A.J. SLIDEWAYS EARNS CAREER VICTORY #111 AT THE LAND OF LEGENDS
Chrysler Garners First Career Sportsman Victory at New Saturday Night Home
Miller (Pro Stock) and Minutolo (Street Stock) Take Full Fender Honors
Canandaigua, NY…“The Land of Legends”, Canandaigua Speedway roared to life Saturday night on Lime Rock Speedway/ Auto Trader night for the beginning of the 2002 racing season with the return of Canandaigua Speedway’s all time DIRT Modified feature winner to victory lane following the special 50-lap Modified season opener. Phelps’ “AJ Slideways”, Alan Johnson made career visit #111 to the coveted winner’s circle at the Ontario County Fairgrounds in the big block ranks while in the companion feature event for the DIRT Sportsman, Lewiston’s Randy Chrysler made his first ever appearance to victory lane at his new Saturday night home. In full fendered action, Olcott’s Jon Miller capitalized on a last lap skirmish between the 2 leaders to earn the 20-lap Pro Stock victory and Newark’s “Big Mike” Minutolo took first place laurels in the 10-lap Street Stock event.
Despite cool temperatures, a packed house filled the grandstands and along with the exciting racing action on the racing surface, fans were treated to the speedway’s first ever wedding performed at the start/finish line much to the surprise to not only the fans, but to the groom as well who was in a fire suit preparing to hit the racing surface in the Street Stock finale after he claimed his 5 lap heat event. Street Stock driver Nick Rizzo from Wolcott was brought onto the racing surface expecting to receive a special award and was instead surprised by his fiancée Patricia Pierson also from Wolcott who had carefully coordinated the special event with the staff and crew at “The Land of Legends”. The couple were wed complete with bridesmaids and ushers during the intermission and treated to a lap around the speedway after the nuptials took place followed by Rizzo’s Street Stock with a “Just Married” sign attached to the back. Rizzo was then rushed to line up for the 10-lap Street Stock feature, which took place immediately following the exchange of vows.
An extra distance event for the DIRT Modifieds left fans in astonishment as battles were contested throughout the entire 50-lap event. Unadilla’s Billy Decker charged to the front of the field at the drop of the initial green with Alan Johnson right behind pressuring for the point. Caution was quickly displayed on lap 4 as rookie Modified contender Steve Gray lost a wheel on the frontstretch and took a lazy roll leaving the car on its roof. Gray would exit the car uninjured, but would be finished for the night. On the restart, Tim McCreadie and Gary Tomkins who had been running 3rd & 4th, both moved around Johnson but still on the heels of Decker who continued to lead. Johnson would find himself with more fast company on his rear nerf bar as Ron Smoker & “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie entered the fight. Meanwhile, Tim McCreadie who had fallen behind Tomkins for 3rd found some extra horsepower on lap 13, as he would get back around Tomkins for 2nd and then a lap later move around Decker for the lead. Johnson would move back into contention on lap 16 also getting by Decker for 2nd on lap 16 and in Tim McCreadie’s tire tracks for the point. Lap after lap, Johnson would close on McCreadie and finally on lap 27, he would dive under McCreadie to take back the #1 spot. Lapped traffic became a factor on lap 32 as McCreadie was forced high between 1 & 2 with Decker able to take advantage to grab 2nd. McCreadie would then begin to fade back through the top 5 as Tomkins and “The Hurricane” Steve Paine also got around McCreadie. As the laps wound down, the front 4 cars of Johnson, Decker, Tomkins, and Paine treated the fans to a driving clinic as they could have been covered with a blanket in their battle. Decker had enough for one last charge on Johnson and appeared to have the right lane to get by him on lap 47, but as he exited turn 4, he got too low on the racing surface turning him sideways almost wrecking in the process. Decker would save the ride, but not his grip on the top spot as Johnson would take it away and lead the remaining 3 laps on his way to extending his hold on the all time DIRT Modified feature winner at “The Land of Legends” piloting his Pillsbury/Beachy Motorsports/Spirit of America #1 Bicknell chassis powered by a Finger Lakes powerplant. Decker would hold on for 2nd with Tomkins, Paine, and McCreadie rounding out the top 5.
