Mark Flach Jr Scores 1st Career Win, Harper Wins Opener in Sportsman, Corbin Steals Pro Stocks
Saturday April 25, 2009
By: Rodney Rescott
West Lebanon, NY: For the second Saturday in a row, the weather was absolutely perfect for a hot night of racing at the legendry Lebanon Valley Speedway. The high speed high banks once again did not disappoint the legions of race fans that packed the stands for a wild night of racing.
Contractor Sales, Next Door Beer & Wine along with the great folks from Wentworth Construction poured on the action hot and heavy with the 30 lap Modified Feature event. Funplex Funpark and Gillespie Automotive Big Money Challenge Wheel landed on position #2 adding pressure to Donnie Ackner to get the win for the bonus $1,000 bonus.
But at the drop of the green flag, the #17 of Rob Pitcher took control from his pole position starting spot. But before the lap was ever completed, contact was made with the #518 of Kyle Sheldon, the #34H of Steve Hough, the #77J of J.C. Flach, and the #87X of Paul Gilardi in turn 2 causing a caution flag to fly.
All would continue as the green flew again. And as before, Pitcher drove out in sole possession of 1st. Ackner’s #64 was in the #17’s tire tracks for much of the early part of the race. But the show was back further in the pack as last weeks winner Kenny Tremont Jr was dicing through traffic to try and vie for a shot at the point. But he wasn’t alone, as 3 time Lebanon Valley Champion Brett the Jet Hearn was in attendance, and was charging to the front as well.
Andy Bachetti was making his own bid to get to the front as well, along with Hough, the #42 of Guy Sheldon, and the #60 of Brian Berger.
But back at the front, Pitcher was in control, but Acker began to fade as handling began to go away. By lap 10, Tremont and Hearn both cracked the top 5, but up front, the battle began as the 2008 Co-Champ Mark Flach Jr. charged from 3rd to battle for the top spot.
Lap 13 was the money lap for Flach, as he finally got by Pitcher for the top spot. Once Flach was out front, it was pretty much a done deal. Even a late race charge from Tremont into second, wasn’t enough to keep the defending co-champ from his 1st career big block modified win.
At the checkered flag, Flach was followed by Tremont, Berger powered to a 3rd place finish followed by Hearn, and Bachetti to round out the top 5 finishers.
Saturday was also the opening night for the Sportsman division. They took to the Valley of Speed for their 20 lap feature event. Chad Pierce and Kim Lavoy brought the field to the green, but the caution flew a few short moments later as the #24 of Kevin Petrucci spun in turn 4, collecting several cars including the #1P of DT Pickard. All would continue except for Pickard with heavy front end damage.
The restart had Lavoy out front and in control until the car began to slow with mechanical issues. By lap 7, Frank Harper charged from 2nd to 1st in short order. Once Harper’s #25 was out front, it was smooth sailing.
At the stripe, Harper scores his second opening night win in a row, followed by Pierce’s #83. Kyle Hoffman diced his way through the field to finish 3rd, Neil Stratton got to 4th, while Kyle Armstrong crossed the line for 5th.
The 20 lap Pro Stock feature also featured some hot and heavy racing action that kept the full house on their feet all race long. Jon Routhier and Paul LaRochelle were on the front row as the green flew. Routhier took control early, but not by much as LaRochelle and Jy Corbin’s #8 were hot on his heels.
One slip by the #315 and LaRochelle and Corbin were gonna be there to take over. By the #78 suffered electrical issues and faded till he went pitside by lap 6. At the same time during the caution, the #6 of John Santolin caught fire and came to rest on the backstretch to the attention of the emergency crews. While that was going on, the #35 of Rick Dempsey made contact with the #17 of Nick Hilt causing Dempsey to go pitside for repairs.
On the restart, Routhier was still in control, but this time it was Corbin and Kevin Arnold’s #76 that were the 3 amigos out front.
The battle raged for the next dozen laps as the top 3 swapped position with every click of the Kokosa Oil lap counter. By lap 16 Arnold darted into 2nd, but on lap 17, after a brief caution, Jay Corbin powered from 3rd to first in about 100 feet as Routhier and Arnold made minor contact in turns 3 and 4.
Corbin sought vindication from last weeks sure win but suffered mechanical issues in the closing laps, to this weeks checkered flag to capture his first of 2009. Arnold scored the 2nd place finish, Routhier settled for 3rd, while Victor Hopkins charged to a 4th place finish with Tom Harkins completing the top 5 finishers.
The Limited Pro Stocks saw the #25 of Chad Jeseo take the checkered flag, but was later DQ’d after technical inspection, giving the win to Frank Twing’s #317.
