|
Justin Haers Leads Wire-to-Wire at Canandaigua Speedway
Hilkert, Fisher, and CJ Guererri Also Visit Victory Lane
Weedsport, NY – May 18, 2008 – By: Dan Kapuscinski, Canandaigua Speedway PR and Promotions Coordinator
Canandaigua Speedway had not treated Justin Haers very well in the early part of the season. Finishes of 18th and 17th in the opening two events were certainly not characteristic results for the Phelps Cement Products no. 3. However, Saturday May, 17 on Race against Drugs/Fireman Appreciation Night at the Races, Haers used his front row starting position to his advantage leading all 35-laps on the way to victory. Haers’ second career Canandaigua Speedway win was worth $1,500, but more importantly a confidence boost for the Phelps, NY pilot.
“Whenever you visit victory lane it is special,” said Haers in victory lane. “Winning here at Canandaigua is even more special though due to the great competition. That is why we keep coming here, because of the competition. We had some troubles the first two weeks of the season but we have it all straightened out now, and the car is running great. “
Matt Sheppard tried to chase Haers down in the closing laps, but didn’t quite have enough as the checkered flag flew. Charlie Donk, Gary Tomkins, and Derrick Podsiadlo rounded out the top five finishers.
“That one restart I saw Sheppard underneath me and I thought wow, he must have passed a lot of cars,” said Haers. “We picked up a push towards the end of the race, and I had to horse the car around some at the end. But it worked out, and we had enough at the finish.”
In the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified division it was Daryl Hilkert picking up his first career Sportsman Modified win at the Canandaigua Speedway in fine style. The Rochester-Gypsum no. 4 machine started the event from the 7th position, and methodically worked his way through the pack before taking the lead on lap-19. Anthony Rizzardo came across the stripe in second, followed by Kyle LaVare, Kevin Ridley, and AJ Lewis.
Chris Fisher swept the UMP Street Stock division on Saturday night picking up both the heat and feature event wins. In what was arguably the most exciting race of the night, Fisher held off the advances of both Mike Welch and Mike Rasbeck throughout the entire 20-lap affair. Adam Depuy and Andy Fisk completed the fast five finishers.
In the 12-lap PureStox event, CJ Guererri had the field covered. Guererri ran away to the win from the third starting position with nobody within a straightaway of the no. CJ1 mount.
The Sunoco Race Fuels 35-lap DIRTcar Big-Block Modified feature event began with Paul Guererri and Haers in row number one. To nobody’s surprise, it was Haers bursting into the early lead ahead of Big-Block rookie Guererri to lead lap-1.
Haers, who had been fastest in the preliminary events, stretched his lead very early on until the race’s first caution on lap-6. The no. 50 of Don Slover lost the handle in turn two and came to a stop along the back straight wall. This tightened the field back up with Guererri, Chuck Bower, Jeff Brownell, and Ron Cartwright in tight pursuit of Haers at the restart.
For two weeks in a row the car on the move was the no. 29 of Jeff Brownell Jr. On the restart Brownell blasted to the outside of Bower to move into third, but on the same circuit the car bobbled in turn two coming to a stop to bring out the caution. For the second week the charging Brownell would have to head pit side and rejoin the field.
Brownell’s misfortune was a gain for teammate Sheppard. When the field came back to green Sheppard sat in fourth, but as we have seen all year long Sheppard is a master of the restart and in just 2-laps the no. 9s moved to the runner-up position behind Haers.
At one point Haers held over a second lead on Sheppard, Donk, Podsiadlo, Paine, and Bower. By lap-19 though, Sheppard had drawn up to the back bumper of Haers and began to look as though he could make a bid for the lead. A caution on lap-20 for Paul Guererri in turn one slowed Sheppard’s momentum, and allowed Haers to re-evaluate his machine, as the no. 3 was beginning to pick up that push condition.
With 15-laps to go Haers led Sheppard, Podsialdo, Paine, Tomkins, Bower, Todd Burley, and Vinnie Vitale.
Over the final laps Sheppard stalked the front running Haers, but only got one real shot at the point which came down the back chute on lap-28. Coming out of turn two the push condition in the no. 3 became very clear as Haers lost front grip and slid towards the outside wall. Sheppard saw the opening and tried to dive under Haers going into turn three, but Haers wisely shut the door and altered his line over the final 6-laps to hold on to the victory.
