9/9/06

EVANS, LIGHT, AGEN AND MCGRUDER WIN BEFORE RAIN ARRIVES

 
Once again the Lancaster Raceway Park could not catch a break with the weather as light, but persistent rain showers cut short the final regular Saturday night of the season. Four of the scheduled six features were completed before Mother Nature made her presence felt.

In the Jerry Gradl Motor Super Stocks, Doug Evans picked up his second win of the season in a race that was shortened by the weather.

Kyle Sharpe led the first 18 laps from the outside pole. While working the 19th lap, Sharpe was tagged from behind by Wayne Bernhard in turn two and spun out. Just as Sharpe turned his car around, the rain came down hard enough to bring out the yellow flag.

Bernhard was penalized by officials for the contact with Sharpe and was sent to the rear of the field. This put Evans in first place, and when the rain failed to let up the race was declared complete after 18 of the scheduled 20 laps.

The Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks were once again split into two separate features, and for the second time this season the twin-feature format produced a first time winner.

In the first feature, Joe Light captured his first career win in the Street Stocks by leading all 15 laps. Light started on the pole and led from the drop of the green flag all the way until the checkered flag.

Jim Stein was on Light's back bumper late in the race, but could not take the lead away. Stein finished second. John Julicher Jr. finished a career-best third. Jim Bryant and Rob Bulger rounded out the top five.

In the second feature, Tom Agen Sr. won his third race of the season after passing Joe Mergl for the lead with less than two laps to go. Mergl led from the second lap of the race as he and Agen were the dominant cars in the field. Following an intense side-by-side battle, Agen finally took the lead in turn two on lap 14.

Kevin Mendel finished third behind Agen and Mergl. Jeff Madill and Gary Light rounded out the top five.

In the TQ Midgets, Arik McGruder captured his first career win by leading all 20 laps of the feature. McGruder faced a strong challenge late in the race from Vinny Christiano Jr., but held on for the win. Chris Bandelian, Mark Schulz, and Jim Fleischmann completed the top five.

The SST Sportsman and Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models had their features rained out. Ed Weber and Bill Burd won the SST heat races. Ron Nurmi and Todd Hoddick won the Late Model heats with 21 cars pitside.

Stock car racing at LRP is off next weekend for the Race of Champions at Oswego. Racing returns the weekend of September 22-24 for the 18th annual US Open. Practice takes place on Friday followed by the US Open Kickoff Party in the main concourse. On Saturday night, the Super Stocks, Cup Lites, SST Modified Series, and MAARA Late Models will compete. On Sunday afternoon the weekend wraps up with the TQ Midgets, Street Stocks, and the headlining US Open 100 for the Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour.

For more information on US Open weekend, check out www.lancasterracing.com.

RESULTS

JERRY GRADL MOTORS SUPER STOCKS

Heat Winners - Dave Johnson, Kyle Sharpe

Feature -
1. (4) DOUG EVANS
2. (6) Dave Johnson
3. (7) Frank Batista, Jr.
4. (3) Mike Scott
5. (8) J.W. Flagler
6. (9) Paul Alberti
7. (10) Jason Gwin
8. (5) Wayne Bernhard
9. (1) Rick Widmer
10. (11) Jay Canonico
DQ: (2) Kyle Sharpe
DNS: Jay Mudra

GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS

Heat Winners - Joe Light, Jim Stein, Jeff Madill, Tom Agen Sr.

Feature #1 - JOE LIGHT, Jim Stein, John Julicher Jr., Jim Bryant, Rob Bulger, Scott Mutka, Kaz Tarasek, Joe Haley, Cory Gallagher, Dennis Pieczynski, Mike Maggiore, Andy Jankowiak, Jim Sulzbach, Ed Nowak, Gary Denea, Steve Cochran, Rick Ortwein and Debbie Jurek.

Feature #2 - TOM AGEN SR., Joe Mergl, Kevin Mendel, Jeff Madill, Gary Light, Jeff Guidotti, Mark Hoch, Andy Cryan, Gary Bartella, Bob Blaszak, Russell Knutsen, Tom Deville, Tim Garlock, Paul Tessier, Tom Agen Jr., Rich Hoch and Bob Hanel Sr. DNS: Tim Neis, Shane Porter, Bill Wruck and Don Deville.

TQ MIDGETS

Heat Winners (from 8/26) - Vinny Christiano Jr., Arik McGruder

Feature - ARIK MCGRUDER, Vinny Christiano Jr., Chris Bandelian, Mark Schulz, Jim Fleischmann, Curtis Friesen, Erick Rudolph, Jared Turnbull, Rob Croft, Wayne Turnbull, Jamie Collard, A.J. Hessler, Dan Lawrence and Mike Blair. DQ: Charlie DiRosa. DNS: Chad Haywood, Junior Haywood, Camden Barber and D.J. Sossong.

2006 Champions:

Dave Wollaber #45 & Sege Fidanza #77 - Modified: Dave's 2nd and Sege's 9th Modified title
Bob Weber #11 - Late Model: Bob's 2nd Late Model title
Nick Cappelli #86 - Sportsman: Nick's 3rd Sportsman title
Wayne Bernhard #23 - Super Stock: Wayne's 4th consecutive title, and it's a TRACK RECORD FOR A DRIVER IN ALL DIVISIONS
Jim Bryant #49 - Street Stock: 1st title
Vince Christiano, Jr. #2 - T.Q. Midget: 1st title

Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Additions: Mark Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: September 11, 2006