Double ‘7s’ Open Wheels Champs … Vanderwall, Welch & Tomkins Sweep At Canandaigua Speedway

 

Canandaigua, NY –  September 1, 2022 – By Gary M. Spaid, Canandaigua Speedway PR

 

On Saturday at Canandaigua Speedway Taylor Rental night featured a special double features night in all divisions. Steve Paine, car 7x, and Paul Guererri, car 7, were able to earn the 2022 Canandaigua DIRTcar Modified and Sportsman Modified track titles respectively, although neither driver could find victory lane on the final night of points last Saturday.

 

In the DIRTcar Modified division Gary Tomkins returned and swept both 35-lap features. Tomkins was not the only one to sweep. In the PureStoxs, Marc Minutolo took the 2022 track tile, yet Vance Vanderwall won both 12-lap feature events. The other driver to double up was Mike Welch, who won two 20-lap features and took the 2022 UMP/DIRTcar Street Stock title.

 

The only division not to have repeat winners was the DIRTcar Sportsman class, when Scott Schrader powered his Fox’s Auto machine to victory in the first 25-lap main event. In the second 25-lapper it would be Dan Wiesner taking home the win. Wiesner had to win this race and Paul Guererri to finish 20^th or worse for Wiesner to have a shot at the 2022 DIRTcar Sportsman track title.

 

The first DIRTcar Modified feature saw Pete Taylor blast into the early lead of the race. Chuck Bower was able to get by Taylor on a lap 10 restart following a caution for a multi-car accident in the first turn involving points leader Steve Paine, Derrick Podsiadlo, Dave Rauscher and Russ Hefti.

 

Bower led until a restart on lap 17, when Gary Tomkins powers his Honeoye Auto Parts number 84 into the lead. By this time Paine had worked his way back up into the top five, and was in fact, running second to Tomkins.

 

Tomkins went on to take the win followed by Paine Charlie Donk passed Bower on the final lap to take third. Ron Cartwright Jr. driving a 358-Modified finished fifth. “I had to remember how to drive this track,” related Tomkins. “I had a good break when I barely missed that big wreck (Lap 10). I got a good break in traffic and just worked the top of the track.”

 

The second 35-lap Modified feature saw the top eleven finishers from the first feature inverted for the start. Phil Vigneri grabbed the early lead, but was dogged by Podsiadlo. Podsiadlo passed for the lead on lap six. Paine, trying to make up for being in the wrong place at the wrong time in the first race decided to charge for the lead. He passed Podsiadlo with an inside move on lap 10 and began to pull away from the field. But he was in the “wrong place” again as he ran into the lap car of Paul Habeck in the first turn and spun. Gary Tomkins was right there to grab the lead again and power home the winner. Charlie Donk, Derrick Podsiadlo, Steve Paine, who work his way back to a top five finish, and Ron Cartwright Jr. with his second straight fifth place finish, filled out the top five.

 

“We were lucky in this one,” stated Tomkins. “We had a great car again. Maybe things are finally turning around for us.”

 

The DIRTcar Sportsman also had two 25-lap races to run. In the first one only three yellows slowed the pace. Nick Guererri took the lead at the drop of the green. He was able to pull out a ten car advantage over Scott Schrader in second. On lap 15, the yellow flew and the field was bunched together, eliminating Guererri’s advantage. Schrader took advantage of this and flew under Guererri, on lap 17, to take the lead. Schrader then began to stretch out his lead and took the checkers. Todd Henderson, Guererri, Anthony Rizzardo and Dan Wiesner rounded out the top five.

 

“I guess experience paid off. I waited for the guys in front to make a mistake and made my moves,” said Schrader. “I looked at the score board and saw Henderson was coming behind me. I was hoping the race would remain green to the end.”

 

The top 10 were inverted in the second 25-lap feature. Kevin Ridley took the lead as the first six laps saw four yellows slow the pace. On lap eight, Dan Wiesner made an outside move down the back stretch to take the lead and never looked back. The remainder of the race ran green and Wiesner, who need to win this race and have Paul Guererri have bad luck to have any chance at the track title, took the win. Guererri, did not have the bad luck Wiesner wanted and Guererri finished third behind Wiesner and Ridley to win the track title. Henderson and Rob Bussey rounded out the top five.

 

“This makes our fifth win of the year, which is a great improvement over last year when we didn’t win any,” related Wiesner. “My car worked really well on the low side of the track.”

 

The full-fender cars also had double features. In the PureStox a record number of cars turned out for the season finale. Vance Vanderwall passed Ross Lurcock on lap four to claim the first 12-lap feature. Marc Minutolo, Corey Hunt, Lurcock and Roy Faulkner rounded out the top five. “Everyone kept it pretty clean tonight,” stated Vanderwall. “There was not a lot of bumping going on out there.”

 

The second 12-lapper saw the top nine finishers inverted. This event was far from “clean” as five yellows slowed the pace for numerous accidents. Chris Guererri was the early leader of record, but his rear trunk lid broke free and was flopping around being held by just one pin. During the yellow on lap five he was sent to the pits to remove the lid for track safety purposes. His car would not re-fire properly and he was not able to continue in the race. This placed Marc Minutolo in the lead. However he too had to pit, letting Vanderwall inherit the lead. Vanderwall held on for the win followed by Corey Hunt, Marc Minutolo, Roger Bush and George LaVare Jr.. Minutolo’s finish was good enough to earn him the 2022 PureStox track title.

 

“I don’t think I have been hit so many times in a race,” related Vanderwall in a complete reversal from his first race comments. “My car worked high or low, it didn’t matter.”

