Blair, Hall, Ashcroft, and Mitchell also record opening night wins.
By Jay Pees
East Smethport, PA, April 27, 2013:
The new management of McKean County Raceway greeted a near capacity crowd for the debut of the NDRL to the area for the Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. The father and son were important supporters of the raceway over the years and are remembered annually at the start of the season.
Twenty Super Late Models started the 30-lap Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. Russell King and many time track champion Bob Close led the field to John Powell's green banner with Close powering into the lead in turn one. At the end of two laps Ron Davies had assumed second and grabbed the lead briefly on the back straight two laps later but Close surged back to the lead on the front side. Eight laps in and Close was slicing through lapped traffic with Davies only a car length or two behind. Davies came by for the lead in turn three of lap eleven but again Close regained it by the stripe with Dave Hess Jr now also in the mix. At lap thirteen Davies was again trying for the lead in heavy traffic when Close suddenly slowed in turn one. With two to go Davies enjoyed half a lap on second running Hess with Russell King third, Jason DuPont fourth, and Boom Briggs rounding out the top five. The race ran green to checkers without a caution. Heat wins went to Close, Mike Knight, and Davies.
Thirty-three RUSH crate Late Models pulled into the gates for a regular card of events which saw four heats and a B-main utilized to pare the field to twenty-four for the 25 lap finale. Paul Grigsby and Jamie Brown were on the front row with Brown showing the way in lap one. As the end of two, Max Blair was second, taking over the lead at lap five. Damien Bidwell was third at five laps in but Blair was getting away from the field, lapping traffic by lap ten. At lap eleven Bidwell was next to Brown for second and took over the spot a lap later. A caution flag appeared at lap thirteen when an infield marker tire got bounced onto the racing surface. Yellow was necessary again only one lap after green when several cars got out of shape on the front straight with Garrett Mott ending up spun out. Third running Brown pitted during the yellow but rejoined the field for the green. Blair cruised to the win with Bidwell second, Ed Carley third, followed by Robby Black and Bob Kish. Shane Weaver, Blair, Doug Ricotta, and Ed Carley won heats while Justin Tatlow prevailed in the B-Main.
Travis Asel and Vic Vena were on the front row of the 26 car starting field for the twenty lap E-Mod feature. Vena led lap one with caution flying for TJ Downes, damaged in a turn four incident in heavy traffic. At green Randy Hall charged into third, and then took over second from Brewer at lap five. With five to go Hall was right on Vena's rear bumper and was side by side with him at the line and leading with three to go. Hall opened his lead over the final dash, leading Vena, Ron Davies, Steve Dixon, and Rich Michael Jr to the checkers. Heat wins went to Al Brewer, Ron Davies, Steve Dixon, and Randy Hall.
The Street Stocks started fourteen cars for their feature with Steve Sklar and Jeff Helwig on the front row but Adam Ashcroft led the way by lap two. Ashcroft enjoyed a half straight advantage at halfway with Sklar second and Randy Taylor third. Taylor was second at fourteen laps when caution appeared for the stalled car of Jeremy Perry in turn four. another caution appeared a lap later when a car spun into the front straight run off ara. The biggest incident of the event happened just a lap after green reappeared when Brad Ullman, Joe Chamberlain, and Steve Mowrey got together hard coming out of turn two. at the final restart Gary Fisher immediately took over the runnerup spot but was unable to reel in Ashcroft who won by a six car length margin over Fisher and Taylor. Ashcroft and Taylor won the heat races.
Twelve cars started the Mini-Stock feature but three never completed the first lap as a loose wheel in turn three caused the cars of Holden Heineman, Michael Oakes, and Chad Babcock to wreck hard, bringing out a red flag. When the race resumed Chris Parr was the leader but Larry Mitchell took over at the front a lap later. Mitchell lengthened his lead over the rest of the race. Caution was shown at halfway for the car of Denny Babcock, stalled in turn one. Mitchell went on to the win over Parr and Mitch Boylan. Mitchell and Parr won the heats.
