RGeeProductions
05-23-2009, 09:22 AM
Tony Hanbury, from nearby Owego, NY, took top honors in the season opening SST Series Tour race last Friday at Spencer Speedway. In what was to have been a 100-lapper, the race was shortened to 75 laps by a fast closing curfew and an unusual number of yellow flags.
“I have to apologize to Chris Finocchario. We got into an early mix-up with him,” stated Hanbury in victory lane. “I was going to the outside and he must have lifted early, I think to go low. I had a car I knew could pass him on the outside. We just touched”
In accompanying divisional races, Ed die Hawkins took the win in the inaugural 20-lap feature for the Auto Value Scorpion four-cylinder class and Craig Butler won the 20-lap Super Six feature. The Street Stock feature was curfew delayed to this coming week.
The top four finishers in each heat race were able to redraw to set up the feature line up. Kreig Heroth drew the number one pole starting position with Finocchario drawing the outside pole starting position. Heat wins went to Buck Catalano, Jeff Hammon and Hanbury.
The 100-lapper saw 29 cars take guest starter, John Nelson’s green flag. Outside pole sitter Chris Finocharrio immediately jumped into the lead over Zach Trusedall and Andy Lewis. But an indication of things to come saw the yellow fly when Phil Wehrheim spun out in the fourth turn.
The restart saw Finocchario maintain his lead with Tony Hanbury moving into second. Hanbury closed in on Finocchario and moved to the outside in the first turn. Slight contact seemed to be made and Finocchario spun off the track on the high side. After a short stop in the pits Finocchario continued from the back of the field.
Over the course of the next three laps, three yellows had to be thrown, including a spin down the front chute by third place running Andy Lewis. The drivers were then able to put together a set of seven green flag laps, but the die was cast after the first few laps took nearly 30 minutes to run. This delay forced SST Officials to consider shortening the race to 75 laps.
On lap 29 the yellow flew with Hanbury leading Amy Catalano, Buck Catalano and Kevin Timmerman. During this caution Buck Catalano turned pit-side with overheating problems and out of the race.
Five more yellows slowed the race before the 50 lap mark, all for minor spin outs. The exception was heavy wall contact made on lap 32 when Jeff Hammon hit the back stretch wall exiting the second turn. Hammond had been as high as fifth in the running order at one time .
The final 25 laps, of the now shortened 75 lapper, were run under green flag conditions with Hanbury securing the first place spot by some 30 car lengths over Amy Catalano. Amy had her hands full holding off Timmerman over the closing laps. Finocchario made his way back up to fourth by lap 51. He tried to close the gap on Timmerman but settled in for fourth. Jerry Gradl rounded out the top five in fifth.
Fuels became an issue for many of the teams. However no one reported to have run out. The final lap saw the 00 of Toad Bradshaw spin off the third turn forcing officials to end the race under yellow-checkers as the clock turn to 11:30 pm and forced the Street Stock main to held over to next week. The 75 laps took one hour and twenty minutes to run.
When asked about his fuel situation, Hanbury commented, ”Not everyone has a larger fuel cell like we have. In these longer races they need to either stop us all or start to count cautions when fuel becomes a concern.”
Amy Catalano, who came home second stated, “I set out for a top five as a goal on the first night and we were able to do it. I am pleased about that. Driving is easy if the car is set up right”
Third place finisher Kevin Timmerman related his run, “We had a good run tonight. We got up to Amy but she never messed up.”
The debut of the Auto Value Scorpion four-cylinder class saw 12 cars make the 20-lap opener. Bill VerWys took the lead at the drop of the green and seemed to have the power to hold off the rest of the field. Ed die Hawkins was running second and could keep pace with VerWys.
On lap 10, the yellow flew when something seemed to break in the VerWys car sending him spinning in the second turn. This handed the lead over to Hawkins. Hawkins proceeded to cruise through traffic to claim the opener. He was followed by the first of the Bradshaw clad, Mike Bradshaw. Bro Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone and Russell Peets rounded out the top five.
The Super Six main saw eleven cars answer the starter’s call. When the green flag flew last year’s champion, Keith Butler Jr. took command of the lead followed closely by Kevin DeVuyst and Craig Butler.
The first of three yellows came on lap seven when Brandon Allen whacked the foam barrier exiting the fourth turn. His impact could be readily heard throughout the grandstands. The foam saved a lot of damage and Allen emerged uninjured.
On lap 11, Craig Butler dove low in the fourth turn and passed his cousin for the lead. DeVuyst followed suit and took second from Keith Jr. The yellow flew on lap 13 when Fred Follette made contact with the front stretch wall. During this yellow Keith Butler Jr. pulled his number 34 pit-side, out of the race.
Patti Davenport was running well in fourth when she made heavy contact with the front stretch wall setting up a green-white finish. Craig Butler was able to hold off DeVuyst for the remainder of the even for the victory. DeVuyst finished second followed by Ryan Hillegeer, Joe Bailey and Rick Wilson.
