9/9/2005

PATSY HOLDS ON AND WINS AND REPEATS AS NASCAR MODIFIED CHAMPION: FLORIO, AMY CATALANO ALSO WRAP UP TITLES

WILLIAMSON, NY: Patsy Catalano knew what he had to do to repeat as the NASCAR Modified champion at Spencer Speedway. Leading Bill Hebing by a mere two points going into last Friday's season finale, Patsy's safest bet was to simply win the 30-lap feature race. Patsy did just that and won the 2005 NASCAR Modified championship at the speedway.

In the Grand American Modified division Mike Florio wrapped up the title following his heat race, where he earned enough points to put Bill Hebing out of reach. Hebing did everything possible, even won the 25-lap feature, but Florio was named the division champion.

Amy Catalano also wrapped up her Street Stock track championship in her heat race. She was determined to also go out on a winning note and proceeded to win the 20-lap feature.

In other action on closing night, Scott Johnson won the Joseph Neri Chevrolet "We Back Our Deals" backwards race, his second feature win of the 2005 season. The NORA 360 Supermodifieds were also on hand, making up a late season rain date. Kris Meyn from Williamson took the 25-lap feature win.

Patsy Catalano blasted into the lead, beating his father Buck, of the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature. Points contender Bill Hebing started near the rear of the field following a last place finish in his heat race.

It wasn't long before head flagger Gary Timmerman had to unfurl the yellow. Eddie Hawkins seemed to enter the first turn too hot and spun into the grass in between the first and second turns to bring out the yellow on lap three. The restart saw Joey Catalano loop around, forcing another tray at a restart.

Mike Leaty moved into second once the race resumed, with Buck Catalano falling back in the field. On lap eight Hebing, who had worked his way up to third, came together with Tim McMullen resulting in both cars spinning out and the yellow flying. Both cars were sent to the rear and the race resumed.

Lap 12 saw McMullen get together with John DeMinck. DeMinck was not happy and repeatedly slammed into the rear of the McMullen machine, resulting in damaging his own car's front end.

This incident also resulted in a pit scuffle between the two race teams. During this yellow Buck Catalano was sent to the pits as reports around the track had him leaking oil.

From this point on the race remained green with Patsy leading the way over Leaty and rookie Mike Marollo. These three pulled away from the rest of the field. Hebing worked his way back up to a distant fourth at the finish. Tommy Keyes round ed out the top five finishers.

Following a "Polish Victory Lap" around the speedway, Patsy credited his father with much of his own success.

The 25-lap Grad American/SST Modified saw 22 cars answer the call. The event would be caution riddled, lasting nearly 45 minutes.

Jody London was able to take the lead at the drop of the green and lead the feature for the second straight week in a row.

London held off Toad Bradshaw and Bill Hebing. The first yellow flew on lap six when Alva English looped out in the second turn.

This set up a side-by-side restart that saw Hebing fly into the lead.

Unfortunately for London a puff of white smoke indicated his car was leaking fluid on the track and he exited the race on lap nine for service. London then returned a number of times and each time reported back to the pits after leaking fluid on the track.

Laps nine through eleven were all slowed by yellows. A multi-car spin in the third turn saw Andy lewis, Mark Cline, Dick Werner Jr. and Rob Green all involved. All were able to return to the rear of the field.

Through it all Hebing remained in command of the lead. A late race yellow bunched the field together and Jeff Hamman started a serious challenge on the lead. Both Hebing and Hamman pulled out to a three car advantage over Bob Barron.

At the finish it was Hebing followed by Hamman, Barron, Ricky Knapp and Daryl Lewis Jr.. Mike Florio finished in sixth and put a lid on the 2005 GA/SST title at Spencer. He celebrated with a burnout in front of the main grandstands and a checkered flag victory lap around the half mile.

Don Stevens took the lead of the 20-lap Street Stock main with John VanHooydonk in second. As the first lap was completed the yellow flew when Shawn Kelly looped exiting the fourth turn.

The restart saw Stevens again in front but now Jeff Polaski pulled into second. Both Stevens and Polaski pulled away from the rest of the field by three car lengths, with VanHooydonk in third. Maneuvering through the field was Amy Catalano, who had started back in sixth. She used the high line around the speedway to complete her passes. By lap 12 she had passed Polaski and sat on the outside of leader Stevens. She completed the pass for the lead as the two leaders exited the second turn.

Amy was then challenged late in the race by Polaski, who also had been able to get around Stevens. Both Catalano and Polaski had pulled out to s five car lead, with Polaski trying the outside to no avail. Amy took the win followed by Polaski, Stevens, Andy Fisk and last year's track champion Bobby Lippa Jr.

