8/6/2005
JOHNSON, HOLMES, MUDRA, BATISTA, AND HESSLER OPEN AUGUST WITH WINS
The final full month of the racing season began at Lancaster Raceway Park on Saturday night. As we head into the final leg of the season, all of the championship are still up for grabs with some points races expected to come down to the crucial final weeks.
The Bobcat of Buffalo Late Model points chase tightened up again as TJ Johnson picked up his third-straight win. Johnson was chasing John Julicher for the lead until lap 11 when Julicher dropped out of the race with mechanical problems. Johnson then held off Joe Carbone to secure the win.
Johnson was able to gain more ground on point leader, Ron Nurmi, after Nurmi was knocked out of the race when he tangled with George Skora on the backstretch early in the race. Scott Skora picked up a career best third place run. Mark Pennell and Mike Ticco completed the top five.
In the Signworks SST Sportsman, Bobby Holmes earned his fifth win of the season. Holmes took the lead on lap two and would not surrender the top spot. Justin Shepker was on the tail of Holmes for most of the race, but could not get by the division points leader. Russ Gian, Mike Shields, and Kirk Rutherford rounded out the top five.
Probity Construction Super Stock rivals, Jay Mudra and Wayne Bernhard, once again battled for the win. Mudra took the lead from Ed Lechner on lap four, but was followed to the front by Bernhard.
The top two pulled away from the field with Bernhard following in the tire tracks of the leader. As the laps wore down, Mudra was able to pull away and he picked up his third win of the year. Crossing the line after Mudra and Bernhard were Ed Lechner, AJ Cole, and Mark Hoch.
Frank Batista, Jr. bested a season-high field of 34 Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks for his fourth win of the year. Batista was in a three-car battle for the win with just two laps to go. On the final lap, Tom Agen tried to block an advancing Dave Johnson, which allowed Batista to drive by for the win.
In the TQ Midgets, A.J. Hessler dominated for his first win of the season. With point leader, Dave Wollaber, missing the race for personal reasons and second place points driver, James Michael Friesen, rolling his car over early on, Hessler was able to gain valuable points in the standings. Dan Lawrence, Chris Bandelian, Vinny Christiano Jr., and Erick Rudolph completed the TQ top five.
Next week, August 13, is Autograph Night where race fans will be able to go down on the track and meet the stars that drive the cars in a special intermission autograph session on the front stretch. All divisions will be in action, racing starts at 6:30 PM.
RESULTS
BOBCAT OF BUFFALO LATE MODELS
Heat Winners – John Julicher, Joe Carbone
Feature –
1. T.J. JOHNSON,
2. Joe Carbone,
3. Scott Skora,
4. Mark Pennell,
5. Mike Ticco,
6. Tim Windnagle,
7. Dan Habuda,
8. Tommy Reese,
9. John Julicher,
10. Ron Nurmi,
11. George Skora, III
SIGNWORKS SST SPORTSMAN
Heat Winners – Mike Mitchell, Justin Shepker
Feature –
1. BOBBY HOLMES,
2. Justin Shepker,
3. Russ Gian,
4. Mike Shields,
5. Kirk Rutherford,
6. Craig Dolphin,
7. Don Wylie,
8. Ed Weber,
9. Ed Grimmer,
10. Sherri Hogan,
11. Mike Mitchell,
12. Jerry Gradl, Jr.
PROBITY CONSTRUCTION SUPER STOCKS
Heat Winners – Mike Scott, Wayne Bernhard
Feature –
1. JAY MUDRA,
2. Wayne Bernhard,
3. Ed Lechner,
4. A.J. Cole,
5. Mark Hoch,
6. Mike Scott,
7. Paul Alberti,
8. Jeff Merritt,
9. Ed Kicinski,
10. Dick Wieland,
11. Jay Canonico,
12. Charles Urbino,
13. Doug Evans,
14. Jason Gwin
DNS: John Kraemer
GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners – Dave Johnson, Frank Batista, Tom Agen
Feature –
1. FRANK BATISTA, JR.
2. Tom Agen,
3. Tim Garlock,
4. Jim Offhaus,
5. Kyle Volk,
6. Scott Mutka,
7. Rob Bulger,
8. Dave Johnson,
9. Rick Ortwein,
10. Russell Knutsen,
11. Mike Maggiore,
12. Jim Bryant,
13. Gary Light,
14. Tim Offhaus,
15. Kevin Mendel,
16. Bob Blaszak,
17. Andy Cryan,
18. Paul Tessier,
19. Gary Bartella,
20. Pete Hackett,
21. Tom Deville,
22. Joe Mergl,
23. Mike Fedele,
24. Rick Widmer,
25. Mark Pew,
26. John Shurmatz,
27. Don Deville,
28. Robert Dobuchi Jr.,
29. Andy Jankowiak,
30. Joe Light,
31. Shane Porter,
32. Jeff Madill,
33. Jim Stein
TQ MIDGETS
Heat Winners – A.J. Hessler, Dan Lawrence
Feature –
1. A.J. HESSLER,
2. Dan Lawrence,
3. Chris Bandelian,
4. Vinny Christiano, Jr.,
5. Erick Rudolph,
6. Charlie DiRosa,
7. Mel Raab,
8. Mark Schulz,
9. Shawn Szejnar,
10. Jim Fleischman,
11. Chet Haywood,
12. Gordon Steffan,
13. Chad Haywood,
14. Mike Blair,
15. Justin Mapes,
16. D.J. Sossong,
17. James Michael Friesen
DNS: Kirk Sherwood
Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Posted: August 7, 2005