ANDREWS CAPTURES FASTRAK JIM DUFFY MEMORIAL
by Chris Zuver
(E. Smethport PA)

The 2007 racing season was kicked off at McKean County Raceway with the debut of the new car of today.  The FASTRAK dirt late models made their maiden voyage on the 1/3 mile oval with a familiar face in victory lane.   Todd Andrews of Eldred, PA, who has many wins over the years, won the first FASTRAK event held at MCR.  In the Jerge's Auto Parts Street Stocks Bill Layfield Memorial Twin 21s, saw Chris Austin and Jeff Hellwig pick up the wins on the Allen's Wine and Liquor, Vic Vena Pharmacy night.

The Maynard's Electric FASTRAK late models highlighted the evening with the 20 lap Jim Duffy Memorial.  Veteran late model driver and MCR fan favorite, John Haggerty would pace the first ever FASTRAK late model feature to Tony VanPelt's green flag and shot into lead over second generation driver, Dave Norton Jr and John Lacki.  As the second lap was being completed the cars of Steve Houben, Bob Kish, Scott Lyon and Chad Myers got together in the entrance of turn 3. Kish, Lyon and Myers were finished for the evening. Haggerty would beat Norton back to turn one on the restart as late model rookie andformer sprint car driver, Kyle Drum would slip into second ahead of Norton.  Tenth place starter, Dick Barton had now charged from tenth to fifth and on the next lap would jump to third behind Haggerty and Drum.  The second yellow of the event came out for the cars of Derrick Frank and Steve Houben who simultaneously collected the front stretch wall. Haggerty led Drum into turn one on the restart but it was the young former sprint car driver using the outside groove to move past the veteran Haggerty and to lead his first ever laps in a full-bodied race car.  The "King" shot under Haggerty in turn four to take over second on lap six as Freedom Raceway's opening night winner and defending MCR E-mod champion, Greg Oakes was now in fifth.  Lap eight would see the black #42 of Andrews charge into fifth and on the very next lap Barton would put the orange "crocket" into the  lead. At the halfway point it was Barton, Drum, Haggerty, Lacki and Andrews rounding out the top five.  Lap eleven would see the very fast machine of Andrews charge from fifth to third and by lap thirteen he had chased down Drum for second and two laps later Barton was a sitting duck for Andrews.  The race now was for third between Drum and Haggerty but as the checkers flew it was Andrews collecting the $1500 Maynard's Electric FASTRAK "Jim Duffy Memorial" over Barton, Drum, Haggerty, Lacki, Oakes, John Watson, Carl McKinney, Norton and Dave Padula rounded out the top ten.  Heat Winners were Andrews and Oakes.

The Jerge's Scrap Metal Street Stocks rolled on to the facility for the first Bill Layfield Twin 21 Memorial and Jason Dobson and Joe White were the front pair of the twenty-six car field.  As the first lap was being completed a melee broke out at the end of the backstretch, which resulted in the cars of John Miller, Tim Bruce, Derrick Frances and Butch Williams all being involved and retiring for the event.  White beat Dobson to the line and again on the restart as by the second lap, defending Layfield Memorial winner and MCR champion, Andy Michael quickly was up to second place with Brett Smith in third, Dobson and slipped to fourth. The front three were putting a on a great event as a little bumping was going on, but it was all good clean racing.  As the field hit the halfway point it was White still on the point playing defense over Michael and Smith, while Rich Hemphill and Chris Austin had came from twenty-fifth to fifth.  A lap seventeen yellow came out for Michael as he and White and Smith came up on a lap car and Michael and Smith getting together and Smith doing a complete 360 and keeping the car moving, but losing spots as the yellow came out.  Michael would go to the tail for the yellow.  Rich Hemphill was second but pitted under the yellow, resulting in Chris Austin to moved to the second position from the next to last starting spot.  White would again pace the field to the green and would battle with Austin, Smith was third, Adam Sixt and Justin Tatlow was now fifth.  Sixt would move into third on the white flag lap as Austin had his yellow #22A Camaro all over White and as the two came out of turn four he found a little more right foot to squeeze by White at the line.  Sixt was third; Smith was fourthwith Tatlow finishing fifth.  Joe Layfield finished sixth as he started shotgun on the field.