"I think next year I am ready for some Modified racing in 2006," related Amy from victory lane. Her Street Stock car is up for sale.

The NORA Supermodifieds also held a 25-lap feature, their third of the season at Spencer. This time Kris Meyn took the lead from Doug Reaume on lap four with an outside pass down the back stretch. Meyn then proceeded to pull out to a full straight away lead over Shawn Walker, who had passed Reaume on lap six for second.

The yellow flew on lap 17, when Chad Phelps lost power in his number 32 and coasted to a stop at the head of the first turn. With the field bunched together there was a race for the lead again. But Meyn held strong and remained in command with Walker running second. The closing laps saw Meyn again start to pull away from the rest of the field.

At the checkers it was Meyn with the win, followed by Walker, Mike Barnes, Reaume and Dave Gruel.

The management of the speedway would like to thank all of the race teams and fans for their loyal support in making the 2005 racing season a success. We look forward to next May when the engines again fire up and another season of NASCAR Racing resumes.

RESULTS

DORSCHEL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP SEASON FINALE NIGHT SUMMARY

JOSEPH NERI CHEVROLET "WE BACK OR DEALS" BACKWARDS RACE FEATURE (5-laps): SCOTT JOHNSON, Chris Chroquette, Josh Matts, Bill Malin.

STREET STOCKS

HEAT 1: D. Stevens, A. Catalano, B. Lippa Jr., A. Fisk, R. Worden.
HEAT 2: J. VanHooydonk, P. Alhart Jr., J. Polaski, S. Kelly, S. Malin.

FEATURE (20-laps): AMY CATALANO, Jeff Polaski, Don Stevens, Andy Fisk, Bobby Lippa, Jr., Phil Alhart, Jr., John VanHooydonk, Roger Worden, Bill Dixon, Steve Malin, and Shawn Kelly. DNS: John Parrone.

UNOFFICIAL TOP FIVE IN TRACK POINTS: Amy Catalano 678, Bobby Lippa, Jr. 616, Steve Malin 594, Jeff Polaski and Andy Fisk tied in fourth with 566.

GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS/SST

HEAT 1: J. Hamman, D. Lewis, Jr., A. Lewis, J. London, F. Taylor.
HEAT 2: T. Bradshaw, B. Barron, T. Wiest, R. Thomas, D. Werner, Jr.
HEAT 3: B. Hebing, M. Lees, R. Knapp, M. Florio, A. English.

FEATURE (25-laps): BILL HEBING, Jeff Hamman, Bob Barron, Ricky Knapp, Daryl Lewis, Jr., Mike Florio, Toad Bradshaw, Richard Thomas, Fred Taylor, Tom Wiest, Mark Cline, Andy Lewis, Dick Werner, Jr., Steve West, Scott Combs, Rob Green, Eddie Hawkins, Phil Johnson, Alva English, Jody London, Matt Lees, and Zack Shove.

UNOFFICIAL TOP FIVE IN TRACK POINTS: Mike Florio 542, Bill Hebing 503, Jeff Hamman 490, Zack Shove 438, Phil Johnson 408.

NORA SUPERMODIFIEDS

HEAT 1: D. Reaume, S. Walker, K. Knopp, T. Barbeau, S. Bradford.
HEAT 2: K. Meyn, D. Gruel, D. Cliff, P. Watson, L. Muroski.

FEATURE (25-laps): KRIS MEYN, Shawn Walker, Mike Barnes, Doug Reaume, Dave Gruel, Dave Cliff, Pat Watson, Guard Nearbin, Tim Barbeau, Larry Muroski, David Danzer, Sam Bradford, Chad Phelps, and Terry Solazzo. DNS: Rob Pullen, Kevin Knopp.

NASCAR MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1: T. McMullen, B. Catalano, M. Marollo, D. Catalano, J. DeMinck.
HEAT 2: P. Catalano, M. Leaty, D. DeMarree, M. Tychoniewicz, E. Hawkins

FEATURE (30-laps): PATSY CATALANO, Mike Leaty, Mike Marollo, Bill Hebing, Tommy Keyes, Chris Finocchario, Tim McMullen, Dave Catalano, Scott Bleskoski, Eddie Hawkins, Joey Catalano, Daryl Lewis Jr., Dean DeMarree, Mark Tychoniewicz, Buck Catalano, and John DeMinck.

UNOFFICIAL TOP FIVE IN TRACK POINTS: Patsy Catalano 550, Bill Hebing 542, Mike Leaty 514, Buck Catalano 484, Tommy Keyes 482.

Source: Gary Spaid/Spencer Speedway PR
Posted: September 12, 2005