Interestingly enough, it was the very first Super Six race run at Spencer where no car was lapped on the track.
This week, Friday, May 29, will see MotoOption Clothing night at the speedway. On track will be the first regular show of the 2009 season. This means that the general adult admission drops to just $10. The NASCAR Weekly Modifieds will do battle in a 35-lapper. They will be joined by the Super Sixes, Street Stocks and Auto Value Scorpions. The curfew delayed Street Stock feature will be the first race on the track that evening. Race time starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASCAR Place to Race” for upstate New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
VP FUELS NIGHT SUMMARY
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: M. Bradshaw, R. Peets, O. Bradshaw, K. Bertolone.
HEAT 2: B. VerWys, E. Hawkins, B. Bradshaw, R. Brown.
FEATURE (20-laps): EDDIE HAWKINS, Mike Bradshaw, Bro Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone, Russell Peets, Ryan Brown, Chris Priest, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Alison Knoepfler, Bill Malin, Bill VerWys.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: K. Butler Jr., J. Bailey, F. Follette, R. Hillegeer.
HEAT 2: C. Butler, K. DeVuyst, K. Butler, P. Davenport.
FEATURE (20-laps): CRIAG BUTLER, Kevin DeVuyst, Ryan Hillegeer, Joe Bailey, Rick Wilson, Van Grant, Patti Davenport, Keith Butler Jr., Keith Butler, Fred Follette, Brandon Allen.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: W. Strusz, J. Steffenhagen Jr., S. Malin, P. Alhart Jr.
FEATURE LINE UP FOR 5/29: Willie Strusz, Jim Steffenhagen Jr., Steve Malin, Phil Alhart Jr., Mitchell Wright, Kris Hillegeer.
SST MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: B. Catalano, T. Cheetham, C. Finocchario, A. Catalano.
HEAT 2: J. Hammon, Z. Truesdall, A. Lewis, D. Lewis Jr.
HEAT 3: T. Hanbury, T. Hoddick, K. Timmerman, T. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (75-laps): TONY HANBURY, Amy Catalano, Kevin Timmerman, Chris Finocchario, Jerry Gradl Jr., Chris Wehrheim, Fred Taylor, Jeff Polaski, Todd Hoddick, Toad Bradshaw, Zach Truesdall, Andy Jankowiak, Dick Kluth, Bill Hebing, Phil Wehrheim, Jeff Hammon, Buck Catalano, Eric Stritzel, Kreig Heroth, Steve Fuchs, Ryan Beeman, Lee Sharpsteen, Daryl Lewis Jr., Andy Lewis, Terry Cheetham, Matt Lees, Jeff Ruddy, Ricky Kluth, Jody London.
Gary Spaid
“I have to apologize to Chris Finocchario. We got into an early mix-up with him,” stated Hanbury in victory lane. “I was going to the outside and he must have lifted early, I think to go low. I had a car I knew could pass him on the outside. We just touched”
In accompanying divisional races, Ed die Hawkins took the win in the inaugural 20-lap feature for the Auto Value Scorpion four-cylinder class and Craig Butler won the 20-lap Super Six feature. The Street Stock feature was curfew delayed to this coming week.
The top four finishers in each heat race were able to redraw to set up the feature line up. Kreig Heroth drew the number one pole starting position with Finocchario drawing the outside pole starting position. Heat wins went to Buck Catalano, Jeff Hammon and Hanbury.
The 100-lapper saw 29 cars take guest starter, John Nelson’s green flag. Outside pole sitter Chris Finocharrio immediately jumped into the lead over Zach Trusedall and Andy Lewis. But an indication of things to come saw the yellow fly when Phil Wehrheim spun out in the fourth turn.
The restart saw Finocchario maintain his lead with Tony Hanbury moving into second. Hanbury closed in on Finocchario and moved to the outside in the first turn. Slight contact seemed to be made and Finocchario spun off the track on the high side. After a short stop in the pits Finocchario continued from the back of the field.
Over the course of the next three laps, three yellows had to be thrown, including a spin down the front chute by third place running Andy Lewis. The drivers were then able to put together a set of seven green flag laps, but the die was cast after the first few laps took nearly 30 minutes to run. This delay forced SST Officials to consider shortening the race to 75 laps.
On lap 29 the yellow flew with Hanbury leading Amy Catalano, Buck Catalano and Kevin Timmerman. During this caution Buck Catalano turned pit-side with overheating problems and out of the race.
Five more yellows slowed the race before the 50 lap mark, all for minor spin outs. The exception was heavy wall contact made on lap 32 when Jeff Hammon hit the back stretch wall exiting the second turn. Hammond had been as high as fifth in the running order at one time .
The final 25 laps, of the now shortened 75 lapper, were run under green flag conditions with Hanbury securing the first place spot by some 30 car lengths over Amy Catalano. Amy had her hands full holding off Timmerman over the closing laps. Finocchario made his way back up to fourth by lap 51. He tried to close the gap on Timmerman but settled in for fourth. Jerry Gradl rounded out the top five in fifth.
