RACEWAY 7 NEWS Rich Berry

Rob Blair gets first of year at Raceway 7

Conneaut, Ohio (June 25) Rob Blair of Titusville, PA made a late move to score his first feature win of the season in the Maloney Tool and Mold Late Model feature event Friday night at Raceway 7. Blair's teammate Rusty Whitmore had led the entire race, but a slip high coming to the white flag would foil his strong bid. In other action, The Bolt Place Limited Late Models competed in a special added purse event sponsored by Roberts Trucking, with Dan McDonald of Girard, PA earning his second victory of the season by a matter of inches. Jay Watson of Conneaut, OH scored the win in the Corry Laser E-Mods, his third of the season. One week after winning his first career feature race, Bob Pifer returned to victory lane in the Fame Manufacturing Street Stock feature event. Jim Hyde of Springboro, PA claimed his third win of the year in the Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders.

The 20 lap Maloney Tool and Mold Late Model feature event started with Rusty Whitmore and Bill Cunningham leading the field on the starting grid. Whitmore moved into the early lead, with a host of competitors taking chances in second spot. Rob Blair ran second most of the way, before Dan Armbruster took the spot on lap 13, back from the tail on lap 3. Blair regained second in the late going, but was unable to close in on his teammate. Whitmore was strong in front, but had problems coming down for the white flag. His car pushed high off of turn four, and with the inside lane wide open, Blair flashed by to take the lead on the last lap. Blair's win made him the eighth different winner in nine weeks of racing. Whitmore held on for second, ahead of Armbruster, Dick Barton, and Ron Davies. Mickey Wright came from the tail on lap 5 to get sixth, with Frank Poniatowski, Dutch Davies, Tony Lombardi, and John Watson completing the top ten. John Flinner, Barton, and Wright were the qualifying Heat race winners.

The Roberts Trucking sponsored 20 lap feature for the Bolt Place Limited Late Models started with heat race race winners Bob Vogt and Dan McDonald on the front row. Vogt took the lead at the start, with McDonald and Tom Bonanno in hot pursuit. After a lap 6 restart, the lead battle intensified with McDonald working on Vogt. On lap 11, McDonald used an inside move off of turn four to take the lead on lap 12. A late restart on lap 17 gave Vogt one last chance at McDonald, and he took advantage of it. On the final lap, Vogt made a strong inside move, and the two lead cars made contact on the way to the finish line. McDonald was ahead by a couple feet, and scored his second win of the season with Vogt the close second. Bonanno was third ahead of 19th starting Bill Henry and Randy Newsome.

The Corry Laser E-Mod feature race went to Jay Watson for the second straight week. Randy Brooks led early, but spun on lap 3 and collected four of the top five running cars. Bobby Powell was the first car to miss, and was the leader when the race resumed. Powell led until lap 7, when he experienced problems that forced him to the pits. Watson took over at this point, and he would feel a strong challenge from Hugo Litwiler before the race's final yellow flag on lap 12. Watson controlled the remaining distance to score the win. The battle was for second, with Chuck List nosing Litwiler for the spot. Dave Hess was fourth, with Ron Roncaglione coming from 19th starting spot for fifth. Heat winners were Litwiler, Hess, Powell, and Joel Watson, and Jim Frontz won the Last Chance Race.

One week after winning his first career feature race, Bob Pifer won his second career feature race over the field of Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks. Starting sixth, Pifer passed early leader Rich Howell for the top spot on lap 5. Tenth starting Leon Phillips moved up to challenge, but settled for second at the finish. Tony Hyde was third,with Bill Hanna and Ryan Blood right behind. Heat race winners were Hanna, Jeff Cusano, and Pifer, with Bob Gabrielson winning the Last Chance Race.

The Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinder win went to Jim Hyde for the second straight week. Heat winners Mark Kitinoja and Dan Osborne second and third.

Raceway 7 will be back in action aon Friday night, July 2, with a big show to celebrate Independence Day. It will be Mid-Season Championship Night for all five divisions, sponsored by Rigby Ford-Mercury. Raceway 7 is located six miles south of I-90 on Ohio Route 7. For more information, call the track phone on race day at 440-594-2222, or visit the Raceway 7 web site at www.raceway7.com.

= = = Raceway 7 results for Friday, June 25, 1999 = = =

Maloney Tool and Mold Late Models. Car Count, 23. Heat Winners, John Flinner, Zelienople, PA; Dick Barton, Ashville, NY; Mickey Wright, Albion, PA. Feature winner, Rob Blair, Titusville, PA. Top ten, Rusty Whitmore, Franklin, PA; Dan Armbruster, Harborcreek, PA; Barton, Ron Davies, Warren, PA; Wright, Frank Poniatowski, Erie, PA; Dutch Davies, Warren, PA; Tony Lombardi, Warren, OH; John Watson Ashtabula, OH. Remainder, Merle Terry, Don Loney, Dale Fuller, John Flinner, Bryan Durig, Dan Tercho, Bill Cunningham, Matt Urban, Chub Frank, Wally Fox, Chevy Scott, Bob Moravitz. Did not run, Bob Craig.

The Bolt Place Limited Late Models. Car Count, 21. Heat winners, 32. Bob Vogt, West Springfield, PA; Dan McDonald, Girard, PA. Feature winner, Dan McDanald, Girard, PA. Top ten, Vogt, Tom Bonanno, Conneautville, PA; Bill Henry, Conneautville, PA; Randy Newsome, Jefferson, OH; Steve Hollabaugh, Guys Mills, PA; Mike Stoneman, Ashtabula, OH; Chuck Steinle, Jr., Lake City, PA; Tim Glass, Conneaut, OH; Don Herman, Venango, PA.

Corry Laser E-Mods. Car Count 32. Heat winners, Hugo Litwiler, Linesville, PA; Dave Hess, Waterford, PA; Bobby Powell, Titusville, PA; Joel Watson, Ashtabula, OH. Last Chance Race winner, Jim Frontz, Cambridge Springs, PA. Feature Winner, Jay Watson, Conneaut, OH. Top ten, Chuck List, Kinsman, OH; Litwiler, Hess, Ron Roncaglione, Linesville, PA; Todd Roncaglione, Linesville, PA; Jack Young, Thompson, OH; Frontz, Bill Watson, Conneaut, OH; Joel Watson.

Fame Manufacturing Street Stocks. Car Count, 30. Heat winners, Bill Hanna, Westford, PA; Jeff Cusano, Conneaut, OH; Bob Pifer, Andover, OH. Last Chance Race winner, Bob Gabrielson, Bristolville, OH. Feature winner, Bob Pifer, Andover, OH. Top ten, Leon Phillips, Geneva, OH; Tony Hyde, Springboro, PA; Hanna, Brian Douglas, Euclid, OH; Dave Porter, Cambridge Springs, PA; Tim Mailliard, Cochranton, PA; Brian Counselman, Cochranton, PA; Mike Watson, Kingsville, OH.

Steve's Auto Body Four Cylinders. Car Count, 17. Heat winners, Mark Kitinoja, Ashtabula, OH; Dan Osborne, Girard, PA. Feature winner, Jim Hyde, Springboro, PA.
Top five, Kitinoja, Osborne, Darrell Moody, Dennis Lenney.