James Friesen Steals First Career DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Victory
Weedsport, NY – Dan Kapuscinski, Rolling Wheels Raceway Park PR and Promotions Coordinator
James Friesen had never won a DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature event before Sunday evening. However, when the checkered flag fell on the ‘Westbury Lumber 25’ Sunday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Friesen was singing a different tune.
Tim Currier started the event from the front row and blasted into the early lead aboard his no. 10 machine. Currier was playing the outside of the Speedway masterfully in the early stages building as much as a three second lead over second place runner Eric Giguere.
Debris in turn three on lap-9 would bunch the field, and erase Currier’s lead. Meanwhile, Friesen had charged through the pack to third by this time and had Giguere well in his sights on the restart. Giguere could do little to stop the hard charging Friesen, as he sailed on by the no. 67g of Giguere and began to mount a run for the lead on lap-10.
It took 14-laps for Friesen to reel in Currier, but finally on lap-24 Friesen found the bite he had been looking for on the slick Rolling Wheels surface and powered underneath Currier for the top spot.
A caution on the same lap for the smoking no. 17 of Marcus Dinkins tightened the field one last time, but Currier would have nothing for the no. 52 of Friesen over the final circuit.
Friesen would go on for his first career victory ahead of Currier, Jipp Ortiz, Dan Wiesner, and Giguere. Following the top5 finishers were Sammy Reakes IV, Kevin Ridley, Tim Sears Jr., Chris Raabe, and Todd Town.
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified ‘Westbury Lumber 25’ Event Summary
Heat #1 (5 qualify): Sears Jr., Currier, Pitcher, Raabe, Guererri, Hilkert, Sharp, Planck
Heat #2: Ortiz, Hilton, Friesen, Dinkins, Sweet, LaVare, Smith, Cook Jr.
Heat #3: Chiddy, Juhl, Wiesner, Marcuccilli, Quick, Ridley, Spano, Town
Heat #4: Giguere, Reakes IV, Gray, Wright, VanBrocklin, Hefti, Kingsley, Peckham, Hallett
Consi (4 qualify): Ridley, Hilkert, Sharp, Town, Josh Hefti, Matt Smith, Bill Hallett, Phil LaVare, AJ Kingsley, Nate Peckham, Joe Cook Jr.
Westbury Lumber 25: 1) 52- JAMES FRIESEN, 2) 10- Tim Currier, 3) 0- Jipp Ortiz, 4) 66- Dan Wiesner, 5) 67g- Eric Giguere, 6) 17k- Sammy Reakes IV, 7) 20x- Kevin Ridley, 8) 83x- Tim Sears Jr., 9) 01- Chris Raabe, 10) 17T- Todd Town, 11) 29g- Steve Gray, 12) 8s- Justin Sharp, 13) 84- Rich Quick, 14) 19w- Justin Wright, 15) 14- Jeremy Pitcher, 16) 10v- Josh VanBrocklin, 17) 24- Brandon Sweet, 18) M1- Dave Marcuccilli, 19) 25g- Nick Guererri, 20) 17- Marcus Dinkins, 21) 17d- Tom Juhl, 22) 4- Darryl Hilkert, 23) 54- Mark Chiddy, 24) 3- Fran Hilton
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ROBBINS AND SHAY WIN AT PENN CAN RAIN SETS UP DOUBLE FEATURES NEXT WEEK
Susquehanna, PA…Even with the threat of rain in the forecast, the weather looked as if it was going to cooperate and a great night of racing would be held at Penn Can Speedway. With all of the qualifying completed the first two features hit the track and were run without much delay before the first bit of rain started to fall. Dwayne Robbins held off a fast charging Jeff Crambo to get the sportsman win and Nate Shay got his first ever feature win in the Super Stock Pure Stock Challenge. Just as the modified feature took the track a short shower would interrupt the program. The track crew brought the track back quickly and the modifieds were call back out of the pits. Just as they were sent on to the speedway more rain hit and just wouldn’t let up enough for racing to conclude. The modified feature will be complete this Friday along with the four cylinder main event added to the regularly scheduled program. The late model feature will be run the following week on May 16th.
