RGeeProductions
06-11-2011, 06:54 PM
Local star Mike Leaty from Williamson, wheeled his new Sunoco Modified to the 100-lap Holland/Chemung/Spencer Challenge feature win at Spencer Speedway last Friday night. Leaty, who by virtue of a redraw started on the pole, lead every lap to claim the win.
“I expected Kevin (Timmerman) to be on me by lap five,” stated Leaty in victory lane. Timmerman won the season opener one week earlier. “We had a really good car, but it was really loose!”
Leaty added, “It’s great to be back in victory lane here at Spencer.” This was Leaty’s very first Sunoco Modified feature victory. He has 13 Tour Type Modified feature wins, his last win came on June 19, 2009 .
In accompanying racing action Jim Steffenhagen Jr., from Marion , took his second straight 20 lap Super Stock feature win. This one was somewhat more important as his birthday is Wednesday. The win was dedicated to his mom, who was not on hand the week before to see him win.
Ryan Hillegeer, also from Williamson, took top honors in the Hoosier Tire Super Six 20 lap feature. In Auto Value 4-Cylinder Scorpion action last year’s champion, Otis Bradshaw, from Ontario , took the 15 lap feature win.
The start of the 100-lap Sunoco Modified main saw the yellow fly when Dave Catalano looped around on the front straight away. Up front it was Mike Leaty taking the lead from the pole followed by Daryl Lewis Jr. and Kevin Timmerman.
Ten more yellow flags would follow, for a total of 30 laps. The red flag was displayed on lap 26 so the track crew could clean an oil spill in the third turn.
The majority of the yellows came for spin outs. Though all of this Leaty held his line and was in command of the field, as Timmerman move into second on lap five.
By lap 63 it seems as if Timmerman’s tires were going away. He lost second to Amy Catalano and third to Tony Hanbury. Hanbury passed Catalano on lap 76 and charged after Leaty. A late race yellow, lap 86, closed the gap. But on the restart Leaty seemed to be able to pull out a five car advantage over Hanbury.
Following Leaty picking up the white flag, Jeff Ruddy and Zach Truesdail, running in 10th and 11th, looped off the first turn. However the starter threw the checkers instead of the yellow to end the race.
Leaty took the popular victory followed by Hanbury, Catalano, Billy Burd and Timmerman rounding out the top five finishers. Leaty lead every lap on the way to victory.
“I’ll be doing double duty next week,” related Leaty, “driving both my Sunoco Modified and my RoC Modified.”
The Super Stocks ran their 20-lap main event and the results remained the same as the week before, Jim Steffenhagen Jr. taking the victory in his sloped back 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
The first three laps saw three different lap leaders; Mitchell Wright, Kris Hillegeer and Steffenhagen. The only yellow of the race flew on that third lap. New comer Brian Gordon blew the motor on his number 17 going into the third turn and spread oil everywhere. Following the cleanup, Steffenhagen was back in command of the race.
Kris Hillegeer made a late race charge at Steffenhagen. With just one lap remaining he closed a ten car advantage held by Steffenhagen, but did not have time to make a pass.
At the finish line it was Steffenhagen Jr. followed by Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Roger Worden and Tom Fecteau .
Surprisingly Steffenhagen related, “I really don’t know a lot about these things (referring to his car). I don’t want to kid anyone. I owe these wins to my crew.”
The Super Six race saw rookie John Welch driving his number 88, take the lead at the drop of the green. His lead held up for just four laps, when Ryan Hillegeer caught and passed him on the low side exiting the fourth turn, as Welch slide extremely high.
Hillegeer proceed to build up a ten car advantage over the field. That advantage would eventually stretch out to nearly a half straight away lead over Welch.
Hillegeer took the win, bringing his career win total for the division up to three. Welch came home a very respectable second in his first outing. Tim Faro nipped Adam Van Hall at the line for third. Van Grant held on to fifth.
