7/2/2005

HEBING AND SHEPKER SPLIT SST MODIFIED MIDSEASON DOUBLE FEATURES

On Independence Day weekend, the Lancaster Raceway Park paid tribute to those who protect us with Heroes Night at the Races. All military personnel, EMTs, firemen, and policemen were admitted though the gates free of charge. They and all other the race fans in attendance would be treated to a great show, including a pair of exciting features by the Signworks SST Modifieds.

In the first main event, which was rescheduled from May 21, Mike Shields jumped out to the lead on the first lap after starting on the pole. On a restart on lap three, however, Bill Hebing jumped in front from the outside of the first row to take the top spot.

Hebing would pull away in the final 17 laps for his second win of the season. Neal Dietz Jr. would get his best finish of the year, finishing second. John Barber, Jim Pierce, and Jerry Gradl Jr. rounded out the top five. Points leader Bobby Holmes was denied his third-straight win and finished sixth.

The second feature would be for the SST Modified midseason championship with an extra five laps tacked on to the race’s distance. The season-high field of 23 cars was lined up on the front stretch before the race for a special driver introduction ceremony to the delight of the crowd. Frank Booker and Sherri Hogan were at the head of line, as they would start on the front row.

Booker would lead the first five laps but would then surrender the lead to Justin Shepker, who started third. Shepker would go out to lunch on the field as he opened a half-straightaway sized lead on Booker. He would survive through the race’s four caution periods as each time he was able to once again pull away.

Shepker would chalk up his second win of the year and the special midseason championship trophy. Russ Gian brought home a season-best second place run. Bill Hebing had the best average finish of the night with a third to add to his win. Jerry Gradl Jr. and Eddie Murray rounded out the top five.

With the season high field of SST cars, there were a few surprises in the field. Wyoming County regulars Ricky Knapp Jr., Tom Weist, and Richard Thomas all returned trying to pick up some crucial SST Series bonus points. Former Cup Lite Series champion, Bill Burd, also made an appearance driving a former Frank Booker car that is now owned by Eddie Murray. Burd has been living in North Carolina recently, driving a Late Model for Busch Series driver, Randy LaJoie. Former track champion, Kirk Rutherford, made his first start of the year in the Johnson Brothers #6.

The Advance Auto Parts Modified tangled for 25 laps in an exclusive and talented field of cars. Tim Mangus started on the pole and led all 25 laps for his first win of the season.

Sege Fidanza was unable to get his third-straight win in one week, as he was involved in a crash on lap 14. Fidanza was racing with Bill Mislin for position when they came upon a lapped car. Mislin collided with the slower car and it took Fidanza into the Thermal Foam in turn three. He was uninjured.

Dave Wollaber would go on to finish second. Tom McGrath, Karl Hehr, and Mislin would round out the top five.

Doug Evans became the first repeat winner this season in the Probity Construction Super Stocks. The class had seven different winners in the first seven races. Evans inherited the lead from Mike Scott with just five laps to go before sailing to the victory.

Frank Batista Jr. drove to his second win in three days in the Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks. Batista won on Thursday night and repeated the feat on Saturday as he led 10 of the race’s 15 laps. Tom Agen finished a few car lengths back in second. Dave Johnson, John Shurmatz, and Russell Knutsen closed out the top five.

RESULTS

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIEDS
Heat Winners – Bill Mislin, Tim Mangus

Feature – TIM MANGUS, Dave Wollaber, Tom McGrath, Karl Hehr, Bill Mislin, Ron Williams, Sean O' Neill, Bill Torrisi, Eddie Murray, and Sege Fidanza.

SIGNWORKS SST MODIFIEDS
Feature #1 (from 5/21) - BILL HEBING, Neal Dietz Jr., John Barber, Jim Pierce, Jerry Gradl Jr., Bobby Holmes, Mike Shields, Eddie Murray, Justin Shepker, Mike Mitchell, Ed Grimmer, Bill Burd, Richard Thomas, Frank Booker, Russ Gian, Kirk Rutherford, Sherri Hogan, Jack Grainy, Paul Jorgensen, Ricky Knapp Jr., Don Wylie, Ed Weber, and Tom Wiest.

Heat Winners – Justin Shepker, Neal Dietz Jr.

Feature #2 – JUSTIN SHEPKER, Russ Gian, Bill Hebing, Jerry Gradl Jr., Eddie Murray, Paul Jorgensen, Frank Booker, Bill Burd, Sherri Hogan, Mike Shields, Don Wylie, Ed Weber, Neal Dietz Jr., Ricky Knapp Jr., Ed Grimmer, Jack Grainy, Bobby Holmes, Kirk Rutherford, John Barber, Richard Thomas, Mike Mitchell, Tom Wiest, and Jim Pierce.

PROBITY CONSTRUCTION SUPER STOCKS
Heat Winners – Doug Evans, Mike Scott

Feature – DOUG EVANS, Wayne Bernhard, Mike Scott, Jay Mudra, Ed Lechner, Tom Carney, Paul Alberti, A.J. Cole, Dick Wieland, Chris Pennell, Jay Canonico, and Mark Hoch. DNS: Ed Collver.

GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners – Gary Light, Frank Batista, John Shurmatz

Feature – FRANK BATISTA, JR., Tom Agen, Dave Johnson, John Shurmatz, Russell Knutsen, Jeff Madill, Jim Offhaus, Gary Light, Joe Mergl, Bobby Hanel, Rick Widmer, Tim Garlock, Kyle Volk, Wayne Lavis, Scott Mutka, Pete Hackett, Dennis Pieczynski, Bob Blaszak, Tom Deville, Paul Tessier, Mike Fedele, Jim Bryant, Andy Jankowiak, Jim Stein, Shane Porter, Joe Light, Robert Dobuchi Jr., and Rob Bulger.

Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster PR
Posted: July 3, 2005