05/10/2003
MANGUS RETURNS TO LMP VICTORY LANE IN EXCITING LAST-LAP
FINISH
By Dave Buchanan
If you had to sum up the Visteon Modified feature at Lancaster Motorsports
Park last Saturday night in one phrase, Tim Mangus would have said it best,
“quality not quantity.” While LMP doesn’t showcase the largest Modified
car count in New York, although 16 is a good size, the cars that do compete
put on quite show at the WNY half-mile.
Larry Jackson and Dave Wollaber shared the front row for the second 30-lap
feature of the season. Jackson and Wollaber would battle for the lead
throughout first half of the race. Mother Nature made a late visit to
Lancaster during a caution on lap 3, however her visit was short and racing
was resumed without a pause.
Defending track champion, Billy Putney, started third and joined the battle
between Jackson and Wollaber. On lap 14, Putney pulled along side Wollaber on
the frontstretch to make the move for second. However, as the field exited
turn 2, Larry Jackson lost power on his Barton Racing #84 and relinquished the
lead.
A quick move by Wollaber allowed him to grab the top spot and pulled ahead
of Putney. Wollaber led until lap 21 when he gave the lead up to Putney.
Putney took control but it looked as if a tight racecar might hurt his
chances. The Rittiling #88 pushed high in turn 2 & 4 allowing Wollaber to
catch up, but Putney was able to pull away on the straights. With 2 laps to
go, Putney was hanging on with Wollaber pressuring and Tim Mangus and Karl
Hehr close behind. On the final lap, Wollaber moved to the outside of Putney
entering turn 3. He pulled alongside Putney and temporarily pulled ahead. But
as the pair came out of turn 4, Wollaber lost the back end and spun. He
collects Putney, who had nowhere to go, as the rest of the field scattered.
Tim Mangus managed to drive around the spun cars are crossed the finish
line first. It marked Mangus’s first Lancaster win since 2000 and his second
win since returning from injuries suffered in a crash last May at Spencer.
Mangus won the Race of Champions last September at Oswego.
In other FOAR Score night action, Joe Carbone returned to victory lane in
the Tops Markets Late Models since 2001. Carbone led all 25 laps in the Gorman
Bus Sales #31 and beat out a hard charging Bobby Weber. Ron Nurmi finished
third, John Julicher fourth, and Mark Krupczyk fifth.
Kirk Rutherford made it two in a row in the Bobcat of Buffalo Sportsman
driving the Mighty Auto Parts #95. Rutherford has won in every start he has
made driving for the Manko Motorsports team. Rookie Bobby Holmes continues to
impress as he held off defending Sportsman champion Nick Cappelli to finish
second. Early race leader, Frank Booker, finished fourth and Jerry Gradl
finished fifth.
Terry Weldy drove around Dave Milbrand and Craig Orr to capture his first
Jerry Gradl Motors Super Stock feature of the season. Orr captured second with
Doug Evans third. Rookie Cory Sawyer posted a career-best on asphalt with a
fourth place finish. Sawyer is a former champion on the dirt at Ransomville
Speedway. Opening night winner, Jay Mudra, rounded out the top five.
Jim Offhaus caught a lucky break late in the Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street
Stock feature to win his first of the year. It was Offhaus’s 11th career win
in the Street Stocks, tying him with Tom Agen for most career wins in that
division. James Michael Friesen won the first FM Communications TQ Midget
feature of 2003 on the ¼-mile inner-oval.
The racing continues at Lancaster Motorsports Park this Saturday, May 17th,
with a full card of professional stock car racing. It’s EMS appreciation
night at LMP; all EMS personnel in Western New York can get free admission
with proper ID. Racing starts at 6 PM. For more information call the LMP
office at (716) 759-6818 or log on to www.lancasterracing.com.
Sources: Dave
Buchanan/Lancaster Motor sports Park PR
Posted: May 11, 2003
