CLEARFIELD, PA – The UFO Late Model Series made its first ever visit to Central PA Speedway and the speedway made its debut under new owner Tim Bainey, both of which were a huge success as John Flinner of Zelienople landed his #48 on the front stretch at the end of the 51 lap grind on DelGrosso Foods and DelGrosso’s Amusement Park night.
Dan Smeal of Ramey picked up the first leg of the street stock shoot out on Memorial Day weekend.
Through five heat races and three last chance consolation races and then by the luck of the draw, a 28-car field was established for the 51-lap UFO Late Model event that saw Chuck Kennedy and Sam Stile on the front row.
When Mike Frisco waved the green flag it was Stile taking the lead and Kennedy falling to second. The first caution fell on lap three. The race resumed and Stile continued to lead with Alex Ferree moving past Kennedy for second and John Britsky now in third. After a lap 6 restart, Britsky went to the outside and moved from third to the lead before completing the lap.
Stile then fell to second with Ferree now third and Gregg Satterlee in fourth. The pace was still being set by Britsky with 16th place starter Satterlee looking for the lead on the eighth lap, then on lap nine he made his move on Britsky and took control of the race on the 10th lap. A lap later Ferree was sitting in second and trying to reel in the leader, but Satterlee was opening up the largest lead of the night at that point, letting second up in the air and Ferree was trying to hold on to the runner up spot, but 24th place starter John Flinner was coming from the back and weeding his way through traffic and by the 23rd lap Flinner was in second.
Flinner tried his best to gain the upper hand on Satterlee who was holding his own but then on lap 33 the field began to encounter lapped traffic and on the front stretch Satterlee got boxed in by the lapped traffic and that allowed Flinner to dive under him and the slower cars and take the lead.
Satterlee wasn’t about to be denied though, as he battled back until lap 37 when he became the next caution, ending his night. Flinner thought he’d have smooth sailing but he forgot Jared Miley was in the field and the young racer was sitting third before he passed Ferree on lap 38, but Flinner wasn’t going to be denied this one, as Miley tried to muster up the power to get the top spot it was a tussle for second between Miley, Mike Blose, Britsky, and Ferree.
While Flinner was in his own universe second was anyone’s race, as the position changed often between the rest of the field, with Flinner taking the win over Britsky, Miley, Blose and Ferree.
Heat wins went to Sam Stile, Mike Blose, Alex Ferree, Keith Barbara and Bob Dunn. The consolation races went to Gregg Satterlee, Bobby Stokes and Luke Hoffner.
Gary Little and Scott Stein led the 20-lap street stock shoot-out to the start with Little taking the lead and Stein in second. Third was Bill Henney with Ken Taylor fourth.
Henney dropped out of contention on lap five and one lap later Stein dropped by the wayside and it looked like Little was going to have a walk in the park, but the crowd was watching 16th place starter Dan Smeal. Smeal was headed to the front of the field and was weaving his way through traffic like a pro and on the tenth lap he passed Tim Krape for second and set his eyes on Little. A caution waved on lap 12 and allowed Smeal to regroup and try an outside line to pass Little and it was just what he needed as he took the lead on lap 13 and held off the return advances from Little the rest of the way. At the line it was Smeal taking the win with Little, Krape, Joe Kot and Jeff Mease completing the top five. Qualifying wins went to: Jamie Barber, Dam Smeal, Rusty Martz and Jeff Mease while the “B” main wins went to Denny Curry and Jarrett Walker.
CUB TRACKS: 92 cars packed the pits, including 46 UFO Late Models and 46 Street Stocks…Miss Central PA Speedway, Erin Adam of Erie, was introduced and greeted fans and signed autographs throughout the night…Jeremy Ohl and Jason Walker crashed hard during their qualifying heat race, and Ohl was transported to Clearfield Hospital as a precautionary measure…Jerry Redden and Larry Wingard also crash hard in their heat, ending both drivers night…It was the first race for new clay and under the new ownership of Tim Bainey. There were some problems and delays that were inevitable, but are already being worked on…The next major event at the Big Bear will be on Wednesday June 11 as the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprints make their inaugural debut. The street stocks will also be on the schedule and more details will be announced as they are determined. For additional news, check the website at www.thebigtrack.com or www.centralpaspeedway.com.
SUMMARY:
UFO LATE MODELS: 1. John Flinner, Zelienople; 2. John Britsky, Clymer; 3. Jared Miley, South Park; 4. Mike Blose, Home; 5. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg; 6. Bob Dunn, East Waterford; 7. Tracy Gregory, Dalton; 8. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills; 9. Chuck Kennedy, Brockway; 10. Dane Laraway, Penn Township; 11. Duane Brooks, Falls Creek; 12. Luke Hoffner, Turbotville; 13. Billy Dickson, West Decatur; 14. Jason Witherite, Luthersburg; 15. Sam Stile, Charleroi; 16.Shawn McGarvey, Coalport; 17. Rodney Sweitzer, Stoystown; 18. George Fultz, Beech Creek; 19. Denny Fenton, Clearfield; 20. Chris Shuey, McCungie; 21. Chris Farrell, Clearfield; 22. Bill Krause, Houtzdale; 23. Keith Barbera, South park; 24. Bobby Stokes, Milton; 25. Tom Shaffer, Punxsutawney; 26.Jim Yoder, Selinsgrove; 27. John Kenelley, Eagleville; 28. Matt Gaston, Punxsutawney.
DID NOT QUALIFY: Jason Walker, Mike Johnson, Jerry Redden, Jeremy Ohl, Herm Bertolini, Josh Young, Cody Schultz, Larry Wingard, Chris Rhodes, Todd Baumgardner, Chris Clark, Pete Alsbaugh, Jake Shady, Mel Minick, Dwayne Taneyhill, Rick Maxim, Matt Dobson, Todd Bachman.
Street Stocks: 1. Dan Smeal, Ramey; 2. Gary Little, Clearfield; 3. Tim Krape, Bellefonte; 4. Joe Kot, DuBois; 5. Jeff Mease, Clearfield; 6. Bob Roseman, Sykesville; 7. Fuzzy Fields, Brockport; 8. Jamie Barber, Grampian; 9. Jarrett Walker, Rockton, 10. Rusty Martz, Brookville; 11. Steve Cook, Sykesville; 12. Craig Bainey, Morrisdale; 13. Wayne Carbo, Saxonburg; 14. Denny Curry, Clearfield; 15. Jeff Taylor, Corsica; 16. Dale Yaney, Brookville; 17. Ken Taylor; 18. Chad O’Brien, Corsica; 19. Bill Henney, Huntingdon; 20. Scott Stein, Cherry Tree; 21. Randy Zechman, Littlestown; 22. Levi Ardery, West Decatur; 23. Matt Keith, Franklin; 24. Mike Desch, Tyrone.
DID NOT QUALIFY: Mark Hummel, Wayne Irvin, Dom Surra, Scott Wilson, Neil Wilson, Randy Wible, Rick Hemphill, Bill Huntingdon, J.R. Emigh, Tom Homan, Ray Reed, Brian Rhect, Jay Bloom, Ray Billott, Eric Irvin, Eric Baun, Gary Fisher, Greg Kent, Rick Homan, Scott Smith.