The final race of the night was the Auto Value Scorpions. Otis Bradshaw took the lead at the drop of the green. He was followed by Joe Clark and Dale Lazzaro. Bradshaw was in control until lap 12 when the yellow flew, bunching the field together for a three lap dash to the checkers.
The first of these three laps saw Bradshaw able to hold off Clark , but the yellow flew again when Richie Gross and Beth Dennie made contact with the back stretch wall. Gross’s car suffer a lot of damage and was towed back to the pits. This yellow set up a two lap dash to the checkers.
Clark was now able to draw along side of Bradshaw and lead lap 14 by mere inches over Bradshaw. The side-by-side battle for the final lap broke down as they exited the fourth turn with Bradshaw firmly in the lead. Clark finished second followed by Kevin Bertolone, Lazzaro and Zach Willis rounding out the top five.
“We wrecked our last year’s car on the final night of racing in September. We then found this car on Craig’s List and it took us just three weeks to get it race ready,” related Bradshaw in victory lane.
NASCAR racing returns to Spencer this Friday, June 17, when it will be the J.J. White Memorial night featuring the only appearance of the RoC Modifieds at Spencer in 2011 in a 75-lap feature race. A four star show featuring all of the regular weekly divisions; Sunoco Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hoosier Tire Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions will be joined by the Legend Cars amking for a long night of racing. Due to the expected length of the program, racing will start at 7 p.m. next Friday.
For more information go on Spencer Speedway go to www.spencerspeedway.org.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASC AR Place to Race” for Central New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
WHELEN ENGINEERING NIGHT SUMMARY
SUPER STOCKS
HEAT 1: J. Steffenhagen Jr., M. Wright, B. Gleason, B. Gordon, T. Fecteau.
HEAT 2: R. Worden, K. Hillegeer, T. Cat, Brandon Larner.
FEATURE (20-laps): JIM STEFFENHAGEN JR., Kris Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Roger Worden, Tom Fecteau , Tom Cat, Brandon Larner, Billy Gleason, Brian Gordon.
HOOSIER TIRE SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: V. Grant, A. VanHall, P. Cowell, B. Allen, D. Coyle.
HEAT 2: J. Welch, R. Hillegeer, E. Ruffell, T. Faro, R. Wilson.
FEATURE (20-laps): RYAN HILLEGEER, John Welch, Tim Faro, Adam VanHall, Van Grant, Peter Cowell, Rick Wilson, Eric k Ruffell, Troy Youngs, Denny Coyle, Brandon Allen. DNS: Brian Hallett.
AUTO VALUE 4-CYLINDER SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: J. Clark, B. Bradshaw, D. Lazzaro, D. Bradshaw, A. Knoepfler.
HEAT 2: K. Bertolone, M. Bradshaw, O. Bradshaw, A. Montgomery, Z. Willis.
FEATURE (15-laps): OTIS BRADSHAW, Joe Clark, Kevin Bertolone, Dale Lazzaro, Zach Willis, Mike Bradshaw, Bro Bradshaw, Dave Bradshaw, Alison Knoepfler, Beth Dennie, Austin Montgomery, Richie Gross. DNS: Andrea LaManna, Russell Peets.
SUNOCO MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: D. Catalano, D. Lewis Jr., Z. Truesdail, B. Burd, M. Cline.
HEAT 2: K. Timmerman, R. Beeman, T. Hanbury, A. Catalano, J. Ruddy.
HEAT 3: C. Finocchario, M. Leaty, E. Hawkins, T. Bradshaw, A. Lewis.
FEATURE (100-laps): MIKE LEATY, Tony Hanbury, Amy Catalano, Billy Burd, Kevin Timmerman, Ed die Hawkins, Chris Finocchario, Daryl Lewis Jr., Fred Taylor, Toad Bradshaw, Matt Lees, Andy Lewis, Jeff Ruddy, Zach Truesdail, Travis Grover, Jake Boerman, Mark Cline, Tom Wiest, Dave Catalano, John Semmler, Paul Jeffers, Bobby Lippa Jr., Ryan Beeman, Jody London.