Feature: NDRL's ULMS Super Late Models
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. (5) 71D - Ron Davies
2. (3) 44H - Dave Hess Jr.
3. (1) 56 - Russ King
4. (4) No7 - Jason Dupont
5. (9) 99B - Boom Briggs
6. (7) 33 - Chris Hackett
7. (12) 1U - Matt Urban
8. (16) 14B - Dick Barton
9. (11) 22 - Greg Oakes
10. (21) 1G - Rich Gardner
11. (20) 07R - Brent Rhebergen
12. (14) 12B - Brian Boozel
13. (8) 32R - Jim Rasey
14. (13) 03 - Doug Eck
15. (15) 90 - Wally Fox
16. (2) 04 - Bob Close
17. (17) 18G - Andrew Gordon
18. (22) 22B - Darrell Bossard
19. (6) 9K - Mike Knight
20. (18) 3D - Bill Davis
DNS. W11 - Rob Blair
DNS. 9 - Scott Gurdak
DNS. 2V - Chad Valone
RUSH Weekly Crate Late Models
Finish / Car # / Driver Name
1. 111 - Max Blair
2. 17 - Damian Bidwell
3. 28 - Ed Carley
4. 21* - Robby Black
5. 5 - Bob Kish
6. 24 - Paul Grigsby
7. 4S - Chad Ruhlman
8. Z17 - Kyle Zimmerman
9. 4H - Matt Harvey
10. 8 - Zack Carley
11. 6T - Adam Sixt
12. 81 - Justin Tatlow
13. 4K - Tommy Kronenwetter
14. 35 - John Lichy
15. 74 - Ward Schell
16. 49 - John Haggerty
17. 22 - Justin Smith
18. 11P - Jordon Peters
19. 43x - Garrett Mott
20. 135 - Jamie Brown
21. 97C - Luke Carlton
22. 01 - Doug Ricotta
23. 8H - Bill Holmes
24. 325 - Shane Weaver
Weekly EMods
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 10 - Randy Hall
2. 01 - Vic Vena
3. 220 - Ron Davies
4. 68 - Steve Dixon
5. 17X - Rich Michael
6. 09A - Travis Asel
7. 05 - Greg Johnson
8. RD1 - Brent Rhebergen
9. 5 - Jonathan Taylor
10. 6M - Carl McKinney
11. 18 - John Woodward
12. 38H - Nate Hill
13. 07P - Tim Peterson
14. 5B - Kirk Bradley
15. 71D - Dan Davies
16. 06 - Karl Born
17. 27H - Tom Hagberg
18. 6 - Darren Tarabori
19. 55S - Butch Southwell
20. 03 - TJ Downs
21. 21X - Dan Sasso
22. 71 - Al Brewer
23. 11M - Mike McGee
24. 53 - Carl Ballinger
25. 7 - Evan Taylor
26. 4Jr - Cale Crocker
Close Racing Supply Street Stocks
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 6R - Adam Ashcroft
2. 0 - Gary Fisher
3. 10 - Randy Taylor
4. 46X - Brad Ullman
5. 88 - Ted Mascho
6. 91 - Darryl Greene
7. 55 - Steve Sklar
8. 48 - Steve Mowery
9. 46 - Joe Chamberlain
10. 21X - Dan Scharf
11. 2H - Jeff Hellwig
12. 17 - Andy Michael
13. 34 - Jeremy Perry
14. 101 - Josh Wilcox
15. 75 - Jason Dobson
Mini-Stocks
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 516 - Larry Mitchell
2. 9X - Chris Paar
3. 41 - Mitch Boylan
4. 34 - Kurt Babcock
5. 23 - Richard Kline Sr.
6. 2B - Joe Boylan
7. 00 - Cody Enger
8. 33 - Eric Canfield
9. 01 - Denny Babcock
10. 22 - Michael Oakes
11. 4B - Chad Babcock
12. 32H - Holden Heineman
13. 47 - Larry Mitchell Sr.
