8/23/2005
SOMMERS, HOPKINS,
ELLISON, BAILEY, AND KRAWCZYK WIN TUESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL AT LES
While rain has
interfered with the last two Friday night NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series
racing programs at Lake Erie Speedway, a cool but clear evening was
on tap for a special Tuesday night event to help make up for some of
the lost races. The Plyler Overhead Door Late Models, Dodge Trucks,
and Advance Auto Parts completed their features from the rain
shortened August 12 program while the Pepsi Legends started fresh
with heats and feature. The SST Modified Series was also in
attendance for the third time this year for a special bonus point
race.
Jay Sommers of
Leroy, OH picked up his fourth win of the year in the Plyler
Overhead Door Late Models. Sommers started on the outside pole on
the original start and jumped in front of pole sitter, John Julicher,
to take the lead. The rest of the field, however, would not survive
turn one as several cars piled up in the first corner. Among those
involved were Vern Bliss, Tim Williams, Scott Bayle, Mike Smith,
Steve Krunich, and Chris Francis. Bayle, Williams, Smith, and
Krunich would not be able to continue.
Sommers would
reassume the lead on the restart, but would eventually be caught by
his fellow championship contenders before too long. Glenn Gault
Jr., who was fourth in the standings, started inside of row two and
would be up to second by lap six while second in line for the points
lead, Todd Hoddick, would be on their tails by lap 10.
The second and
final caution of the event came on lap 11 after Ron Burkholder, Rich
Skora, and Vern Bliss got together in turn two. On the ensuing
double-file restart, Gault would grab the lead away from Sommers.
The rest of the race would go green without interruption and Gault
pulled away from Sommers and Hoddick by several car lengths.
Gault looked
to be destined to win the race until he slowed momentarily on the
front stretch with nine laps to go. The pause in power only lasted
for a few seconds but it allowed Sommers and Hoddick to pass by.
Gault recovered and rejoined the leaders but was now in third.
For the final
eight circuits the top three freight-trained their way around the
track with all three drivers running nose to tail and banging
bumpers several times. Sommers would hold the lower line and stay
out in front to pick up the win. The victory keeps him on top in
the standings with just two points races left for the Late Models.
(Aug. 26 and Sept. 9) Hoddick, Gault, Will Thomas, and Mike
Hennessey completed the top five.
In the 30-lap
event for the SST Modified event, Neil Hopkins dominated the event
as he started on the pole and led every pole. The former LES
champion won the event by half of a lap over second place Neal Dietz
Jr. Frank Booker, Jim Pierce, and Eddie Murray completed the top
five. The SST Modifieds will make one more appearance at LES during
Lake Erie Bowl weekend in October for their series season finale.
Bill Ellison
of Salamanca, NY won his first Dodge Truck feature of the year.
Ellison led all 20 laps but 4-5 trucks on his tailgate the entire
way. On the final lap Ellison made contact with second place Tim
Card, but Ellison saved the truck from spinning out to take the
win. Al Fisher, John Coughlin, and Matt Evans rounded out the top
five.
Chris Bailey
Jr. held off a pair of “Southern Invaders” to get his fourth win of
the year in the Pepsi Legends. Bailey fended off Clay Hair of Mt.
Pleasant, NC and Ryan Ellis of Ashburn, VA in the final laps to
secure the win. Bailey continues to lead the points as he looks to
win his second track title at LES after winning the Bandolero
championship last year.
The “Southern
Invasion” of Legends cars will probably continue during the final
weeks of the regular season, as we are less than a month away from
the INEX Nationals, which will be held at LES September 29 – October
1. The schedule of events plus registration forms is now available
at
www.lakeeriespeedway.com.
Dave Krawczyk
won for the twelfth time this year in the Advance Auto Parts Street
Stocks. Dave Wilson, Kyle Sharpe, Paul Thrasher, and Terry Akerly
finished in the top five. With four races remaining the
championship is almost locked up for Krawczyk, but the competition
is keeping up with him on track.
RESULTS
PLYLER
OVERHEAD DOOR LATE MODELS
Heat Winners
(from 8/12) – Jay Sommers, Glenn Gault Jr., Ryan Hall
Feature - JAY
SOMMERS, Todd Hoddick, Glenn Gault Jr., Will Thomas, Mike Hennessey,
Dave Wollaber, Gary Eicher, Vern Bliss, Rich Skora, Ron Burkholder,
Jeremy Holbrook, John Julicher, Scott Nurmi, Mike Reed, Ryan Hall,
Nick Crassi, Daryl McKay, Bill Ellison, Rick Perkins, Chris Francis,
Scott Bayle, Tim Williams, Mike Smith, Steve Krunich
SST
SPORTSMAN MODIFIED SERIES
Heat Winners –
Neal Dietz, Neil Hopkins
Feature – NEIL
HOPKINS, Neal Dietz, Frank Booker Jr., Jim Pierce, Eddie Murray, Don
Wylie, Dick Kluth, Rick Kluth, Randy Jazembak, Tony Hanbury, Jason
Kline, Mike Fieblkorn Sr., Ricky Knapp Jr., John Barber, Tom Wiest,
Jim Love, Phil Johnson
DODGE
TRUCKS
Heat Winners
(from 8/12) – Alan Fisher, Bill Ellison
Feature – BILL
ELLISON, Tim Card, Alan Fisher, John Coughlin, Matt Evans, Dana
Nova, Bryanne Downes, Jay Greene, Tony Maratto, Shawn Wood, John
Malone, Sam Conti, Tim King
PEPSI
LEGENDS
Heat Winners –
Clay Hair, Rodney Harrower, Ryan Ellis
Feature –
CHRIS BAILEY JR., Ryan Ellis, Clay Hair, Danny Jackson, Larry
Occhibone, Tom Hall, Rodney Harrower, Dennis Knox, Jason Knox, Eric
Hammill, JD Trenary, Tim Hoegel, Bryan Maloney, Bob McQuiston, Jeff
Johnson, Jim Alexander, Dan Weaver, Bill Lyden, John Walker, Rick
Riffle, Jim Hammill, Dave Jackson
ADVANCE
AUTO PARTS STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners
(from 8/12) – Terry Akerly, Dave Wilson
Feature – DAVE
KRAWCZYK, Dave Wilson, Kyle Sharpe, Paul Thrasher, Terry Akerly, Ken
Moore, Dennis Kszos, Ed Lechner, Russ Conti, Charles Houser Jr.,
Eric Borher, Dean Craig, Randy Brown
Source: Dave Buchanan/Lake Erie PR
Posted: August 24, 2005