Gary M. Spaid
“I expected Kevin (Timmerman) to be on me by lap five,” stated Leaty in victory lane. Timmerman won the season opener one week earlier. “We had a really good car, but it was really loose!”
Leaty added, “It’s great to be back in victory lane here at Spencer.” This was Leaty’s very first Sunoco Modified feature victory. He has 13 Tour Type Modified feature wins, his last win came on June 19, 2009 .
In accompanying racing action Jim Steffenhagen Jr., from Marion , took his second straight 20 lap Super Stock feature win. This one was somewhat more important as his birthday is Wednesday. The win was dedicated to his mom, who was not on hand the week before to see him win.
Ryan Hillegeer, also from Williamson, took top honors in the Hoosier Tire Super Six 20 lap feature. In Auto Value 4-Cylinder Scorpion action last year’s champion, Otis Bradshaw, from Ontario , took the 15 lap feature win.
The start of the 100-lap Sunoco Modified main saw the yellow fly when Dave Catalano looped around on the front straight away. Up front it was Mike Leaty taking the lead from the pole followed by Daryl Lewis Jr. and Kevin Timmerman.
Ten more yellow flags would follow, for a total of 30 laps. The red flag was displayed on lap 26 so the track crew could clean an oil spill in the third turn.
The majority of the yellows came for spin outs. Though all of this Leaty held his line and was in command of the field, as Timmerman move into second on lap five.
By lap 63 it seems as if Timmerman’s tires were going away. He lost second to Amy Catalano and third to Tony Hanbury. Hanbury passed Catalano on lap 76 and charged after Leaty. A late race yellow, lap 86, closed the gap. But on the restart Leaty seemed to be able to pull out a five car advantage over Hanbury.
Following Leaty picking up the white flag, Jeff Ruddy and Zach Truesdail, running in 10th and 11th, looped off the first turn. However the starter threw the checkers instead of the yellow to end the race.
Leaty took the popular victory followed by Hanbury, Catalano, Billy Burd and Timmerman rounding out the top five finishers. Leaty lead every lap on the way to victory.
“I’ll be doing double duty next week,” related Leaty, “driving both my Sunoco Modified and my RoC Modified.”
The Super Stocks ran their 20-lap main event and the results remained the same as the week before, Jim Steffenhagen Jr. taking the victory in his sloped back 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
The first three laps saw three different lap leaders; Mitchell Wright, Kris Hillegeer and Steffenhagen. The only yellow of the race flew on that third lap. New comer Brian Gordon blew the motor on his number 17 going into the third turn and spread oil everywhere. Following the cleanup, Steffenhagen was back in command of the race.
Kris Hillegeer made a late race charge at Steffenhagen. With just one lap remaining he closed a ten car advantage held by Steffenhagen, but did not have time to make a pass.
At the finish line it was Steffenhagen Jr. followed by Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Roger Worden and Tom Fecteau .
Surprisingly Steffenhagen related, “I really don’t know a lot about these things (referring to his car). I don’t want to kid anyone. I owe these wins to my crew.”
The Super Six race saw rookie John Welch driving his number 88, take the lead at the drop of the green. His lead held up for just four laps, when Ryan Hillegeer caught and passed him on the low side exiting the fourth turn, as Welch slide extremely high.
Hillegeer proceed to build up a ten car advantage over the field. That advantage would eventually stretch out to nearly a half straight away lead over Welch.
Hillegeer took the win, bringing his career win total for the division up to three. Welch came home a very respectable second in his first outing. Tim Faro nipped Adam Van Hall at the line for third. Van Grant held on to fifth.
The final race of the night was the Auto Value Scorpions. Otis Bradshaw took the lead at the drop of the green. He was followed by Joe Clark and Dale Lazzaro. Bradshaw was in control until lap 12 when the yellow flew, bunching the field together for a three lap dash to the checkers.
