LACKI and TATLOW GRAB SPECIAL WINS.  DUNHAM WINS FOR HIS SON AT MCR

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(E. Smethport PA) July 7, 2007

John Lacki grabbed his second Maynard's Electric FASTRAK Late Model win of the year and it would move him to the top of the point chart with the double point Mid Season Championship win.  Justin Tatlow of Franklinville was runner up in 2006 Jerge's Street Stock points, but has had tremendous bad luck in 2007 finally cracked victory lane in winning the Lee Anderson Memorial, while Dan Dunham picked up a very emotional win in the Wimpy's Place Super Stocks.  Dunham dedicated the win to his late son, Jason Dunham who was killed in action in Iraq.  Rich Michael picked up his third win in the Emods while Norm Varner finally broke into victory lane in the NE Micro Mini Stock division on Jerge's Auto Parts and Wayne Companies night.

Jeremy Ensell and Bob Connor brought the Emods on to the oval for their 20 lap main event.  Ensell would pop into the lead over Connor and Vic Vena on the opening lap.  Tim Peterson would make a quick charge to second on the very next lap from his fifth place starting spot.  Point leader, Rich Michael worked his way to third by lap five and was tracking down Peterson as Ensell was trying to get away.  As the field reached the halfway point, Michael got around Peterson and was nipping at the back door of Ensell and would cross the stripe on lap eleven to be the new leader as the yellow was flying.  Michael would scoot away from Ensell as Peterson would move into second on lap 13.  Travis Asel would move Ensell back to fourth with five to go as Michael was opening up a comfortable lead over Peterson.  At the finish it was Michael, Peterson, Asel, Ensell and Bob Connor having a fine run in fifth.  Ensell and Randy Hall won the heats.

The annual Lee Anderson Memorial for the Jerge's Street Stocks were up next and Brad Bigley and Ken Shelley were your front row starters.  Bigley would get the jump on Shelley as Justin Tatlow swiftly settled into second and would move around Bigley on lap two for the lead over Smethport drivers Bigley, Shelley and Rich Hemphill.  Adam Ashcroft broke up the Smethport gang on lap three as he went from fifth to third.  Ashcroft would move to second on lap five bringing point leader, Chris Austin with him as Bigley and Shelley rounded out the top five.  Austin in his yellow Camaro would dispose of Ashcroft and sit second behind Tatlow who was trying to check out from the field.  As the halfway point was reached, Tatlow was still looking good over Austin and the battle for third was intense between the Smethport gang of Shelley, Bigley and Hemphill.  Hemphill would move into third with five to go as he fended off the challenges of Bigley and Shelley.  Tatlow was home free winning over Austin, Hemphill held off the challenges of Bigley and Shelley for third.  The street stocks has had seven different winners so far this season with nobody repeating in victory lane.  Heat winners were: Tatlow, Brett Smith and Chris Austin.

The MAYNARD�s Electric FASTRAK Late Models were the main attraction for the night as they were gunning for $1100 and double points for their Mid-Season Championship on Jerge's Auto Parts and Wayne Companies night.  John Lacki came into the night sitting second in points with one feature win, but he had a clear track ahead of him this evening due to his pole starting spot in the feature.  Lacki and his Freedom Raceway nemesis, Greg Oakes paced the sixteen car field to Tony VanPelt�s green and it was Lacki leaping into the initial lead over Oakes as Jon Law and Jim Frank battled for third.  As lap five clicked off, Lacki had a decent lead over Oakes, who was no fending off the challenges of Mike Wonderling as Law and Kyle Drum was now sitting fifth over John Haggerty.  Drum would get by Law on lap seven to claim fourth but would lose the handle of his GRT machine to bring out the first yellow and bringing Oakes and Wonderling on the back bumper of Lacki for the restart. Lacki refired and Wonderling got around Oakes on lap nine to take over second as Haggerty and Jim Frank were now rounding out the top five.  Lacki was pulling away again as the torrid battle between Oakes�s red #22 and Wonderling�s #z1 machine for second had the crowd on their feet with Oakes reclaiming second on lap twelve.  With seven to go, Wonderling went back to second as Haggerty and Frank were still sitting fourth and fifth.  The yellow came out on lap twenty for the cars of Sam Fuller and Joe Watson allowing Wonderling and Oakes another chance at Lacki.  Well, they would get another shot as Dave Padula and Chris Knuth would get together in turn two ending the night for Padula with four laps remaining.  Lacki got a good jump on the restart as Wonderling tried the high side but it was John Lacki picking up his second win of the year and with the double points putting him on top of the Maynard�s Electric FASTRAK Late Model point sheet.  Wonderling had his best performance of the year in the FASTRAK division, while Oakes
was third, Haggerty and Jim Frank rounded out the top five. Heat winners were: Oakes and Jim Frank, while Lacki and Oakes won the two four lap dashes to determine the first eight starting positions.

