RGeeProductions
06-13-2009, 09:55 AM
ANDY JANKOWIAKI EARNS FIRST WEEKLY WIN OF THE YEAR
Andy Jankowiak, from Tonawanda , NY , earned his first NASCAR Weekly Modified feature win of the 2009 season at Spencer Speedway. Jankowiak picked up the lead on the second lap and never looked back. It was double point night for the Weekly Modifieds. Jankowiak’s win move him into third in points behind Buck and Amy Catalano.
“This thing was really hooked up tonight,” stated Jankowiak in victory lane. “We worked hard all winter to get this car together. First I have to help the help guy after our truck broke down on the way here tonight.
In Street Stock action it was Jim Steffenhagen Jr. earning his fourth straight Street Stock victory, celebrating his birthday with this one. In Auto Value Scorpion four cylinder action it was Bill VerWys taking his first feature win in the 15-lap feature run. VerWys broke a three week victory string by Ed die Hawkins, who finished a close second to VerWys.
The Super Six 20-lap feature was won by Keith Butler Jr., who won last week, making it two in a row.
The start of the NASCAR Weekly Modified saw the yellow fly just as the leaders were coming down the front chute. Tony Hanbury made slight contact with the outside wall and was sent spinning across the track, with the pack of cars scattering, to the infield grass. He gathered it up and finally came to a stop in the second turn, but his car was too damaged to continue.
A second try at a restart saw a multi-car melee take place in the fourth turn. This one was triggered when ninth place Amy Catalano spun to the inside of the track.
The third time was the charm. Andy Jankowiak took command of the lead with Daryl Lewis Jr. tight on his rear bumper. These two were able to pull away from the rest of the field. Behind them a three way battle was being staged for third between Andy Lewis, Chris Finocchario and Ricky Kluth. As the cars entered the third turn, Andy Lewis sailed off the turn without seeming to turn. This brought out the yellow for the third time in the race. Finocchario was then sent to the rear for contact with Lewis.
With the green out again the running order was now Jankowiak, Lewis Jr., Kevin Timmerman, Kluth and Buck Catalano. On lap 13 the yellow flew following contact between Lewis Jr and Timmerman resulting in Timmerman looping exiting the fourth turn.. Both cars restarted at the rear of the field.
The yellow would fly twice more, lap 19 and 21. On lap 19, a six car melee took place in the first turn resulting in a number of cars in tenth back spinning off the track in the first turn. The lap 21 caution flew when Kreig Heroth spun off the track in the third turn.
All the time it was Jankowiak in the lead and pulling away to a twelve car advantage over Ricky Kluth, Catalano and Bill Hebing in a freight-train run for second. On final lap Catalano ducked low, opening the door on Kluth, as they exited the second turn. Catalano was able to sneak by for second Kluth out dragged Hebing to keep third by inches. Hebing and Amy Catalano rounded out the top five finishers.
Jankowiak picked up an extra $100 in memory of race fan and Lime Rock midget competitor Red Barkley, who recently passed away.
The 20-lap Street Stock race saw pole sitter Kris Hillegeer take the lead at the drop of the green. His lead was limited as Jim Steffenhagen Jr. ducked low on the back stretch on the second lap and sailed into the lead. Steffenhagen was not able to break completely free as Hillegeer and Phil Alhart Jr. remained glued to Steffenhagen’s rear bumper.
At lap 12, Alhart made an inside move on Hillegeer for second as they entered the third turn. Two laps later the sole yellow flag flew when rookie Brian Hermanski looped the Steve Malin owned number 94 in the fourth turn.
The rest of the race was run green, with Steffenhagen taking the checkers in his crate motored Monte Carlo followed by Alhart Jr., Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright and Hermanski.
“I’m not getting sick of seeing you,” stated Steffenhagen to the victory lane announcer. “The crate is the way to go. For about $4,500 we can go racing competitively. Just look at this car. It’s immaculate.”
For the first time this year the Auto Value Scorpions saw their feature interrupted by yellow flags. The battle for the lead saw Bro Bradshaw lead the first four laps before Mike Bradshaw passed to the inside in turn three. Two laps later it would be Bill VerWys ducking low on the back stretch and taking the front position. VerWys started to pull away when the yellow flew on lap 11 for Alison Knoepfler, who was running fifth, when she spun in the fourth turn. The next lap also saw yellow, when third place Mike Bradshaw spun exiting the fourth turn.
VerWys took the feature win, with multi-time feature winner Ed die Hawkins closing to within a few feet at the finish line. Bro Bradshaw finished a distant third, followed by Ryan Brown and Russell Peets.
“Man I would like to…..I mean I had an awful push the last few weeks” stated VerWys. He added “This is a fun track to drive. My wife had knee surgery this week. She really wanted to be here tonight.”
