5/20/07

WEBER AND RUTHERFORD RETURN TO LANCASTER VICTORY LANE

 
Last Saturday night was Military Appreciation Night at Lancaster Raceway Park and a number of current and former military members, along with the US Army National Guard, were on hand for the night’s top notch racing action. Bobby Weber took home his first checkered flag of the season in the Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models while Kirk Rutherford took the checkers at Lancaster – just 24 hours after winning the SST Sportsman feature at Spencer Speedway. Super Stock driver Wayne Bernhard visited Victory Lane for the second time in two weeks while John Julicher Jr. continued his family’s winning ways, taking home his first career win in the Street Stocks. Dan Lawrence crossed the finish line first in the TQ Midget feature contest.

The TQ Midgets were the first to take to the track last week at Lancaster Raceway Park . Dan Lawrence started on the pole while Chris Bandelian, DJ Sossong, Vinny Christiano Jr., and Bobby Holmes rounded out the top five starters. At the drop of the green flag, Lawrence held onto the lead while the rest of the field sorted themselves out behind him. The stellar field of TQ’s was no match for the leading car of Lawrence however who took home his first TQ Midget Feature Win of the 2007 season.

Fans have come to expect some of the best racing action from the McGard Street Stocks and they were not let down this past week. With honorary starter SGT Christopher Park from the US Army National Guard waving the green flag, the excitement began with an early battle for the lead between Julicher and Gary Light, who had started on the pole. After a brief battle, Julicher was able to take command of the lead and remain there for the rest of the race. It was not without serious challenges though. Behind him Russell Knutsen, Tim Garlock, and Cory Gallagher waged an intense fight over position. Knutsen, who originally challenged Julicher for the lead, had a mirror full of Garlock and Gallagher for quite some time. The top three of Julicher, Knutsen, and Garlock separated themselves from the pack and soon Garlock took over the second running position from Knutsen. Lap traffic would help erase any lead Julicher had built up and soon the fast running Garlock was on his tail. Garlock looked inside and outside for a way around the leader but just couldn’t find one. In the end he was also forced to race against Knutsen who had returned to challenge for the second running spot on the track. At the checkered flag however, it was John Julicher Jr. taking the win with Garlock, Knutsen, Gallager, and Jeff Madill rounding out the top five finishers.

Although the division may be small in numbers, the Ray Laks Super Stocks more than make up for it in racing action. John Kraemer and George Roesch made up the front row of starters while the last two week’s feature winners of Wayne Bernhard and Dave Johnson were lined up behind them. At the start of the race, Kraemer and Roesch immediately got together and a complete restart was called for. The second time was the charm although not for long because just a few laps in another yellow was waved for Kramer and Roesch who had once again gotten into each other. When the racing finally resumed, Bernhard took advantage of his outside front row restart position and jumped in the lead. The cars soon spread out single file, but Dave Johnson was the car to watch as he cut down Bernhard’s lead and began challenging for the top spot. Bernhard held his position, even under heavy pressure at times from Johnson, and took home his second win of the season and second win in a row.

The SST Sportsman fielded a strong group of contenders last week, with nine former feature winners in the midst of those searching for their first career wins. Kirk Rutherford, who had won the previous night at Spencer Speedway, was the car to beat though. The nights action started out with a quick yellow and complete restart and on the ensuing laps, the Sportsman raced like the Street Stocks, running three wide from turn four to turn 2. Billy Burd, Nick Cappelli, and Tom MacLeod were the three drivers running the three wide pack and headed up a charge by the faster cars to the front of the field. Russ Gian lead the race after taking over the top spot from Jerry Harding Jr. on a lap five double file restart after a yellow flag. Nick Cappelli reaffirmed his nick name of “Quick Nick” by moving up through the field in a very rapid fashion, cutting Gian’s lead down to nothing in just a matter of a few laps. The battle was hot and heavy between Gian and Cappelli for the lead, but both would have their hopes for a win evaporate as they made contact with each other and brought out a caution. This put MacLeod in the leader position although not for long as Rutherford quickly and easily passed the former late model driver for the lead on lap fourteen. Rutherford, who had rebounded from earlier heat race problems, held on for the win with MacLeod, Billy Burd, Mike Stevenson, and Sherri Hogan completing the top five finishers.

