Fireworks, Big Block Modifieds This Week At Raceway 7
3 min read
Conneaut, OH (June 28, 2016): The always exciting Big Block Modifieds return to Raceway 7 this Friday for their annual visit as the second half of the 2016 season gets underway. The evening will also feature a giant fireworks display befitting the Fourth of July weekend and a regular card of the five staple divisions to thrill both new and long-term fans.
The Big Block Modifieds are one of the oldest forms of stock car racing in the northeast, with roots back to the late 1940s. When Raceway 7 first swung open its gates in 1970, the Big Blocks were there. This week they return with last year’s event winner Dave Murdick leading the charge. Rex King Jr and Erick Rudolph have wins this season at Mercer Raceway Park and Sharon Speedway. Rudolph is the current points leader by a scant two points over King Jr. Murdock is mired back in the pack in a tie at seventeenth spot with Ron Cartwright Jr. Thirty-two cars entered last summer’s race and more are expected this week.
In regular racing all five divisions will run regular shows headed up by the Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models. Kyle Zimmerman went to Victory Lane last Friday night for the fifth time this season but trails both Darrell Bossard and Dennis Lunger in the season standings. Both Bossard, the leader, and Lunger, second by thirteen points, have feature wins this summer. Wendall Pinckney got his first Evergreen Lake Park Campground victory on June 17 and runs fourth ahead of Breyton Santee, still looking for his first of the season.
Joel Watson has dominated the Bonnell’s Collision Center E-Mod division this summer, winning six features in seven visits! Last week Mike Kinney managed to drive into the Winner’s Circle for the first time this season and Mike Potosky won back on May 13th. With his near perfect record, the many times past champion has a healthy 83-point lead over Dennis Lunger. Troy Johnson is third with two-time class champion Percy McDonald fourth. McDonald, as a result of a work-related accident, will be unable to compete the rest of the season. Josh McDonald is currently fifth in the standings by a razor thin margin of one point over Jesse Gould. Will anyone be able to defeat Watson, the hometown champion?
Rob Bates won the opening night Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stock feature this spring and then won another feature June 17th. Defending champion Shawn Fawcett won his second of the season last Friday with a last-lap pass and runs second in the standings, 56-markers back. Chris McGuire, also a two time winner, is third with Jimmy Kennerknecht fourth, winning on June 10th, and Don McGuire fifth. The only other winner this season was Leigh Wheeler, back on May 13th.
Four-time winner (including the last two in a row) Steve Haefke leads the Bonnell Auto Sales Economod championship chase over defending champion Rick Prosser, a two-time winner, by 21 points. June 10th winner Eric Reinwald is third, another 75 points back. Mike Harmon and Kevin Sergeff round out the top five.
Jason Easler is having a dominating season in the McDonald Sand & Gravel Mini Stocks with five wins in the first half of the season. As a result he enjoys a 35-point edge over Hoyt Mihalak, not yet a visitor to Victory Lane this season. Former champion Bud Sergeff is third and has one win this year. Kyle Adkins is fourth with consistent racing this summer but without a win. Casey Harmon, also having consistent finishes without winning, is fifth. Defending champion Brad Cole prevailed on June 10th for a win but is out of the top five at present. Andy Proper, an infrequent visitor, collected the win on June 3rd.
Weather permitting, gates open every Friday at 5:30 PM with pill draw cut off at 7 PM and racing at 7:30 PM. VIP suites are available for rental for $250 a night which includes eight general admissions passes. Admission is set for $10 for adults for regular events, kids 7-14 are $5. Children 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $25. For more information please visit www.raceway7.com or call the track on race day after 12 noon at 440-594-2222.