The Super Sixes saw a “Family Feud” when Craig Butler, who had led from lap one, lost the lead to his nephew Keith Butler Jr. on lap15 of twenty. Butler Jr. then built up a seven car advantage over Craig at the finish. Craig held off the challenges of Skip Powers to remain second. Ryan Hillegeer and Patti Davenport rounded out the top five.
“Quite a fun race right there,” commented Keith Jr. in reference to the race with his uncle.
This coming Friday will feature a regular Four Star program, plus a 75-lap RoC Tour Type Modified special. This will be the first of two Race of Champion appearances in 2009. They will return again in mid-August to run a 100-lapper. Friday will also feature the first appearance of the year by the NORA Supermodifieds. Race time is 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.
WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN NIGHT SUMMARY
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: B. VerWys, B. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, A. Knoepfler.
HEAT 2: K. Bertolone, E. Hawkins, R. Brown, O. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (15-laps): BILL VERWYS, Ed die Hawkins, Bro Bradshaw, Ryan Brown, Russell Peets, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Chris Priest, Beth Dennie, Alison Knoepfler, Mike Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone, Bill Malin.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: J. Bailey, S. Powers, R. Hillegeer, P. Cowell.
HEAT 2: P. Davenport, K. Butler Jr., C. Butler, K. Butler Sr.
FEATURE (20-laps): KEITH BUTLER JR., Craig Butler, Skip Powers, Ryan Hillegeer, Patti Davenport, Keith Butler Sr., Joe Bailey, Peter Cowell, Tim Faro, Denny Coyle, John Sippel, Van Grant, Rick Wilson.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: K. Hillegeer, J. Steffenhagen Jr., P. Alhart Jr., M. Wright.
FEATURE (20-laps): JIM STEFFENHAGEN JR., Phil Alhart Jr., Kris Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Brian Hermanski, Billy Semmler.
NASCAR WEEKLY MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: R. Kluth, C. Finocchario, R. Beeman, A. Lewis, E. Stritzel.
HEAT 2: A. Jankowiak, B. Catalano, B. Hebing, D. Lewis Jr., D. Lewis Sr.
HEAT 3: T. Hanbury, K. Timmerman, A. Catalano, T. Bradshaw, F. Taylor.
[B]ANDY JANKOWIAKI EARNS FIRST WEEKLY WIN OF THE YEAR
Gary Spaid
Andy Jankowiak, from Tonawanda , NY , earned his first NASCAR Weekly Modified feature win of the 2009 season at Spencer Speedway. Jankowiak picked up the lead on the second lap and never looked back. It was double point night for the Weekly Modifieds. Jankowiak’s win move him into third in points behind Buck and Amy Catalano.
“This thing was really hooked up tonight,” stated Jankowiak in victory lane. “We worked hard all winter to get this car together. First I have to help the help guy after our truck broke down on the way here tonight.
In Street Stock action it was Jim Steffenhagen Jr. earning his fourth straight Street Stock victory, celebrating his birthday with this one. In Auto Value Scorpion four cylinder action it was Bill VerWys taking his first feature win in the 15-lap feature run. VerWys broke a three week victory string by Ed die Hawkins, who finished a close second to VerWys.
The Super Six 20-lap feature was won by Keith Butler Jr., who won last week, making it two in a row.
The start of the NASCAR Weekly Modified saw the yellow fly just as the leaders were coming down the front chute. Tony Hanbury made slight contact with the outside wall and was sent spinning across the track, with the pack of cars scattering, to the infield grass. He gathered it up and finally came to a stop in the second turn, but his car was too damaged to continue.
A second try at a restart saw a multi-car melee take place in the fourth turn. This one was triggered when ninth place Amy Catalano spun to the inside of the track.
The third time was the charm. Andy Jankowiak took command of the lead with Daryl Lewis Jr. tight on his rear bumper. These two were able to pull away from the rest of the field. Behind them a three way battle was being staged for third between Andy Lewis, Chris Finocchario and Ricky Kluth. As the cars entered the third turn, Andy Lewis sailed off the turn without seeming to turn. This brought out the yellow for the third time in the race. Finocchario was then sent to the rear for contact with Lewis.
With the green out again the running order was now Jankowiak, Lewis Jr., Kevin Timmerman, Kluth and Buck Catalano. On lap 13 the yellow flew following contact between Lewis Jr and Timmerman resulting in Timmerman looping exiting the fourth turn.. Both cars restarted at the rear of the field.
The yellow would fly twice more, lap 19 and 21. On lap 19, a six car melee took place in the first turn resulting in a number of cars in tenth back spinning off the track in the first turn. The lap 21 caution flew when Kreig Heroth spun off the track in the third turn.
