RGeeProductions
08-22-2009, 02:12 PM
ZACHARIAS TAKES HOME SPENCER 100-LAP SST VICTORY
The 2009 Spencer Speedway racing season started off featuring a 100-lap SST Modified feature, which was shortened to 75 laps. This past Friday as the Spencer Speedway season winds down, the second scheduled 100-lap SST Modified feature went to the line. Jimmy Zacharias, from Candor, NY, took home the top honors in the 100-lap affair.
Also on the race card this past Friday were the Street Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions. Steve Malin broke into the Spencer Speedway victory lane following a 20-lap Street Stock main. In the Super Sixes Skip Powers picked up his second feature win of the 2009 season. Finally in the Auto Value Scorpions it was Bro Bradshaw earning his first ever feature win in the class.
Twelve yellow flags slowed the 100-lap SST Modified feature. Buck Catalano took the lead at the drop of the green from his pole starting position. Ryan Beeman fell in second followed by Jimmy Zacharias and Bill Hebing. The first yellow flew on lap seven when the 2008 SST Champion, Joey Evans slowed exiting the four turn after blowing the motor on his number 91.
Following a restart, Fred Taylor made contact with the back stretch wall bringing out the second yellow of the race. Up front the running order had changed somewhat with Buck still leading followed by Bill Hebing, Zacharias, Jeff Hammon and Kevin Timmerman.
On lap17, Beeman had a shock break and he slide off the track between the third and fourth turns to bring out a yellow. Following a couple more yellows for minor spins, the action turned to the front of the field. Bill Hebing, who had dropped back to fifth on lap 19 was working his way back towards the front when he made contact with Jeff Hammon, who was running second. Hebing spun off the track and the yellow flew. Officials sent both cars to the rear and the race resumed. Zacharias was able to get by Buck Catalano for the lead.
On lap 33 the yellow flew when Andy Jankowiak, running in third, spun between the third and fourth turns. Jankowiak exited the race and Amy Catalano was then sent o the rear for the restart.
Buck challenged for the lead on the restart, but Zacharias remained in front. On lap 36, Daryl Lewis Jr. looped around between the third and fourth turn to bring out the yellow again. One lap later it was Kevin Timmerman’s turn to spin, this time in the second turn.
From this point to lap 64 the race ran green with Zacharias now ahead of Chris Finocchario, who had passed Buck for the runner up spot on lap 42. Catalano ran third followed by Terry Cheetham and Jerry Gradl. On lap 43 saw Catalano drop back to fourth as Cheetham took third.
Lap traffic started to become an issue around lap 52. Up front Zacharias was holding off Finocchario and Hebing, running in third as Cheetham started to drop off the pace. Gradl had moved into fourth with Amy Catalano working her way back up to fifth.
Gradl continued to move forward, taking third from Hebing on lap 62. Lap 64 saw the yellow fly when Timmerman spun into the front stretch infield grass.
Once underway the race remained green until the checkers flew with Jimmy Zacharias taking the win. Finocchario came home in second followed by Gradl, Hebing and Amy Catalano.
The 20-lap Street Stock race went green-to-checkers with Steve Malin leading the entire distance. Malin, who started on the pole, had gone winless in the Street Stock class since July 1, 2005 . Bob Minacapelli came home second followed by Willie Strusz, Kris Hillegeer and multi-time winner Jim Steffenhagen Jr.
The 20-lap Super Six feature looked like it would run green-to-checkers also until lap 12 when Justin Kapers slowed on the track to bring out the yellow. Up front Skip Powers passed initial leader Joe Bailey on lap four to take the lead. Two laps later Keith Butler Jr. moved into striking distance passing Bailey for second.
As the checkers flew it was Powers taking his second feature win of the season followed by Butler Jr. Ironically Powers beat out Butler Jr. in his first win of the year back in June. Ryan Hillegeer, Keith Butler Sr. and Brandon Allen rounded out the top five.
