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Canandaigua, NY - June 9, 2007 - By Gary M. Spaid, Canandaigua Speedway PR
Lansing, New York's, Chuck Bower has come close in the past since splitting with his
Currier Plastics sponsorship four years ago to getting his first DIRTcar Modified
win at Canandaigua Speedway as an independent car owner, but last Saturday, June 9,
his dreams came true. Bower, who won at Canandaigua back in April 2001, picked up
his second career win at the fast half mile clay oval.
"It's been a tough two or three years running on my own," stated Bower in victory
lane. "It has taken a while to get back in victory lane."
In DIRTcar Sportsman action it was Dan Wiesner claiming his second feature win of
the season. "I'm excited to be here," claimed Wiesner. "The track was really good on
the bottom tonight."
In full-fender action it was Eric Chapman taking his first win of the year in the
PureStox division and Any Fisk, who last won on opening day, claiming the UMP Ferris
Mowers Street Stock feature. A special appearance by the Mod Lites highlighted the
night as Dan Williams took the win. "I love this track," stated Williams. "It was a
whole lot of fun even though the track is a little longer than what I'm used to
racing."
The DIRTcar Modified feature started off with '07 Big-Block rookie Russ Hefti taking
the lead from his fourth-place starting position. As the lap went into the record
books, pole-sitter Paul Habeck spun exiting the second turn. Contact between Habeck
and Charlie Donk caused Donk to lose his right front wheel and this would be the
only caution period in the event.
Mike Johnson dogged Hefti for just one lap before he was passed by Chuck Bower, who
then took off and tried to chase down Hefti. These two started turning in fantastic
lap times. Finally on lap 22, exiting the fourth turn, Bower was able to inch ahead
of Hefti and lead the lap.
One lap later Hefti bounced back into the lead as the leaders battled back and
forth. On lap 24 Bower was back in the lead for good in lap traffic. Bower was able
to put two lap cars between Hefti and himself to take the victory. Hefti finished
second followed by Chad Homan, Phil Vigneri and Pete Taylor to round out the
top-five. "We were debating on going to the series show at Fulton tonight," added
Bower, "but one of my best friends is an engineering student at RIT so we came here
instead. It was the right choice."
A lapped car turned out to be the difference in the 25-lap DIRTcar Sportsman
feature. At the start of the race Clay Parmelee shot from third into the lead with
Mark Chiddy, John Robinson and sixth-place starter Dan Wiesner in tow. Wiesner
started to work his way into second and on lap nine was able to use a lapped car to
split a pass on Parmelee for the lead. One lap later the yellow flew when Gary
Hotaling came to a stop on the front stretch.
On the restart Wiesner held the lead over Mark Chiddy as Parmelee fell back in the
field to fifth. On lap 12 Dave Allen performed a spin and go in the second turn,
keeping the race under green, then one lap later Scott Schrader coasted to a stop in
between the third and fourth turns. During this yellow Tim Currier, who's company
was sponsoring the night's racing, suffered a flat right rear tire caused by a
broken radius rod. Both cars were done for the rest of the race.
On the restart Wiesner remained ahead of Eric Giguere and Chiddy. They would remain
in this running order until the final lap when Darryl Hilkert made a pass of Chiddy
coming out of the final turn. Wiesner took the win followed by Giguere, Hilkert,
Chiddy and Paul Guererri to round out the top-five. "It really matters where you
start in the feature when you're running a crate motor," related Wiesner, who picked
up an additional $100 Crate Motor bonus check.
The Mod Lites made their first appearance of the season at the half-mile oval. Tim
Devendorf took the early lead in the 15-lap feature. The first to feel the effects
of running on a bigger track was Jeff Blackburn who lost a motor on the second lap.
On the restart Dan Williams took the lead with brother Doug moving into second. The
yellow flag flew on lap five when Joe Gwilt looped his number 18J in the third turn.
The race restarted but within another lap the yellow unfurled again when Jimmy King
coasted to a stop on the front stretch.
Doug made a pass on his brother Dan in the late stages of the race after Jeff
Herbert's car spun and was collected by other cars. Just after taking the lead Doug
spun giving the lead back to Dan. Dan Williams took the win followed by Devendorf,
Jeff Baker, Justin Crisafulli, and Gwilt.
The PureStox feature was just one lap old when Chris Guererri suffered a flat tire
sliding off the first turn to bring out the yellow. Up front Eric Chapman took the
lead and led all 10 laps to take his first win of the year. "The track was in great
shape tonight," commented an elated Chapman from victory lane.
