Submitted by Terry Whetstone
MOUNT ZION – The World of Outlaw Late Models played before a standing room only crowd Tuesday night at Tim Bainey’s Central PA Speedway as the touring series made it’s first ever visit to the speedway.
Thirty-four late models signed in to do battle at The Big Bear for the Fear the Bear 40 and when it was said and done it was Darrell Lanigan from Kentucky taking home the $8,000 check and proving he wasn’t afraid of any bear.
Chub Frank and Rick Eckert led the 24-car field to the green flag with Frank taking the initial lead and he set the pace for the first five laps with Lanigan moving into second on lap three. A lap five caution slowed the field and on the restart Lanigan was shot out of a cannon and shot into the lead with Shane Clanton moving into second from ninth place starting spot. Clanton was like a lightning bolt as he powered off the fourth turn, and nearly took the from Lanigan Lanigan wasn’t about to be denied and he continued to set the pace and pulled away from Clanton as Clanton had his hands full with Eckert and Frank, who was fighting back, but his tires appeared to be going away as he started dropping back. Lanigan continued to set a torrid pace with Clanton and Eckert still vying for second and now Steve Francis was also jockeying for the second spot making that a three-car tussle for second place. As the race continued a pair of cautions would fly for Gregg Satterlee who lost a left rear tire not once but twice, once on lap 20 and again on lap 34. The final six laps didn’t do anything for Clanton and Francis as Lanigan was not about to be denied his second win of the season. Clanton, Francis, Eckert and Josh Richards completed the top five.
Heat wins went to Richards, Lanigan, Mike Knight and Eckert.
The twin 12-lap B-mains went to Clinto Smith and Satterlee.
The Four Cylinders hit the track at the end of the night with the race beginning with a smash as Shawn Hadden got into and then up on the front stretch wall, with Ben Smith and Aaron Luzier also making contact. Following the clean-up Hadden was out of action while the others continued. On the restart Jon Lee took the lead with Doug Surra in second and Ray Hickok Jr. third. Lee lost the lead on lap five to Michael Lucas and he held down the top spot until lap nine, when Surra took control of the race. Surra looked like a sure winner until Adam Pletcher came from 21st to challenge for the lead. On the final turn of the final lap, Pletcher crowded Surra into the embankment in turn three, causing Surra to blow a tire and fall off the pace. At the end the top five were: Pletcher, Hickok, Lucas, Surra and Donny Lechak. There were no heat races.
BEAR TRACKS: 57 teams filled the pits including 34 World of Outlaw Late Models and 23 Four Cylinders…Track owner Tim Bainey Sr. celebrated his anniversary with his wife Moe by presenting her with a new Late Model that was numbered 34 (the number of years they were married) and it said, “Happy Anniversary Moe!”…The race saw drivers from nine states, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Delaware, Georgia and North Carolina plus Perth, West Australia…Lanigan and his crew also received six pound hamburger from Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub…Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV set the fast time for the night of 16.242…the next event on the CPS Schedule is the two day Go Kart Nationals on Aug. 14 and 15. Check the website at www.thebigtrack.com for complete details. Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘Fear The Bear 40’ (Finishing Position, Start, Driver, Laps Completed andMoney Won)
1. (3) Darrell Lanigan/40 $8,600
2. (9) Shane Clanton/40 $4,575
3. (5) Steve Francis/40 $3,300
4. (2) Rick Eckert/40 $2,800
5. (4) Josh Richards/40 $2,650
6. (11) Austin Hubbard/40 $2,350
7. (1) Chub Frank/40 $1,900
8. (7) Rick ‘Boom’ Briggs/40 $1,800
9. (10) Tim McCreadie/40 $1,800
10. (17) Clint Smith/40 $1,600
11. (14) Robbie Blair/40 $1,000
12. (13) Tim Fuller/40 $1,400
13. (6) Mike Knight/40 $850
14. (12) Russell King/40 $1,300
15. (15) Greg Oakes/40 $750
16. (19) Dylan Yoder/40 $750
17. (22) Brent Robinson/39 $1,160
18. (23) Chris Farrell/39 $640
19. (20) Chris Casner/39 $620
20. (18) Gregg Satterlee/32 $610
21. (8) D.J. Myers/14 $600
22. (21) Todd Snook/5 $600
23. (24) Bump Hedman/1 $600
24. (16) Billy Dickson/1 $625 Failed to qualify: Dane Laraway, Bobby Stokes, Denny Fenton, Craig Vosbergen, Ted Gallaher, Doug Drown, Jeremy Ohl, Ray Farrell, Greg Kent and Mike Evock Four Cylinders: 1. Adam Pletcher, Tire Hill; 2. Ray Hickok, Jr., 3. Michael Lucas, 4. Doug Surra, 5. Donny Lechak, 6. Josh Fetters, 7. Chris Hickok, 8. Joey Petyak, 9. Shawn Fedder, 10. Cody Robbins, 11. Bryan Warren, 12. Kenny White, 13. Jason Kline, 14. Matt Krape, 15. Aaron Luzier, 16. Rick Lamer, 17. Eric Luzier, 18. Kie Brown, 19. Larry Depp, 20. Jessie Laughard, 21. Jon Lee, 22. Ben Smith, 23. Shawn Hadden.