For Immediate Release:
The NDRL’s McKean County Raceway
www.mckeancountyraceway.com
“Hollywood” Mike Knight conquers field in Spring Classic at McKean County Raceway
East Smethport, PA (April 19, 2014) it was cold but a good crowd of fans braved the elements for the first Spring Classic at McKean County Raceway. “Hollywood” Mike Knight held off challenges from David Scott and Chris Hackett to capture the NDRL Super Late Model finale. Chad Ruhlman defeated a 25-car field after a torrid early-race battle with Bobby Rohrer. Randy Hall dominated the NDRL Close Racing Supply Modifieds, leading the distance in an all-green flag feature. Dennis Asel started the Highway Auto Stock Car feature from the outside front row and won his first feature of the season. Defending champion Joe Layfield was awarded the Pure Stock feature win after apparent winner Jason Dobson was disqualified due to illegal engine parts. Mitch Boylan got by early leader Kurt Babcock shortly past halfway, then went on to the Mini-Stock victory.
Defending champion Joe Layfield started the Pure Stock feature outside of row one and led the first five laps until sixth starting Jason Dobson got by and led the remainder of the event. Layfield held on for the run-up position with Roger Schweikart third, Dennis Cummings fourth, and Cliff Easton fifth. The race ran green to checkers with no cautions. In post-race tech inspection, Dobson was disqualified due to an engine infraction. Joe Layfield was declared the winner with Dobson moved to last place.
The Highway Auto Stock Cars had Rich Wotjowicz and Dennis Asel on the front row for their first feature of the season with Wotjowicz leading until turn four when Asel came by for the front spot. At halfway it was Asel leading Wotjowicz by a quarter lap. Stebbins got by for second a lap later but Asel maintained his lead. On the final lap Ron Snyder got into the turn three wall bringing out the caution and setting up a one lap dash to the checkers. At the display of green and white Asel shot back to the lead and the win with Wotjowicz winding up second with Stebbins third, Ted Mascho four, and Vic Earle Jr fifth.
Scott Gurdak and Doug Eck led the NDRL Super Late Model field to Curtis Peters’s green flag with Gurdak leading the way and Eck spinning in turn three, immediately putting the race under yellow. With Eck to the back Mike Knight moved to outside front row and took off with the lead. At two laps in David Scott and Chris Hackett both got by Gurdak for second and third but Knight was putting down some distance between he and Scott. At six laps in Scott began reeling in the leader. At ten laps in, Eck lost power and slowed dramatically on the front straight, bringing caution again over the field. For the restart with fifteen remaining Scott and Hackett were right on Knight’s rear bumper. At green, Knight again scooted out to the lead but Kirk Bradley dropped his driveshaft on the back straight, again bringing out yellow. After one lap of green Hackett had moved to second but Knight maintained the lead while Scott challenged Hackett on the high side, getting alongside on lap 17. Both cars slid wide in turn two, allowing Greg Oakes to get second. Two laps later Hackett came back by Oakes on the outside just as Bob Dorman spun in turn two with five remaining. Knight immediately shot out to the lead on the green, opening up a seven car-length advantage at the checkers. Hackett was second with Oakes third, Gurdak fourth, and Scott back to fifth.
The RUSH Crate Kate Models had Brian Knowles and Bobby Rohrer on the front row of the 25- car starting field. Rohrer led lap one with Chad Ruhlman coming to second at the end of one lap. With four laps in, Ruhlman was getting alongside the leader but unable to get by, losing ground when he got sideways in turn three. Wondering came to second while Ruhlman gathered up his machine. Yellow flew at ten laps when Eddie Coast slowed suddenly on the front straight. For the restart Rohrer was the leader with Ruhlman and Wonderling right behind. Ruhlman came back to second at the start with fifth-starting Damien Bidwell coming to fourth. Coast, Dereck Frank, and Bill Mesler got together in turn one at lap twelve, again slowing the action. Ruhlman got the lead immediately on green but caution flew as Zack Carley spun, negating the start and returning Rohrer to the lead. Ruhlman came back to the lead after one lap of green then went on to the win, withstanding two more caution periods. At the finish it was Ruhlman, “Mr Excitement” Jeremy Wonderling, Damien Bidwell, Dave Shagla, and Dustin Waters. Early leader Rohrer slipped back to sixth.
The NDRL Modifieds took to the track with Randy Hall and Brent Rhebergen leading the way. Hall, a former class champion, led with Rhebergen, Vic Vena, Kirk Bradley, and John Woodward strung out behind him. The all green feature ended in that order with Rhebergen unable to reel Hall in.
