rd, Kyle Hoffman took the 4th spot, while Brian Sandstedt finished 5th.
The ProStocks didn’t disappoint either with their 20 lap feature event as the green dropped with the #41 of Rob Maxon out front. But like thee rest of the night, the racing came to a halt by the end of lap 1 as the #76 of Kevin Arnold and the #78 of Paul LaRochelle got together, and spun in turn 4. This stacked up thee field and gather several cars unable to avoid the wreck. In all, 10 cars were involved with most returning to the race.
After the cars were reset to start as they lined up how they came out of the incident, the field was set for the restart. Out front was the #324 of Jason Casey by way of just setting by the #41 before the last caution. Casey settled in out front with a very hungry #24 of Robbie Speed in his tire tracks. Caution flew again on lap 7 for the #17 of Nick Hilt as he spun in turn 2. Casey once again took off at the restart with Speed once again hot on his heels. Jay Corbin who was penalized for not lining up in his correct spot earlier, charged from the tail of the field and by lap 9 got back into the top 5.
The caution flew again on lap 12 for the #35 of Rick Dempsey. And once again, Casey maintained the top spot with Speed still hounding his rear bumper. Corbin charged all the way to the 3rd spot, until the power plant went off line forcing the #8 to the pits.
No caution this time as the battle up front heated up between Speed and Casey. And after several side by side laps, along with a little bumping, the checkers flew with the #324 taking the win. Casey captured his first win of ’08 as Speed had to settle for the 2nd spot.
LaRochelle rallied to finish 3rd, followed by Kevin Arnold, and Hall of Famer Jim Langenback.
The Limited ProStocks saw the #98 of Scott Kilmer take the lead on lap 6 from the #88 of Tim Sayers, and never looked back. Kilmer was followed by Sayers, George Miles Jr. settled for 3rd, followed by Jay Kreutziger Jr., and Jery Helms to complete the top 5.
The Purestocks has nearly 50 cars on tap for 3 races of full fendered action. This weeks winners were: Dave Houser in PS#1, PS#2 was won by Chris Streeter, while PS#3 was captured by Jay Casey.
The 4 cylinders were also in action with Ryan Hover taking the Single Cam class, and Todd Goldstein winning the Duel Cam Class.
Next week is a special night for the little leaguers out there. Waste Management sponsors the night as all Uniformed Little Leaguers get in for FREE! Also on tap will be the Boomer’s Performance 20 Lap PureStock Clash!
For more information on these events, or to get a copy of the full schedule, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, and click on “Speedway”. Or contact the speedway office during normal business hours at (518) 794-9606, or (518) 794-9965.
“ Lebanon Valley Speedway – 56th Season of fun for the Whole Family!”
Saturday May 10, 2008 - Madsen Overhead Doors - Wentworth Construction Modified Results (30 Laps) $3,000 to Win - 1) Paul Gilardi, 2) Andy Bachetti, 3) Mark Flach Jr, 4) J. R. Heffner, 5) Kenny Tremont Jr, 6) Wayne Jelley, 7) Donnie Ackner, 8) Guy Sheldon, 9) Eddie Marshall, 10) Steve Hough, 11) Jeff Trombley, 12) Rich Salisbury, 13) Hector Stratton, 14) Kyle Sheldon, 15) Lorne Browe, 16) J. C. Flach, 17) Dave McFeeters, 18) John Ruchel, 19) Tom Faxon, 20) Mike Keeler, 21) Skippy Fox, 22) Ryan Larkin, 23) Keith Flach, 24) Mike King, 25) Bill Singer, 26) K. C. Goewey, 27) Brian Berger, 28) John Hewitt, 29) Ernie Palmer
Sportsman Results (20 Laps) - 1) Jeff Watson, 2) Chris Kokosa, 3) Alan Houghtaling, 4) Kyle Hoffman, 5) Brian Sandsteedt, 6) Frank Harper, 7) Neal Stratton, 8) Kory Sandstedt, 9) Chris Tryon, 10) Ed Harkins, 11) Kolby Schroder, 12) Kale Groff, 13) Wayne Keyes, 14) Josh Gaylord, 15) Jeff Kelly, 16) Kyle Armstrong, 17) Alex Bell, 18) Chad Pierce, 19) Danny Sanchez, 20) Brett Haas, 21) Kevin Lynch, 22) Jeff Brown, 23) Kevin Petrucci, 24) Kim LaVoy, DNQ) R. J. Daley, DNQ) Kevin Winters, DNQ) Paul Knox, DNQ) Dan Hotchkiss, DNQ) Mike Pinke
Pro Stock Results (20 Laps) - 1) Jason Casey, 2) Robbie Speed, 3) Paul LaRochelle, 4) Kevin Arnold, 5) Jim Langenback, 6) Victor Hopkins, 7) Jay Casey, 8) Rick Dempsey, 9) Brian Keough, 10) Jon Routhier, 11) Rob Maxon, 12) Jeff Kelmel, 13) Jay Corbin, 14) Kyle Hosier, 15) Nick Hilt, 16) Henry Warner, 17) Rick Fosby
Limited Pro Stock Results (10 Laps) - 1) Scott Kilmer, 2) Tim Sayers, 3) George Miles Jr, 4) Jay Kreutziger Jr, 5) Jery Helms Sr, 6) Jery Helms Jr, 7) Dave Stickles, 8) Frank Twing Jr, 9) Jeff Wilbur
Pure Stock #1 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Dave Houser, 2) Jeff Kreutziger, 3) Bob Palmer, 4) Tom Harkins, 5) Rob Partridge Jr, 6) Randy Meyers, 7) Rich Roger, 8) Tom Davies, 9) Joe Walcott, 10) Dan Olds, 11) Brian Vandenburgh, 12) Steve Kahler, 13) John Quigley, 14) Ed Hatch, 15) Dave Fachini
Pure Stock #2 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Chris Streeter, 2) Paul Engwer, 3) Lenny Fields, 4) Rich Douglass, 5) Jeff Douglass, 6) Cord Becker, 7) Jay Martin, 8) Jim Fachini, 9) Harold Tarantino, 10) Mark Webb, 11) John Hubbard, 12) John Chapmann, 13) Anthony Daley, 14) Johnny Delaney, 15) Karl Castagna, 16) Doug Olds
Pure Stock #3 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Jay Casey, 2) Phil Wood, 3) Ray Hall Sr, 4) Al Relyea, 5) Kirk Stanaway, 6) Ray Hall Jr, 7) Lou Ganzar, 8) Mike Eichstedt, 9) Pete Wiegand, 10) Brian Houghtaling, 11) Lloyd Tomlin, 12) Lynn Wesley, 13) Howard Madsen, 14) Scott Morris, 15) Johnny Lane, DNS) Jesse Murphy
4 Cylinder Single Cam Results (20 Laps) - 1) Ryan Hover, 2) Shawn Perez, 3) Adam Petell, 4) Joshua Stall, 5) Jim Williams, 6) Tim Formel, 7) Richard Puff, 8) John Miller, 9) Todd Pelkey, 10) Don Curley, 11) Jeff Ledoux, 12) Mike Newlberry, 13) Kevin Haberland, 14) Cody Speed, 15) Mike Nerhagen, 16) Chris White, 17) Chris Matteson
4 Cylinder Dual Cam Results (20 Laps) - 1) Todd Goldstein, 2) Tom Delaney, 3) Frank Sorrento, 4) Steven Loomis, 5) Mark Burke, 6) Michael Kamm, 7) Mike Estes, 8) George Miles, 9) Terry McNamara, 10) Matt Mooradian, 11) Mike Dianda, 12) Edward Englert
|
|
