By Jay Pees
Conneaut, OH, (August 19, 2011): It was a regular race night at Raceway 7 with the four classes each having a regular-length feature. Rob Blair stepped into one of the potent Jim Clinger E-Mods and promptly added another feature win to his impressive total. Josh Holtgraver got his first-ever Raceway 7 feature win in FASTRAK Late Model feature. Other first-time winners were Randy Wyant in Street Stocks and John Schenker after a disappointing loss last week.
The Zimmer Service Center E-Mods were the first feature on the track with Chuck Steinle Jr and Robbie Blair on the front row. Blair grabbed the immediate lead with Russ Dunn quickly coming to second. The first yellow flew at lap five when Chuck Steinle Sr spun in turn three, collecting Josh McDonald, who retired to the pits. After two more yellow flags in successive laps, Blair and Dunn opened a lead on Steinle Jr with Gary Eicher up to fourth. Percy McDonald and Kyle Bedell got by Eicher at lap 12 when Eicher went wide in turn two. As the white flag flew Percy McDonald spun in turn one setting up a one-lap shootout for the two leading Jim Clinger-owned cars. The two 222s finished first and second with Blair leading Dunn, Steinle Jr third, Bedell fourth, and Eicher fifth. For owner Jim Clinger, it was his first 1-2 finish at Raceway 7 and Blair’s first E-Mod victory. Bedell was later disqualified due to his failure to cross the scales at the conclusion of the race. Eicher was moved up to fourth and Brian Douglas to fifth.
The Son Construction Mini-Stocks started their feature with a wreck in turn one when Ed Huge and Wes Stull slammed the outside wall. With John Schenker and Tim Gillette on the front row and point’s leader Jonny Boyd starting twelfth, the 14-car field again came to the green. Gillette led the way through turn four but Schenker came to the lead before the end of lap one. Jamie Wrightsman came to second with one lap to go. After a heart-breaking finish last week, Schenker got his first win at Raceway 7 over Wrightsman, Gillette, John Boyd Sr, and Ed Huge.
The veteran Bob Craig held the pole for the start of the Evergreen Lake Park Campground FASTRAK Late Models with John Volpe to his right. Will Thomas, making his first start on dirt, spun in turn two of lap two, with Bobby Whitling and Joe Long piling into him. Thomas and Whitling were able to continue but Long was done for the night. Josh Holtgraver, fresh off a touring win at McKean Thursday night, took over the lead at the end of lap two. Seventh-starting Max Blair was challenging for the runner-up spot at lap four when Justin Kreider spun in turn two, bringing caution again over the raceway. After the next restart Blair quickly came to second and began trying to reel in the leader. At eight laps Thomas again spun in turn one, slowing the field. Holtgraver drove the rest of the event with a comfortable margin on Blair to win his second feature in as many nights and first-ever at Raceway 7. Blair was second with Billy Henry third, Bill Cunningham Sr fourth, and Chad Wright fifth
The final feature was for the Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks with Randy Wyant leading Tommy Fox, Ed Bolyard, Joe Rohrer, and Chris Withers through the first 11 laps. Rohrer and Withers got by Bolyard at that point. Wyant went on to his first-ever Raceway 7 win in the green to checkers romp unslowed by caution.
Evergreen Lake Park FASTRAK Late Models:
Heat 1: Matt Latta, Bill Cunningham, Bob Rohrer, Billy Henry, Bryan Salisbury, Will Thomas, Joe Long, Bruce Hordusky Jr
Heat 2: Max Blair, John Volpe, Bob Craig, Michael Mitchell, Dave Airgood, Bobby Whitling, Justin Kreider
Heat 3: Kyle Zimmerman, Bill Cunningham Jr, Josh Holtgraver, Chad Wright, Jamie Brown, Jason Stanke, George Kowatic
Feature: Josh Holtgraver, Max Blair, Billy Henry, Bill Cunningham Sr, Chad Wright, Mike Mitchell, Kyle Zimmerman, Bryan Salisbury, Bob Rohrer, Billy Cunningham Jr, Will Thomas, Bruce Hordusky, Justin Kreider, Jason Stanke, Jamie Brown, Dave Airgood, George Kowatic, Bobby Whitling, John Volpe, Joe Long, Matt Latta (DQ), Bob Craig (DQ)
Zimmer Service Center E-Mods:
Heat 1: Russ Dunn, Rob Blair, Joel Watson, Bill Taylor, Gerry Kielar, John Boardman, Rick Pratschler, Chuck Steinle Sr, Joe Gabrielson
Heat 2: Bryan Douglas, Chuck Steinle Jr, Dan McDonald, Kyle Bedell, Percy McDonald, Gary Eicher, Ken Zimmer, Josh McDonald, Brian Fardink, Dave Hess Jr
Feature: Rob Blair, Russ Dunn, Chuck Steinle Jr, Gary Eicher, Brian Douglas, Gerry Kielar, Bill Taylor, Joe Gabrielson, Rick Pratschler, Joel Watson, Ken Zimmer, Josh McDonald, Percy McDonald, Chuck Steinle Sr, Dan McDonald, Brian Fardink, Dave Hess Jr (DNS), Kyle Bedell (DQ)
Campbell Mini Storage Street Stocks:
Heat 1: Ryan Blood, Chris Withers, Rush Firestone, Randy Wyant, Tommy Fox, Joe Rohrer, Rick Prosser, Art Edwards, Art Gilchrest, Nate Arp
Heat 2: Shawn Fawcett, Ed Bolyard, Steve Horvath, Dan Lewis, David Snyder, Charlie McMillen, Bob Sloss, Rusty Wheeler, Paul Schreckengost, Alex Anderson
Feature: Randy Wyant, Tommy Fox, Joe Rohrer, Chris Withers, Ed Bolyard, Ryan Blood, Paul Schreckengost, Rush Firestone, David Snyder, Bob Sloss, Shawn Fawcett, Steve Horvath, Nate Arp, Art Edwards, Art Gilchrist, Rick Prosser, Charlie McMillen, Rusty Wheeler (DNS), Dan Lewis (DNS), Alex Anderson (DNS)
Son Construction Mini Stocks:
Heat 1: Tim Gillette, Jon Boyd Sr, John Schenker, Jason Easler, Wes Stull, Ed Huge, Mitch Stokes
Heat 2: Bud Sergeff, Jamie Wrightsman, Jonny Boyd, Brad Cole, Doug Smith, Joe Keney, Joe Longenecker
Feature: John Schenker, Jamie Wrightsman, Tim Gillette, John Boyd Sr, Ed Huge, Brad Cole, Jonny Boyd, Doug Smith, Jason Easler, Joe Keney, Joe Longenecker, Mitch Stokes, Wes Stull, Bud Sergeff
Conneaut, OH (August 18, 2011) The 2011 racing season is winding down with only three nights to settle the points battles. All four divisions will be in action this week.
