6/2/08

DUNN TIRE RACEWAY PARK FALLS VICTIM TO MOTHER NATURE AFTER TWO FEATURES

 
With Dunn Tire Raceway Park’s Saturday night show rained out, the Sunday raindate was put into use. However, Mother Nature appeared out of nowhere to spoil the party at the speedway as the best field of cars for the season was on hand. Slated to appear were the Able Agency Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Lorigo Insurance SST Sportsman, Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models and McGard Modifieds. Only the Street Stocks and Super Stocks would complete their feature events, with Jim Stein and Jay Mudra taking the wins in their respective divisions.

The fan favorite Able Agency Street Stocks had 21 cars take the green flag and rookie polesitter Kris Hamann immediately took the lead in just his third Street Stock race of his career. However, he had a pack of veterans right on his tail an soon Jim Stein was challenging hard for the lead. Stein would use his experience to take the lead on lap three with an outside pass on Hamann. Numerous yellow flags marred the momentum of the race and kept Stein from building too much of a lead. However by the halfway point of the race the green flag laps were ticking off smoothly, with Stein building up his lead. Following him were Cory Gallagher, Matt Jurek, Scott Mutka, Bobby Hanel Jr., and John Julicher Jr.. Stein looked unstoppable, but a late race caution on lap 16 brought the experienced field right to his bumper for a single file restart. Stein’s car was the class of the field though, and he held on to take his first feature win of the season.

Next up was the season debut of the Super Stocks, who are running a limited five race series at Dunn Tire Raceway Park this season. Drivers from various tracks descended upon the raceway for the competition. Jeff Merritt and Jay Canonico sat on the front row while JW Flagler and Jay Mudra started directly behind them. At the drop of the green Merritt jumped into the lead while Flagler and Mudra slotted into second and third respectively. Meanwhile Bobby Lippa Jr. jumped from the seventh position to fourth in just one lap. The battle for the lead was on up front with Flagler taking the spot from Merritt on lap three. Lippa moved up to second while Mudra hung out in third waiting for an opportunity. The opportunity came on lap seven when Flagler and Lippa made contact and bobbled, opening the door for Mudra to take the lead. Mudra began putting some distance between himself and the rest of the pack but on lap ten, the halfway point of the race, Mother Nature came calling. With rain showers dropping a lot of liquid on the track, the race was called complete and Jay Mudra declared the winner.

Due to the rains, the rest of the show was cancelled due to poor track conditions. Information on the SST Sportsman, Late Models and Modifieds and their make up races will be announced this week.

The Saturday, June 7 show is scheduled for this week. Dunn Tire Raceway Park hosts the #88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. race car along with racing by the Thiel Motorsports Fast & Furious 4 Cylinders, Probity Group TQ Midgets, Able Agency Street Stocks, Lorigo Insurance SST Sportsman and Bobcat of Buffalo Late Models. It is also Buffalo and Lockport Community Days with residents of both cities receiving free admission with proof of residency such as a drivers license.

Able Agency Street Stock Feature Finish:
1. (3) JIM STEIN #21 - first win since 2006
2. (2) Cory Gallagher #24
3. (5) John Julicher, Jr. #9
4. (8) Matt Jurek #57
5. (9) Gary Bartella #99
6. (10) Bobby Hanel, Jr. #33
7. (16) Joe Haley #43
8. (15) Gary Denea #33D
9. (6) Dave Frieder #7
10. (7) Kevin Mendel #77
11. (1) Kris Hamann #8
12. (14) Paul Tessier #12
13. (18) Gary Light #18
14. (20) Joe Light #44
15. (19) Shane Porter #11
16. (12) Steven Cochran #70
17. (13) Ed Nowak #96
18. (11) Rick Ortwein #58
19. (17) Jeff Guidotti #20
20. (21) Debbie Jurek #65
DQ from finishing 4th: (4) Scott Mutka #23 - weight

Lap Leaders: laps 1-2 Hamann, laps 3-25 Stein
Heat Winners: Kris Hamann #8, John Julicher, Jr. #9

Super Stock Feature Finish:
1. (4) JAY MUDRA #16 - first win since 2006
2. (7) Bobby Lippa, Jr. #15
3. (3) J.W. Flagler #27
4. (1) Jeff Merritt #49
5. (2) Jay Canonico #13
6. (5) Tim Garlock #88
7. (8) Pete Pieczynski #89
8. (6) Rick Ortwein #58
DNS: Jim Kron, III #31

Lap Leaders: laps 1-2 Merritt, laps 3-5 Flagler, lap 6 Lippa, Jr., laps 7-10 Mudra
Heat Winner: Jay Mudra #16

Lorigo Insurance SST Sportsman Heat Winners (19 cars):
Billy Putney #22, Jon Price #13

Bobcat of Buffalo Late Model Heat Winners (17 cars):
Dave Rigan #24, Ron Nurmi #2

McGard Modified Heat Winners (18 cars):
Dave Wollaber #5, Sege Fidanza #77

Source: Lori Overdorf/Dunn Tire Raceway Park PR
Additions and corrections: Mark Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: June 2, 2008