Hearn Wins Series Modified Main, Fisk & Guererri Add Support Victories

 

Canandaigua, NY – August 9, 2022 – By Gary M. Spaid, Canandaigua Speedway PR

 

The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds was in town for its annual mid-week special at Canandaigua Speedway and Sussex, New Jersey standout Brett Hearn took advantage of ultra-fast track conditions to capture the initial 50-lapper in Thursday Thunder presented by Turner Automotive.

 

Although rains claimed the final 50-lap Advance Auto Parts Series race, the support divisions were able to complete their part of Thursday Thunder staged at the Ontario County Fairgrounds.

 

Andy Fisk came home victorious, winning the 15-lap Ferris Mowers UMP Street Stock feature while Chris Guererri picked up his second feature win of the season in the PureStox division at Canandaigua.

 

Pole-sitter Dale Planck led the initial circuit before front row partner Vic Coffey took control following a lap two restart to kick off the Big-Block Modified feature race action. Hearn started 10th on the 30-car grid and methodically worked his way forward on the lightning fast clay. Yellow flag fever kept average speeds down throughout yet Coffey recorded the fastest lap of the night of nearly 100 mph in the early going.

 

At the halfway point, Hearn was comfortably running among the front-five and just as the sixth caution period unfolded on lap 27 he overtook Fuller for second and four laps later dashed past Coffey high on the back chute to forge the final lead change. From there, the ‘Corporate Jet’ proceeded with precision through lapped car traffic and held off a late race rally by Fuller to score an all-time Series high 95th career victory on the NorthEast’s premier tour for Big-Block Modifieds.

 

“Canandaigua is probably the last track I’ve gotten a knack at running,” said Hearn, whose three victories at the ‘Land of Legends’ have been in tour races of 200, 100 and now 50 laps in distance. “The last 4 or 5 years we’ve been very close, now I think we’ve finally got a consistent set-up for here. Tonight we used a lot of engine, ran pretty much wide open in time trials. This will give us some momentum going into the weekend.”

 

Coffey held on to the show position to garner preferred starter status in the upcoming Rite Aid 200 on Oct. 7 of Super DIRT Week, finishing ahead of past Canandaigua tour winners Frank Cozze and Alan Johnson. Canandaigua weekly regular Charlie Donk finished 17th and was the last car scored on the lead lap in the 25-mile main.

 

For Fisk it was his second feature win of the year at Canandaigua in the Street Stock finale. Fisk took the lead from Kevin Smith on lap six with a daring move through the middle of Kevin and Blane Smith exiting the second turn. “My car was really hooked up in the black,” commented Fisk regarding the center part of the speedway. “I really enjoy running the dirt better then asphalt. Both of the Smiths are good drivers as is Schultz.”

 

Following Fisk across the finish line were top-five runners Kevin Smith, current points leader Mike Welch, Mike Schultz and Adam DePuy. Blane Smith, who was at the front of the field most of the race, suffered motor problems and exited the race on lap eight. His efforts to clear the speedway allowed the race to be run green-to-checkers without any yellows.

 

When the ProStox feature was green-flagged, Guererri led the initial lap only to lose the lead to Ross Lurcock the second time around. On lap four Vance Vanderwall tried to get underneath Lurcock and was recorded as the leader. As Lurcock was about to return the “pass” between turns one and two, he made contact sending both himself and Vanderwall into a spin. This mishap resulted in the only yellow of the race and put Guererri back into the lead.

 

Guererri went on to take the 10-lap victory followed by Ryan DePuy, track points leader Marc Minutolo, Brian Faulkner and Lurcock. “I won this one for my uncle Mike,” added Guererri in victory lane.

 

The 2022 DIRTcar Racing points season continues to wind down in wine country and race fans at Canandaigua Speedway can look forward to the second special $20 CARLOAD night backed by Canandaigua Chrysler Dodge on August 11.

 

DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds are back in the spotlight on Saturday running twin 20-lap features with a special appearance by the BRP Late Model tour stars joining the card. DIRTcar/UMP Street Stock and PureStox divisions will also be in competition during the night that includes a Dogs Day Challenge while the DIRTcar Modifieds have the night off. Race time is set for 7 p.m.

 

Canandaigua Speedway is located just east of the Village of Canandaigua, NY, along County Road 10. Information can be obtained by calling 585/394-0691 on raceday, during the week by dialing the DIRTcar Racing NorthEast office at 315/834-6606 and logging in anytime to canandaiguaspeedway.com.

 

TURNER AUTOMOTIVE presents THURSDAY THUNDER

PURESTOX

HEAT: C. Guererri, R. Lurcock, V. Vanderwall, E. Chapman, B. Faulkner.

FEATURE (10-laps): CHRIS GUERERRI, Ryan DePuy, Marc Minutolo, Brian Faulkner, Ross Lurcock, Corey Hunt, Vance Vanderwall, Rick Crego, Ted Sweeney, Roger Bush, Eric Chapman.

 

FERRIS MOWERS UMP/DIRTcar STREET STOCK

HEAT 1: K. Smith, B. Smith, C. Fisher, D. Marcuccilli, M. Welch.

HEAT 2: M. Schultz, A. DePuy, D. Mannise, A. Fisk, S. Smith.

FEATURE (15-laps): ANDY FISK, Kevin Smith, Mike Welch, Mike Schultz, Adam DePuy, Dave Mannise, Dave Marcuccilli, Scott Smith, Ron Hawker, Chris Fisher, Steve Faulkner, Chris Jacobs, Blane Smith, Nathan Peckham (DNS).

 

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRTcar SERIES BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED

HEAT 1: F.Cozze, V.Coffey, B.Decker, R.Phelps, M.Bowman.

HEAT 2: T.Fuller, B.Hearn, A.Johnson, G.Tomkins, M.Sheppard.

HEAT 3: D.Johnson, D.Podsiadlo, M.Gibbs, J.Haers, J.Phelps.

HEAT 4: D.Planck, B.Dunn, P.Ward, S.Paine, C.Brachmann.

CONSI: C.Bower, S.Whaley, V.Vitale, C.Donk, K.Bates, D.Rauscher, C.Homan, E.Payne, R.Hefti, B.Tonkin.

FEATURE #1 (50-laps): Brett Hearn, Tim Fuller, Vic Coffey, Frank Cozze, Alan Johnson, Mitch Gibbs, Billy Decker, Dale Planck, Jimmy Phelps, Pat Ward, Danny Johnson, Steve Paine, Justin Haers, Billy Dunn, Derrick Podsiadlo, Vince Vitale, Charlie Donk, Shannon Whaley, Chad Homan, Eldon Payne,Jr, Matt Sheppard, Mike Bowman, Chad Brachmann, Russ Hefti, Chuck Bower, Kevin Bates, Gary Tomkins, Dave Rauscher, Brett Tonkin, Ryan Phelps.

FEATURE #2 (50-laps): Rain-Cancelled.

 

The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Wrisco Industries.