14. 55X - Casey Burch
By Jay Pees
East Smethport, PA, April 27, 2013:
The new management of McKean County Raceway greeted a near capacity crowd for the debut of the NDRL to the area for the Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. The father and son were important supporters of the raceway over the years and are remembered annually at the start of the season.
Twenty Super Late Models started the 30-lap Jim and Mike Duffy Memorial. Russell King and many time track champion Bob Close led the field to John Powell's green banner with Close powering into the lead in turn one. At the end of two laps Ron Davies had assumed second and grabbed the lead briefly on the back straight two laps later but Close surged back to the lead on the front side. Eight laps in and Close was slicing through lapped traffic with Davies only a car length or two behind. Davies came by for the lead in turn three of lap eleven but again Close regained it by the stripe with Dave Hess Jr now also in the mix. At lap thirteen Davies was again trying for the lead in heavy traffic when Close suddenly slowed in turn one. With two to go Davies enjoyed half a lap on second running Hess with Russell King third, Jason DuPont fourth, and Boom Briggs rounding out the top five. The race ran green to checkers without a caution. Heat wins went to Close, Mike Knight, and Davies.
Thirty-three RUSH crate Late Models pulled into the gates for a regular card of events which saw four heats and a B-main utilized to pare the field to twenty-four for the 25 lap finale. Paul Grigsby and Jamie Brown were on the front row with Brown showing the way in lap one. As the end of two, Max Blair was second, taking over the lead at lap five. Damien Bidwell was third at five laps in but Blair was getting away from the field, lapping traffic by lap ten. At lap eleven Bidwell was next to Brown for second and took over the spot a lap later. A caution flag appeared at lap thirteen when an infield marker tire got bounced onto the racing surface. Yellow was necessary again only one lap after green when several cars got out of shape on the front straight with Garrett Mott ending up spun out. Third running Brown pitted during the yellow but rejoined the field for the green. Blair cruised to the win with Bidwell second, Ed Carley third, followed by Robby Black and Bob Kish. Shane Weaver, Blair, Doug Ricotta, and Ed Carley won heats while Justin Tatlow prevailed in the B-Main.
Travis Asel and Vic Vena were on the front row of the 26 car starting field for the twenty lap E-Mod feature. Vena led lap one with caution flying for TJ Downes, damaged in a turn four incident in heavy traffic. At green Randy Hall charged into third, and then took over second from Brewer at lap five. With five to go Hall was right on Vena's rear bumper and was side by side with him at the line and leading with three to go. Hall opened his lead over the final dash, leading Vena, Ron Davies, Steve Dixon, and Rich Michael Jr to the checkers. Heat wins went to Al Brewer, Ron Davies, Steve Dixon, and Randy Hall.
The Street Stocks started fourteen cars for their feature with Steve Sklar and Jeff Helwig on the front row but Adam Ashcroft led the way by lap two. Ashcroft enjoyed a half straight advantage at halfway with Sklar second and Randy Taylor third. Taylor was second at fourteen laps when caution appeared for the stalled car of Jeremy Perry in turn four. another caution appeared a lap later when a car spun into the front straight run off ara. The biggest incident of the event happened just a lap after green reappeared when Brad Ullman, Joe Chamberlain, and Steve Mowrey got together hard coming out of turn two. at the final restart Gary Fisher immediately took over the runnerup spot but was unable to reel in Ashcroft who won by a six car length margin over Fisher and Taylor. Ashcroft and Taylor won the heat races.
Twelve cars started the Mini-Stock feature but three never completed the first lap as a loose wheel in turn three caused the cars of Holden Heineman, Michael Oakes, and Chad Babcock to wreck hard, bringing out a red flag. When the race resumed Chris Parr was the leader but Larry Mitchell took over at the front a lap later. Mitchell lengthened his lead over the rest of the race. Caution was shown at halfway for the car of Denny Babcock, stalled in turn one. Mitchell went on to the win over Parr and Mitch Boylan. Mitchell and Parr won the heats.
