05/10/2003
JOE CARBONE DOMINATES LATE MODEL FEATURE
WITH CONVINCING WIN
by Mark Southcott
Heat one for the Tops Late Models on FOAR Score night went to Joe Carbone
#31. Heat two was captured by former four time Street Stock (now Super
Stock) champion Mark Krupczyk #15 who also won a heat the week previous; he never
had the chance to start the feature though on that opening night. Art Hill in
his #10, Darryl McKay #22, and Chip Rutherford #52 made their
initial starts of the season.
The 15 car field was set and before the green flag even waved, Mike Davis
#02, Karl Schafer #54, and Mark Faltisko #98 were on the sidelines. This left
the remaining 12 car field to line up behind the front row starters of heat
winners with Mark Krupczyk on the pole and Joe Carbone to his outside. Joe
Carbone jumped out to lead at the start and never looked back. Mike Catalano,
who had started third, lost a number of positions in turn 2 in the early laps.
The lap 5 battle for third position involved Ron Nurmi #2, John Julicher #09,
the previous week's feature winner Bob Weber #11, Todd Hoddick #99, and Tom
MacLeod #4. Lap 6 found Todd Hoddick spinning with Tom MacLeod making contact
and being knocked out; Mike Catalano also spun. Todd went pitside and
returned to the back of the pack along with Mike Catalano who had kept going.
The attempted restart didn't go as second place Mark Krupczyk was sent to the
back for not going to the pits after he had committed to. The new front row
consisted of Carbone and the leading feature winner in the division John
Julicher. Carbone got the lead once again on lap 7 over John Julicher. Lap 8
found Art Hill getting into the third turn foam. Carbone continued as the
leader on the lap 9 restart as the battle for 2nd got hot and heavy. Ron Nurmi
got under Julicher as Bob Weber attempted to make it three-wide coming down
the frontstretch. Weber finally got by Julicher the next lap. Weber became the
new second place chaser of Carbone on lap 14 after a pass of Nurmi. Joe
Carbone had about a 5 car length lead over Weber as the next trio of
Nurmi, Julicher, and Krupczyk trailed by half a straightaway at lap 19. Bob
Weber did make it to the bumper of Carbone, but that's as close as he would
get by the end. Joe Carbone led all 25 laps to secure his first victory since
the 2001 season and his 20th in the division.
Joe was happy to return to victory lane after going winless last season. He
thanked his sponsors Gorman Enterprises, Vic's Auto Service, and Tom's
Performance for his engine. He also gave credit to his crew, his wife Lisa,
and his mother and father.
Also I'd like to make mention of my new racing website at www.nyracezone.com
with many things worth checking out; it's really new and will be expanding as
the days progress. Also Lancaster Motorsports Park's official site at www.lancasterracing.com.
I also want to mention that I was made aware that 1968 Mini Stock
champion Joe Middleton #71 passed away a few months ago in Florida. Joe was
still racing until recently there too with his Late Model.
Sources: Mark
Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: May 12, 2003