Andy Fisk started fourth and led all 20 laps on his way to victory. Behind him a
torrid battle for the remaining top five spots kept fan interest high. Even with
sixteen starters the race would run green-to-checkers. "I have to thank Sonny Barron
for his help in getting this car together," stated Fisk. "I stayed at the bottom and
the track was just great."
This coming Saturday will be Canandaigua Chrysler-Dodge night featuring the Green
Momba Jet car. This car will attempt to melt down a passenger car in the infield as
the sun goes down. This spectacular is something to see.
On track action will feature DIRTcar Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and two
divisions of Street Stocks. A special Daddy's B-B-Q- Grill race is also on the
evening's card of events. Race time is 7 p.m. sharp, with gates opening at 5 p.m.
Canandaigua Speedway is located just east of the village of Canandaigua, on County
Road 10 and the Ontario County Fairgrounds.
CURRIER PLASTICS/DUKES OF HAZZARD NIGHT SUMMARY
MOD LITE
HEAT 1: T. Devendorf, J.. Gwilt, A. Schartner, R. Leone, J. Crisafulli
HEAT 2: Dn. Williams, Dg Williams, J. Baker, L. Zehr, B. Rice.
HEAT 3: J. Williams, J. King, M. Virginia, R. Rainville, J. Herbert
FEATURE (15-laps): DAN WILLIAMS, Tim Devendorf, Jeff Baker, Justin Crisafulli, Joe
Gwilt, Lowell Zehr, Roco Leone, Andrew Schartner, Jeff Williams, Ken Gamlen, Rich
Rainville, Matt Rainville, Doug Williams, Mike Virginia, Jeff Herbert, Mike
Rainville, Brenda Rice, Lisa Thomas, Lorrie Herbert, Sam Morse, Jimmy King, Moe
DeGrasse, Jeff Blackburn
PURESTOX
HEAT: E. Chapman, C. Guererri, M. Minutolo, G. LaVare Jr.
FEATURE (10-laps): ERIC CHAPMAN, Corey Hunt, Ryan DePuy, Marc Minutolo, George
LaVare Jr., Brian Faulkner, Ross Lurcock, Chris Guererri, Ted Sweeny (DNS)
FERRIS MOWERS UMP STREET STOCKS
HEAT 1: A. Fisk, C. Fisher, B. Smith, S. Smith, P. Marsden
HEAT 2: M. Welch, A. DePuy, D. Smith, L. Lewis, M. Rasbeck
FEATURE (15-laps): ANDY FISK, Mike Welch, Scott Smith, Blane Smith, Doug Smith, Phil
Marsden, Nathan Peckham, Adam DePuy, Chris Fisher, Leroy Lewis, Steve Faulkner, Mike
Rasbeck, Mike Dandino, Mike Schultz, Karl Wilkins, George LaVare Sr. (DNS)
DIRTcar SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
HEAT 1: D. Wiesner, P. Guererri, E. Giguere, D. Allen, B. Coleman.
HEAT 2: P. LaVare, R. Bussey, K. Ridley, D. Hilkert, J. Robinson
HEAT 3: M. Chiddy, L. Lincoln, T. Currier, C. Parmelee, E. VanSkiver.
FEATURE (25-laps): DAN WIESNER, Eric Giguere, Darryl Hilkert, Mark Chiddy, Paul
Guererri, Kevin Ridley, Loren Lincoln, Clay Parmelee, Phil LaVare, Rob Bussey, Eric
VanSkiver, Jim Hull, Bruce DeWick, David Allen, John Robinson, Tim Currier, Scott
Schrader, Gary Hotaling, Chris Mangerelli, Bill Coleman, Marcus Dinkins (DNS)
DIRTcar MODIFIED
HEAT 1: P. Taylor, T. Juhl, M. Ward, P. Habeck, T. Knoblock.
HEAT 2: R. Hefti, C. Donk, C. Bower, M. Johnson, J. Pfeffer.
FEATURE (35-laps): CHUCK BOWER, Russ Hefti, Chad Homan, Phil Vigneri, Pete Taylor,
John Pfeffer, Derrick Podsiadlo, Tim O'Brien, Mike Johnson, Mike Ward, Paul Habeck,
Fran Hilton, Greg Monica, Tom Juhl, Terry Knoblock, Don Slover, Charlie Donk.
The DIRTcar Advance Auto Parts Modified Series 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 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.