Bicknell, McGinnis, Gorhan, Dell, Jowdy collect wins at the Big R

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, July 27, 2006
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, July 29, 2006

At Ransomville Speedway Friday, Pete Bicknell used a last lap move on Sam Crogan coming off turn four to collect his first win of the 2006 season in the Mighty Taco Modified feature division. Bicknell piloted his BRP sponsored No. 42 to the win in the most exciting feature of the season thus far.

Crogan led the early going followed by Rick Hoctor, Todd Gordon, Rich Vinson, and Mark Golding. Contact in turn three left Jon Miller spun around and Scott Kerwin with a broken front end. Crogan led the field back to green followed by Vinson, Robbie Krull, Golding, and Hoctor. Pete Bicknell was on the move early as he advanced to fifth on lap 10. He took over the fourth position on lap 13 while the top three ran nose to tail up front. Vinson took a peek to the inside of Crogan on lap 14 but it was Crogan hanging on.

With the top three running in a tight pack, Bicknell began to reel them in slowly each lap. Vinson once again challenged Crogan on lap 17, but Crogan held the preferred top groove. Bicknell joined the fray on lap 19 as Krull took over the second position. Crogan and Vinson ran the topside, Krull and Bicknell the extreme bottom, and you could have put a blanket over the top four as they ran two-wide-two rows deep when the field took the 10-to-go signal. With lapped cars now in play, Crogan maneuvered his way through the traffic maintaining the top position. Vinson got high in turn four, making contact with the guardrail, and ended up flipping over.

Crogan led the field back to green over Bicknell, Krull, Todd Burley, and Gordon. Bicknell challenged Crogan on the inside but the outside appeared to be the faster way around. Bicknell continued to dig down low pulling alongside of Crogan on the final circuit. Bicknell was able to take away the top spot and capture the win over Burley, Crogan, Gordon, and Krull. Crogan slipped high on the final turn dropping him to third at the finish.

Jeff McGinnis of Ransomville won his third Original Pizza Logs Sportsman main last Friday night. McGinnis took the lead away from Mark Potter on lap 16 and led the remaining distance aboard his No Blanket Smoke Shop-sponsored machine.

Bob Broomfield led the first circuit prior to losing the position to Ricky Newton a lap later. John Smith, Sandy Pembleton, Mark Potter, and Broomfield rounded out the top five on lap three.A wild ride for Steve Schumacher occurred on lap five as he made contact with the guardrail and ended up flipping over into the moat. Schumacher was involved in a three-wide battle and found himself simply running out of racing room on the outside.

Newton led the field back to green and maintained the top spot over Potter, who advanced to second. McGinnis he broke into the top five on lap seven. The second caution of the night fell on lap nine as Don Spatorico came to a rest in turn four.

Potter took control on the restart, putting Newton back to second. McGinnis emerged to third followed by Tony Purgarich and Kevin Wills. McGinnis took over the runner-up position and quickly set his sights on Potter. Wills followed suit taking over third. The top three ran in a very close battle with Wills using the topside. McGinnis decided to step it out a notch and took over the lead position in turn two of lap 16. McGinnis was able to lead the remaining distance and won his third of the season. Potter, Wills, Purgarich, and Newton rounded out the top five.

Rick Gorhan of Ransomville captured his first ProStock career win last Friday aboard the Bobcat of Buffalo ProStock division. Gorhan took command at the drop of the green and maintained the top spot for the entire 15 laps aboard his Kenny Banker-owned No. 0.

Scott Gribben and Gorhan shared the front row for the feature start with Gorhan taking the lead down the backstretch. Gribben, Steve Miller, Mike Williams, and Steve Lewis rounded out the top five. Gorhan, Miller, and Williams ran single file while Pete Stefanski broke into the top five. Miller looked to the inside of Gorhan on lap 11, but it was Gorhan hanging on up front for the win followed by Miller, Mike Williams, Stefanski, and Lewis.

Patrick Dell of Ransomville captured his very first feature win aboard the first Johnston’s Restaurant Streetstock 15-lap main event. Dell took the lead at the drop of the green and held off persistent challenges by Chris Burek. Dell became the 16 different winner of 2006 aboard his Previty Motor Cars-sponsored machine.

