Rich Vleck, ERIE, PA (May 25, 2008) - On lap 21, John Schuyler felt his car begin to starve for fuel. When the caution flew on lap 22 he knew it was only a matter of time before he would surrender the lead. He would end up handing over the lead, but that wasn’t until he was 10 feet past the finish line.
Schuyler, of Jamestown, NY, scored his first career sprint car win on Sunday Night in front of a massive crowd at the Eriez Speedway in dramatic fashion, holding off Don Adamczyk and Bryan Howland by 2 feet and 1 car length respectively in an amazing three-wide finish. The interval at the line between the top two was just .01 seconds, easily the closest finish in ASCS Patriot History.
“This means a lot, we’ve been doing this for a while and never had a win,” said Schuyler in Victory Lane. “I’ve won here in the late model and I know a lot of people here so this is excellent.”
Schuyler was told over the one-way radio he was the winner, but up until that point he was unsure, “I couldn’t tell where the start/finish line was so I had no idea if we had won it.”
In his first start in his 360 this season, Schuyler took the lead on the opening lap when Scott Bonnell bobbled from the pole position. Schuyler would open up a 1.5 second lead after just three laps and keep that distance pretty steady for much of the race.
Things got murky for Schuyler on lap five when he made significant contact with the front stretch wall. It didn’t seem to faze the pilot of P.J. Johnson’s No. 3T, as he clicked away laps by running the top of the speedway.
After a caution on the opening lap for initial polesitter Chris Muhleisen spinning, the race ran caution free for 12 laps with Schuyler and Adamczyk, along with heat winners and former Eriez Feature Winners Scott Bonnell and Jared Zimardi right with them.
On lap 13, while working lapped traffic, Don Adamczyk, who was within a car length of the leader, slowed to avoid the traffic, causing Scott Bonnell to spin his No. 3B. Bonnell blocked the track, leaving Zimbardi nowhere to go. The two made hard contact with each other and the wall, causing significant damage and ending their night.
The clean up for that event forced the rest of the field to log a number of laps, burning off fuel. Schuyler began to realize at that point that he might have an issue.
“We had put an extra half gallon in just before we went out but I knew it would still be close,” said the quiet veteran.
While Schuyler felt the car begin to sputter four laps before the finish, it became clear that he had an issue coming off the second turn on the final lap. Adamczyk and Howland had closed within a car length and there was no clue who would pick up the win.
Adamczyk dove low to go after his first career sprint car win, but it would come up 2 feet short. Regardless, it was a great rebound for the “Williamsville Warrior” after a DNF the night before at Woodhull.
Adamczyk, like Schuyler, had no idea if he won the event, “I came up on (Schuyler) so fast, I had no idea where we passed him.”
Bryan Howland’s night started off the wrong way when he got out of shape in turn one on the first lap of his National Parts Peddler Heat, relegating him to the pits. Despite starting 15th, Howland would assume third by the halfway point, but that would be as far as he would get.
Howland chose the topside coming back to the checkered flags, ending up just one car length away from the win. Incredibly, in three sprint starts this year, Howland has finished within one car length of the win each time.
Bubba Broderick showed his strength in just his third sprint car start, coming home in fourth. Broderick was caught up in the first lap jingle, forcing him to the back. He would use the top of the speedway like none other on the Chamber of Commerce evening, swinging around veterans to easily score his best career finish.
Kyle Moffit made his first start of the year count with his second straight top-five at Eriez. Moffit was off early in the night but rebounded nicely in the feature.
Ray Preston placed in sixth, just ahead of Chris Muhleisen, Gary Troutman, Dave Wickham and Joe August Jr.
Insinger Rookie of Year Contender T.J. Newton picked up the win in the Bonnell’s Collision Center Four Laps of Fame Dash, for his first career checkered flag in just his third start.
For more information, please visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriots Results: 5/25/08, Eriez Speedway, Erie, PA.
A-Main (25 Laps)- 1. John Schuyler (3T), 2. Don Adamczyk (21), 3. Bryan Howland (51), 4. Bubba Broderick (5), 5. Kyle Moffit (77), 6. Ray Preston (22), 7. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 8. Gary Troutman (44), 9. Dave Wickham (80), 10. Joe August Jr. (44a), 11. T.J. Newton (57), 12. Robbie Shuttleworth (11), 13. Jeremy Barnard (86), 14. Bruce Dewick (22d), 15. Scott Bonnell (3B), 16. Jared Zimbardi (35).
