Dick Barton again shows mastery of Raceway 7 in ULMS special. Greg Fenno captures Street Stock Special

Conneaut, OH (August 27, 2010): The ULMS Super Late Models returned to Raceway 7 with a special feature that started 26 cars. The event, originally scheduled for August 6 had been rained out after the starting field was complete so any new cars were added at the end. When the race had completed its 30 lap distance, it was one of Raceway 7’s all-time leading winners, Dick Barton, continuing his mastery of the northeast Ohio speedplant by leading the field to the checkers. The Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks also had a special sponsored by Specialty Products that paid $1000 to win. The pay for that feature went to Corry, PA with Greg Fenno at the end of the 20-lap run. Max Blair was finally beat by another driver in the Schwartz Construction FASTRAK Late Models, that being John Volpe, instead of mechanical problems. Rich Michael Jr won his fourth Zimmer Service Center E-Mod feature of the season and Kyle Jackson won the Evergreen Lake Park Campground Mini Stock feature, his second win of the season.

Chad Valone, winless at Raceway 7, started on the pole with 4-time Super Late Model Champion Dick Barton on the outside front row. Barton immediately drove to the lead but Valone stayed within striking distance for the first three laps and was alongside in the turns until four cars spun in turn one, bringing the field under caution. Rob Blair, also a four-time track champion, got by Valone at lap five, putting two of the winningest drivers in Raceway 7’s history at the front. At lap ten, Boom Briggs joined the fray at the front but a lap later Barton started stretching out his lead. Another caution at lap 14 again slowed the field and again Blair and Barton restarted together at the front. Barton, again using the superior high line, rocketed into the lead with Blair second. Chris Hackett replaced Briggs in third at lap 16. With five to go David Scott came to third. Barton, an acknowledged master of Raceway 7, went on to the win over Blair, Scott, Hackett, and Briggs.

Chris Withers and Don Kramer led the 25 Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks to the green flag but Kramer spun in turn one and was miraculously missed by the entire field, even as bunched as it was on lap one. With $1000 on the line, courtesy of Specialty Products, all throttles were on the floorboards for the restart. Rush Firestone came to the lead on the back straight of lap one from his second row starting spot but suffered a flat tire just after the completion of the first lap, stopping on the back straight to draw the caution. Greg Fenno led the field back to the green after the restart with Withers second. Several more cautions slowed the race but Fenno dominated the remainder of the event, winning for the first time at Raceway 7 this season in only his second appearance of 2010. Withers held on for second with Ed Bolyard getting by Zimmer for third on the final lap. Denny Crawford finished the season with a fifth place finish. Ken Zimmer was honored in Victory Lane as the 2010 season Champion.

The Schwartz Construction FASTRAK Late Models were dominated all season by third-generation driver Max Blair and for the final feature of the season Blair started on the outside of row two, behind Bob Dorman and John Volpe, and next to Billy Henry. A three-car incident involving Dave Airgood Jr, Kyle Zimmerman, and Justin Kreider brought the race under caution before one lap was completed. At the end of one lap it was Volpe leading the way with Dorman second. At the time of the next caution on lap six for a spin by Josh Double, Volpe had a half-straight lead with Dorman still second and Blair third. At green, Blair blasted into second and Josh Holtgraver came to third. By lap eight Robbie Blair got by Holtgraver for third. After a restart at lap 13 Volpe again led with Max Blair holding second and Robbie Blair still in third. Volpe then led the rest of the distance to become to first driver to actually defeat Max Blair at Raceway 7 in 2010. The elder Blair was third at the end. Bill Cunningham Sr was fourth Michael Mitchell was fifth. Max Blair was recognized in Victory Lane as the 2010 Champion, an honor he had secured 2 weeks prior to the end of the season.

2009 champion Percy McDonald started the Zimmer Service Center E-Mod feature with three-time 2010 winner Rich Michael Jr on the outside. Michael won the battle to turn one and ran off to his fourth win of the season. McDonald hung on in second until 2010 champion Russ Dunn came by at lap five. Two laps later Brian Douglas got by McDonald for third, but then lost the handle at lap nine while trying to keep the spot from a charging Joel Watson, spinning out in turn two, slowing the field. During another caution at lap 12, Watson exited the track to the pits, advancing McDonald back to third and his brother, Dan, to fourth. The order remained that till the checkers. Kyle Bedell wound up fifth. In Victory Lane Russ Dunn was honored as the 2010 Champion after his runner-up spot in the race.

Kyle Jackson and Brad Cole brought the 19 car Evergreen Lake Park Campground Mini Stocks to the green flag with Jackson leading the way to turn one. By starting the feature Jonny Boyd became the point’s champion for 2010, a good thing for the 8-time winner since his car developed mechanical problems during the first lap yellow and had to be pushed to the infield. Jackson went on to the win with Jason Easler second and Cole third. Boyd’s car was pushed to Victory Lane for the champion’s ceremonies.

