MEMORIAL WEEKEND  HONORS TANEY FAMILY AT CANANDAIGUA SPEEDWAY

Comstock HVAC/R L.L.C., Document Reprocessors of New York and Canandaigua Motors back the second extra-distance show of the season at Canandaigua Speedway on May 25.

The special holiday program includes a 50-lap DIRT Modified main, 20-lap Sportsman and 20-lap Pro Stock features, plus a Street Stock race to fill out the 2002 Memorial Day Weekend card at the popular Ontario County Fairgrounds speedplant.

Named in honor of Denis and Fred Taney, past Taney Memorial title-holders include all-time DIRT big-block winner Bob McCreadie along with former Mr. DIRT champions Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson and Steve Paine, with Paine scoring his second Taney triumph last year en route to re-claiming the coveted track big-block points championship.

Paine's first victory came in 1992 while McCreadie won three half-century grinds from 1993-96. Alan Johnson won in 1997 followed by Gary Tomkins ('98), Chuck Hebing ('99) and Darryl Ruggles ('00).

Forty-two year-old Denis Taney was the first fatality on a DIRT-sanctioned track in 1980. He was killed in DIRT's fourth year of existence when his modified racer went out of control and slammed Canandaigua's turn-four retaining wall.

The Phelps, New York veteran was a successful mini-stock and late model driver, posting four mini-stock and 19 LM victories during his career. He made his modified debut in 1979 behind the wheel of a Ford Falcon purchased from DIRT Hall of Fame charter member Gerald Chamberlain.

Veteran track official Fred Taney lost his life on August 23, 1997 after he was struck on the backstretch during a street stock event. Taney, once a four-cylinder stock competitor at Paradise Speedway in Geneva, had worked at the speedway since DIRT president Glenn Donnelly began promotions in 1977. The Phelps resident was 59.

Weekly travelers Bob and Tim McCreadie, Billy Decker and Ron Smoker will challenge Paine for the Taney trophy when the top area rivals battle on Saturday in the $3,000-to-win modified main.

After opening the season with a feature win and following that up with two straight top-five finishes, first-year regular Randy Chrysler is on top of the Sportsman points standings. Two wins by John Plumb puts him second ahead of hometown favorite Todd Henderson through three events.

In full-fender action, two-time winners Jon Miller and Jipp Ortiz top the Pro Stock points chart in that order while Mike Minutolo opened the season with a pair of victories to rank highest in the Street Stock standings.

Ontario County Fairgrounds' gates open at 5 p.m. and the first qualifying heat begins at 7 p.m. The Canandaigua Speedway is located just east of the city on Townline Road.