The Evergreen Campgrounds FASTRAK Late Models have been dominated all season long by Titusville’s Max Blair with Blair having won seven of the nine features contended. Blair also has five heat wins on the season. The only times Blair has been beaten were at the FASTRAK Regional Touring event in June when Steve Dixon won and last week when second points running Dave Airgood finally scored his first-ever Raceway 7 win three second place runs and a third this season. As the result Blair enjoys a huge 141 point edge. Bill Cunningham Sr runs third, another 50 points behind Airgood.
Both Joel Watson, the current point’s leader, and Russ Dunn, the defending point’s champion, have visited the Zimmer Service Center E-Mod Victory Lane three times this season but Watson has a 75-point edge heading into the final stretch of the season. Percy McDonald, winless thus far this season, is third, another 27-points behind Dunn.
The Campbells Mini Storage Street Stocks are led by Chris Withers, who holds a 56-point advantage over past champion Ed Bolyard. Joe Rohrer sits another 24 points behind Bolyard. Neither Bolyard nor Rohrer have a feature win this season. Withers scored his first-ever Raceway 7 win on June 3 and followed it up the very feature with his second win. Withers has not won since but has steadily been near the front of the finishing order each week.
Six-time winner, defending champion Jonny Boyd, will have his work cut out for him in the Son Construction Mini Stock feature. Boyd will start 12th as a result of winning the feature last week in one of the closest runs to the flag ever seen at Raceway 7. Boyd caught race-long leader John Schenker on the final lap and inched ahead in the final run from the fourth turn to the checkers. Boyd has a 94 point edge on Bud Sergeff, who won his first feature of the year on August 5. Jon Boyd Sr sits third a mere 26 points behind Sergeff.
Weather permitting, gates open every Friday at 5:30 PM with pill draw cut off at 7 PM and racing at 7:30 PM. VIP suites are available for rental for $250 a night which includes eight general admissions passes. Admission is set for $10 for adults, kids 5-14 are $5. 4 and under free. Pit passes are $25. For more information please visit www.raceway7.com or call the track on race day after 12 noon at 440-594-2222.
Join Raceway 7 in celebrating Fan Appreciation!. We will again have a firework display by Gibson Fireworks, and Prizes will be given away to the general public from ticket drawings. All four regular divisions will be racing this Friday Night! Hope to See you there!
Conneaut, OH, (July 12, 2011): After a wild finish to the Zimmer Service Center E-Mod feature last week, this week promises to be no less wild as Zimmer Service Center has stepped forward to add an extra $500 to the winner’s purse this Friday at Raceway 7. With an extra-money race nearby on the same night it was decided to ‘up’ the purse in an effort to persuade local drivers to stay close to home.
On the first turn of the final lap last week the frontrunners got together, setting up a controversial finish with Joel Watson gaining the win. Watson, who is the current point’s leader, has three wins on the season, leading by 95 markers over Shane Crotty, winless so far. Third, another 33 points in arrears of Crotty, is Mike Kinney, also winless in 2011. Jack Young and Randy Hall each have a win this year.
Max Blair has dominated the Evergreen Lake Park Campground FASTRAK Late Models, winning every race this season except the Regional Event held two weeks ago when Steve Dixon handed the Titusville star the only defeat at Raceway 7 this season. With four wins Blair has a commanding 96 point edge over John Volpe. Running third is Dave Airgood, 41 points behind Volpe.
The Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks have had four different winners this season, including three first-time winners, including Chris Withers , who got his first-ever win at Raceway 7 on the second night, then added another win the very next week. Former champion Ed Bolyard runs second, 28 points out of the lead and winless this season. Joe Rohrer is third, only 3 points behind Bolyard. Rush Firestone and Paul Schreckengost were the other first time winners while Rusty Wheeler won one event as well.
Last week the Son Construction Mini Stocks had their starting order inverted so the fastest cars started in the rear. The result was a victory for Jon Boyd Sr who had started the event seventh. Class dominator Jonny Boyd started twelfth, and got all the way to second behind his father before being overtaken by Bud Sergeff for the runner-up spot. Boyd, on the strength of four victories and a third place run, leads second place Tim Gillette, tied with Bud Sergeff by 90 markers. It has been reported that the starting field will again have the top twelve qualifiers inverted by points again this week.
Weather permitting, gates open every Friday at 5:30 PM with pill draw cut off at 7 PM and racing at 7:30 PM. VIP suites are available for rental for $250 a night which includes eight general admissions passes. Admission is set for $10 for adults, kids 7-14 are $5. 6 and under free. Pit passes are $25. For more information please visit www.raceway7.com or call the track on race day after 12 noon at 440-594-2222.