The second Twin 21 for the Bill Layfield Memorial saw the field completely inverted from the finish of the first event.  Butch Williams and Derrick Frances were the front row starters for the second Twin 21.  As the field rolled into turn one, Williams looped his machine in front of the field, resulting in complete restart.  As lap one was officially in the books it was John Williams on top of the scoreboard over Matt Palmer and Rich Hemphill.  As lap five clicked off Jeff Hellwig had worked his way into the third position.  Lap six would see Hellwig take over the point from Williams and on lap seven, Chris Austin had already came from dead last to fifth using the outside lane.  As lap ten clicked off it was still Hellwig, Williams and a very fast Chris Austin now in third. The very next lap saw Austin move into second and take chase after Hellwig, Palmer was stiller third with Williams now in fourth and Brett Smith sitting fifth.  The tight battle for third changed on the next lap Brett Smith seemed to get tagged by a lap car and spun and was collected by Williams.  Smith would continue but Williams was doe for the night.  Hellwig would re-fire and had the fast Camaro of Austin on his rear bumper.  With five to go, Hellwig was still holding his own against Austin who was trying to use the outside lane, Hemphill, Palmer and Frances rounded out the top five. Hemphill would get by Austin with two to go as Hellwig started to pull away.  As the white flag came out it was Austin back into second as Hellwig would speed his way into victory lane over Austin, Hemphill, Palmer and Darren Morgan rounded out the top five.  Heat winners were:  Adam Sixt, Justin Tatlow and Hellwig.

The Wimpy's Place Super Stocks kicked off their 2007 season with a good quality field of cars.  Dan Dunham and Dave Miller brought the field to the initial green and it was Dunham leading the pack out of turn two with Brady Wonderling stuck right on his rear bumper.  On lap four, Brady Wonderling put his #11 machine into the lead as his brother Jeremy had moved into third on lap five.  The battle was for second behind Brady as on lap eight, Rich Michael moved into second as John Lichy kicked Dunham back to fourth ahead of Jeff Cheesboro.  At the halfway point it was still Brady Wonderling as his brother Jeremy now worked his way back into fifth as the second thru sixth place cars were tightly battling each other.  As the field was getting the five to go from starter, Tony VanPelt, race leader, Brady Wonderling came to a stop in turn four handing the lead over to Michael.  The top five on the restart were Michael, Lichy, Cheesboro, Jeremy Wonderling and Steve Dixon.  Those five would finish the final five laps in the same running order.  The Wimpy�s Place Super Stock division should be a highly competitive division this summer.  Heat winners were:  Cheesboro and Brady Wonderling.

The Advantage Rental E-mods were the next event on the program.  Damon Lewis and Tim Peterson paced the field to the start of the 20-lap event.  Peterson would lead the first five laps of the event, but all eyes were on former champion, Randy Hall who was charging from his twelfth place starting spot to third by the third lap and disposed of Travis Asel for second on lap five.  The very next lap, Hall got by Peterson for the front position.  At the halfway point it was Hall, Peterson, Asel, Rich Michael and Lewis rounding out the top five.  The second yellow came out on lap eleven for Dave Lyon.  Hall would again pull away on the restart till the yellow came out again on lap thirteen for a pair of cars in turn two.  On the restart, the second place car of Tim Peterson misfired and a hard collision resulted afterwards including the cars of Billy Peterson, Rich Michael and Bob Mohney.  The Peterson #005 machine would leave on a flat bed and the 2x of Mohney sustained severe front-end damage.  Third place running Travis Asel went to the pits and the new second place car of John Woodward Jr. went to pits also under the yellow.  The field was reshuffled behind Hall and the restart saw Lewis, Bob Conner, Kyle Scott and Vic Vena now following Hall on the restart.  Vena moved past Scott on the restart and then moved into third with five to go.  Dave Lyon quickly moved up to fourth and Travis Asel was now back to fifth after returning from the pits.  Vena was working the outside lane as Lewis was running a great race in second, but with two to go Vena made the outside work and moved past Damon Lewis but there was no catching Randy Hall. Hall would win by eight car lengths over Vena, Lewis, Lyon and Asel would round out the top five.  Heat winners were:  Hall and Tim Peterson.