The Pure Stocks also put on an action packed show with another 45 car field split into 3 events. This weeks winners were: Mark Webb in PS#1, Ray Hall Sr is PS#2, and Bob Palmer wins PS#3.
Next Saturday is Ladies Night! That’s right, Boomers Performance and Funplex Funpark present Ladies Night, as all escorted ladies get in fro FREE! All classes will be in action, plus a special Boomer’s Performance 20 lap Pure Stock Clash. The Budget Sportsman will also be on tap, and it marks the beginning of School Appreciation Month!
For more information, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, and click on “Speedway”. Get the complete schedule of events, and ticket information.
Saturday April 25, 2009 - Contractor Sales, Next Door Beer & Wine, Route 7 Pownal Vt Modified Results (30 Laps) - 1) Mark Flach Jr, 2) Kenny Tremont Jr, 3) Brian Berger, 4) Brett Hearn, 5) Andy Bachetti, 6) Rob Pitcher, 7) Donnie Ackner, 8) Steve Hough, 9) Eddie Marshall, 10) Donnie Corellis, 11) Guy Sheldon, 12) Keith Flach, 13) Mike King, 14) Kory Sandstedt, 15) Matt Quinn, 16) Paul Gilardi, 17) Ryan Larkin, 18) Kyle Sheldon, 19) J. C. Flach, 20) Lorne Browe, 21) Matt Pupello, 22) Rich Salisbury, 23) Hector Stratton, 24) John Ruchel, 25) Ben Fox, 26) Pierre LaGrange
Sportsman Results (20 Laps) - 1) Frank Harper, 2) Chad Pierce, 3) Kyle Hoffman, 4) Neil Stratton, 5) Kyle Armstrong, 6) Bobby Knipe, 7) Danny Sanchez, 8) Kolby Schroder, 9) Kale Groff, 10) Brian Sandstedt, 11) Jeff Kelly, 12) Kevin Petrucci, 13) Clint Roehrs, 14) Alan Houghtaling, 15) Brandon Piastka, 16) Jason Herrington, 17) Kim Lavoy, 18) Anthony Daley, 19) Duane Quenneville, 20) D.T. Pickard, 21) Wayne Keyes, 22) Brett Haas, 23) Joe Carnibucci, 24) Seth Roberts, 25) Lisa Schoonmaker, 26) R. J. Daley
Pro Stock Results (20 Laps) - 1) Jay Corbin, 2) Kevin Arnold, 3) Jon Routhier, 4) Victor Hopkins, 5) Tom Harkins, 6) Nick Hilt, 7) Paul LaRochelle, 8) Jay Casey, 9) Steve Hankle, 10) Sean Corr, 11) Brian Keough, 12) Tim Sayers, 13) Johnny Rivers, 14) Jason Casey, 15) Joe Mennite, 16) Matt Shadic, 17) Don Carlson, 18) Paul Rogers, 19) Chris Crews, 20) John Santolin, 21) Robbie Speed, 22) Allen Tarantino, 23) Rick Dempsey
Limited Pro Stock Results (10 Laps) - 1) Frank Twing, 2) Jay Casey, 3) Ron Zagata, 4) Cord Becker, 5) Jay Kreutziger, 6) Chad Jeseo
Pure Stock #1 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Mark Webb, 2) Jesse Murphy, 3) James Hatch, 4) Jeff Douglass, 5) Kevin Winters, 6) Joe Walcott, 7) Jeff Wilbur, 8) Scott Adams, 9) Wuggie Burdick, 10) Justin O'Neall, 11) Rick James, 12) John Devine, 13) Ed Hubbard, 14) Lloyd Tomlin, 15) Joe Chenail, DNS) Anthony Maddalla
Pure Stock #2 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Ray Hall Sr, 2) Jay Martin, 3) Bob Camilli, 4) John Felarecki, 5) Lenny Fields, 6) Dave Fachini, 7) Dan Herring, 8) Leo Herring, 9) Gary Vandenburg, 10) Dave Stickles, 11) John Miller, 12) Chad Arsenault, 13) Dave Houser, 14) Carl Castagna, DNS) Tom Murphy
Pure Stock #3 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Bob Palmer, 2) Al Relyea, 3) Ed Hatch, 4) Pete Wiegand, 5) Ray Hall Jr, 6) Lynn Wesley, 7) Phill Wood, 8) Rob Partridge Jr, 9) Chris Streeter, 10) Doug Olds, 11) Harold Tarantino, 12) Howard Madsen, 13) Lou Ganczar, 14) Jeff Kreutiziger
For more information, the 2009 schedule, and links to the rules for all classes on tap for 2009, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, and click on “Speedway”, or call the Speedway Offices during regular business hours at (518) 794-9606 or (518) 794-9965.
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