CLEARFIELD, PA – It was Inside Track sponsorship night at Gamblers Raceway Park on Friday night, as other tracks fell victim to the rain, GRP was able to weather the storm and pull off a full program.
Bobby Stokes of Milton finally put it all together to claim his first late model feature of the season at Gamblers Raceway Park while George Sankey of Osceola Mills did likewise in the small block modifieds. Repeat winners included Mike Stine of Smithmill in the make-up small block modified feature, Dan Smeal of Ramey in the street stocks, Craig Bainey of Morrisdale in the pure stocks and Kevin Clark of Morrisdale doubled up in the Sids Subs Four Cylinder Wild Cards.
Bobby Stokes and TJ Fleck led the late models to the green with Stokes taking the lead. He set the pace for the first 13 laps, with Cody Schultz in second and challenging for the top spot. On the 14th lap the leaders encountered lapped traffic and Schultz was able to use it to his advantage, taking the lead on the front stretch.
Schultz was pulling away from Stokes when he lost the handle in turn two and looped the #7. This gave the lead back to Stokes, who now had Luke Hoffner in second and Jeremy Ohl moving to third. As the checkered flags fell it was Stokes getting his 10th career late model win at the speedway. Hoffner was second, Ohl was third, Jake Shady was fourth and George Fultz was fifth. Heat wins went to George Fultz and Jeremy Ohl.
Jared Orwick took the lead at the start of the modified feature with George Sankey in second. Orwick lost the lead on lap three when Sankey over hauled him for the lead and began to pull away. As the race continued a number of drivers began to reel in the leader, including Mark Frankhouser, Bob Garvey and Mike Stine.
The top four were “under a blanket” they were so close, with Sankey continuing to set the pace. While the fight for first was raging on, eighth and tenth place starters Derek Rodkey and new comer Brad Rapp were staging their own battle, as they were side-by-side most of the race. Back at the front of the field, at the waving of Allan Luziers double checkered flags it was Sankey taking the win for the first in several years and his 30th career at the track. Garvey won the fight for second with Stine, Frankhouser and Rodkey completing the top five. Heat wins went to Bob Garvey and Derek Rodkey. The street stocks conducted another barn burner, once all the spinning was out of the way. Several spins forced complete restarts but finally Scott Good led fellow front row starter Tom Williams into the first turn when the race finally got going. Good was setting the pace, with Emory Rinehart Jr. a very close second and Rick Hemphill third.
Good got caught up with a lapped car on lap four, causing him to lose the lead to Rinehart, a few laps later Good spun to bring out another caution. As he tailed the field, Rinehart had company with Dan Smeal in second and breathing down the leaders tailpipe, and on lap six Smeal made his move, taking the lead from Rinehart and looking for his fourth win of he season. As the checkered flags waved it was all Smeal ahead of Hemphill, Gary Little, Rinehart and Bob Rosman. Preliminary wins went to Gary Little and Dan Smeal.
The pure stock feature saw Craig Bainey take the lead at the start and never looked back as the event went non-stop the entire distance, as Bainey won fourth feature of the season handily over Tim Krape., Jeff Mease, Jason Peters and Denny Fortney. Jason Peters won the heat.
The wild cards saw Kevin Clark take the lead early on and he kept George Bailey in second the rest of the race for his second victory of the night. Bailey, Shawn Fedder, Ben Smith and Kirk Hess completed the top five. Heat wins went to Mike Williams and Kevin Clark.
The make up feature for the small block modifieds saw Jared Orwick taking the lead at the start but on lap four Mike Stine took the lead and off turn two and set sail. As he was leading the way, Derek Rodkey was coming to the front, as he reeled in Stine and was along side once before the checkered flag fell. Stine took the win by a car length over Rodkey. Orwick was third, George Sankey was fourth and Bob Garvey was fifth.
