CLEARFIELD – The near capacity crowd at Central Pennsylvania Speedway not only saw fireworks off in the distance above turn one Tuesday night, but there were just as many on the speedway during the 32nd running of the Yankee Doodle 50.
Scott Bloomquist of Moorsburg, Tenn., became the 32nd driver to put his name on the already impressive list of past winners of the annual holiday classic.
Ron Smoker of Hamburg, N.Y., picked up the BRP Modified feature win while Chad Bender of Bigler won the street stock portion of the program.
In the late model main it was Nick Dickson who took the lead at the start of the race for the first lap. As the field was working into the third turn on the second lap, Scott Bloomquist went to the bottom of the track and took the lead from Dickson through the two turns. Once he had the lead, he was holding his own race.
As the field was on the seventh lap, Rick Strong, while running in the top 10, got crossed up on the backstretch and was turned into the outside wall head on. As Strong’s #s1 ricocheted off the wall, Scott Haus was using the outside groove and made hard contact with Strong. Haus #1H flipped down the backstretch and came to rest on its roof. Both Strong and Haus were able to climb the badly damaged race cars without injuries.
On the restart it was still Bloomquist setting the pace with Jared Miley moving to second and Dickson falling to third. Miley was trying to reel in the out-of-state hot shoe, but another caution flew on lap eight. The race restarted again with Bloomquist still in the lead and Miley second. The duo were working their way through lapped traffic by the 15th lapped, with Bloomquist unable to get through some of the traffic that was battling for position and that allowed Miley to draw closer to the leader, and at one point draw along side, but the race continued with the sixth and final caution on lap 41 for a stalling Bobby Stokes.
With just nine laps to go the field was realigned with seven lapped cars between Bloomquist and Miley. When Mike Frisco waved the green flag, Bloomquist again pulled away with clear track ahead of him, but Miley had to contend with the lapped cars and never got a chance to contend with Bloomquist who went on to take home the $5,000 payday.
Miley was second, the only other car on the lead lap. Third went to Devin Friese, Greg Satterlee and Dickson completing the top five. Jim Yoder, Tim Fedder, Tim Smith, Chris Farrell and Todd Baumgardner rounded out the top ten.
Tim Fedder, Jared Miley, Scott Bloomquist and Greg Satterlee won the heats, Scott Haus won the B-main and Friese set the fastest time of 17.664 seconds.
The BRP Modified feature saw Dave Murdick and Del Rougeux Jr. on the front row with Rougeux taking the lead and setting the pace for the first six laps, with Murdick in second and eventually Ron Smoker in third. As the field worked off the fourth turn on lap six, the top three were fighting for the top spot, with Smoker taking to the outside and passing both Murdick and leader Rougeux for the lead on lap seven.
A multi-car pile-up on lap eight halted the race action after no less than five cars were stacked up. Kevin Hoffman came out on the short end of the stick as he was taken back to the pits on the flat-bed. No one was hurt.
On the lap nine restart, Rougeux wasn’t about to be denied the top spot he lost a few laps earlier as he and Smoker battled for the lead side-by-side several times, with Rougeux taking the lead on lap 10, but Smoker fought back and regained the lead one lap later on lap 11. Smoker was able to keep Rougeux at bay the rest of the race as Smoker crossed under the double checkered flags first. Brian Swartzlander worked his way past Rougeux at the end to finish second, Rougeux was third, Russell King was fourth and Brad Rapp was fifth. Heat wins went to Del Rougeux, Chris Schiffler and Jeremiah Shingledecker.
Denny Curry and Chad Bender led the street stock feature to the green at the start with Curry taking the lead and setting the pace. As he led, Curry had to contend with Bender who was a close second by not too close.
While working the eighth lap, and after two previous restarts, Curry went in to the first turn and looped the #75C. He had to tail the field, giving the lead over to Bender who had a host of driving trying to take the lead away from him, including ninth place starter Dan Smeal and 15th place starter Fuzzy Fields.
The top three were tight as the laps wound down, but when the checkered flags waved it was Bender taking the win ahead of Smeal, Fields, Brandon Connor and Denny Crawford. Heat wins were split between Denny Curry, Chad Bender and Denny Crawford.