For the third race in a row Sheppard would have to settle for a top three finish without a win. Donk ran a great race to come home in third ahead of last week’s winner Tomkins and race leader from a week ago, Podsiadlo.
Paine, Bower, Burley, Brownell Jr., and Dave Rasucher complete the top ten runners.
The 25-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Modified main saw Kyle LaVare and Jim Hull bring the field of 23 to the green flag. The no. 88 of LaVare immediately took the lead, and looked very impressive in front of the field.
By lap-7 LaVare had pulled away to a nice margin over Lewis, Steve Gray, Tim Currier, and Hull . However, two cautions on lap-8 allowed the field to close back in on the no. 88. Both Matt Smith and Tim Currier were hooked off the Speedway on two separate occasions in the first turn. Both were able to return, but Smith would not last long.
On lap-9 the race’s 4th caution hit the Speedway as the front end collapsed on the no. 1 of Smith collected the no. 17 of Marcus Dinkins in turn three. Each car would be done for the night.
At the restart LaVare led Lewis, Rizzardo, Hilkert, Hull , and Todd Henderson.
From this point it became evident that Hilkert was the class of the field. “ Hollywood ” found his way by Rizzardo and Lewis by lap-11 and started to reel in early race leader LaVare.
The second turn was the hot spot for Hilkert and eventually the no. 4 found the bite on the bottom and blasted past LaVare to lead lap-19. From there it was all “ Hollywood ” Hilkert on his way to his first career Canandaigua Speedway Sportsman Modified main-event win.
“This is the same car that we tumbled down the front straight opening night,” said Hilkert. “We had to completely rebuild this car, but I think we got it right. The track was great tonight, and it really came in nicely. I kept waiting for anybody to come up and pass us, but it never happened.”
Rizzardo continues his fine performances in the early season with a second place run. LaVare came home third just ahead of Ridley, who made three pit stops during the night.
Lewis, Henderson , Hull , Phil LaVare, Gray, and Nick Guererri rounded out the top ten.
The 20-lap UMP Street Stock feature was arguably one of the best races of the night. Doug Smith and Chris Fisher started on row one, but just as we saw in the heat race Fisher was the man to beat up front. The no. 37 took off into the early lead, but little did he know the storm that was following behind.
Rasbeck and Welch began to apply pressure on lap-10 and it didn’t end over the final half of the event. Rasbeck and Welch stayed door-to-door for nearly 9-laps with Rasbeck lying low and Welch riding the top. Neither could fine a lane by Fisher, as he ran flawlessly on the bottom of the track.
On the 14th circuit Welch was able to slide by Rasbeck, and then tried to continue around Fisher over the final 5-laps. The no. 37 of Fisher proved to be too tough as last week’s winner, Welch, pushed Fisher across the stripe for his first career win at Canandaigua Speedway just ahead of Rasbeck.
Depuy and Fisk weren’t far behind running fourth and fifth with Leroy Lewis, Nicole Barzee, Frank Burnell, Lee Zimmerman, and Colten Chappius finishing the top ten.
“I knew they were back there, I could feel the push,” said Fisher in victory lane. “Everything came together for the win tonight; whenever you can beat Mike Welch at Canandaigua you have done something.”
The 12-lap PureStox event was a run away by the no. CJ1 of CJ Guererri. Guererri started from the third position, took the lead on lap-2 and lead the rest of the way on his way to victory. Bryan Faulkner, Eric Chapman, Roger Bush, and Marc Minutolo finished the top five.
Guererri’s no. CJ1 pulled into victory lane in a cloud of steam after the 12-lap affair.
“Well, that radiator has been junk ever since we’ve had the car but it lasted long enough tonight,” said Guererri. “It has taken a lot of work and money to get here, but it feels good to be in victory lane.”
Next Saturday, May 24 it is “Petrol-Palooza Night at the Races.” Buy your first admission at the regular rate, and the second will be reduced to the national gas pump average. Racing starts at 7pm with the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, UMP Street Stocks, and PureStox.
Also on hand will be the Camping World no. 33 Nationwide Series show car of Kevin Harvick. Watkins Glen International will be brining the car to Canandaigua along with two racing simulators and four Glen tickets for the Camping World East Series event on June 8th. Those four tickets will be distributed during the night’s 50/50 raffle.
Canandaigua Corner: Attendance numbers showed (22) Big-Block Modifieds, (23) Sportsman Modifieds, (13) Street Stocks, and (5) PureStox.