Lap Leader- Schuyler 1-25
Bonnell’s Collision Center Four Laps of Fame Dash (4 Laps)- 1. T.J. Newton (57), 2. Ray Preston (22), 3. Gary Troutman (44), 4. Jeremy Barnard (86), 5. Joe August Jr. (44a), 6. Robbie Shuttleworth (11).
National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-
Race 1: 1. Scott Bonnell (3B), 2. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 3. Dave Wickham (80), 4. Kyle Moffit (77), 5. T.J. Newton (57), 6. Jeremy Barnard (86), 7. Robbie Shuttleworth (11), 8. Bryan Howland (51).
Race 2: 1. Jared Zimbardi (35), 2. John Schuyler (3T), 3. Don Adamczyk (21), 4. Bubba Broderick (5), 5. Gary Troutman (44), 6. Ray Preston (22), 7. Joe August Jr. (44a), 8. Bruce Dewick (22d).
Contingency Awards-
Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing Sealing the Deal Award- Schuyler
Saldana Racing Products Half Way Leader- Schuyler
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Night- Howland (+12)
Engler Machine and Tool Pole Award- Muhleisen
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Passing Points Award- Zimbardi
Kinser Air Filters Hard Luck Award- Zimbardi
ISC Racer’s Tape Keeping Things Rolling Award- Dewick, Barnard, Shuttleworth
DMI Rear End Award- Bonnell
VMAC Fast Lap Award- Howland (14.83 Seconds)
Randy’s Racing Filters Filter Through the Pack Award- Shuttleworth
The Brake Man Tough Brake Award- Bonnell
M&W Aluminum Products Top-5 Award- Moffit
Ultra-Shield Race Products Top-10 Award- Wickham
Rod End Supply 20th Anniversary Award- Zimbardi
Pro-Syn Oil Technology/ Mother’s Car Wash Clean Race Award- Moffit
Hard Charger of the Season Standings (Top Five)- Bryan Howland 12, Bubba Broderick 10, Justin Barger 9, Chuck Hebing 8, Ray Preston 8.
ASCS Patriot Points (Top Ten): 1. Bryan Howland 396, 2. (tie) Chris Muhleisen and Don Adamczyk 362, 4. (tie) Jared Zimbardi and Ray Preston 358, 6. Bubba Broderick 339, 7. Dave Wickham 337, 8. Gary Troutman 325, 9. Joseph August, Jr. 280, 10. T.J. Newton 278.
Schuyler, of Jamestown, NY, scored his first career sprint car win on Sunday Night in front of a massive crowd at the Eriez Speedway in dramatic fashion, holding off Don Adamczyk and Bryan Howland by 2 feet and 1 car length respectively in an amazing three-wide finish. The interval at the line between the top two was just .01 seconds, easily the closest finish in ASCS Patriot History.
“This means a lot, we’ve been doing this for a while and never had a win,” said Schuyler in Victory Lane. “I’ve won here in the late model and I know a lot of people here so this is excellent.”
Schuyler was told over the one-way radio he was the winner, but up until that point he was unsure, “I couldn’t tell where the start/finish line was so I had no idea if we had won it.”
In his first start in his 360 this season, Schuyler took the lead on the opening lap when Scott Bonnell bobbled from the pole position. Schuyler would open up a 1.5 second lead after just three laps and keep that distance pretty steady for much of the race.
Things got murky for Schuyler on lap five when he made significant contact with the front stretch wall. It didn’t seem to faze the pilot of P.J. Johnson’s No. 3T, as he clicked away laps by running the top of the speedway.
After a caution on the opening lap for initial polesitter Chris Muhleisen spinning, the race ran caution free for 12 laps with Schuyler and Adamczyk, along with heat winners and former Eriez Feature Winners Scott Bonnell and Jared Zimardi right with them.
On lap 13, while working lapped traffic, Don Adamczyk, who was within a car length of the leader, slowed to avoid the traffic, causing Scott Bonnell to spin his No. 3B. Bonnell blocked the track, leaving Zimbardi nowhere to go. The two made hard contact with each other and the wall, causing significant damage and ending their night.
The clean up for that event forced the rest of the field to log a number of laps, burning off fuel. Schuyler began to realize at that point that he might have an issue.
“We had put an extra half gallon in just before we went out but I knew it would still be close,” said the quiet veteran.
While Schuyler felt the car begin to sputter four laps before the finish, it became clear that he had an issue coming off the second turn on the final lap. Adamczyk and Howland had closed within a car length and there was no clue who would pick up the win.