The make up wild card feature was led to the start by Mike Williams and Shawn Fedder with Williams taking the lead. The top four of Williams, Kevin Clark, Steve Ghezzi and Kirk Hess were under the proverbial blanket much of the race with Clark in second and trying to find a way around the leader. For 11 of the 12 laps, it was Williams out front, but going down the back stretch on the final lap, Clark tried the high side of Williams, and Williams went high to protect the position, but going into the third turn Clark dove under the leader and took the win. Williams was second ahead of Hess, Ghezzi and Fedder.
SIDE BETS:63 cars filled the pits, including 11 late models, 14 small block modifieds, 16 street stocks, 10 pure stocks and 12 four cylinder wild cards…A total of $319 was donated Friday as fans voted for their favorite driver in each division. It cost $1 per vote and the proceeds went to Saint Jude Childrens Research Hospital(http://www.stjude.org).
The winners of the voting were: Late Model – #95 Jim Parson, Jr.; Modified – 11A Bob Garvey; Street Stock – #2 Gary Little; Pure Stock – M1 Jeff Mease and Wild Card – #38A Shawn Fedder…coming up this Friday there is a regular show for the late models, small block modifieds, street stocks, pure stocks and wild cards. It is the Hugh Martell Memorial, race time is 7:30 p.m.…Plans are in the works for the Throw of the Dice Special, more details are coming soon.
For more information check the web site at www.gamblersracewaypark.com.
SUMMARY
Late Models: 1. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 2. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 3. Jeremy Ohl, Jersey Shore; 4. Jake Shady, Beech Creek; 5. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 6. Jim Parson Jr., Bellwood; 7. Cody Schultz, Hyde; 8. Jack Thompson, Lewistown; 9. Chris Knuth, Houtzdale; 9. TJ Fleck, Philipsburg.
Small Block Modifieds: 1. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 2. Bob Garvey, Grassflat; 3. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 4. Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg; 5. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 6. Brad Rapp, Shippensville; 7. Kevin Dickson, West Decatur; 8. Faye Lumadue, Spring Valley; 9. Jared Orwick, Morrisdale; 10. Bill Washek, Clearfield.
Small Block Modified, Make-up (July 14): 1. Mike Stine, Smithmill; 2. Derek Rodkey, Osceola Mills; 3. Jared Orwick, Morrisdale; 4. George Sankey, Osceola Mills; 5. Bob Garvey, Grassflat; 6. Todd Bainey, Philipsburg; 7. Justin Bowser, Punxsutawney; 8. Ron Butterworth, Philipsburg; 9. Mark Frankhouser, Philipsburg.
Street Stocks: 1. Dan Smeal, Houtzdale; 2. Rick Hemphill, Osceola Mills; 3. Gary Little, Clearfield; 4. Emory Rinehart Jr., Morrisdale; 5. Bob Rosman, Sykesville; 6. Tom Williams, Tyrone; 7. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 8. Scott Good, Altoona; 9. Jeff Peffer, Smithmill; 10. Duane Kirk, Hyde.
Pure Stocks: 1. Craig Bainey, Morrisdale; 2. Tim Krape, Bellefonte; 3. Jeff Mease, Clearfield; 4. Jason Peters, Clearfield; 5. Denny Fortney, Mill Hall; 6. Rick Fye, Lock Haven; 7. Sam McClellan, Clearfield; 8. Martin Hubler, Hawk Run; 9. Tony Hugill, Mahaffey;
Sids Subs Wild Cards: 1.Kevin Clark, Morrisdale; 2. George Bailey, Clearfield; 3. Shawn Fedder, Clearfield; 4. Ben Smith, Penfield; 5. Kirk Hess, Woodland; 6. Holly Farrell, Clearfield; 7. Scott Flory, Port Matilda; 8. Mike Williams, Wallaceton; 9. Terry Smith, Munson; 10. Matt Woomer, Tyrone.
Sids Subs Wild Cards Make Up (July 14): 1.Kevin Clark, Morrisdale; 2. Mike Williams, Wallaceton; 3. Kirk Hess, Woodland; 4. Steve Ghezzi, Penfield; 5. Shawn Fedder, Clearfield; 6. George Bailey, Clearfield; 7. Scott Flory, Port Matilda; 8. Todd Ostrofsky, Munson; 9. Matt Woomer, Tyrone.