Jacques Follette was on hand Saturday night with his “Race Against Drugs” Microd machine which he pilots at the Sodus Microd Club. Jacques was the honorary flagger for the first PureStox heat race of the evening.
Wheel of Fortune Bonus Winners were Ed Monroe (Mod), Kyle LaVare (Spts), and Andy Fisk (S.S.).
In the DIRTcar Big-Block feature event Justin Haers continues to be one of the fastest cars at the Speedway as he was the only competitor under the 19-second bracket. The no. 3 ran a time of 18.866 seconds.
Race against Drugs/Fireman Appreciation Night Event Summary (5-17-08)
PureStox
Heat: Guererri, Chapman, Minutolo, Faulkner, Bush
Feature ( Summit Auto 12): 1) CJ1- CJ GUERERRI, 2) 83- Bryan Faulkner, 3) 22t- Eric Chapman, 4) 9r- Roger Bush, 5) 25b- Marc Minutolo
UMP Street Stocks
Heat: Fisher, Rasbeck, D. Smith, B. Smith, Welch, Burnell, Fisk, Depuy, Lewis, Chappius, Barzee, LaVare Jr., Zimmerman
Feature (Hoosier Tire 20): 1) 37- CHRIS FISHER, 2) 00- Mike Welch, 3) 00r- Mike Rasbeck, 4) 99- Adam Depuy, 5) 33- Andy Fisk, 6) 07- Leroy Lewis, 7) 50- Nicole Barzee, 8) 57b- Frank Burnell Jr., 9) 71z- Lee Zimmerman, 10) 60jr- Colten Chappius, 11) 55b- Blane Smith, 12) 6- George LaVare Jr., 13) 3d- Doug Smith
Home Necessities $25 Wheel of Fortune Bonus: 33- Andy Fisk
DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
Heat #1: P. LaVare, Rizzardo, Lincoln , Lewis, Bussey, K. LaVare, Richmond Jr., Cool
Heat #2: Hull, Hilkert, Ridley, Henderson , Gray, Smith, Giguere, Cook Jr.
Heat #3: Guererri, Currier, Dinkins, Wiesner, Hilton, Peckham, Hoteling
Feature (LaBatts 25): 1) 4- DARYL HILKERT, 2) 99$- Anthony Rizzardo, 3) 88- Kyle LaVare, 4) 20x- Kevin Ridley, 5) 24a- AJ Lewis, 6) 18h- Todd Henderson, 7) 52- Jim Hull, 8) 8L- Phil LaVare, 9) 29g- Steve Gray, 10) 25g- Nick Guererri, 11) 2L- Loren Lincoln, 12) 67g- Eric Giguere, 13) 76- Rob Bussey, 14) 3- Fran Hilton, 15) 66- Dan Wiesner, 16) 8- Joe Cook Jr., 17) 10- Tim Currier, 18) 22- Greg Cool, 19) 44- Gary Hoteling, 20) 1- Matt Smith, 21) 93- Rob Richmond Jr., 22) 17- Marcus Dinkins, 23) 90- Nate Peckham
Currier Plastics $50 Wheel of Fortune Bonus: 88- Kyle LaVare
DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds
Heat #1: Vitale, Guererri, Brownell Jr., Payne Jr., Paine, Taylor, Habeck
Heat #2: Haers, Bower, Tegg Jr., Donk, Tomkins, Sheppard, Homan
Heat #3: Cartwright Jr., Podsiadlo, Fisher, Burley, Rauscher, Whaley, Monroe
Feature (Sunoco 35): 1) 3- JUSTIN HAERS, 2) 9s- Matt Sheppard, 3) 99- Charlie Donk, 4) 84- Gary Tomkins, 5) 21- Derrick Podsiadlo, 6) 7x- Steve Paine, 7) 99b- Chuck Bower, 8) 89b- Todd Burley, 9) 29- Jeff Brownell Jr., 10) 48T- Dave Rauscher, 11) 56- Vinnie Vitale, 12) 37c- Eric Fisher, 13) 44- Shannon Whaley, 14) 25- Paul Habeck, 15) 7- Paul Guererri, 16) 2b- Ron Cartwright Jr., 17) 22- Gil Tegg Jr., 18) 4- Ed Monroe, 19) 6- Pete Taylor, 20) 91- Chad Homan, 21) 28p- Eldon Payne Jr., 22) 50- Don Slover
Gypsum Wholesalers $100 Wheel of Fortune Bonus: 4- Ed Monroe
|
|
