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PAT WARD ON ROLL AGAIN AS HE TAKES ANOTHER WIN AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY
VERNON , NY- A packed grandstand saw another late race pass as Pat Ward took command of the 358-Modified field late in the event to capture the $1,600 victory. Other winners on Gates-Cole Associates and Nye Ford Night included Steve Poirier in the Empire Super Sprints, Jeremy Vunk in the Sportsman, Bill Knapp in the Pro Stocks, and Phil Norman in the Pure Stocks.
When the 358-Modified field took starter Matt Burdick’s green flag, outside front row starter Paul Jensen launched himself to the point over pole sitter Alan Barker as both drivers were looking for their first win of the season. Third place starter Jeff Kotary made repeated bids for the lead but Jensen was able fend him off.
A lap seven restart gave fifth place starter Ted Lamb the opportunity he needed, as claimed the top spot as the field completed the eighth circuit and as the field completed a third of the scheduled 30 lap distance, it was Lamb over Jensen, Bobby Varin, Paul Kinney, and Stewart Friesen. Friesen’s chances at the win disappeared on lap 14 when he caught one of the inside marker tires and spinning, bringing the field under caution again. Lamb held off the charging Varin and looked to be on his way to his first win of 2008 but 12th place starter Pat Ward had other ideas.
Just after the halfway point, Ward broke into the top three and set after Lamb and Varin. The final caution of the evening came out on lap 22, bringing Lamb and Varin back to Ward. When green flag racing resumed, Ward made his patented charge as he ran to the outside of Lamb and Varin and after several laps of side by side racing, Ward cleared both Lamb and Varin to take the lead for good on lap 26. Ward would go on to capture his eighth win of the season with Varin nipping Lamb at the line for second. Paul Kinney and Danny Varin rounded the top five with Friesen, Willy Decker, Jamie Christian, Jensen, and Mitch Gibbs filling out the top ten.
AJ Filbeck took command of the 20 lap Sportsman feature event at the drop of the green from his front row starting spot as he hoped to grab his first career victory. Ninth place starter Jeremy Vunk rocketed to the front early and as lap four was being recorded, he was scored as the leader. With no one in front of him, Vunk easily opened up huge lead while the rest of the pack jockeyed for position behind him. The lone caution flag flew on lap 15, allowing the field to see the rear of Vunk’s racer and when green flag racing resumed Vunk took off again and captured his first win of the season. Mike Button used a last lap pass to grab second with Steve Way , Russ Hefti, and Filbeck chasing.
The very competitive Pro Stocks saw Matt Shadic, Jim Normoyle, and Dan Ody all took turns out front of the 20 lap main but Bill Knapp took the lead with the white flag in the air to take his first win of the season. Rob Seavy, Shawn Frost, Ivan Joslin, and Chris Mackey chased Knapp to the finish.
Ninth place starter Phil Norman took over the lead from early leader Scott Wheelock on lap six of the 15 lap Pure Stock feature event and despite several cautions periods, Norman would hold off a handful of challengers to grab his first win of the season. Rick Breed, Chris Carr, Russ Marsden, and Frank Hyatt chased Norman to the checkered flag.
Steve Poirer led the majority of the ESS A Main to capture another win as held off and early challenge from Jason Barney and then a late race charge from Lance Yonge. See ESS story for details.
Next week, on September 7, it will be Championship Night when New York Central Mutual Insurance and Zielinski’s Asphalt LLC presents the final point night for the 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with racing set to go at 5:30 p.m. For more information, log on to www.uticaromespeedway.com or call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.
GATES-COLE ASSOCIATES AND NYE FORD RACE SUMMARY
358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- PAT WARD, Bobby Varin, Ted Lamb, Paul Kinney, Danny Varin, Stewart Friesen, Willy Decker, Jamie Christian, Paul Jensen, Mitch Gibbs, Jim Davis, Dave Rauscher, Alan Barker, Jeff Kotary, Greg Doust, Ken McGuire, Tim Mayne, Gus Schmidt, and Brian Murphy. DNS- John Ramsey.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JEREMY VUNK, Mike Button, Steve Way, Russ Hefti, AJ Filbeck, Tim Nye, Matt Janczuk, Brad Alger, Jason Rood, Jeff Leslie, Steve Yankowski, Jim LaRock, Jim Rothwell, Craig Pope, Shane Jablonka, Jason Memrick, Ben Bushaw, Tyler Odendahl, Roger West, Claude Hutchings Jr., Glen Forward, and Jack Miller. DNS-Casey Williams and Michael Teachout.
PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- BILL KNAPP, Rob Seavy, Shawn Frost, Ivan Joslin, Chris Mackey, Bret Belden, AJ Digsby, Tom Denton, Ed Ostrander, Dan Peo, Jim Normoyle, Dan Ody, Chuck Wentrick, Mark Effner, Dave Moyer, Matt Shadic, Joe Palmer, and Rick Duanehauer. DNS- Paul Strieff and Dave Meeks.
PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- PHIL NORMAN, Rick Breed, Chris Carr, Russ Marsden, Ron Hawker, Scott Wheelock, Cale Hoffman, Waylan Wilczek, Larry Bezner, Andy Potter, Chris Cunningham, Jim Thomas, Jim Richmond, Robert Thiemes, Steve Burton, Bill Mason, Tim Janczuk, Frank Hyatt, Chuck Cushman, and Keith Stevenson. DNS-Rick Trexler.
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