By: Bill Foley
LAKE CITY, FL – Mike Maresca was contending for a season opening win on Wednesday night at All Tech while Stewart Friesen was running strong and moving through the field. Unfortunately, neither driver was able to capitalize on their strong performances on night one of the Sunshine Swing for the STSS Modifieds.
Maresca had a disappointing 22nd place finish after dropping out while being listed fourth in the rundown with just four laps to go. He led the first 11 laps and was in front again on laps 16 and 23 after a dogfight with Matt Sheppard but sustained some damage after contact with a lapped car and the turn 3 wall.
Mike said, “I had major left rear damage from the contact with the lapped car and when I hit the wall had heavy damage on the right side. That really damaged the car and really knocked off the stagger. However, I ended up pulling in as the motor was struggling and we have some motor issues to check over.”
Meanwhile, Friesen brought out the yellow with around five laps left when he made heavy contact with the wall between turns three and four.
He settled for 24th for the night and had worked his way up from 12th on the second lap to fifth with 18 laps to go. There he ran until he ended up going off on the hook.
Stew told DTD, “I got into the top and locked it up. I stalled the motor and that was it. There is a bent front axle and right front tire. It looked worse than it was. I had gotten in a jam at the start of the race and lost a few positions, but was able to come back up through. I was really happy with the car tonight.”
Both drivers will look to rebound as the Sunshine Swing continues tonight from the All-Tech Raceway at 7pm.