Dell led the early going and ran nose to tail up front with Burek while Jeff Schulze challenged Steve Shoop for third. The first caution flew on lap seven for Sean Letts, who spun in turn two. Dell led the field back to green with Burek running a strong second. Derek Smith broke into the top five on lap 10 and quickly reeled in the front runners. Burek made contact with the back of the Dell machine resulting in Burek going around in turn two. Dell led the remaining distance and captured his first feature win. Shoop, Smith, Schulze, and Ken Washburn rounded out the top five.

Dave Jowdy of Ransomville won his third race in the Johnston’s Restaurant Streetstock division leading the entire 15 laps aboard his Dream Construction-sponsored machine.

A pair of Daves shared the front row for the second SS main with Jowdy grabbing the lead over Stolzenberg. Roger Israel emerged into second by the completion of lap two followed by Stolzenberg, Jeff Wilkinson, and Shawn Graham. The first caution flew on lap five for Glenn Barlow, Scott Krull, Dan Baughman, and Scott Maceldowney, who came together in turn four. Jowdy led the field back to green followed by Israel, Wilkinson, Brian Sparks, and Stolenberg. Stolzenberg’s great run came to an early end as he spun into the front stretch moat on lap nine. Jowdy was able to maintain the top spot through the final stages and collect the win. Israel, Short, Wilkinson, and Sparks rounded out the top five.

Pitnotes

A season high 35 streetstocks were in attendance on Friday.

Welcome Jeff Cosgrove, who made his first Sportsman career start last Friday night.

Get well wishes are extended to Nate Reynolds, who fractured his shoulder last Sunday. Nate came into the evening tied for third in points, but the shoulder will sideline his title hopes for 2006.

Summary of results:

Mighty Taco Modified Feature finish: Pete Bicknell, Todd Burley, Sam Crogan, Todd Gordon, Robbie Krull, Chad Brachmann, Scott George, Ricky Richner, Mark Golding, Randy Chrysler, Rick Hoctor, Boyd MacTavish, Dick Park, Pat Vigneri, Joe Kubiniec, Roger Chrysler, Dave Kubiniec, Bill Torissi, Rich Vinson, Jon Miller, and Scott Kerwin. Heat Winners: Todd Gordon, Sam Crogan, and Scott Kerwin.

Original Pizza Logs Sportsman Feature finish: Jeff McGinnis, Mark Potter, Kevin Wills, Tony Purgarich, Ricky Newton, James Henry, Jipp Ortiz, Dave Just, Jame Strassburg, Bob Broomfield, Sandy Pembleton, John Smith, Scott Just, Dave Charczuk, Rachal Clare, Don Spatorico, Greg Martin, Steve Schumacher, and Jeff Cosgrove. Heat Winners-John Smith and Dave Charczuk.

Bobcat of Buffalo Prostock Feature finish: Rick Gorhan, Steve Miller, Mike Williams, Pete Stefanski, Steve Lewis, Butch Zimmerman, Dan Shoop, Don Barnes, Scott Gribben, Dave Williams, Dave Schulz, and John Zimmerman. Heat Winners-Mike Williams and Steve Miller.

Johnston’s Restaurant Streetstock Feature finish No. 1: Patrick Dell, Steve Shoop, Derek Smith, Jeff Schulze, Ken Washburn, Jason Meyers, Webb Nashwinter, Boots Martin, Randy Zimmerman, Chris Burek, Brandon Sherwood, Dave Nashwinter, Sean Letts, Carla Duchnick, Kevin Dabill, Andy Short, and Nate Reynolds. Heat Winners-Chris Burek, Roger Israel, and Dave Stolzenberg.

Johnston’s Restaurant Streetstock Feature finish No. 2: Dave Jowdy, Roger Israel, Mike Short, Jeff Wilkinson, Brian Sparks, Jaren Israel, Nate Vetter, Dave Stolzenberg, Shawn Graham, Ron Graham, Brandon Leighlin, Dan Baughman, Charles Harvey, Glenn Barlow, Dan Schulz, Scott Maceldowney, and Scott Krull.