The Wimpy's Place Super Stocks rolled on to the facility with ageless, Ron Baker and George Ritter leading the field to the green. Baker would use his years of knowledge to get the initial lead over Ritter as Dan Dunham slipped around Ritter on lap two and hound after Baker for the lead.  Dunham would get under Baker on lap five and officially lead lap six as multiple winners, Rich Michael and Jeff Chesebro were now up to fourth and fifth behind Ritter.  As lap nine clicked off, Dunham was pulling away from the field and Chesebro was now ahead of Michael, but two laps later Michael nipped Chesebro at the line as the duo put on a great battle for fourth just two car lengths behind Ritter who was having a stellar run in third.  Baker would slip coming out of turn two on lap twelve leaving the door open for Ritter to get by for second and Michael would put Baker back to fourth on lap thirteen, while Dunham was enjoying a 3/4 straight away lead.  Michael
would use the outside to roll by Ritter for second on lap sixteen as Chesebro was looking for away by as well and would find his chance on lap eighteen.  Jon Lichy had made his way quietly to fifth and was chasing down Ritter as the top two cars of Michael and Chesebro were hunting down Dunham but he had built such a great lead he eased his way into capturing his first win at MCR in over seven years.  The emotional win and a emotional victory lane as Dan dedicated the win to his son, USMC Cpl Jason Dunham, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq.  The way the #14D machine of Dunham was running he will no doubt be a favorite to win on Thursday night as the super stocks run in the Cpl Dunham Memorial.  Michael, edged Chesebro out for second, while George Ritter had his best finish of the season and Jon Lichy rounded out the top five.  Heat Winners were: Chesebro and Steve Dixon.

The final event of the evening were the NE Micro Mini Stocks.  Unlike the super stock feature where 70 yr old Ron Baker was on the pole, the mini stocks had teenager, Damien Bidwell leading the seventeen four cylinders to green on his first MCR visit.  The youngster and veteran, Norm Varner went wheel to wheel, but it was Bidwell in his ½pt silver Neon leading lap one. Varner would get under Bidwell in turn three on lap three and would lead lap four officially as Chris Parr was up to third from his seventh place starting spot.  As lap eight clicked off Varner was opening up the lead over Bidwell and Steve Mowery was now charging back thru the field and he would move into second on lap nine and take chase after Varner.  With five to go, Varner has a good ten car lead over Mowery as Bidwell was still looking like a twenty-year veteran as he was in third over Daniel Cunningham and Parr. Mowery was closing in on Varner each lap but fell probably three laps short
and had to settle for second as Norm Varner picked up his first win of the 2007 season and became the fifth different winner in the class.

Fans are reminded that MCR will be back in action, this Thursday Night for another THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER program featuring the T3 358 dirt modified All-Star Series from central New York.  A complete program for the Wimpy�s Place Super Stocks, Emods, Jerge's Street Stocks and NE Micro Mini Stocks will also be on the program.  The Super Stocks will be running the makeup USMC Cpl Jason Dunham Memorial as it will be the final tune up before the CanAm Series arrives the following Saturday.  The entire evening is being presented by:  presented by Wellsville NAPA and Green's Trucking and Fassett Lane Building and Home Center, Edmond Chevrolet/Ed Shults Toyota*Scion.  Free Admission to Military personnel showing valid ID.

MAYNARD's FASTRAK LM
John Lacki, Mike Wonderling, Greg Oakes, John Haggerty, Jim Frank, Kyle Drum, Derrick Frank, Dave Norton, Bob Kish, Tim Schram, Chris Knuth, Joe Watson, Bob Vogt, Dave Padula, Sam Fuller and Jon Law

WIMPY's PLACE Super Stocks
Dan Dunham, Rich Michael, Jeff Chesebro, George Ritter, Jon Lichy, Dan Cobb, Dave Miller, Steve Dixon, Dean Layfield, Jr. Peters, Bruce Miller, Paul Grigsby, Ron Baker, Dennis Peters, Rich Thornton.

JERGE'S Street Stocks (Lee Anderson Memotial)
Justin Tatlow, Chris Austin, Rich Hemphill, Brad Bigley, Ken Shelley, Jeff Hellwig, Damon Lewis, Andy Michael, Dennis Asel, John Feely, Leon Gardner, Joe Layfield, John Miller, Tim Bruce, Derrick Frances, Garrett Stevens, Jason Schoonmaker, Brett Smith, Kelly Green, Darren Morgan, Jeremy Bucktooth, Lance Palmer, Steve Skler, Adam Ashcroft, Richard Kemp and Brad Swanson (DNS)

EMOD's
Rich Michael, Tim Peterson, Travis Asel, Jeremy Ensell, Bob Connor, Ryan Bright, John Woodward, Damon Lewis, Vic Vena, Craig Bedell, Bob Mohney, Dana Wellington, Kyle Scott, Bob Stilson, Kyle Bedell, Darren Tarabori (DNS), Randy Hall (DNS)

NE Micro Mini Stocks
Norm Varner, Steve Mowery, Damien Bidwell, Daniel Cunningham, Chris Parr, Brad Ullman, Dave Burdick, Nick Snayzyk, Jeff Buhl, Amanda Close, Matt Ball, Ben Rothermel, Richard Kline, Dave Lowe, Jr., Dave Lowe Sr., Justin Yohe, Tyler Carlin.