6/10/06

WEBER, BURD, BERNHARD, AND KNUTSEN PUT IN A MONSTER EFFORT AT LANCASTER

 
It’s been hard trying to get momentum going at Lancaster Raceway Park with Mother Nature wreaking havoc with the Saturday night stock car racing program every other week. LRP was finally able to get their first show of the month of June in the books on Monster Truck night, and hopefully it leads to a nice long stretch of racing for the rest of the summer.

With the Modifieds getting another night off the Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models took center stage with a special 40-lap $1000 to win feature race. Following the heat races, Mike Ticco and Holland Speedway regular Eldon King III drew the front row starting spots.

Ticco jumped out to the early lead with Ron Nurmi, who started third, following him into the second spot. Nurmi was looking for an early 50th birthday present, as he took the lead from Ticco on lap three. Nurmi’s birthday falls on June 11.

Nurmi wanted to run off and hide from the field, but Bobby Weber and George Skora III would not let that happen. Weber chased after Nurmi, and was able to catch and pass him by lap 11 as he slipped by on the inside in turns 3 and 4.

Weber then paced the field in the Stockmohr Roofing/Bobcat of Buffalo #11 as opened up a comfortable lead over Nurmi and Skora.

Skora passed Nurmi for second at the halfway point as continued to work toward his first career win. Skora then tried to eat up some the lead that Weber had built up, but time was not on his side.

Weber cruised to the win for his second checkered flag of the season. Skora’s runner up finish gives him two seconds, and a third place finish in the first three races of the season. Nurmi held on to finish third. Rich Skora and TJ Johnson rounded out the top five.

In the SST Sportsman, Billy “The Bird Man” Burd captured his first career SST win. Burd held off Jerry Gradl Jr., who made a valiant last-lap effort that came up a half car-length short.

Burd, a former Cup Lite series champion, took the lead from Ed Weber on lap 10 after working his way through the top five. Weber led the first 10 laps after starting on the pole.

Following Burd and Gradl across the line were Russ Gian, Bill Hebing, and Jeff Hamman. Hebing and Hamman are Spencer Speedway regulars, but have only had one week of racing at the Rochester-area oval this season. Hebing was driving his #6 Troyer Engineering ride with the Maynard Troyer retro paint scheme.

Wayne Bernhard captured his second checkered flag of the season in the Jerry Gradl Motors Super Stocks. The three-time defending track champion chased down Frank Batista Jr. and took the lead with just five laps to go. The win brings Bernhard’s career total to 20, which is fourth best in track history in the division. Batista Jr. held on to finish second. Mike Scott, Dave Johnson, and Kyle Sharpe rounded out the top five.

The Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks had their fourth-straight 30+ car field and their fourth different winner to start the 2006 season. This time Russell Knutsen topped the field for his first win since 2002 in the Fantastic Sam’s #93.

Knutsen took advantage of a lap 11 caution that allowed him to catch up to leader Andy Jankowiak. Jankowiak led from the pole and had built up a large lead before the yellow flag appeared. One lap after the restart, Jankowiak slipped out of the groove in turn four and Knutsen slipped by to take the lead away.

Knutsen still had nine more laps to lead, however, and Tom Agen Sr. was charging up from deep in the field. Agen caught him while racing through lap traffic, and made run for the win coming out of turn four on the final lap. Agen got alongside Knutsen at the checkered flag, but Knutsen won by less than a car length.

Next week, June 17, the mighty Modifieds finally return home for the rescheduled Bud 50. All divisions will be in action including the TQ Midgets. Only the Modified will run heat races, while the rest of the classes will run features only.

In addition to next week’s racing program, it’s also “Heroes Homecoming” day at Lancaster. Fans are encouraged to attend the pre-race party from 1-5 PM featuring over 50 Lancaster drivers from the past. Some of those legends attending include Roger Treichler, Chuck Boos, Dutch Hoag, Jerry Gradl, Jim Smoker, Ed Ortiz, Brian Horn, Tim Mangus, Bobby Hudson and Fred Rounds. The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club will also be on hand with their race cars from the past in action.

Grandtstand admission is half price for all those who come from 1-4 PM. There will also be food discounts at the concession stand. Any former Lancaster drivers or employees are encouraged to attend, and can call the track office to RSVP to get free admission. For more details call (716) 759-6818.

RESULTS

BOBCAT OF BUFFALO LATE MODELS
Heat Winners – George Skora III, Rich Skora

Feature –
1. (9) BOBBY WEBER #11
2. (5) George Skora, III #65
3. (3) Ron Nurmi #2
4. (4) Rich Skora #75
5. (7) T.J. Johnson #99
6. (9) Scott Skora #56
7. (1) Mike Ticco #65sr
8. (13) Tim Windnagle #61
9. (6) Jeff Brown, Jr. #3
10. (12) Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr. #50
11. (14) Tommy Reese #54
12. (8) Mark Pennell #18
13. (10) Bill Matuszak #1
14. (15) Scott Nurmi #20
15. (2) Eldon King, III #28
DNS: Darryl McKay #22

SST SPORTSMAN
Heat Winners – Ed Weber, Justin Shepker

Feature – BILL BURD, Jerry Gradl Jr., Russ Gian, Bill Hebing, Jeff Hamman, Frank Booker Jr., Sherri Hogan, Justin Shepker, Nick Cappelli, Eddie Murray, Kirk Rutherford, Ed Grimmer, Craig Dolphin, Mike Stevenson, T.J. Petrie, Ed Weber, Luke Wozniak and John Barber.

JERRY GRADL MOTORS SUPER STOCKS
Heat Winners – Wayne Bernhard, Frank Batista

Feature – WAYNE BERNHARD, Frank Batista Jr., Mike Scott, Dave Johnson, Kyle Sharpe, George Roesch, Rick Widmer, Doug Evans, Jason Gwin, John Kraemer, Mark Hoch and Jay Canonico.

GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners – Kevin Mendel, Russell Knutsen, Bobby Hanel Jr.

Feature – RUSSELL KNUTSEN, Tom Agen Sr., Mike Maggiore, Jeff Madill, Tim Garlock, Jim Bryant, Jim Stein, Rob Bulger, Andy Jankowiak, Rich Hoch, Gary Light, Pete Hackett, Cory Gallagher, Kaz Toracek, Kevin Mendel, Tom Agen Jr., Bob Hanel Sr., Rick Ortwein, Ed Nowak, Gary Bartella, Joe Mergl, Paul Tessier, Steve Cochran, Tom Deville, Dennis Pieczynski, Jeff Guidotti, Joe Light, Wayne Lavis, Andy Cryan, Scott Mutka, Bobby Hanel Jr. and Bob Blaszak.

Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR; Additions: Mark Southcott
Posted: June 11, 2006