The first of these three laps saw Bradshaw able to hold off Clark , but the yellow flew again when Richie Gross and Beth Dennie made contact with the back stretch wall. Gross’s car suffer a lot of damage and was towed back to the pits. This yellow set up a two lap dash to the checkers.
Clark was now able to draw along side of Bradshaw and lead lap 14 by mere inches over Bradshaw. The side-by-side battle for the final lap broke down as they exited the fourth turn with Bradshaw firmly in the lead. Clark finished second followed by Kevin Bertolone, Lazzaro and Zach Willis rounding out the top five.
“We wrecked our last year’s car on the final night of racing in September. We then found this car on Craig’s List and it took us just three weeks to get it race ready,” related Bradshaw in victory lane.
NASCAR racing returns to Spencer this Friday, June 17, when it will be the J.J. White Memorial night featuring the only appearance of the RoC Modifieds at Spencer in 2011 in a 75-lap feature race. A four star show featuring all of the regular weekly divisions; Sunoco Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hoosier Tire Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions will be joined by the Legend Cars amking for a long night of racing. Due to the expected length of the program, racing will start at 7 p.m. next Friday.
For more information go on Spencer Speedway go to www.spencerspeedway.org.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASC AR Place to Race” for Central New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
WHELEN ENGINEERING NIGHT SUMMARY
SUPER STOCKS
HEAT 1: J. Steffenhagen Jr., M. Wright, B. Gleason, B. Gordon, T. Fecteau.
HEAT 2: R. Worden, K. Hillegeer, T. Cat, Brandon Larner.
FEATURE (20-laps): JIM STEFFENHAGEN JR., Kris Hillegeer, Mitchell Wright, Roger Worden, Tom Fecteau , Tom Cat, Brandon Larner, Billy Gleason, Brian Gordon.
HOOSIER TIRE SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: V. Grant, A. VanHall, P. Cowell, B. Allen, D. Coyle.
HEAT 2: J. Welch, R. Hillegeer, E. Ruffell, T. Faro, R. Wilson.
FEATURE (20-laps): RYAN HILLEGEER, John Welch, Tim Faro, Adam VanHall, Van Grant, Peter Cowell, Rick Wilson, Eric k Ruffell, Troy Youngs, Denny Coyle, Brandon Allen. DNS: Brian Hallett.
AUTO VALUE 4-CYLINDER SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: J. Clark, B. Bradshaw, D. Lazzaro, D. Bradshaw, A. Knoepfler.
HEAT 2: K. Bertolone, M. Bradshaw, O. Bradshaw, A. Montgomery, Z. Willis.
FEATURE (15-laps): OTIS BRADSHAW, Joe Clark, Kevin Bertolone, Dale Lazzaro, Zach Willis, Mike Bradshaw, Bro Bradshaw, Dave Bradshaw, Alison Knoepfler, Beth Dennie, Austin Montgomery, Richie Gross. DNS: Andrea LaManna, Russell Peets.
SUNOCO MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: D. Catalano, D. Lewis Jr., Z. Truesdail, B. Burd, M. Cline.
HEAT 2: K. Timmerman, R. Beeman, T. Hanbury, A. Catalano, J. Ruddy.
HEAT 3: C. Finocchario, M. Leaty, E. Hawkins, T. Bradshaw, A. Lewis.
FEATURE (100-laps): MIKE LEATY, Tony Hanbury, Amy Catalano, Billy Burd, Kevin Timmerman, Ed die Hawkins, Chris Finocchario, Daryl Lewis Jr., Fred Taylor, Toad Bradshaw, Matt Lees, Andy Lewis, Jeff Ruddy, Zach Truesdail, Travis Grover, Jake Boerman, Mark Cline, Tom Wiest, Dave Catalano, John Semmler, Paul Jeffers, Bobby Lippa Jr., Ryan Beeman, Jody London.
Gary M. Spaid