The 15-lap Auto Value Four Cylinder Scorpions main event saw the yellow fly on lap four when Kevin Bertolone and Dale Lazzaro came together exiting the fourth turn. That would prove to be the only yellow flag of the race.
Up front Mike Bradshaw took the early lead with eventual winner Bro Bradshaw running second. On the lap four restart, Bro took advantage and took the lead. He would never look back. What could have been a yellow, on lap nine, came when Pro-Class runner Bill VerWys and Mike Bradshaw left the track off the north end of the speedway. Both cars returned, but VerWys lost a lap to the leader. Even one lap down VerWys took top honors in the Pro-Class.
This Friday will see August come to an end is an extra special way. Both the Cup Lite cars and the NORA Limited Supermodifieds return for their final appearances of the 2009 season at Spencer Speedway. They join a complete Four Star program of NASCAR Weekly Modifieds, Street Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions.
As the season winds down all eyes turn towards the point races at the track Currently the best one is in the NASCAR Weekly Modifieds where Amy Catalano leads her brother-in-law Buck Catalano by just five points. This point race could come down to points earned in the heat races, 5-3-1 for the top three finishers.
Kris Hillegeer has been keeping the pressure on Jim Steffenhagen Jr. in the Street Stock division. Each week his chances decrease of catching Steffenhagen Jr., who looks to lock up the points next week.
Keith Butler Jr. leads in Super Six points and Bill VerWys leads the overall points in the Auto Value Scorpions. VerWys is the Pro-Class champion, as the other Pro-Class runner has ended his year early. There still is an ongoing point race in the Beginner-Class, which is currently being led by Ryan Brown.
Just two weeks remain in the 2009 Spencer Speedway season. Come and join in all of the weekly action.
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: M. Bradshaw, R. Brown, A. Knoepfler, K. Bertolone, B. Dennie
HEAT 2: B. VerWys, B. Bradshaw, R. Peets, D. Lazzaro, O. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (15-laps): BRO BRADSHAW, Ryan Brown, Alison Knoepfler, Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw, Bill VerWys, Kevin Bertolone, Beth Dennie, Bill Malin, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw DNS
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: J. Bailey, S. Powers, K. Butler Sr., P. Cowell, J. Kaper.
HEAT 2: K. Butler Jr., P. Davenport, R. Hillegeer, V. Grant, B. Allen.
FEATURE (20-laps): SKIP POWERS, Keith Butler Jr., Ryan Hillegeer, Keith Butler Sr., Brandon Allen, Patti Davenport, Joe Bailey, Peter Cowell, Van Grant, Rick Wilson, Fred Follette, Adam VanHall, Denny Coyle, Justin Kaper.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: J. Steffenhagen Jr., B. Minacapelli, S. Malin, W. Strusz, B. Semmler.
FEATURE (20-laps): STEVE MALIN, Bob Minacapelli, Willie Strusz, Kris Hillegeer, Jim Steffenhagen Jr., Billy Semmler, Mitchell Wright, Billy Gleason.
Spencer Speedway MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: R. Beeman, C. Finocchario, P. Jeffers, A. Catalano, T. Cheetham.
HEAT 2: K. Timmerman, A. Jankowiak, J. Hammon, D. Lewis Jr., P. Catalano.
HEAT 3: J. Zacharias, B. Catalano, B. Hebing, J. Gradl, J. Price
FEATURE (100-laps): JIM ZACHARIS, Chris Finocchario, Jerry Gradl, Bill Hebing, Amy Catalano, Buck Catalano, Terry Cheetham, Ricky Kluth, Jonathan Price, Kevin Timmerman, Erich Stritzel, Patsy Catalano, Ryan Beeman, Scott Combs, Daryl Lewis Jr., Andy Jankowiak, Matt Lees, Dick Kluth, Paul Jeffers, Jeff Hammon, Fred Taylor, Joe Evans.