Feature: NDRL's ULMS Super Late Models
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. (5) 71D - Ron Davies
2. (3) 44H - Dave Hess Jr.
3. (1) 56 - Russ King
4. (4) No7 - Jason Dupont
5. (9) 99B - Boom Briggs
6. (7) 33 - Chris Hackett
7. (12) 1U - Matt Urban
8. (16) 14B - Dick Barton
9. (11) 22 - Greg Oakes
10. (21) 1G - Rich Gardner
11. (20) 07R - Brent Rhebergen
12. (14) 12B - Brian Boozel
13. (8) 32R - Jim Rasey
14. (13) 03 - Doug Eck
15. (15) 90 - Wally Fox
16. (2) 04 - Bob Close
17. (17) 18G - Andrew Gordon
18. (22) 22B - Darrell Bossard
19. (6) 9K - Mike Knight
20. (18) 3D - Bill Davis
DNS. W11 - Rob Blair
DNS. 9 - Scott Gurdak
DNS. 2V - Chad Valone
RUSH Weekly Crate Late Models
Finish / Car # / Driver Name
1. 111 - Max Blair
2. 17 - Damian Bidwell
3. 28 - Ed Carley
4. 21* - Robby Black
5. 5 - Bob Kish
6. 24 - Paul Grigsby
7. 4S - Chad Ruhlman
8. Z17 - Kyle Zimmerman
9. 4H - Matt Harvey
10. 8 - Zack Carley
11. 6T - Adam Sixt
12. 81 - Justin Tatlow
13. 4K - Tommy Kronenwetter
14. 35 - John Lichy
15. 74 - Ward Schell
16. 49 - John Haggerty
17. 22 - Justin Smith
18. 11P - Jordon Peters
19. 43x - Garrett Mott
20. 135 - Jamie Brown
21. 97C - Luke Carlton
22. 01 - Doug Ricotta
23. 8H - Bill Holmes
24. 325 - Shane Weaver
Weekly EMods
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 10 - Randy Hall
2. 01 - Vic Vena
3. 220 - Ron Davies
4. 68 - Steve Dixon
5. 17X - Rich Michael
6. 09A - Travis Asel
7. 05 - Greg Johnson
8. RD1 - Brent Rhebergen
9. 5 - Jonathan Taylor
10. 6M - Carl McKinney
11. 18 - John Woodward
12. 38H - Nate Hill
13. 07P - Tim Peterson
14. 5B - Kirk Bradley
15. 71D - Dan Davies
16. 06 - Karl Born
17. 27H - Tom Hagberg
18. 6 - Darren Tarabori
19. 55S - Butch Southwell
20. 03 - TJ Downs
21. 21X - Dan Sasso
22. 71 - Al Brewer
23. 11M - Mike McGee
24. 53 - Carl Ballinger
25. 7 - Evan Taylor
26. 4Jr - Cale Crocker
Close Racing Supply Street Stocks
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 6R - Adam Ashcroft
2. 0 - Gary Fisher
3. 10 - Randy Taylor
4. 46X - Brad Ullman
5. 88 - Ted Mascho
6. 91 - Darryl Greene
7. 55 - Steve Sklar
8. 48 - Steve Mowery
9. 46 - Joe Chamberlain
10. 21X - Dan Scharf
11. 2H - Jeff Hellwig
12. 17 - Andy Michael
13. 34 - Jeremy Perry
14. 101 - Josh Wilcox
15. 75 - Jason Dobson
Mini-Stocks
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name
1. 516 - Larry Mitchell
2. 9X - Chris Paar
3. 41 - Mitch Boylan
4. 34 - Kurt Babcock
5. 23 - Richard Kline Sr.
6. 2B - Joe Boylan
7. 00 - Cody Enger
8. 33 - Eric Canfield
9. 01 - Denny Babcock
10. 22 - Michael Oakes
11. 4B - Chad Babcock
12. 32H - Holden Heineman
13. 47 - Larry Mitchell Sr.
14. 55X - Casey Burch