The Mini Stocks saw David Lowe and Steve Mowery on the point.  Mowery would jump into the lead but as the field rounded turn two, the #26Y of Justin Yohe rolled over his Omni to bring out the red flag.  Mowery jumped back to the point on the restart and was followed by last year's opening night winner, Norm Varner.  Jeff Buhl moved into second on Lap three as Varner started to lose power.  Dave Burdick was now third with Daniel Cunningham and Lowe in fifth.  Varner would come to a stop on lap six ending his night.  Mowery would again pull away from his competitors in his 4cylinder Neon as Dave Burdick now was in second over Buhl.  Mowery would win easily over Burdick, Buhl, Cunningham and Dave Lowe Jr.  Heat winners were:  Chris Parr and Mowery.

Barry Mushaweck won the Pure Stock feature.

MCR will return to action next Saturday night, as the ASCS Patriot Sprint Cars will make their only appearance of the year to the 1/3 mile oval.  Chris Shuttleworth of Wellsville, NY was on hand last night to hot lap his sprint car, as he will be looking to defend his 2006 win.  A complete six-card program will also share the billing with the sprint cars along with kids bicycle races as part of Kids Night.  All this being brought to you by Wimpy's Place, Wimpy's Keystone and Good Tire.  For more information check the website out at www.mckeancountyraceway.com.


RESULTS:

Maynard's Electric FASTRAK Late Models:

TODD ANDREWS, Dick Barton, Kyle Drum, John Haggerty, John Lacki, Greg Oakes, John Watson, Carl McKinney, Dave Norton Jr., Dave Padula, Jim Frank, Derrick Frank, Steve Houben, Jon Law, Scott Lyon, Bob Kish, Chad Myers and Tom Kemp (DNS)
 

Jerge's Scrap Metal Street Stocks: (Bill Layfield Memorial Twin 21 #1)

CHRIS AUSTIN, Joe White, Adam Sixt, Brett Smith, Justin Tatlow, Joe Layfield, Darren Morgan, Brad Bigley, TJ Shaw, Andy Michael, Bruno Mowery, Jason Dobson, Leon Gardner Jr., Tony Knoll, Matt Palmer, Jeff Hellwig, Rich Hemphill, John Williams, Richard Kemp, Chris Conkey, Dennis Asel, Tim Bruce, John Miller, Derrick Frances, Butch Williams and Adam Ashcroft (DNS)

Jerge's Scrap Metal Street Stocks: (Bill Layfield Memorial Twin 21 #2)

JEFF HELLWIG, Chris Austin, Rich Hemphill, Matt Palmer, Darren Morgan, Derrick Frances, Brad Bigley, Adam Sixt, Justin Tatlow, Brett Smith, Joe White, Bruno Mowery, Joe Layfield, Leon Gardner Jr., TJ Shaw, Tommy Knoll, Butch Williams, Richard Kemp, John Williams, Any Michael, Jason Dobson,  (DNS) Dennis Asel, Tim Bruce, Jon Miller, Chris Conkey, Adam Ashcroft.

Wimpy's Place Super Stocks:

RICH MICHAEL, Jon Lichy, Jeff Chesebro, Jeremy Wonderling, Steve Dixon, Dan Dunham, Dave Miller, Jr. Peters, Dean Layfield, Dan Cobb, Ron Baker, Brady Wonderling and George Ritter

E-MODS:

RANDY HALL, Vic Vena, Damon Lewis, Dave Lyon, Travis Asel, Kyle Scott, Craig Bedell, Bob Connor, Kyle Bedell, Tim Peterson, John Woodward, Rich Michael, Bob Mohney, Billy Peterson, Kevin Kohl, Ron Boardman, Darren Tarabori (DNS), Charlie Winchell (DNS)

Mini Stocks:

STEVE MOWERY, Dave Burdick, Jeff Buhl, Daniel Cunningham, David Lowe Jr., Chris Paar, Donnie Clemmons, David Lowe, Norm Varner, Tyler Carlin, Justin Yohe, Levi Watson

Pure Stocks:
Barry Mushaweck, Pat Yohe, Duane Daniels, Josh Keith