Adamczyk dove low to go after his first career sprint car win, but it would come up 2 feet short. Regardless, it was a great rebound for the “Williamsville Warrior” after a DNF the night before at Woodhull.
Adamczyk, like Schuyler, had no idea if he won the event, “I came up on (Schuyler) so fast, I had no idea where we passed him.”
Bryan Howland’s night started off the wrong way when he got out of shape in turn one on the first lap of his National Parts Peddler Heat, relegating him to the pits. Despite starting 15th, Howland would assume third by the halfway point, but that would be as far as he would get.
Howland chose the topside coming back to the checkered flags, ending up just one car length away from the win. Incredibly, in three sprint starts this year, Howland has finished within one car length of the win each time.
Bubba Broderick showed his strength in just his third sprint car start, coming home in fourth. Broderick was caught up in the first lap jingle, forcing him to the back. He would use the top of the speedway like none other on the Chamber of Commerce evening, swinging around veterans to easily score his best career finish.
Kyle Moffit made his first start of the year count with his second straight top-five at Eriez. Moffit was off early in the night but rebounded nicely in the feature.
Ray Preston placed in sixth, just ahead of Chris Muhleisen, Gary Troutman, Dave Wickham and Joe August Jr.
Insinger Rookie of Year Contender T.J. Newton picked up the win in the Bonnell’s Collision Center Four Laps of Fame Dash, for his first career checkered flag in just his third start.
For more information, please visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.
ASCS Patriots Results: 5/25/08, Eriez Speedway, Erie, PA.
A-Main (25 Laps)- 1. John Schuyler (3T), 2. Don Adamczyk (21), 3. Bryan Howland (51), 4. Bubba Broderick (5), 5. Kyle Moffit (77), 6. Ray Preston (22), 7. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 8. Gary Troutman (44), 9. Dave Wickham (80), 10. Joe August Jr. (44a), 11. T.J. Newton (57), 12. Robbie Shuttleworth (11), 13. Jeremy Barnard (86), 14. Bruce Dewick (22d), 15. Scott Bonnell (3B), 16. Jared Zimbardi (35).
Lap Leader- Schuyler 1-25
Bonnell’s Collision Center Four Laps of Fame Dash (4 Laps)- 1. T.J. Newton (57), 2. Ray Preston (22), 3. Gary Troutman (44), 4. Jeremy Barnard (86), 5. Joe August Jr. (44a), 6. Robbie Shuttleworth (11).
National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-
Race 1: 1. Scott Bonnell (3B), 2. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 3. Dave Wickham (80), 4. Kyle Moffit (77), 5. T.J. Newton (57), 6. Jeremy Barnard (86), 7. Robbie Shuttleworth (11), 8. Bryan Howland (51).
Race 2: 1. Jared Zimbardi (35), 2. John Schuyler (3T), 3. Don Adamczyk (21), 4. Bubba Broderick (5), 5. Gary Troutman (44), 6. Ray Preston (22), 7. Joe August Jr. (44a), 8. Bruce Dewick (22d).
Contingency Awards-
Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing Sealing the Deal Award- Schuyler
Saldana Racing Products Half Way Leader- Schuyler
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger of the Night- Howland (+12)
Engler Machine and Tool Pole Award- Muhleisen
Keizer Aluminum Wheels Passing Points Award- Zimbardi
Kinser Air Filters Hard Luck Award- Zimbardi
ISC Racer’s Tape Keeping Things Rolling Award- Dewick, Barnard, Shuttleworth
DMI Rear End Award- Bonnell
VMAC Fast Lap Award- Howland (14.83 Seconds)
Randy’s Racing Filters Filter Through the Pack Award- Shuttleworth
The Brake Man Tough Brake Award- Bonnell
M&W Aluminum Products Top-5 Award- Moffit
Ultra-Shield Race Products Top-10 Award- Wickham
Rod End Supply 20th Anniversary Award- Zimbardi
Pro-Syn Oil Technology/ Mother’s Car Wash Clean Race Award- Moffit
Hard Charger of the Season Standings (Top Five)- Bryan Howland 12, Bubba Broderick 10, Justin Barger 9, Chuck Hebing 8, Ray Preston 8.
ASCS Patriot Points (Top Ten): 1. Bryan Howland 396, 2. (tie) Chris Muhleisen and Don Adamczyk 362, 4. (tie) Jared Zimbardi and Ray Preston 358, 6. Bubba Broderick 339, 7. Dave Wickham 337, 8. Gary Troutman 325, 9. Joseph August, Jr. 280, 10. T.J. Newton 278.