BEAR BITES: 92 cars in three divisions filled the pits, including 39 late models, 27 BRP Modifieds and 26 street stocks…The 50/50 was more than $1,100….Kayla Demchak performed the National Anthem live and did an outstanding job…Four state were represented in the night of racing action, including: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Tennessee…the next show at Central PA Speedway will be on Sept. 15 with the Steel Block/Crate Late Models and Street stocks on the schedule. The street stock winner will receive $3,000…More details will be coming soon at www.centralpaspeedway.com.
SUMMARY
Late Model Yankee Doodle 50: 1. Scott Bloomqusit, Mooresburg, TN; 2. Jared Miley, South Park; 3. Devin Friese, Chambersburg; 4. Greg Satterlee, Rochester Mills; 5. Nick Dickson, Lewistown; 6. Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove; 7. Tim Fedder, Millerstown; 8. Tim Smith Jr., Long Hollow; 9. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 10. Todd Baumgardner, West Decatur; 11. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 12. Ed Connor, DuBois; 13. Jeremy Ohl, Jersey Shore; 14. Greg Fetters, Everett; 15. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 16. Jerry Redden, Mahaffey; 17. Dan Swartzlander, Sarver; 18. Dwayne Taneyhill, Bellwood; 19. Matt Gaston, Punxsutawney; 20. Rick Strong, Home; 21. Scott Haus, Hamburg; 22. Chuck Kennedy, DuBois; 23. Mike Blose, Home; 24. Johnny Kuzemchak, Fallentimber.
Did Not Qualify: Bill Davis, DuBos; Harry Miller, Jersey Shore; Denny Fenton, Clearfield; John Oaks, Punxsutawney; Dwayne Brooks, Falls Creek; Rance Garlock, Three Springs; Benny Gordon, DuBois; Bob McMillen, St. Mary’s; Billy Dickson, West Decatur; Levi Ardery, West Decatur; Chad Maney, Frenchville; Jim Stine, Middlesburg; Butch Braim, Jersey Shore; Cody Schultz, Hyde.
BRP Modifieds: 1. Rom Smoker, Hamburg, NY; 2. Brian Swartzlander, Leechburg; 3. Del Rougeux, Frenchville; 4. Russell King, Bristolville, OH; 5. Brad Rapp, Clarion; 6. Dave Murdick, Slippery Rock; 7. Jeremiah Shingledecker, Polk; 8. Rex King, Bristolville, OH; 9 Chris Schiffler, Franklin; 10. Matt Baker, Lucinda; 11. Rick Hall, Grove City; 12. Mike Turner, Butler; 13. Lenny Leibold, Jr., Franklin; 14. Gary Rankin, Renfrew; 15. Caarl Murdick, Butler; 16. Steven Feder, Butler; 17. Todd Bainey, Morrisdale; 18. Dave Reges, Butler; 19. Dan Taylor, Warren, OH; 20. J.R. McGinley, Fairmont City; 21. Rex king Jr., Bristolville, OH; 22. Doug Fleeger, Butler; 23. Mike Butterworth, Philipsburg; 24. Kevin Hoffman, Franklin; 25.Lenny Lebolt, Franklin; 26. Skip Moore, Jackson Center; Jeremy Paup, Reno.
Street Stocks: 1. Chad Bender, Bigler; 2. Dan Smeal, Ramey; 3. Fuzzy Fields, Brockport; 4. Brandon Connor, Sabula; 5. Denny Crawford, Cooperstown; 6. Dom Surra, St. Mary’s; 7. Cory Brein; 8. Eric Baun, Rochester Mills; 9. Rusty Martz, Brookville; 10 Nathan Russell, Curwensville; 11. Denny Curry, Clearfield; 12. Jeff Mease, Clearfield; 13. Dan Gill, Clearfield; 14. Jay Blume, Shippenville; 15. Neil Wilson; 16. Ray Billotte, Woodland; 17. Matt Keith, Franklin; 18. Pat Carfley, Curwensville; 19. Dustin Mycheck, St. Mary’s; 20. Derek Elkin, Punxsutawney; 21. Jason Peters, Clearfield; 22. Tyler Hite, Duncansville; 23. Craig Bainey, Morrisdale; 24. Johnny Lindenpitz, Knoxdale.
Did not start: Jamie Barber and Rick Hemphill.