Victor’s Ricky VanNeil would fly to the top spot as the green flag flew over the Sportsman for their 20-lap feature. A battle ensued for the runner-up spot between Hopewell’s Eldon Payne Jr. and Randy Chrysler with Chrysler finally wrestling the spot away after a hard fought battle. A caution on lap 5 as cars lined turn 3 & 4 like a parking lot at the same time Greg Doust made heavy contact with the frontstretch wall, would put Chrysler right on VanNeil’s rear nerf bar and one lap after the green flag flew, Chrysler would take away the top spot. “The Sensation” John Plumb would next appear as a contender moving into 3rd around Payne on lap 7 and on his way to battle VanNeil for 2nd. That would be short lived, as on a restart on lap 9, Plumb would pull to the high side of the speedway with an injured ride and dropping him out of the event. With Chrysler continuing to lead the event in easy fashion, the battle heated up for the remainder of the top 5 with Payne eventually taking the 2nd position from VanNeil with Adam Ferri and Rob Pietz right behind. As Payne continued his assault towards Chrysler and the lead spot, he would come up short, as on lap 18 a flat tire would force him from the event. Chrysler would lead the remainder of the event for his first career Canandaigua victory behind the wheel of his Mohawk Petroleum/Randy's Smoke Shop #21k Bicknell.
As the green flag flew for the 20-lap Pro Stock finale, Newfane’s Scott Kerwin beat Ransomville’s Jipp Ortiz to lead the first lap in the full fendered feature. Kerwin would dominate the early laps of the event while “Big Mike” Cooper wrestled 2nd away from Ortiz. Cooper would attempt to close on the rear bumper of Kerwin and when the caution flew on lap 9 it appeared Cooper caught the break he needed to move by Kerwin. When starter Dave Farney displayed the green, Cooper’s potent ride would begin to shower sparks allowing Ortiz to retake the 2nd position. Cooper would come to a stop a lap later bringing out the caution once again. Kerwin would continue to lead when the green was once again displayed with Ortiz right on his heels in 2nd. Meanwhile, the man on the move was Olcott’s Jon Miller who would take 3rd away from a hard running Steve DeVos on lap 14 and then sit back and wait as the two leaders began to battle for the top spot. Ortiz would find some extra bite on the high side of the speedway and finally move around Kerwin on lap 18 seeming to have the victory as his own. Kerwin had other thoughts in mind and would come back to pressure Ortiz as the white flag flew. Ortiz would lead the parade through turns 1 & 2 but as they entered the backstretch, Kerwin would make contact with Ortiz sending him into a spin in the infield. Kerwin with a heavily damaged car would slow and Miller would take advantage sliding under Kerwin for the lead and he would lead the rest of the circuit to claim his 7th career victory at “The Land of Legends” aboard his Spina's Dyno/Cliff Miller Cemetery Memorials/DJ Gerling Enterprises #9 Pontiac Grand Prix.
In Street Stock action, Newark’s “Big Mike” Minutolo in his Big Mike's Auto/Advance Auto/NBA Systems/Empire Transmissions #52b Camaro returned to victory lane after a 2-year absence, grabbing the lead from Dave Mannise who cut a tire on a lap 5 restart. Minutolo would hold off Lyons’ Leroy Lewis the remainder of the 10-lap event to earn the hard fought victory.
AUTO-TRADER/LIME ROCK SPEEDWAY NIGHT SUMMARY
STREET STOCKS
HEAT 1: Leroy Lewis, Gordon Withey, Rick Kline, Kyle LaVare, Brad Steinruck
HEAT 2: Dave Mannise, Jared LaBarge, Adam DePuy, Brandon Smith, Kevin Collins
HEAT 3: Nick Rizzo, Mike Rasbeck, Mike Cuppernell, Eric Chapman, Vance Vanderwall
HEAT 4: Mike Minutolo, Ray Cooper, Mike Welch, Chris Jacobs, Jimmy Brown