2006 Bobcat of Buffalo Late Model Champion Bobby Weber found his way back to Victory Lane in the third race of the 2007 season for the late models’s. Weber started on the outside pole while Joe Carbone started on the inside pole. Weber’s car looked like it was riding on rails as it sailed past Carbone on the first lap to take the lead. Weber began building a lead on the rest of the pack and left Jeff Brown and Carbone to duke it out for second place. Brown was the victor and set his sights on Weber, the leader. With a single file field, Brown was able to catch up to the leader and soon began challenging for the top running position. At the halfway mark of the race Weber, Brown, and Carbone had separated themselves from the rest of the field and began battling amongst themselves for position. Brown began giving Weber a good run for his money as he looked for any way around the leader. However the veteran Weber was able to maintain his lead and went on to win his first feature of the 2007 season.

Next week on Saturday, May 26th Laidlaw presents Monster Trucks and a 50 Lap SST Sportsman Special at Lancaster Raceway Park. The Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models will have the week off. Monster Trucks AfterShock, American Guardian, Anger Management and Rap Attack will be on hand for car crushing action.

For more information visit on www.lancasterracing.com or call the track office at 716-758-6818.

TQ MIDGETS FEATURE FINISH:
1. (1) DANNY LAWRENCE #7
2. (5) Bobby Holmes #22
3. (7) Dave Wollaber #1
4. (2) Chris Bandelian #34
5. (4) Vince Christiano, Jr. #2
6. (8) Jamie Collard #3
7. (6) Mark Schulz #X
8. (12) Arik McGruder #21
9. (9) A.J. Hessler #11
10. (10) Shaun Szejnar #14
11. (3) Camden Barber #9
12. (11) Mel Raab #93 <33>
DNS: Rich Watkins #33

Lap Leader: Laps 1-20 Lawrence

Heat Winners: Danny Lawrence, Dave Wollaber

MCGARD STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH:
1. (2) JOHN JULICHER, JR. #9
2. (8) Tim Garlock #88
3. (6) Russell Knutsen #93
4. (5) Cory Gallagher #24
5. (11) Jeff Madill #6x
6. (10) Jim Bryant #49
7. (12) Andy Jankowiak #73
8. (9) Tom Agen #3
9. (7) Scott Mutka #23
10. (4) Mike Maggiore #28
11. (1) Gary Light #40
12. (3) Wayne Lavis #1
13. (14) Rob Bulger #32
14. (16) Ed Nowak #96
15. (20) Gary Bartella #99
16. (13) Bob Blaszak #56
17. (17) Joe Light #44
18. (19) Tom Agen, Jr. #8
19. (21) Tom Deville #61
20. (22) Matt Jurek #57
21. (23) Paul Tessier #12
22. (15) Debbie Jurek #65
23. (18) Steve Cochran #70

Lap Leader: Laps 1-15 Julicher Jr.

Heat Winners: Jeff Madill, Andy Jankowiak, John Julicher Jr.

RAY LAKS RESALE SUPER STOCK FEATURE FINISH:
1. (3) WAYNE BERNHARD #23
2. (4) Dave Johnson #52
3. (7) Frank Batista, Jr. #37
4. (1) John Kraemer #77
5. (6) Jay Canonico #13
6. (5) Marty Hughes #09
7. (2) George Roesch #61

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-7 Kraemer, laps 8-20 Bernhard

Heat Winner: George Roesch

SST SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH:
1. (13) KIRK RUTHERFORD #11
2. (4) Tom MacLeod #32
3. (5) Billy Burd #20
4. (9) Mike Stevenson #1
5. (2) Sherri Hogan #74
6. (3) Russ Gian #9
7. (6) Nick Cappelli #86
8. (10) Luke Wozniak #57
9. (7) Eddie Murray #37
10. (1) Jerry Harding, Jr. #57R
11. (8) Erick Rudolph #12
12. (12) Craig Dolphin #98
13. (11) Mike Bliss #72
DNS: Frank Booker Jr. #22, Ed Grimmer #31

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-4 Harding Jr., laps 5-12 Gian, lap 13 MacLeod, laps 14-25 Rutherford

Heat Winners: Erick Rudolph, Billy Burd

BOBCAT OF BUFFALO LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH:
1. (2) BOB WEBER #11
2. (3) Jeff Brown, Jr. #3
3. (1) Joe Carbone #31
4. (5) Tommy Reese #54
5. (4) Scott Skora #56
6. (6) Cory Lischer #3L
7. (7) Phil Hayne #52

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-25 Weber

Heat Winner: Joe Carbone

Source: Lori Overdorf/Lancaster PR
Additions: Mark Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: May 20, 2007