Raceway 7′s annual awards banquet will be held again at the St John’s Social Center in Girard, PA November 13, 2010 with the doors opening at 5 PM, dinner at 6, followed by the Awards Ceremonies, and music and dancing until 11. Cost is $25 per ticket. Details will be available at www.raceway7.com or by calling 814-774-8149.

Results:

ULMS Super Late Models:

Feature: (line up set August 6) Dick Barton, Rob Blair, David Scott, Chris Hackett, Boom Briggs, Bob Close, Chad Valone, Mike Knight, Brent Rhebergen, Jason DuPont, Darrell Bossard, Dennis Lunger, Mickey Wright, Wally Fox, Terry Porter, Jim Frank, Mike Biehler, Paul Grigsby, Jason Morell, Dave Lyon, Wendell Pinckney, Bump Hedman, John Lobb, Dave Airgood Jr, Jon Rohavecich, Charles Supplee

Schwartz Construction Fastrak Late Models:

Heat 1: John Volpe, Dave Airgood Jr, Kyle Zimmerman, Robbie Blair, Bob Dorman, Josh Holtgraver, Josh Double, Bob Craig, Billy Cunningham Jr, Justin Kreider

Heat 2: Max Blair, Bill Cunningham Sr, Billy Henry, Bud Watson, Michael Mitchell, Doug Iorio II, Newt Tackett, Jim Long, Chad Wright

Feature: John Volpe, Max Blair, Robbie Blair, Bill Cunningham Sr, Mike Mitchell, Josh Holtgraver, Billy Henry, Bob Dorman, Dave Airgood Jr, Bud Watson, Chad Wright, Josh Double, Justin Kreider, Billy Cunningham Jr, Bob Craig, Kyle Zimmerman, Doug Iorio Jr (DNS), Newt Tackett (DNS), Jim Long (DNS)

Zimmer Service Center E-Mods:

Heat 1: Dan Davies, Russ Dunn, Rich Michael, Dan McDonald, Rich Gardner, Chuck Steinle, Joe Weber, Bill Taylor, Jim Van Cise

Heat 2: Brian Douglas, Percy McDonald, Kyle Bedell, Joel Watson, Gary Eicher, Gerry Kielar, Rick Pratschler, Chris Peterson, Gary Murphy

Feature: Rich Michael Jr, Russ Dunn, Percy McDonald, Dan McDonald, Kyle Bedell, Dan Davies, Brian Douglas, Gary Eicher, Gerry Kielar, Joe Weber, Chris Peterson, Bill Taylor, Rick Pratschler, Chuck Steinle Jr, Rich Gardner, Joel Watson, Jim Van Cise, Gary Murphy (DNS)

Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks:

Heat 1: Don Kramer, Zach Downes, Joe Rohrer, Chris Withers, Jackson Humanic, Art Edwards, Shawn Fawcett, Tony Bates, Curtis Bish

Heat 2: Greg Fenno, Rush Firestone, Tony Hyde, Al Herman, Bill Myers, Aron Dascomb, Rick Prosser, Ken Lamp Jr

Heat 3: Ken Zimmer, Denny Crawford, Ed Bolyard, Dave Ferringer, Brian Bush, Matt Lozowski, Bill Banick, Tommy Fox

Feature: Greg Fenno, Chris Withers, Ed Bolyard, Ken Zimmer, Denny Crawford, Brian Bush, Matt Lozowski, Curtis Bish, Dave Ferringer, Tony Bates, Zach Downes, Art Edwards, Jackson Humanic, Bill Myers, Joe Rohrer, Bill Banick, Rush Firestone, Tony Hyde, Aron Dascomb, Shawn Fawcett, Don Kramer, Al Herman (DQ)

Evergreen Lake Park Campground Mini Stocks:

Heat 1: Kyle Jackson, Jonny Boyd, Bud Sergeff, Jon Boyd Sr, Ron Armstrong, Rick Emerson, Wes Stull, Beverly Plesniak, Mark Bates, Jamie Bobbitt

Heat 2: Rob Brooks, Bill Rabbits, Brad Cole, Jason Easler, Josh Hovis, Joe Keney, Jeremy Double, Doug Smith (DNS), Ricky Tackett (DNS), Tim Gillette (DNS)

Feature: Kyle Jackson, Jason Easler, Brad Cole, Bill Rabbits, Rob Brooks, John Boyd Sr, Bud Sergeff, Tim Gillette, Doug Smith, Jason Hovis, Mark Bates, Jeremy Double, Beverly Plesniak, Wesley Stull, Joe Keney, Ron Armstrong, Rick Emerson, Jonny Boyd, Jamie Bobbitt, Ricky Tackett (DNS),