Gary M. Spaid
The 2009 Spencer Speedway racing season started off featuring a 100-lap SST Modified feature, which was shortened to 75 laps. This past Friday as the Spencer Speedway season winds down, the second scheduled 100-lap SST Modified feature went to the line. Jimmy Zacharias, from Candor, NY, took home the top honors in the 100-lap affair.
Also on the race card this past Friday were the Street Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions. Steve Malin broke into the Spencer Speedway victory lane following a 20-lap Street Stock main. In the Super Sixes Skip Powers picked up his second feature win of the 2009 season. Finally in the Auto Value Scorpions it was Bro Bradshaw earning his first ever feature win in the class.
Twelve yellow flags slowed the 100-lap SST Modified feature. Buck Catalano took the lead at the drop of the green from his pole starting position. Ryan Beeman fell in second followed by Jimmy Zacharias and Bill Hebing. The first yellow flew on lap seven when the 2008 SST Champion, Joey Evans slowed exiting the four turn after blowing the motor on his number 91.
Following a restart, Fred Taylor made contact with the back stretch wall bringing out the second yellow of the race. Up front the running order had changed somewhat with Buck still leading followed by Bill Hebing, Zacharias, Jeff Hammon and Kevin Timmerman.
On lap17, Beeman had a shock break and he slide off the track between the third and fourth turns to bring out a yellow. Following a couple more yellows for minor spins, the action turned to the front of the field. Bill Hebing, who had dropped back to fifth on lap 19 was working his way back towards the front when he made contact with Jeff Hammon, who was running second. Hebing spun off the track and the yellow flew. Officials sent both cars to the rear and the race resumed. Zacharias was able to get by Buck Catalano for the lead.
On lap 33 the yellow flew when Andy Jankowiak, running in third, spun between the third and fourth turns. Jankowiak exited the race and Amy Catalano was then sent o the rear for the restart.
Buck challenged for the lead on the restart, but Zacharias remained in front. On lap 36, Daryl Lewis Jr. looped around between the third and fourth turn to bring out the yellow again. One lap later it was Kevin Timmerman’s turn to spin, this time in the second turn.
From this point to lap 64 the race ran green with Zacharias now ahead of Chris Finocchario, who had passed Buck for the runner up spot on lap 42. Catalano ran third followed by Terry Cheetham and Jerry Gradl. On lap 43 saw Catalano drop back to fourth as Cheetham took third.
Lap traffic started to become an issue around lap 52. Up front Zacharias was holding off Finocchario and Hebing, running in third as Cheetham started to drop off the pace. Gradl had moved into fourth with Amy Catalano working her way back up to fifth.
Gradl continued to move forward, taking third from Hebing on lap 62. Lap 64 saw the yellow fly when Timmerman spun into the front stretch infield grass.
Once underway the race remained green until the checkers flew with Jimmy Zacharias taking the win. Finocchario came home in second followed by Gradl, Hebing and Amy Catalano.
The 20-lap Street Stock race went green-to-checkers with Steve Malin leading the entire distance. Malin, who started on the pole, had gone winless in the Street Stock class since July 1, 2005 . Bob Minacapelli came home second followed by Willie Strusz, Kris Hillegeer and multi-time winner Jim Steffenhagen Jr.
The 20-lap Super Six feature looked like it would run green-to-checkers also until lap 12 when Justin Kapers slowed on the track to bring out the yellow. Up front Skip Powers passed initial leader Joe Bailey on lap four to take the lead. Two laps later Keith Butler Jr. moved into striking distance passing Bailey for second.
As the checkers flew it was Powers taking his second feature win of the season followed by Butler Jr. Ironically Powers beat out Butler Jr. in his first win of the year back in June. Ryan Hillegeer, Keith Butler Sr. and Brandon Allen rounded out the top five.
