Submitted by Terry Whetstone
CLEARFIELD, PA – Robbie Blair of Hydetown, the defending All-Star Late Model Point Champion showed exactly why he was the point champ last year as he pulled into Tim Bainey’s Central PA Speedway winners circle Sunday night.
Allen (Jim Dandy) Dillenger of Hermitage won the opening round of the Street Stock Shoot out while Reed Salony of Seven Springs won the first ever visit by the Central PA Legends Series.
Robbie Blair drew the sixth starting spot during the re-draw as Gregg Satterlee and Keith Barbara drew the front row for the start of the Grizzly 50. It was Satterlee who took the lead at the start after the field exited turn four under green three wide going into the first turn.
John Britsky was the in second and Barbara in third with Boom Briggs fourth and Matt Lux rounding out the top five.
The battle was intense at the front of the field, with Blair trying to work the traffic to get to the front when a caution flew on lap nine for a spinning John Gavrin.
When racing resumed a lap later, the red came out for a hard crash on the backstretch. Lux got into the outside wall while running seventh. The impact shot his #21 across the backstretch as Darren Peters was exiting the second turn. Lux car crossed in front of Peters who had no where to go. Peters slammed into drivers side of Lux as the Peters 1P ended up on its roof.
Fire and ambulance personnel rushed to the scene and assisted both men from their heavily damaged cars. They were sore but suffered no serious injuries.
When the race resumed Blair had worked his way up to fifth as Satterlee continued to set the pace but on lap 11 Briggs took the lead from Satterlee off the fourth turn with Blair moving into second and pressuring Briggs for the lead. Finally on lap 13 Blair was able to use the outside of the surface and take took the lead from Briggs.
The top three, Blair, Briggs and Satterlee held their own little battle at the front while working through lapped traffic.
Another pair of cautions on laps 26 and 27 slowed the field with Blair still in command with Briggs and Satterlee still trying to catch Blair, but they had to wage their own battle as well, as Blair began to pull away.
On final caution on lap 47 regrouped the field and gave Briggs and Satterlee one more shot at Blair, but Blair wasn’t about to be denied his first ever win at The Big Bear.
Briggs was second with Satterlee third, Jared Miley was fourth and Jared Hawkins fifth.
Blair said in victory lane that he’d always wanted to be able to hoist a fifty pound carved bear over his head for winning at Central PA, and he was able to do that.
“I’ve wanted one of these for a few years now,” Blair said. “Now I’ve got one.”
He told track announcer Tim Winters he could run three different lines in the feature.
“But man, I’m tired now,” He said.
The first round of the Street Stock Shoot-out started out like last years did, with Allen Dillinger in victory lane.
Dillinger drew the eighth starting spot after qualifying but it was Jim Boyer and Rusty Martz who led the 24-car field to the green, but it was fourth place starter Jackson Humanic who took the lead off the fourth turn to lead the opening lap. Humanic had to contend with Dillinger by the lap three then one lap later, Dillinger was in the lead and just flying. He left all the racing for second place and back, with the best battle for third with Jason John, Martz and Gary Little swapping paint much of the race and when Mike Frisco waved the double checkers it was Dillinger taking the win with Humanic, John, Martz and Little completing the top five. Heat race wins went to Dave Ferringer, Martz, Boyer and Bill Henney. Eric Baun and Gary Luzier won the twin B mains.
Baun said he told Blain during the red flag to use the high groove so he could go out there in the feature and he said then he took off.
Friday night the Central PA Legends made their first ever visit to the speedway with Harlon Leppo taking the lead at the start with Lucas Montgomery in second and Reed Saloney third. As the field continued to jockey for position Scott Houdeshell took the lead for a lap before Montgomery took the lead on lap 11.
A crash between Vernon Houseman and Mark Roberts brought out the red on lap 13. The crash sent Roberts to Clearfield Hospital with injuries, however he was treated and released later that night.
On the restart Saloney took the lead and held off Montgomery the rest of the way to take the win. The 17-year-old was followed over the line by Montgomery, Blain Leppo, Greg Burd and Pat McDermott. Montgomery and McDermot won the heats.
BEAR TRACKS: 85 teams filled the pits over the weekend, including 23 All-Star Late Models, 43 Street Stocks and 19 Central PA Legends.Racers came from four states and two countries including: Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland and Canada.Friday night the Battle of the Bear saw Robbie Blair take the win over Boom Briggs. Then a deal was offered by track owner Tim Bainey to have the pair go head-to-head again with the winner receiving $500. They accepted and Briggs won that challenge.Friday night Blair set the fast time of 15.334 seconds which established a new late model track record.The next CPS event will be held on June 20, Fathers day. More details are on the website at www.thebigtrack.com.
SUMMARY
All-Star Late Models: 1. Robbie Blair: Titusville; 2. Boom Briggs, 3. 3. Gregg Satterlee 4. Jared Miley 5. Jared Hawkins 6. 22 Greg Oakes 7. Tim Smith Jr. 8. Matt Gaston 9. Billy Dickson 10. Bobby Stokes 11. 10C Ryan Christoff 12. Keith Barbara 13. Terry Rayko 14. John Britsky 15. 55 Denny Fenton 16. 56 Denton Boyer 17. Greg Kent 18. John Garvin
19. Chris Clark 20. Matt Lux 21. Darren Peters 22. Shane McMeans DNS: 53 Chris Farrell
Street Stocks: 1. Allen Dillinger, Hermitage; 2. Jackson Humanic, 3. Jason John, 4. Rusty Martz, 5. Gary Little, 6. Bill Henney, 7. Eric baun, 8. Jamie Barber, 9. Dan Smeal, 10. Jason Schmidt.
Central PA Legends: 1. Reed Salony, Seven Springs; 2. Lucas Montgomery, 3 Blair Leppo, 4. Greg Burd, 5. Pat McDermott, 6. Rick Miller, 7. Harlon Leppo, 8. Scott Spidle, 9. Jim Black, 10. Bill Diehl.
