Smethport, Pa. — it would go on the bottom, but not on the top, is how
Bob Close described his GRT chassis *04 Late Model in victory lane following
his fourth win of the year at McKean County Raceway Saturday night sponsored
by Basil Shutt Used Cars, VanPelt Auto Collision and Pepsi.
After a weeks absence, Close of Eldred, Pa. returned to the 1/2
mile track to preserve his points lead in the division. The race saw Travis
Asel motor pass Lloyd Swain for the lead at the start of the race from his
shotgun position to head the 21 car field for 18 laps. Up to that point Asel
held off Bob "The Bird" Baldwin and John Haggerty, while Close was
carefully working his toward the front after starting twelfth. By lap
10 Close had pulled in behind Asel and Baldwin and made his move into second
on lap 17. With Close nestled in behind Asel, the young Kane, Pa. driver
lost the handle in the middle of turns three and four giving Close the lead
and bring out the caution, With the green flag back out Close was able to
push out to a five second lead over Baldwin which he posted at the checkers.
It was the second week in a row Baldwin had too settle for the runner—up
spot. In the battle to make the top five, Marshall Shunk edged Haggerty for
third and Rick Isadore nipped Tim Hoffman at the wire for fifth in some of
the best racing the MCr fans had been treated to in recent weeks.
Mike Wonderling finished seventh, with David Lyon, Jeff Hoffman (last
weeks feature winner) and Ike Fenton completing the top ten in the 25 lap
event. Heat wins were grabbed by Dutch Davies, John Haggerty and Bob
Baldwin.
In the 24 car, 25 lap Super Stock feature, rookie Bruce Miller started on
the pole and led for four circuits before giving way to veteran Ron Baker
following the only caution of the rice. Baker and ‘Todd Hanson then raced
side by side for three laps before Hanson was able to break away from Baker
to grab the lead on lap SO. Once out front Hanson never looked back and
sailed to an easy win Over baker who finished some eight car lengths back.
The win was the first ever for the Franklinville, Ny. driver who was
overjoyed in victory lane. Doug Peterson and Bruce Miller put on a
real show in the race for third, which Peterson won and Tim Dunham was able
to hold oft Kyle Bradigan for fifth. Points leader Dean Ingalls crossed the
line in seventh, with Tim Schram, Paul Grisby and Jeff Root following in the
eighth, ninth and tenth spots. Meat winners included Ed Armstrong, Hanson
and Don Wagner. Bob Dixon won the nine car consolation.
Gerry Schimp joined Kirk Bradley as a three time feature winner in the Sportsman
division. Schimp started 12th in the 24 car field and slowly worked his way
to the point. Rookie drivers Jeremy Wonderling and Bob Stilson started in
the front row, with Wonderling able to lead for 1 laps before fading and
giving Stilson his shot at the lead. Stilson did a great Job in holding off
Paul Geiger, Joe Layfield and Schimp over the next eight laps when the
second and final caution of the race came out on lap 16. On the re—start Schimp
of Bradford, Pa. was able to get around Stilson and take the checkers from
starter John Powell in the 20 lap event. Stilson finished a career best
second, followed by Paul Geiger who won the war over Joe Layfield and Randy
Parker for third. Points leader Eric Ensell was sixth, with last weeks
feature winner John Kemp Jr., Scott Bigley, Bruce Hallock and Kirk Bradley
completing the top ten.
Jeremy Wonderling, Vaughn Nystrom and Bruce Hallock were heat winners.
Mike Brabham, last years 4 cylinder champion won his first race by taking
the consolation.
Craig "The Delivery Roy" Switzer of Rixford, Pa. made it into
victory lane for the second time this year in the 26 car, 15 lap Street
Stock feature. Tim Rosier grabbed the lead from pole—sitter Scott Tubbs
and stayed there till lap 10 when he and Rich Hamphill, who was running
second got caught up in lap traffic on the back stretch. Switzer who was
running third at the time was able to avoid the log jam and flew by with Jim
Cabado. in tow to take the lead and go on to notch the win by four tar
lengths over Cabado. Switzer who’s family owns Fox’s Pizza in Eldred,
Pa. praised his pit crew for the great Job they do every week in the post
race interview. Wayde Thrush finished third followed by Keith Bidwell and
Josh White. Scott Tubbs, Butch Williams, Randy Taylor, Dennis Walker and Ron
Price Sr. filled the remaining top ten spots.
Switzer, Hemphill, Scott Freer and Taylor were heat winners. In the
Street Stock B—Main, Benji White took the lead from Larry Mitchell -on
lap two and went on to post a four car win over Roger Schweikart Jr. White,
who w • last A—Main feature Joins twitter as he the only drivers in the
class to win the A—Main one week and then the B—Main the following week.
This up coming Saturday night at McKean County Raceway will be Johnson
Distributing night. The Olean, Ny. based business will host triple 50 lap
features for the Late Models, Super Stocks and Sportsman, while the Street
Stocks will run a 20 lap A—Main. An additional $1000 will be added to the
purse by them.
MCR is located at the junction of Routes 6 & 46 in Smethport, Pa.
Gates open at 5, with racing at 7pm.
(Logo design by Karen Teets)