Only thirteen of the scheduled sixteen Mini Stocks were able to take the green flag with Andy Proper and Kurt Babcock leading the way. Babcock led Mitch Boylan after one lap with Proper falling to third. David Bear came to third at lap four. Up front Boylan was challenging Babcock with the leaders entering lapped traffic at the halfway point. Bear lost a tire with seven to go, bringing caution over the event. After green Boylan came to the lead with six laps to go. Boylan opened his lead over Babcock on his way to the checkers, winning by twelve car-lengths. Proper wound up third with Holden Heinemann fourth and Steve Morris fifth.
Results:
Super Late Models:
Heat 1: Mike Knight, Greg Oakes, David Scott, Kirk Bradley, Andy Boozel, Billy Dickson, Michael Oakes
Heat 2: Doug Eck, Chris Hackett, Scott Gurdak, Dick Barton, Brent Rhebergen, Bob Dorman
Feature: Mike Knight, Chris Hackett, Greg Oakes, Scott Gurdak, David Scott, Dick Barton, Brent Rhebergen, Billy Dickson, Doug Eck, Andy Boozel, Bob Dorman, Kirk Bradley, Michael Oakes (DNS)
RUSH Crate Late Models:
Heat 1: Damien Bidwell, Bobby Rohrer, Zack Carley, Dustin Waters, Adam Sixt, Bob Kish, Justin Smith, John Haggerty, Brady Raynor
Heat 2: Jeremy Wonderling, Matt Harvey, Dave Shagla, Mike Knight, Jim Myers, Brad Mesler, Wyatt Scott, Eddie Coast, Bill Mesler
Heat 3: Chad Ruhlman, Brian Knowles, Ward Schell, Scott Waters, Dereck Frank, Scott Finch, Mike Robinson
Feature: Chad Ruhlman, Jeremy Wonderling, Damien Bidwell, Dave Shagla, Dustin Waters, Bobby Rohrer, Matt Harvey, Bob Kish, Adam Sixt, Zack Carley, Brian Knowles, Ward Schell, Dereck Frank, Brad Mesler, Eddie Coast, Scott Finch, Brady Raynor, Wyatt Scott, Mike Robinson, John Haggerty, Justin Smith, Mike Knight, Scott Waters, Bill Mesler, Jim Myers
Close Racing Supply Modifieds:
Heat 1: Vic Vena, Al Brewer, John Woodward, Butch Southwell, Nathan Hill, Dan Sasso
Heat 2: Randy Hall, Kirk Bradley, Brent Rhebergen, Mike McGee, John Boardman, Joe Boylan
Feature: Randy Hall, Brent Rhebergen, Vic Vena, Kirk Bradley, John Woodward, Mike McGee, Al Brewer, Butch Southwell, Nathan Hill, Dan Sasso, Joe Boylan, John Boardman
Highway Auto Stock Cars:
Heat 1: Rich Wojtowicz, Ted Mascho, Gary Fisher, Elaine Best
Heat 2: Vic Earle Jr, Kurt Stebins, Dennis Asel, Brad Curran, Josh Wilcox
Feature: Dennis Asel, Rich Wotjowicz, Kurt Stebbins, Ted Mascho, Vic Earle Jr, Josh Wilcox, Elaine Best, Ryan Snyder, Gary Fisher (DNS), Brad Curran (DNS), 14 (DNS)
Pure Stocks:
Heat 1: Roger Schweikart, Art Peterson, Dennis Cummings, Robert Murray, Tim Burkett
Heat 2: Joe Layfield, Jason Dobson, Cliff Easton, Rod Winans, Don Williams
Feature: Joe Layfield, Roger Schweikart, Dennis Cummings, Cliff Easton, Art Peterson, Don Williams, Rod Winans, Tim Burkett, Robert Murray, Jason Dobson (DQ)
Mini Stocks:
Heat 1: Kurt Babcock, Holden Heinemann, Andy Proper, Mike Eastman, Mike Rotunda, Lindsey Carlson, Casey Burch, Tom Cupp
Heat 2: Mitch Boylan, David Bear, Steve Morse, Richard Kline, Pat Mitchell, Todd Hanlon, Davey Lowe, Travis Babcock
Feature: Mitch Boylan, Kurt Babcock, Andy Proper, Holden Heinemann, Steve Morris, Todd Hanlon, Pat Mitchell, Mike Rotunda, Tom Cupp, Travis Babcock, David Bear, Mike Eastman
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