Mike Nagel Jr would lead the sportsman competitors to the line for the start of their twenty lap feature event. He would jump out and lead the first three laps before Dwayne Robbins would make an outside pass and take command. Robbins would keep his car out front with Nagel in tow. Back in the field the cars of Jeff Crambo, Grant Hilfiger, and Nick Petrilak were making their way to the front. Crambo took the fourth spot on lap five and then moved into third on the eighth circuit chasing down the front two cars.
The first caution would come out on lap sixteen bunching the cars back together. Robbins would hold the lead followed by Crambo, Nagel, Hilfiger, and Petrilak. When the green came back out Robbins had all he could do to hold off the fast closing Crambo who would try all different ways to get by the Robbins machine. At the line Robbins would get the win followed by Crambo, Hilfiger, Nagel, and Petrilak.
Jim Sykes lbrought the Super Stock Pure Stock Challenge event to the green flag and lead the initial lap before being overtaken by Nate Shay coming through the first turn. Shay and Sykes would run nose to tale for the next six laps until Tom Herman would make his way into the picture. Herman would be followed closely to the front be the strong running super stock of Casey Strohl. He would be joined in the battle by the first pure stock challenger, Butch Green. With the action intense for all of the top positions, Shay was able to keep his mount out in front and hold off all challengers.
A thirteenth lap caution regrouped the field with Shay at the point followed by Herman, Strohl, and Green. When racing resumed, the battle for the lead was tight between Shay, Herman, and Strohl. A late race caution set up a dash for the checkered. Herman and Strohl were on the inside and outside of Shay coming to the flag with Shay just beating Herman and Strohl at the line. Jason Bartsch had his best run at Penn Can coming home fourth with Doug Polhamus finishing in the fifth position.
The twenty four car modified field would be lead to the line by Steve Babicek. The caution would come out for the spinning car of Brian Weaver. With the field regrouping for the restart, the rains would hit the speedway. After unsuccessfully trying to dry the track, the decision was made to finish the program at a later date as rains would not come to an end. The conclusion of the modified feature as well as the four cylinder feature will be the first order of events next week. It will be followed by another complete show for all divisions. The late model feature will be rescheduled for Friday May 16th.
In just two weeks the STAR Series for modifieds returns to Penn Can Speedway. This joint effort between Five Mile Point and Penn Can Speedway should produce a great field of modifieds for the $2000 to win event. Last season, Joey Grammes would win the series title followed by Carl Nagel and Jim Crawn.
Sportsman Feature: Dwayne Robbins, Jeff Crambo, Grant Hilfiger, Mike Nagel Jr, Jamie Cortazar, Paul Strohl, Joey Colsten, Paul Rooney, Bob Janesky, Eric Griffin, Stanley Wilkins, Nick Petrilak, Jason Carman
Super Stock Pure Stock Challenge Feature: Nate Shay, Tom Herman, Chris Strohl, Jason Bartsch, Doug Polhamus, Pat Nolan, Ryan Stone, Josh Towner, Jim Sykes, Darren Stout, Butch Green, Bill Metschulat, Frank Payne, Dick Koch, Tyler Yeagle, James Millard, Mark Hiller, DNS Ray Swanson.
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Pratt captures Sportsman win at The New Humberstone Speedway 2008 Season Opener
Cosco Haulage sportsman was a caution heavy 25 lap event, With 5 cautions before lap 6 even hit. But after that it was smooth sailing. Early leader the 777 of Tyler McPherson lead for most the race, until Pratt in a very aggressive move on lap 21 sent Tyler to 2nd and allowed him to take over the lead. McPherson not wanted to give up gave his all but in the end it was not enough to chase the P38 down. Paul Gaboury who was involved in a early caution working his way cautiously back up to capture a 3rd place finish. Top 5 were Rob Pratt, Tyler McPherson, Paul Gaboury, Matt Williamson and Greg Panunte. (Heat Winners were Tyler McPherson, Jeff Leggett and Greg Panunte)
Sportsman Feature Finish- Rob Pratt, Tyler McPherson, Paul Gaboury, Matt Williamson, Greg Panunte, Nick Cupolo, Rich Farraway, Kevin Sharp, Jeff Leggett, Rick Bellante, Dennis Giancola, Don Spiece, Roy Rinne, Ken Winfield, Darren Peters, Rob Knapp, Zack Zumpe, Dave Flannigan Jr, B.J Willard, Brad Rouse, Mike Bowman, Brandon Easey.
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