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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILLY DECKER MAKES IT TWO IN ROW AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY
VERNON, NY- Just a couple of weeks ago, it was looking like a two driver race for $8,000 358-Modified championship at Utica-Rome Speedway as Stewart Friesen and Pat Ward appeared to be the main contenders for the lucrative title. In the past couple weeks, two time 358-Modified champion Willy Decker by winning his second consecutive feature this past Sunday, June 22, on Triple B Welding and Steel Sales Inc. night. Decker’s win was worth $1,600.
The 358-Modified feature event saw pole sitter Ted Lamb as the early leader, opening a large margin over the field during the long opening green flag segment. The first caution of the event flew on lap 10, bringing Lamb back to the field. Seventh place starter Bob Henry Jr. was up to second at that point followed by Bill Shantel Jr., Jim Davis, and Gus Schmidt.
Henry, looking for his first career Utica-Rome Speedway, gained the advantage on the restart with Lamb being relegated to the runner up spot. With Henry out front, the usual rush to the front was going on as Willy Decker and Pat Ward were making their usual push. When the second caution of the night flew on lap 20, Decker was up to second with Lamb, Ward, and Mitch Gibbs chasing.
Henry was able to fend off Decker for one lap after the restart, but Decker was a man on a mission as he was after his second consecutive win at the Vernon oval as he went by Henry on the high side to lead lap 22. Ward got by Henry on lap 24 in immediately began to track down Decker. By lap 27 Ward was right in Decker’s tire tracks and a lap later he was applying heavy pressure to Decker. A lap 28 caution halted Ward’s charge, as on the restart, Decker was too strong as he raced to win the 30 lap event. Ward was second with Gibbs, Henry, and Stewart Friesen filling out the top five.
Jack Miller grabbed the early lead in the Sportsman main from his third starting spot, as he looked to net his first win in several seasons. A lap seven caution brought Miller back to the rest of the field, and when the green flag waved again, Steve Way took advantage of it by taking the top spot from Miller. A lap 17 red flag for an incident involving Mike Button, Tim Nye, and Glenn Forward gave Matt Janczuk a shot for the victory, but Way would hang to win his first in 2008. Janczuk came home a close second followed by Jim Rothwell, Casey Williams, and Brad Alger.
The regularly scheduled Pro Stock feature 20 lap feature saw Ed Ostrander lead the opening lap with Bret Belden taking over on the second circuit. Fifth place starter Mark Effner passed Belden on lap six for the lead in search of his second win of the season, but Jim Normoyle, from 10th, had other plans. A side by side battle for the lead and the win ensued for the three laps before Normoyle gained the advantage. Normoyle raced to his second win with Effner, Dick Parkhurst, AJ Digsby, and Belden trailing.
In the rain delayed Pro Stock feature from June 15, Shawn Frost grabbed the lead at the drop of the green of the 20 lap affair and held on to the top spot until the checkered flag. Despite several cautions, Normoyle could not catch Frost and had to settle for second with Rob Seavy, Bill Knapp, and Belden chasing.
The Pure Stock feature saw Ron Hawker take the lead at the drop of the green of the 15 lap feature and lead the entire event for his second win of the season. Russ Marsden beat Chris Carr to the line after a heated battle for the position with Cale Hoffman and Tim Janczuk filling out the top five.
Sunday, June 29, Sno Fest 2009 Old Forge NY will present a regular show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks with makeup features for the 358-Modifieds and Pure Stocks from June 15. It will also be Autograph Night, NYSSCA Safety Awards Night, and Night of Legends Night. The Mid State Vintage Stock Car Club will also have a display on hand. Gates open 3 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m. For more information, log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.
TRIPLE B WELDING & STEEL SALES INC RACE SUMMARY
358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- WILLY DECKER, Pat Ward, Mitch Gibbs, Bob Henry Jr., Stewart Friesen, Ted Lamb, Jim Davis, Bobby Varin, Brian Murphy, Ronnie Johnson, Paul Kinney, Paul Jensen, John Ramsey, Bill Shantel Jr., Gus Schmidt, Andy Bachetti, AJ Romano, Brad Godshalk, David Orr, Jeff Kotary, Dustin Delaney, Jamie Christian, and Rick Rogala.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- STEVE WAY, Matt Janczuk, Jim Rothwell, Casey Williams, Brad Alger, Jeremy Vunk, Jeff Leslie, Jack Miller, Jason Rood, AJ Filbeck, Steve Yankowski, Glenn Forward, Mike Button, Tim Nye, Aaron Jacobs, Fred Proctor, and Todd Fey.
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JIM NORMOYLE, Mark Effner, Dick Parkhurst, AJ Digsby, Bret Belden, Bill Knapp, Tom Denton, Rob Seavy, Joe Palmer, Dave Moyer, Ed Ostrander, Ivan Joslin, Shawn Frost, and Chris Wentrick.
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH FROM JUNE 15 (20 LAPS)- SHAWN FROST, Jim Normoyle, Rob Seavy, Bill Knapp, Bret Belden, Mark Effner, AJ Digsby, Tom Denton, Joe Palmer, Ed Ostrander, Dick Parkhurst, Dave Moyer, Dan Peo, Jim Grippin, and Jon Routhier.
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- RON HAWKER, Russ Marsden, Chris Carr, Cale Hoffman, Tim Janczuk, Frank Hyatt, Waylan Wilczek, Bill Mason, Phil Norman, Chris Cunningham, Andy Potter, Scott Wheelock, Jim Thomas, Kelly Pope, Rick Condes, Jim Richmond, Keith Stevenson, and Robert Thiemes.
CRSA SPRINT FEATURE FINISH (25 LAPS)- DYLAN SWIERNIK, Warren Alexson, Anthony Brennan, Mike Stelter, Jeff VanSteenburg, Mike Kiser, Kory Gurney, Pete Sindt, Billy Jaycox Jr., Chuck Alessi, Matt Turner, Bruce Evans Jr., Tyler Rice, Chad King, Danny Ody, Mark Zemcik, Craig Rochelle, Matt Demitraszek, Marshall Gogg, John Matrafailo, Jeff Frasier, and Jeremy Quick
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