FEATURE (10-LAPS): MIKE MINUTOLO (NEWARK), Leroy Lewis (Lyons), Nick Rizzo (Wolcott), Gordon Withey (Marion), Brad Steinruck (Waterloo), Mike Welch (Lyons), Nathan Peckham (Seneca Falls), Dave Mannise (Fulton), Tim Burnell (Naples), Mike Rasbeck (Lyons), Jimmy Brown (Waterloo), Adam DePuy (Macedon), Ken Pierce (Clifton Springs), Mike Cuppernell (Farmington), Chris Jacobs (Rochester), Kevin Collins (Bloomfield), Ray Cooper (Clifton Springs), Kyle LaVare (Clifton Springs), Robert Pierce (Clifton Springs), Jared LaBarge (Marion), Brandon Smith (Bath), Rick Kline (Stanley), Vance Vanderwall (Palmyra), Kent Fletcher (Canandaigua), DNS: Eric Chapman (Port Byron), DNS: Chris Cooper (Naples), DNS: Paul Bowler (Clyde), DNS: Jim Cologgi (Shortsville), DNS: Scott Deline (Newark), DNS: Mike Shaw (Rushville)
PRO STOCKS
HEAT 1: Jipp Ortiz, Dave Conant Jr., Bill Hallett, Roger Chrysler, Tiger Chapman
HEAT 2: Scott Kerwin, Ken Michaels, Steve DeVos, Matt Smith, Phil Barone
HEAT 3: Mike Cooper, Wayne Ellison, Jon Miller, Bob Buono, Zack Shove
FEATURE (20-LAPS): JON MILLER (OLCOTT), Roger Chrysler (Lewiston), Steve DeVos (Welland, ONT), Scott Kerwin (Newfane), Pat Hobbs (Chili), Wayne Ellison (Waterloo), Chad Homan (Macedon), Zack Shove (Williamson), Daryl Hilkert (Potter), Tiger Chapman (Rochester), Jipp Ortiz (Ransomville), Phil Barone (Canandaigua), Billy Brown (Cheshire), Mike Cooper (Honeoye), Matt Smith (Canandaigua), Bob Buono (Wayne), Ken Michaels (Ontario), Bill Hallett (Byron), James Henry (Middlesex), Corey Kolz (Rushville), DNS: Dave Conant Jr. (Ionia), DNS: Chad Nugent (Portageville)
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: Rick VanNeil, John Plumb, Adam Ferri, John Pfeffer, Steve Way
HEAT 2: Eldon Payne Jr., Paul Guererri, Rob Bussey, Gary Hoteling, Todd Henderson
HEAT 3: Randy Chrysler, Gregg Doust, Kevin Wills, Rob Pietz, Wade Czymmek
FEATURE (20-LAPS): RANDY CHRYSLER (LEWISTON), Rick VanNeil (Victor), Adam Ferri (Port Colborne,ONT.), Rob Pietz (Port Colborne,ONT.), Todd Henderson (Canandaigua), Kevin Wills (Ransomville), Gary Hoteling (Middlesex), J.J. Courcy (Mexico), Dan Wiesner (Geneva), Wade Czymmek (Farmington), Eldon Payne Jr. (Hopewell), John Pfeffer (Hilton), John Plumb (Macedon), Rob Bussey (Farmington), Scott Binns (Aurora), Loren Lincoln (Bristol Springs), Gregg Doust (Jamesville), Phil LaVare (Clifton Springs), Richard Briggs (Palmyra), Keith Stell (Palmyra), Steve Way (Sherrill), Ernie Crawford (Canisius), DNS: Paul Guererri (Geneva), DNS: Gus Hurlburt (Canandaigua), DNS: Scott Joy (Lyndonville), DNS: Frank Burnell Jr. (Waterloo)
MODIFIED
HEAT 1: Billy Decker, Tim McCreadie, Scott Ridley, Vic Coffey, Steve Gray
HEAT 2: Alan Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Karl Comfort, Ron Smoker, Tom Juhl
HEAT 3: Gary Tomkins, Darryl Ruggles, Jeff Brownell, Chuck Bower, Steve Paine
CONSI: Gil Tegg Jr., Vince Vitale, Chuck Hebing, Joe Beyea, Dave Axton, Charlie Donk, Greg Hixson, Ray Bliss Jr., Randy Miller
FEATURE (50-LAPS): ALAN JOHNSON (PHELPS), Billy Decker (Unadilla), Gary Tomkins (Clifton Springs), Steve Paine (Waterloo), Tim McCreadie (Watertown), Vic Coffey (Leicester), Chuck Bower (Lansing), Chuck Hebing (Ontario), Gil Tegg Jr. (Rochester), Vince Vitale (Auburn), Randy Miller (Marion), Darryl Ruggles (Hopewell), Scott Ridley (Waterloo), Tom Juhl (Weedsport), Ron Smoker (North Boston), Bob McCreadie (Watertown), Jeff Brownell (Waterloo), Dave Axton (Port Byron), Karl Comfort (Rushville), Steve Gray (Penn Yan), Greg Hixson (Lyons), Joe Beyea (Genoa), Charlie Donk (Macedon), Ray Bliss Jr. (Warsaw), DNS: Ron White (Rochester), DNS: Ron Cartwright (Portageville), DNS: Ed Monroe III (Shortsville), DNS: Tim Burnett (Canandaigua)