 

The UMP/DIRTcar Ferris Mowers Street Stocks also ran twin 20’s. The first 20-lapper saw  Nathan Peckham and Scott Smith in a side-by-side battle for the lead to the delight of the crowded grandstands. Smith dove to the low side of Peckham but just had to race there for some twelve laps before he was finally able to inch into the lead.

 

Once in front Smith was challenged by Mike Schultz and track pint leader Mike Welch, as Peckham faded back into the field. Schultz took the lead on lap 16 following an inside move through the third turn. The yellow flew on lap 18 when Schultz looped in front of the field, handing the lead back to Smith. Smith looked to have the victory in hand, but Welch made one last move, this time to the outside and was able to pass Smith on the final lap for the win.

 

Following Welch across the finish line were Scott Smith, Blane Smith, Andy Fisk and Peckham. “The track is awesome right now,” related Welch. “I did not think we would be here in victory lane, but we did it!”

 

The second feature saw a number of yellow flags slow the race. Phil Marsden passed Doug Smith at the start to take the lead on lap two. Welch worked his way into second by lap six and dove under Marsden for the lead. He then pulled away to take the win and claim the 2022 UMP Street Stock track title. Andy Fisk, Adam Depuy, Phil Marsden and Blane Smith rounded out the top five finishers. “Our car worked ok in this race,” commented Welch. “We’ll take the win.”

 

LEGEND LEDGER: Kid’s Club bicycle races were run on the front stretch before the cars came out. William McDermott and Parker Smith won the races for eight years old and younger. In the nine years and older, Christopher Moschiano was the winner.

 

Canandaigua Speedway will be closed this coming Saturday, September 8, however racing returns at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, with the Parts Plus night of Mr. DIRTcar races. The DIRTcar Sportsman will be running the Parts Plus 44, a Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman championship event. Also on tap will be a Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Super Series race and Mod Lites make their return to the half mile.

 

TAYLOR RENTALS presents the NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS SUMMARY

 

PURESTOX

FEATURE #1 (12-laps): VANCE VANDERWALL, Marc Minutolo, Corey Hunt, Ross Lurcock, Roy Faulkner, Tom Shoemaker, Ted Sweeney, Rick Crego, Chris Guererri, Rod Comfort Jr., Brian Lloyd, Eric Chapman, Jim Cronin, Jamie Eldridge, Roger Bush, George LaVare Jr. (DNS).

FEATURE #2 (12-laps): VANCE VANDERWALL, Corey Hunt, Marc Minutolo, Roger Bush, George LaVare Jr., Rick Crego, Rod Comfort Jr., Eric Chapman, Brian Faulkner, Jim Cronin, Chris Guererri, Tom Shoemaker, Ross Lurcock.

 

UMP/DIRTcar FERRIS MOWERS STREET STOCK

FEATURE #1 (20-laps): MIKE WELCH, Scott Smith, Blane Smith, Andy Fisk, Nathan Peckham, Chris Fisher, Phil Marsden, Nick Dandino, Doug Smith, Leroy Lewis, Chris Jacobs, Kevin Collins, Steve Faulkner, Mike Schultz, Adam Depuy, Brian Lyon, George LaVare Sr (DNS)

FEATURE #2 (20-laps): MIKE WELCH, Andy Fisk, Adam Depuy, Phil Marsden, Blane Smith, Chris Fisher, Scott Smith, Nathan Peckham, Doug Smith, Kevin Collins, Brian Lyon, Nick Dandino, Chris Jacobs, Mike Schultz, Leroy Lewis, Steve Faulkner, George LaVare Sr (DNS)

 

DIRTcar SPORTSMAN MODIFIED

FEATURE #1 (25-laps): SCOTT SCHRADER, Todd Henderson, Nick Guererri, Anthony Rizzardo, Dan Wiesner, Rob Bussey, Paul Guererri, Mark Chiddy, Daryl Hilkert, Kevin Ridley, Tim Currier, Loren Lincoln, Greg Mrzywka, Jim Hull, Eric Giguere, Phil LaVare, Damon Walker, Kyle LaVare, Dan Sellen, Matt Smith, Joe Cook Jr., Larry Stell.

FEATURE #1 (25-laps): DAN WIESNER, Kevin Ridley, Paul Guererri, Todd Henderson, Rob Bussey, Anthony Rizzardo, Mark Chiddy, Daryl Hilkert, Nick Guererri, Jim Hull, Eric Giguere, Phil LaVare, Damon Walker, Joe Cook Jr., Larry Stell, Matt Smith, Dan Sellen, Scott Schrader, Tim Currier, Greg Mrzywka, Loren Lincoln, Kyle LaVare.

 

DIRTcar BIG-BOCK MODIFIED

FEATURE #1 (35-laps): GARY TOMKINS, Steve Paine, Charlie Donk, Chuck Bower, Ron Cartwright Jr., Derrick Podsiadlo, Chad Homan, Eldon Payne Jr., Pete Taylor, Phil Vigneri, Paul Habeck, Mike Johnson, Mike Ward, Gil Tegg Jr., Fran Hilton, Shannon Whaley, Dave Rauscher, Russ Hefti, Butch Tittle, Neil Onderdonk, Don Slover, Ed Monroe, Dan McDonald, Mike Bowman.

FEATURE #2 (35-laps): GARY TOMKINS, Charlie Donk, Derrick Podsiadlo, Steve Paine, Ron Cartwright Jr., Chuck Bower, Russ Hefti, Gil Tegg Jr., Phil Vigneri, Chad Homan, Dave Rauscher, Eldon Payne Jr., Butch Tittle, Mike Ward, Shannon Whaley, Pete Taylor, Mike Johnson, Ed Monroe, Paul Habeck, Mike Bowman, Fran Hilton, Neil Onderdonk, Don Slover, Dan McDonald.

 

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.