Canandaigua, NY – June 1, 2013 – Dave Roberts, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR Correspondent
Mother Nature attempted to rear her ugly head Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, but it was to no avail as the racing program was completed by 10:15pm with three new winners added to the 2013 season.
The night was interrupted by a 35-minute rain delay following the night’s qualifying events. Track maintenance, along with nearly the entire pit area, worked the track in and put together a super racing surface for the feature events.
 Gary Tomkins (Team Tire Master Big-Block Modified); Steve Gray (Safety Awareness Sportsman) and Blane Smith (Parts Plus Street Stock) scored victories for the first time this season. Smith’s win erased a six-week winning streak by current points leader Mike Welch.
For Tomkins, it had been four years since he had won a feature event at the Ontario County Fairgrounds. Tomkins, of Clifton Springs, NY, drove into the lead on lap 22 and held off a determined Matt Sheppard at the finish as the pair had to go through heavy lapped traffic during the second half of the scheduled Team Tire Tester Big-Block Modified 35-lap feature.
“This is a lot of relief…and a lot of joy,” Tomkins said in victory lane. “As you can see by the side of the car, it has to make a lot of it’s own money. Tonight, everything worked out.”
Marcus Dinkins started on the front row and led the first nine laps with pressure from Chad Homan. Homan eventually took over the top spot after Dinkins got too high coming into turn three. Matt Fink moved into second-place with Tomkins following behind in third.
Tomkins got into second on lap 12 while Homan enjoyed a 1.8 second lead. By lap 20, Tomkins was side by side with Homan. Two laps later, Tomkins slipped by for the lead.
Matt Sheppard, who started 18th, was into second on lap 26. Both drivers were masterful going through lapped traffic as Sheppard looked to move up on Tomkins but he would have to settle for the runner-up position.
“The one good thing about racing here is that you can see who’s behind you,” said Tomkins, who added his 46th career win at CMP. “Matt is at the top of his game but I stuck to the bottom of the race track at the end and it really helped us.”
Finishing third was Billy Dunn, who was impressive after starting 14th along with Chad Homan in fourth. Vince Vitale brought his mount home to a fifth-place place finish.
Heat race winners were Marcus Dinkins, Tim Currier and Billy Dunn. The consolation event was won by Rich Scagliotta.
In the 25-lap Safety Awareness Solutions Sportsman feature, Steve Gray returned to victory lane after a two-year absence, taking the lead on lap eight and dominating the event, leading by nearly seven seconds over second-place finisher Nick Guererri.
“It’s been too long,” Gray said afterwards about his lack of wins over the past two years. “I think the rain really helped us. This car was fast tonight.”
“We made a lot of changes to the car over the past week,” Gray added. “It made a difference.”
Russ Marsden and James Maier combined to lead the opening five laps. Nick Guererri then took over the top spot with Gray behind him. On a lap seven restart, Gray took over the lead for good and got better after every lap.
Nick Guererri took home second, third went to Dave Marcuccilli and rounding out the top-five were Rob Bussey and Frank Burnell Jr. Gray started fifth in the main event.
Heat race winners were Nick Guererri, Kane Bristol and AJ Lloyd.
In the 15-lap Parts Plus Street Stock feature, Blane Smith broke the six-week winning streak of Mike Welch as he made a pass for the lead as the two came down the front chute under the checkered flag side-by-side with Smith winning by a bumper as the two crossed the finish line to end the race.
Welch looked like a sure winner for his seventh victory of the season when he began to slow with three laps remaining. It turned out to be a carburetor issue as Smith’s pass at the finish line proved to be the best race of the night.
“I’m just so happy to be here,” Smith said as he celebrated in victory lane. “This car has been so loose this year.”
Welch held on for second followed by Jack Terrell in third. Rounding out the top-five were Nate Peckham and Steve Pesarek. Bill Weller and Steve Pesarek led the early race laps until Welch took over on a restart on lap six.
The heat race winner was Bill Weller.
In the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, Derek Excell won his fifth of the season.
Excell took the lead on lap 12 and sailed on to victory. Nick Dandino, who finished second, led the first 11 laps before Excell made his winning move.
“We had a real good race with the 58 (Dandino) before I went ahead,” said Excell, who missed two weeks ago at CMP. “Maybe we’ll move up and run with Mike Welch in the Street Stocks.”
Dandino held on for second followed by Mike Minutolo Sr. in third. Rounding out the top-five were Wayne Ellison and Marc Minutolo. The heat race winner was Nick Dandino.
In the Castner Performance 305 Sprint 20-lap feature, Darryl Ruggles won his third in a row at CMP as the division points leader took the lead from his daughter Alysha on lap seven and was never headed for the remainder of the event.
“It was awesome to race with her,” Darryl said afterwards. “I thought she was a touch faster on the one restart.”
Three-time division winner Charlie Donk finished second but could never get close to Ruggles to make a challenge. Alysha held on for third in an impressive finish. Fourth was Paul Habeck followed by Justin Henderson in fifth.
Heat race winners were Darryl Ruggles and Charlie Donk. The race was red flagged on lap 13 when David Ferguson went over the outside retaining wall. He emerged from his car without a problem.
In the 10-lap Community Car Care of Waterloo Legends Sportsman event, Ray Hendershot became a multiple winner at CMP, taking the lead on lap two and holding off Chris Mangiarelli at the finish.
Finishing third was Joe Abraham followed by early race leader Ken Washburn. Fifth was Jason Caldwell. The heat race winner was Ray Hendershot.
The first month of summer for auto racing at Canandaigua Motorsports Park continues on June 8 when Canandaigua Carpets presents a full program of Team Tiremasters Big-Block Modified, Safety Awareness Solutions Sportsman, Castner Performance 305 Sprint Car, Parts Plus Street Stock, Pure Stock and Community Car Care of Waterloo New Legends Sportsman action plus Power Wheels Races on the frontstretch for kids. The first qualifier runs at 7pm with pit gates opening at 4pm and grandstand seating starting at 5pm.
SKIDMARK – Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart returns to Canandaigua Motorsports Park in a rare mid-week appearance on Tue., June 11 when the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions Series makes its debut a the Ontario Co. Fairgrounds. Stewart will be taking on current All Star CoC sprint car points leaders Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer as 'Smoke' continues in quest of his first win at the revered Land of Legends speedplant. Race time is 7:30pm.
|
