RGeeProductions
06-16-2012, 01:11 PM
It was back on June 4, 2004, that Andy Lewis, from Ontario, NY, last saw the victory lane at Spencer Speedway. That is until last Friday when he cruised home with the NASCAR Sunoco Modified victory.
“Ever since 2004, we had motor problems and more problems. Finally!,” snapped Lewis in victory lane surrounded by a hoard of family and friends. “This car has been the fastest it’s been all year,” he added. “I have to thank my mom and dad. I have to also thank my wife and family.”
The Super Stock feature had to be shortened to just 15-laps due to the number of cars damaged in a lap seven accident in the second turn. Just four cars remained on the track. At the finish it would be Billy Gleason with the feature win, his first of the year. After just four races on the season there have been four different winners in this division.
It took an accident to halt the three race win streak established by Brian Hallett in the Super Six division. Hallett came together with Erick Ruffell on lap three, sending Hallett’s number 36 sliding down the backstretch in a shower of sparks. Ruffell was able to fix his damage in the pits, returning at the back of the field.
Van Grant picked up his second ever Super Six feature victory. His first came back in 2010. Van pointed out his same car drag races on Saturday’s at the speedway. Chris Andolino, Brandon Allen, Ruffell, who worked his way back up to fourth, and Russell Scott rounded out the top five finishers.
Dave Bradshaw also picked up his second ever feature victory at Spencer in the Auto Value Scorpion division. “My plan was to get out front and hide,” stated Bradshaw in victory lane. “I knew Mike (Bradshaw) would be coming and sure enough he bumped me with a few laps to go. It was that second bump he gave me on lap 14 that got both of us lose, but especially him.”
The 35-lap Sunoco Modified feature saw Tommy Catalano jump out into the lead from his outside pole starting position. The yellow flew on lap two when Steve Fuchs looped his number 0 in the third turn and was unable to refire.
On the restart, Catalano again jumped out into the lead with Eddie Hawkins in hot pursuit. A number of cars pulled pitside, including co-points leader going into the race, Tony Hanbury.
On lap 14, Catalano came upon the lapped car of Fuchs and made contact, spinning himself out in the first turn. This placed Hawkins on the pole with third place runner Andy Lewis outside for the restart. Lewis was able to fend off Hawkins in a side-by-side battle that saw two yellows fly within three laps. The first for John Semmler on lap 15 and the second flew when Wilbur Hebing slide off the track in the second turn.
Lewis broke free from Hawkins on lap 17 and started to pull away to a slight advantage. The crowd was going wild to see Lewis bring it home in first place. Andy was so excited he performed a roof dance on top of his car in victory lane. Finishing behind Lewis in the double point 35-lapper were Matt Lees, Rusty Smith, Kevin Timmerman and Eddie Hawkins. Timmerman’s fourth place finish secured him the points lead going into next week’s races.
In Super Stock action the race was one of who could outlast the attrition. Only seven cars took the green, with heat winner Mitchell Wright taking the lead. Brian Gordon ran in second until lap seven when he seemed to bog down some exiting the second turn, causing Willie Strusz and Terry Cheetham to make contact. Gordon was done for the night, but both Strusz and Cheetham would return, laps down to try and finish the race.
On lap 13, the yellow flew when Billy Gleason, trying to pass for the lead, made contact with Mitchell in the first turn. Mitchell slowed and the race was yellow flagged. Gleason was put to the rear, placing Brandon Larner in the lead.
It would take both Wright and Gleason one lap to return to the front of the field, with Gleason taking the win. Wright, Larner, Steve Malin and Strusz, five laps down, rounded out the top five finishers.
The Super Sixes saw Van Grant jump out into the lead and never had to look back. Two yellows slowed the race. On lap 3, the yellow flew when Erick Ruffell and points leader Brian Hallett made contact in the second turn, resulting in Hallett’s car exiting the race.
The second yellow flew when Denny Coyle car slowed and came to a stoop in the fourth turn on lap 15. This set up a sprint to the finish between Grant and Chris Andolino. For Van Grant this was just his second ever feature victory at Spencer.
The Auto Value Four Cylinder Scorpion feature would run green-to-checkers with Dave Bradshaw leading all 15 laps. Bradshaw was able to pull away from the rest of the field through the middle of the race. But on lap eight, Mike Bradshaw broke free from the pack and started to chase down Dave. With just two laps remaining Mike made contact with Dave, but was not able to control his car, sliding high, out of the racing groove, in the forth turn.
The contact on lap 14 moved Mike back to fifth, but he was able to secure fourth at the finish line. Beth Dennie came home a solid second followed by Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw and Joe Clark.
SPENCER NOTES: A drag racing exhibition took place during the intermission.
“We wanted to show our circle track fans just what they were missing on Saturdays at the speedway,” stated promoter John White. It was a perfect night for this demonstration as a large crowd was on hand.
All types of cars participated including a rail-dragster and a number of modified cars. Many of the times and speeds were impressive as some 14 different cars participated in the demonstration.
Next Friday, at Spencer, a complete NASCAR program of Sunoco Modifieds, Super Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions are on the race card. The rained out “Meet and Greet” will be presented this week during intermission.