All the time it was Jankowiak in the lead and pulling away to a twelve car advantage over Ricky Kluth, Catalano and Bill Hebing in a freight-train run for second. On final lap Catalano ducked low, opening the door on Kluth, as they exited the second turn. Catalano was able to sneak by for second Kluth out dragged Hebing to keep third by inches. Hebing and Amy Catalano rounded out the top five finishers.
Jankowiak picked up an extra $100 in memory of race fan and Lime Rock midget competitor Red Barkley, who recently passed away.
The 20-lap Street Stock race saw pole sitter Kris Hillegeer take the lead at the drop of the green. His lead was limited as Jim Steffenhagen Jr. ducked low on the back stretch on the second lap and sailed into the lead. Steffenhagen was not able to break completely free as Hillegeer and Phil Alhart Jr. remained glued to Steffenhagen’s rear bumper.
At lap 12, Alhart made an inside move on Hillegeer for second as they entered the third turn. Two laps later the sole yellow flag flew when rookie Brian Hermanski looped the Steve Malin owned number 94 in the fourth turn.
The rest of the race was run green, with Steffenhagen taking the checkers in his crate motored Monte Carlo followed by Alhart Jr., Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright and Hermanski.
“I’m not getting sick of seeing you,” stated Steffenhagen to the victory lane announcer. “The crate is the way to go. For about $4,500 we can go racing competitively. Just look at this car. It’s immaculate.”
For the first time this year the Auto Value Scorpions saw their feature interrupted by yellow flags. The battle for the lead saw Bro Bradshaw lead the first four laps before Mike Bradshaw passed to the inside in turn three. Two laps later it would be Bill VerWys ducking low on the back stretch and taking the front position. VerWys started to pull away when the yellow flew on lap 11 for Alison Knoepfler, who was running fifth, when she spun in the fourth turn. The next lap also saw yellow, when third place Mike Bradshaw spun exiting the fourth turn.
VerWys took the feature win, with multi-time feature winner Ed die Hawkins closing to within a few feet at the finish line. Bro Bradshaw finished a distant third, followed by Ryan Brown and Russell Peets.
“Man I would like to…..I mean I had an awful push the last few weeks” stated VerWys. He added “This is a fun track to drive. My wife had knee surgery this week. She really wanted to be here tonight.”
The Super Sixes saw a “Family Feud” when Craig Butler, who had led from lap one, lost the lead to his nephew Keith Butler Jr. on lap15 of twenty. Butler Jr. then built up a seven car advantage over Craig at the finish. Craig held off the challenges of Skip Powers to remain second. Ryan Hillegeer and Patti Davenport rounded out the top five.
“Quite a fun race right there,” commented Keith Jr. in reference to the race with his uncle.
This coming Friday will feature a regular Four Star program, plus a 75-lap RoC Tour Type Modified special. This will be the first of two Race of Champion appearances in 2009. They will return again in mid-August to run a 100-lapper. Friday will also feature the first appearance of the year by the NORA Supermodifieds. Race time is 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.
WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN NIGHT SUMMARY
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: B. VerWys, B. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, A. Knoepfler.
HEAT 2: K. Bertolone, E. Hawkins, R. Brown, O. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (15-laps): BILL VERWYS, Ed die Hawkins, Bro Bradshaw, Ryan Brown, Russell Peets, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Chris Priest, Beth Dennie, Alison Knoepfler, Mike Bradshaw, Kevin Bertolone, Bill Malin.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: J. Bailey, S. Powers, R. Hillegeer, P. Cowell.
HEAT 2: P. Davenport, K. Butler Jr., C. Butler, K. Butler Sr.
FEATURE (20-laps): KEITH BUTLER JR., Craig Butler, Skip Powers, Ryan Hillegeer, Patti Davenport, Keith Butler Sr., Joe Bailey, Peter Cowell, Tim Faro, Denny Coyle, John Sippel, Van Grant, Rick Wilson.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: K. Hillegeer, J. Steffenhagen Jr., P. Alhart Jr., M. Wright.
FEATURE (20-laps): JIM STEFFENHAGEN JR., Phil Alhart Jr., Kris Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Brian Hermanski, Billy Semmler.
NASCAR WEEKLY MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: R. Kluth, C. Finocchario, R. Beeman, A. Lewis, E. Stritzel.
HEAT 2: A. Jankowiak, B. Catalano, B. Hebing, D. Lewis Jr., D. Lewis Sr.
HEAT 3: T. Hanbury, K. Timmerman, A. Catalano, T. Bradshaw, F. Taylor.
[B]ANDY JANKOWIAKI EARNS FIRST WEEKLY WIN OF THE YEAR
Gary Spaid