Fuels became an issue for many of the teams. However no one reported to have run out. The final lap saw the 00 of Toad Bradshaw spin off the third turn forcing officials to end the race under yellow-checkers as the clock turn to 11:30 pm and forced the Street Stock main to held over to next week. The 75 laps took one hour and twenty minutes to run.
When asked about his fuel situation, Hanbury commented, ”Not everyone has a larger fuel cell like we have. In these longer races they need to either stop us all or start to count cautions when fuel becomes a concern.”
Amy Catalano, who came home second stated, “I set out for a top five as a goal on the first night and we were able to do it. I am pleased about that. Driving is easy if the car is set up right”
Third place finisher Kevin Timmerman related his run, “We had a good run tonight. We got up to Amy but she never messed up.”
The debut of the Auto Value Scorpion four-cylinder class saw 12 cars make the 20-lap opener. Bill VerWys took the lead at the drop of the green and seemed to have the power to hold off the rest of the field. Ed die Hawkins was running second and could keep pace with VerWys.
On lap 10, the yellow flew when something seemed to break in the VerWys car sending him spinning in the second turn. This handed the lead over to Hawkins. Hawkins proceeded to cruise through traffic to claim the opener. He was followed by the first of the Bradshaw clad, Mike Bradshaw. Bro Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone and Russell Peets rounded out the top five.
The Super Six main saw eleven cars answer the starter’s call. When the green flag flew last year’s champion, Keith Butler Jr. took command of the lead followed closely by Kevin DeVuyst and Craig Butler.
The first of three yellows came on lap seven when Brandon Allen whacked the foam barrier exiting the fourth turn. His impact could be readily heard throughout the grandstands. The foam saved a lot of damage and Allen emerged uninjured.
On lap 11, Craig Butler dove low in the fourth turn and passed his cousin for the lead. DeVuyst followed suit and took second from Keith Jr. The yellow flew on lap 13 when Fred Follette made contact with the front stretch wall. During this yellow Keith Butler Jr. pulled his number 34 pit-side, out of the race.
Patti Davenport was running well in fourth when she made heavy contact with the front stretch wall setting up a green-white finish. Craig Butler was able to hold off DeVuyst for the remainder of the even for the victory. DeVuyst finished second followed by Ryan Hillegeer, Joe Bailey and Rick Wilson.
Interestingly enough, it was the very first Super Six race run at Spencer where no car was lapped on the track.
This week, Friday, May 29, will see MotoOption Clothing night at the speedway. On track will be the first regular show of the 2009 season. This means that the general adult admission drops to just $10. The NASCAR Weekly Modifieds will do battle in a 35-lapper. They will be joined by the Super Sixes, Street Stocks and Auto Value Scorpions. The curfew delayed Street Stock feature will be the first race on the track that evening. Race time starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASCAR Place to Race” for upstate New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
VP FUELS NIGHT SUMMARY
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: M. Bradshaw, R. Peets, O. Bradshaw, K. Bertolone.
HEAT 2: B. VerWys, E. Hawkins, B. Bradshaw, R. Brown.
FEATURE (20-laps): EDDIE HAWKINS, Mike Bradshaw, Bro Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone, Russell Peets, Ryan Brown, Chris Priest, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Alison Knoepfler, Bill Malin, Bill VerWys.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: K. Butler Jr., J. Bailey, F. Follette, R. Hillegeer.
HEAT 2: C. Butler, K. DeVuyst, K. Butler, P. Davenport.
FEATURE (20-laps): CRIAG BUTLER, Kevin DeVuyst, Ryan Hillegeer, Joe Bailey, Rick Wilson, Van Grant, Patti Davenport, Keith Butler Jr., Keith Butler, Fred Follette, Brandon Allen.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: W. Strusz, J. Steffenhagen Jr., S. Malin, P. Alhart Jr.
FEATURE LINE UP FOR 5/29: Willie Strusz, Jim Steffenhagen Jr., Steve Malin, Phil Alhart Jr., Mitchell Wright, Kris Hillegeer.
SST MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: B. Catalano, T. Cheetham, C. Finocchario, A. Catalano.
HEAT 2: J. Hammon, Z. Truesdall, A. Lewis, D. Lewis Jr.
HEAT 3: T. Hanbury, T. Hoddick, K. Timmerman, T. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (75-laps): TONY HANBURY, Amy Catalano, Kevin Timmerman, Chris Finocchario, Jerry Gradl Jr., Chris Wehrheim, Fred Taylor, Jeff Polaski, Todd Hoddick, Toad Bradshaw, Zach Truesdall, Andy Jankowiak, Dick Kluth, Bill Hebing, Phil Wehrheim, Jeff Hammon, Buck Catalano, Eric Stritzel, Kreig Heroth, Steve Fuchs, Ryan Beeman, Lee Sharpsteen, Daryl Lewis Jr., Andy Lewis, Terry Cheetham, Matt Lees, Jeff Ruddy, Ricky Kluth, Jody London.
Gary Spaid