May 17, 2009

Stewart Friesen charges from deep in the field to take
second win of the season

VERNON, NY- Despite frigid temperatures and high winds, fans still braved the conditions this past Sunday at Utica-Rome Speedway to see an entertaining show that had the winners in most of the events come from deep in the field under long green flag conditions. When everything was done, Stewart Friesen was $2,000 richer with his win in the Modifieds, while Jeff Leslie was the Sportsman victor. Shawn Frost was the winner of the Pro Stocks while Chris Carr and Russ Marsden each grabbed a win in the Pure Stocks. The fast paced show was clicked off in less than three hours.

When the Modified 24 car feature field took the green flag in their 30 lap main event, John Ramsey grabbed the early lead from outside pole sitter Casey Williams to the opening lap. Brian Weaver charged from his fifth starting spot to grab the lead by lap two as he looked strong as he continues to search for his first win of the year at the Vernon half mile. With Weaver pacing the field, eighth place starter Ronnie Johnson was on the move as he moved up to runner up spot with Jamie Christian following Johnson by early leader Ramsey for the third spot. The first caution of the night came out on lap six, giving the field a shot at Weaver but on the restart, Weaver was still the man to beat as he took off from the field again.

At the lap 10 mark, Weaver was still the leader with Johnson and Christian putting on a display for the fans as they continued to fight for the runner up spot. 11th place starter Willy Decker had broken into the top five as he was running in the fourth spot with Ted Lamb in fifth. Winner of the last weekly feature event, Stewart Friesen was up to sixth from the 15th spot followed by Mitch Gibbs, Alan Barker, Pat Ward, and Todd Burley. Lap 15 saw Christian finally cleared Johnson for second and immediately began to chase down Weaver.

On lap 17, the front of the field had a close call when Weaver made contact with Dave Rauscher as he attempted to lap him with Rauscher spinning. Despite several close calls, nobody made contact as the field was shown the yellow. With the field bunched up for the final time, Weaver again took control of the field at the drop of the green but Friesen was on the move. Restarting in fourth, Friesen slipped by Johnson for fourth on lap 18 and then by Christian for second on lap 19. With 10 to go, it was Weaver ahead of a fast closing Friesen with Christian, Johnson, and Ward trailing.

Friesen slipped by the outside of Weaver coming off turn four to be scored the leader on lap 21. After the pass for the lead, it was smooth sailing for Friesen as he began to pull away. For remainder of the event, Christian and Weaver put on a battle for runner up spot with Christian prevailing at the checkered. Weaver settled for third with Johnson and Ward in fourth and fifth. Rounding out the top ten was Gibbs, Decker, Burley, Bobby Varin, and Lamb.

Jeff Leslie took the lead from early leader Jeremy Vunk on lap two of the 20 lap Sportsman feature and raced away to his first career win at Utica-Rome Speedway. Two time winner Jason Rood charged 12th to the second spot with Matt Janczuk, Vunk, and Mike Button filling out the top five.

In Pro Stock action, third place starter Shawn Frost led from start to finish in 20 lap feature event to capture his first win of the season. The winner of the previous two events, Tom Denton charged from 15th to the second spot followed by Bill Knapp, Chris Mackey, and Rocky Warner at the checkered.

Chris Carr made a late race pass on Russ Marsden with two laps to go to grab the win in the makeup feature from May 9 to snare his first win of the season with Marsden, Ron Hawker, Phil Norman, and Bill Mason chasing.

In the nightcap Pure Stock 15 lap feature, Marsden held off Hawker and Carr to secure his first win of 2009 at the speedway. Mason and Scott Wheelock rounded out the top five.

Next week on Sunday May 24, Gates-Cole Associates Inc. presents the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints, Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks in the annual Memorial Day Weekend celebration at the “Action Track of the East”. Gates for the action packed event open at 2:30 p.m. with racing starting at 5 p.m.

May 17th RACE SUMMARY

MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- STEWART FRIESEN, Jamie Christian, Brian Weaver, Ronnie Johnson, Pat Ward, Mitch Gibbs, Willy Decker, Todd Burley, Bobby Varin, Ted Lamb, Jack Johnson, Bob Henry Jr., Danny Varin, Brad Alger, Kyle Lewis, Alan Barker, Pete Taylor, Casey Williams, Paul Kinney, David Orr, Dave Rauscher, Mike Bowman, John Ramsey, and Paul Jensen. DNQ- Mark Johnson, Brian Murphy, Billy Price, Mike Ward, Tim Mayne, and Ken McGuire.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- JEFF LESLIE, Jason Rood, Matt Janczuk, Jeremy Vunk, Mike Button, John Scarborough, Jim Rothwell, Greg Doust, Jack Miller, John DeForest, Craig Pope, Michael Teachout, Steve Way, AJ Filbeck, Bill Trexler Jr., Ricky Quick, Rick Lamont, and Aaron Jacobs.

PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- SHAWN FROST, Tom Denton, Bill Knapp, Chris Mackey, Rocky Warner, Mark Effner, Bret Belden, Eric Vanderhoof, Rob Seavy, Ivan Joslin, AJ Digsby, Jack Terrell, Jim Normoyle, Dan Peo, Ed Ostrander, Chip Smith, Luke Horning, Dave Meeks, Jim Normoyle Jr., and Rich Duanehauer.

PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- RUSS MARSDEN, Ron Hawker, Chris Carr, Bill Mason, Scott Wheelock, Jim Thomas, Chris Cunningham, Cale Hoffman, Rob Thieme, Frank Hyatt, Andy Potter, Jim Richmond, and Mike Harrison.

PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH FROM 5/9 (15 LAPS)- CHRIS CARR, Russ Marsden, Ron Hawker, Phil Norman, Bill Mason, Rob Thieme, Chris Cunningham, Scott Wheelock, Jim Thomas, Andy Potter, Cale Hoffman, Keith Stevenson, Frank Hyatt, Mike Harrison, John Young, Frank Burnell, Chuck McSpirit, and Dave Mannise.