Also as an extra special event, the kids will get their chance to take to the speedway surface in their annual “Kids Bicycle Races”. Kids need to have a helmet and register at the track by 6:45 p.m., with bicycle races, broke out by age groups, starting around 7 p.m. sharp. Double points will be up for grabs in the NASCAR Super Stock division. Race time is at 7:30 pm.
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 Central New York. Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Points.
INSINGER RACE FUELS “PACK THE TRACK” NIGHT SUMMARY
SUNOCO MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: T. Catalano, M. Leaty, R. Smith, K. Timmerman, J. Boerman.
HEAT 2: M. Lees, E. Hawkins, A. Lewis, R. Beeman, D. Lewis Jr.
FEATURE (35-laps): ANDY LEWIS, Matt Lees, Rusty Smith, Kevin Timmerman, Eddie Hawkins, Mike Leaty, Tommy Catalano, Daryl Lewis Jr., Ryan Beeman, Wilbur Hebing, Toad Bradshaw, Jake Boerman, Robert Lippa Jr., John Semmler, Mark Cline, Steve Fuchs, Dave Catalano, Tony Hanbury.
SUPER STOCKS
HEAT: M. Wright, B. Gleason, S. Malin, T. Cheetham, B. Gordon.
FEATURE (15-laps): BILLY GLEASON, Mitchell Wright, Brandon Larner, Steve Malin, Willie Strusz, Terry Cheetham, Brian Gordon.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: B. Hallett, V. Grant, R. Wilson, C. Andolino, D. Coyle.
HEAT 2: E. Ruffell, B. Allen, A. VanHall, R. Scott, H. Vine Jr.
FEATURE (20-laps): VAN GRANT, Chris Andolino, Brandon Allen, Erick Ruffell, Russell Scott, Adam VanHall, Denny Coyle, Rick Wilson, Bill Malin, Brian Hallett, Hugh Vine Jr.
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: K. Bertolone, A. Knoepfler, B. Dennie, R. Peets, Z. Willis.
HEAT 2: M. Bradshaw, D. Bradshaw, J. Clark, S. Frarey, A. Montgomery.
FEATURE (15-laps): DAVE BRADSHAW, Beth Dennie, Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw, Joe Clark, Zach Willis, Austin Montgomery, Shawn Frarey, Alison Knoepfler, Kevin Bertolone, Travis Montgomery, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Jennifer Dennie, Andrea LaManna, Tim Lewis Jr., Chad Graves, Bro Bradshaw, DNS-Grant Bradshaw.
Gary M. Spaid
“Ever since 2004, we had motor problems and more problems. Finally!,” snapped Lewis in victory lane surrounded by a hoard of family and friends. “This car has been the fastest it’s been all year,” he added. “I have to thank my mom and dad. I have to also thank my wife and family.”
The Super Stock feature had to be shortened to just 15-laps due to the number of cars damaged in a lap seven accident in the second turn. Just four cars remained on the track. At the finish it would be Billy Gleason with the feature win, his first of the year. After just four races on the season there have been four different winners in this division.
It took an accident to halt the three race win streak established by Brian Hallett in the Super Six division. Hallett came together with Erick Ruffell on lap three, sending Hallett’s number 36 sliding down the backstretch in a shower of sparks. Ruffell was able to fix his damage in the pits, returning at the back of the field.
Van Grant picked up his second ever Super Six feature victory. His first came back in 2010. Van pointed out his same car drag races on Saturday’s at the speedway. Chris Andolino, Brandon Allen, Ruffell, who worked his way back up to fourth, and Russell Scott rounded out the top five finishers.
Dave Bradshaw also picked up his second ever feature victory at Spencer in the Auto Value Scorpion division. “My plan was to get out front and hide,” stated Bradshaw in victory lane. “I knew Mike (Bradshaw) would be coming and sure enough he bumped me with a few laps to go. It was that second bump he gave me on lap 14 that got both of us lose, but especially him.”
The 35-lap Sunoco Modified feature saw Tommy Catalano jump out into the lead from his outside pole starting position. The yellow flew on lap two when Steve Fuchs looped his number 0 in the third turn and was unable to refire.
On the restart, Catalano again jumped out into the lead with Eddie Hawkins in hot pursuit. A number of cars pulled pitside, including co-points leader going into the race, Tony Hanbury.
On lap 14, Catalano came upon the lapped car of Fuchs and made contact, spinning himself out in the first turn. This placed Hawkins on the pole with third place runner Andy Lewis outside for the restart. Lewis was able to fend off Hawkins in a side-by-side battle that saw two yellows fly within three laps. The first for John Semmler on lap 15 and the second flew when Wilbur Hebing slide off the track in the second turn.
Lewis broke free from Hawkins on lap 17 and started to pull away to a slight advantage. The crowd was going wild to see Lewis bring it home in first place. Andy was so excited he performed a roof dance on top of his car in victory lane. Finishing behind Lewis in the double point 35-lapper were Matt Lees, Rusty Smith, Kevin Timmerman and Eddie Hawkins. Timmerman’s fourth place finish secured him the points lead going into next week’s races.