The 15-lap Auto Value Four Cylinder Scorpions main event saw the yellow fly on lap four when Kevin Bertolone and Dale Lazzaro came together exiting the fourth turn. That would prove to be the only yellow flag of the race.
Up front Mike Bradshaw took the early lead with eventual winner Bro Bradshaw running second. On the lap four restart, Bro took advantage and took the lead. He would never look back. What could have been a yellow, on lap nine, came when Pro-Class runner Bill VerWys and Mike Bradshaw left the track off the north end of the speedway. Both cars returned, but VerWys lost a lap to the leader. Even one lap down VerWys took top honors in the Pro-Class.
This Friday will see August come to an end is an extra special way. Both the Cup Lite cars and the NORA Limited Supermodifieds return for their final appearances of the 2009 season at Spencer Speedway. They join a complete Four Star program of NASCAR Weekly Modifieds, Street Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions.
As the season winds down all eyes turn towards the point races at the track Currently the best one is in the NASCAR Weekly Modifieds where Amy Catalano leads her brother-in-law Buck Catalano by just five points. This point race could come down to points earned in the heat races, 5-3-1 for the top three finishers.
Kris Hillegeer has been keeping the pressure on Jim Steffenhagen Jr. in the Street Stock division. Each week his chances decrease of catching Steffenhagen Jr., who looks to lock up the points next week.
Keith Butler Jr. leads in Super Six points and Bill VerWys leads the overall points in the Auto Value Scorpions. VerWys is the Pro-Class champion, as the other Pro-Class runner has ended his year early. There still is an ongoing point race in the Beginner-Class, which is currently being led by Ryan Brown.
Just two weeks remain in the 2009 Spencer Speedway season. Come and join in all of the weekly action.
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: M. Bradshaw, R. Brown, A. Knoepfler, K. Bertolone, B. Dennie
HEAT 2: B. VerWys, B. Bradshaw, R. Peets, D. Lazzaro, O. Bradshaw.
FEATURE (15-laps): BRO BRADSHAW, Ryan Brown, Alison Knoepfler, Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw, Bill VerWys, Kevin Bertolone, Beth Dennie, Bill Malin, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw DNS
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: J. Bailey, S. Powers, K. Butler Sr., P. Cowell, J. Kaper.
HEAT 2: K. Butler Jr., P. Davenport, R. Hillegeer, V. Grant, B. Allen.
FEATURE (20-laps): SKIP POWERS, Keith Butler Jr., Ryan Hillegeer, Keith Butler Sr., Brandon Allen, Patti Davenport, Joe Bailey, Peter Cowell, Van Grant, Rick Wilson, Fred Follette, Adam VanHall, Denny Coyle, Justin Kaper.
STREET STOCKS
HEAT: J. Steffenhagen Jr., B. Minacapelli, S. Malin, W. Strusz, B. Semmler.
FEATURE (20-laps): STEVE MALIN, Bob Minacapelli, Willie Strusz, Kris Hillegeer, Jim Steffenhagen Jr., Billy Semmler, Mitchell Wright, Billy Gleason.
Spencer Speedway MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: R. Beeman, C. Finocchario, P. Jeffers, A. Catalano, T. Cheetham.
HEAT 2: K. Timmerman, A. Jankowiak, J. Hammon, D. Lewis Jr., P. Catalano.
HEAT 3: J. Zacharias, B. Catalano, B. Hebing, J. Gradl, J. Price
FEATURE (100-laps): JIM ZACHARIS, Chris Finocchario, Jerry Gradl, Bill Hebing, Amy Catalano, Buck Catalano, Terry Cheetham, Ricky Kluth, Jonathan Price, Kevin Timmerman, Erich Stritzel, Patsy Catalano, Ryan Beeman, Scott Combs, Daryl Lewis Jr., Andy Jankowiak, Matt Lees, Dick Kluth, Paul Jeffers, Jeff Hammon, Fred Taylor, Joe Evans.
Gary M. Spaid