9/3/2005

SCHERRER AND BARBER GET FIRST WINS OF SEASON AT LRP

Finally racing returned to the Lancaster Raceway Park after rain kept the ˝-mile oval silent the last two Saturdays. It was the next to last points race for the weekly divisions in action, and with the points races in all divisions still close there was still plenty on the line during Labor Day weekend.

In the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds, Brett Scherrer picked up his first win of the season in the 30-lap feature. Scherrer started on the outside pole and quickly pulled away from Ron Williams on the start.

Sege Fidanza moved up from fourth to second on the opening lap and would stay on the heels of Scherrer for the entire race. Fidanza tried every which way he could to get around Scherrer, but he would not budge out of the preferred racing line. Scherrer held his ground and drove to his second career Modified victory. Tim Mangus would finish third behind Scherrer and Fidanza, Dave Wollaber and Tom McGrath rounded out the top five.

Fidanza and Mangus gained some ground on McGrath in the race for the division championship, which will be settled next week. McGrath began the night 23 points ahead of Mangus, and 39 ahead of Fidanza. Going into the final race, about 35 points will separate the top three in the standings.

John Barber of Bliss, NY captured the win in the Signworks SST Sportsman 30-lap feature. Jerry Gradl Jr. crossed the finish line first but was disqualified in post-race inspection, giving the win to Barber. It is his first win at Lancaster in 19 years. Justin Shepker, Paul Jorgensen, Eddie Murray, and Bobby Holmes completed the top five.

Next week, Bobby Holmes will only need to start the feature to guarantee his second-straight division championship.

Once again the tightest points race is in the Probity Construction Super Stocks as 57 points separated the top four in the standings going into this past week’s race. Mike Scott, who was third in points, picked up his third win of the year over Jay Mudra and Wayne Bernhard.

Bernhard and Mudra are just ahead of Scott in the standings going into the final week. Unofficially Bernhard will have a 16-point lead over Mudra going into the final event.

Tom Agen captured his second win of the year in the Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks. Agen passed by Andy Jankowiak on lap 12 and then pulled away in the final laps to take the win. Jankowiak would originally hang on for second while Jim Stein finished third. Jankowiak was later disqualified though which meant Stein finished second with Scott Mutka bumped up to third.

All three top finishers received a bonus in the purse thanks to Modified driver, Sean O’Neill, who donated $500 to be split 250-150-100 between the three in memory of Sean’s father, Gene, who passed away.

The Cup Lite Racing Series made their second appearance of the season at LRP with Bryan Weisenburg topping their 40-lap feature. Weisenburg made a three-wide pass on Dan Tybor and Ken Hecker to take the lead on lap 13 and would not relinquish the rest of the way. Dennis Tybor would go on to finish second. Leo Becker, Ken Heckler, and Shane Riffel rounded out the top five.

Next week, September 10, LRP wraps up the regular season with the rescheduled Tommy Druar Memorial Mr. Modified 50 plus the final round of the Lancaster/Holland Late Model Challenge Series. The division crowns will be handed out in all five weekly divisions. Racing starts at 6:30 PM.

Two weeks later it is the 17th annual US Open taking place September 23-25. On Friday night, September 23, there will be a practice session followed by the second annual US Open Kickoff Party. Saturday night heat races will be run for all divisions plus the 75-lap features for the SST Modified Series and Cup Lites. On Sunday afternoon, the Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour takes center stage with the US Open 125, plus features for the Late Models, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, and TQ Midgets.

Presale tickets and driver registration forms are now available at the LRP office. Call (716) 759-6818 for more information.

RESULTS

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIEDS
Heat Winners – Tim Mangus, Brett Scherrer

Feature – BRETT SCHERRER, Sege Fidanza, Tim Mangus, Dave Wollaber, Tom McGrath, Bobby Holmes, Ron Williams, Sean O’Neill, Eddie Murray, Karl Hehr, and Bill Mislin.

SIGNWORKS SST SPORTSMAN
Heat Winners – Jerry Gradl Jr., Craig Dolphin

Feature – JOHN BARBER, Justin Shepker, Paul Jorgensen, Eddie Murray, Bobby Holmes, Mike Mitchell, Frank Booker, Sherri Hogan, Dick Kluth, Ed Grimmer, Craig Dolphin, Mike Shields, Russ Gian, Ed Weber, Chris Kline, Don Wylie, and T.J. Petrie. DQ: Jerry Gradl, Jr. DNS: Jason Kline.

PROBITY CONSTRUCTION SUPER STOCKS
Heat Winners – Doug Evans, Mark Hoch

Feature – MIKE SCOTT, Jay Mudra, Wayne Bernhard, A.J. Cole, Wayne Bukowski, Doug Evans, J.W. Flagler, Ed Kicinski, Ed Lechner, Jay Cannonico, Mark Hoch, and Jason Gwin.

GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners – Jim Stein, Andy Jankowiak, Jim Offhaus

Feature – TOM AGEN, Jim Stein, Scott Mutka, Jim Offhaus, Jeff Madill, Rick Widmer, Kyle Volk, Joe Mergl, Pete Hackett, Frank Batista, Dave Johnson, Gary Light, Tim Offhaus, Rob Bulger, Tim Garlock, Dennis Pieczynski, Mike Maggiore, Don Deville, Bob Blaszak, Gary Bartella, Kax Toraser, Jim Bryant, Wayne Lavis, Andy Cryan, Mark Pew, Rick Ortwein, Mike Fedele, John Shurmatz, Kevin Mendel, Joe Light, Tom Deville, Shane Porter, Paul Tessier, and Russell Knutsen. DQ: Andy Jankowiak.

CUP LITES RACING SERIES
Heat Winners – Kreig Heroth, Dennis Tybor

Feature – BRYAN WEISENBURG, Dennis Tybor, Leo Becker, Ken Heckler, Shane Riffel, Kreig Heroth, John McClurg, Taylor Holdaway, Dave Bittner, Jason Eiseman, Nelson Rung, Dave Whittaker, Dan Tybor, Dave Rigan, Kris Martin, Glenn Absalom, Phil Hayne, Glenn Attanasio, Kevin Blakely, and Scott Wylie.

Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Posted:  September 5, 2005