In Super Stock action the race was one of who could outlast the attrition. Only seven cars took the green, with heat winner Mitchell Wright taking the lead. Brian Gordon ran in second until lap seven when he seemed to bog down some exiting the second turn, causing Willie Strusz and Terry Cheetham to make contact. Gordon was done for the night, but both Strusz and Cheetham would return, laps down to try and finish the race.
On lap 13, the yellow flew when Billy Gleason, trying to pass for the lead, made contact with Mitchell in the first turn. Mitchell slowed and the race was yellow flagged. Gleason was put to the rear, placing Brandon Larner in the lead.
It would take both Wright and Gleason one lap to return to the front of the field, with Gleason taking the win. Wright, Larner, Steve Malin and Strusz, five laps down, rounded out the top five finishers.
The Super Sixes saw Van Grant jump out into the lead and never had to look back. Two yellows slowed the race. On lap 3, the yellow flew when Erick Ruffell and points leader Brian Hallett made contact in the second turn, resulting in Hallett’s car exiting the race.
The second yellow flew when Denny Coyle car slowed and came to a stoop in the fourth turn on lap 15. This set up a sprint to the finish between Grant and Chris Andolino. For Van Grant this was just his second ever feature victory at Spencer.
The Auto Value Four Cylinder Scorpion feature would run green-to-checkers with Dave Bradshaw leading all 15 laps. Bradshaw was able to pull away from the rest of the field through the middle of the race. But on lap eight, Mike Bradshaw broke free from the pack and started to chase down Dave. With just two laps remaining Mike made contact with Dave, but was not able to control his car, sliding high, out of the racing groove, in the forth turn.
The contact on lap 14 moved Mike back to fifth, but he was able to secure fourth at the finish line. Beth Dennie came home a solid second followed by Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw and Joe Clark.
SPENCER NOTES: A drag racing exhibition took place during the intermission.
“We wanted to show our circle track fans just what they were missing on Saturdays at the speedway,” stated promoter John White. It was a perfect night for this demonstration as a large crowd was on hand.
All types of cars participated including a rail-dragster and a number of modified cars. Many of the times and speeds were impressive as some 14 different cars participated in the demonstration.
Next Friday, at Spencer, a complete NASCAR program of Sunoco Modifieds, Super Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions are on the race card. The rained out “Meet and Greet” will be presented this week during intermission.
Also as an extra special event, the kids will get their chance to take to the speedway surface in their annual “Kids Bicycle Races”. Kids need to have a helmet and register at the track by 6:45 p.m., with bicycle races, broke out by age groups, starting around 7 p.m. sharp. Double points will be up for grabs in the NASCAR Super Stock division. Race time is at 7:30 pm.
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 Central New York. Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Points.
INSINGER RACE FUELS “PACK THE TRACK” NIGHT SUMMARY
SUNOCO MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: T. Catalano, M. Leaty, R. Smith, K. Timmerman, J. Boerman.
HEAT 2: M. Lees, E. Hawkins, A. Lewis, R. Beeman, D. Lewis Jr.
FEATURE (35-laps): ANDY LEWIS, Matt Lees, Rusty Smith, Kevin Timmerman, Eddie Hawkins, Mike Leaty, Tommy Catalano, Daryl Lewis Jr., Ryan Beeman, Wilbur Hebing, Toad Bradshaw, Jake Boerman, Robert Lippa Jr., John Semmler, Mark Cline, Steve Fuchs, Dave Catalano, Tony Hanbury.
SUPER STOCKS
HEAT: M. Wright, B. Gleason, S. Malin, T. Cheetham, B. Gordon.
FEATURE (15-laps): BILLY GLEASON, Mitchell Wright, Brandon Larner, Steve Malin, Willie Strusz, Terry Cheetham, Brian Gordon.
SUPER SIXES
HEAT 1: B. Hallett, V. Grant, R. Wilson, C. Andolino, D. Coyle.
HEAT 2: E. Ruffell, B. Allen, A. VanHall, R. Scott, H. Vine Jr.
FEATURE (20-laps): VAN GRANT, Chris Andolino, Brandon Allen, Erick Ruffell, Russell Scott, Adam VanHall, Denny Coyle, Rick Wilson, Bill Malin, Brian Hallett, Hugh Vine Jr.
AUTO VALUE SCORPIONS
HEAT 1: K. Bertolone, A. Knoepfler, B. Dennie, R. Peets, Z. Willis.
HEAT 2: M. Bradshaw, D. Bradshaw, J. Clark, S. Frarey, A. Montgomery.
FEATURE (15-laps): DAVE BRADSHAW, Beth Dennie, Russell Peets, Mike Bradshaw, Joe Clark, Zach Willis, Austin Montgomery, Shawn Frarey, Alison Knoepfler, Kevin Bertolone, Travis Montgomery, Dale Lazzaro, Otis Bradshaw, Jennifer Dennie, Andrea LaManna, Tim Lewis Jr., Chad Graves, Bro Bradshaw, DNS-Grant Bradshaw.
Gary M. Spaid