Tremont Hammers Home Victory in Season Opener
Saturday April 18, 2009
By: Rodney Rescott
West Lebanon, NY: L&M Motors, Heavy hauler and Wentworth Construction presented an action packed showdown at the high speed high banks of Lebanon Valley Speedway. Even a brief rain couldn’t cool off the action in a special 30 lap $3,000 to win Big Block Modified feature event.
But before the action hit the track, the Big Money Challenge Wheel presented by Funplex and Gillespie Automotive was unveiled to the huge crowd on hand. And with it’s first spin landing on starting spot #19, the #518 of Kyle Sheldon become the first eligible driver for the bonus $1,000 for winning.
The field rumbled to life as the Joe Torrnabene GMC Pace Truck pulled off turn 4, and the green flag flew for the first time in 2009. Ryan Larkin and Mark Flach Jr brought the field charging into the first turn. Just as the first began circuit #2, Hector Stratton’s #87, Matt Quinn’s #20Q, and Donnie Ackner’s #64 all got into a jingle on the front stretch causing all 3 to come to rest on the inside wall with heavy damage.
On the restart, Larkin was still in charge with the #34H of Steve Hough lined up second. Back in the field, everyone was slicing and dicing for position, trying to get to the front. Kenny Tremont Jr wheeled his familiar #115 through the field with Andy Bachetti’s #34B and the #57 of the returning Donnie Corellis.
The caution flew again on lap 3 for the #347 of Ben Fox coming to rest in turn 4 after contact with the wall. Larkin still kept the field at bay on the ensuing restart, this time Lorne Browe and Tremont were vying to take the top spot away from the #39.
By lap 6, Bachetti made his way into fourth and was charging till the caution flew again for the #20Q of Quinn making contact with the turn 3 wall on lap 8. While under caution, the #34H of Hough went pitside with motor issues. Back to green and the front 4 were getting dicey eyeing the top spot away from Browe who got the lead just before the yellow. Tremont cleared the #39 of Larkin to get into second, and began hounding the #14 for first.
As the lap counter ticked off lap16, caution flew for the #77J of J.C. Flach as he made serious contact with the outside wall just past the turn 4 entrance gate. The red flag immediately flew as several other cars were involved, blocking the track.
Kyle Sheldon, Kory Sandstedt, and Hector Stratton were all able to continue, but the #77J, the #45 of Wayne Jelley, and the #42 of Matt Pupello all were heavily damaged and were done for the night.
After a brief cleanup, the cars began circulating again. This time, on the restart, Tremont was already out front, so when the green flew again, the Sand Lake Slingshot just check out from the field. The battle between the #14 of Browe and the #34B of Bachetti brewed for a handful of laps until the Wild Child cleared Browe and began a charge to get to the #115 on lap 23.
But there was not going to be enough time, as Tremont ticked off some of the fastest laps of the night on his way to the Opening Night win. At the checkered flag, Tremont sailed to his first win in ‘09, with Bachetti crossing the line second. Browe finished a solid third, followed by Eddie Marshall’s #98, and the #57 of Donnie Corellis to round out the top 5.
L&M Motors, Heavy Hauler, and Wentworth Construction also presented a 20 lap Pro Stock feature event. The action got interesting early as the the green flag flew, the #315 of Jon Routhier experienced a severe engine failure from him front row starting position causing everyone behind him to scatter in the blinding smoke trail.
Once the track was cleared and cleaned, the green flew again on the #322 of Jay Casey who took control of the field early. Lap 1 just clicked on the Kokosa Oil Inc Lap Counter just as contact with the #26 of Don Carlson and the #128 of Kent Clark. The green flew again on the #322 of Casey and the #12S of Matt Shadic. The caution flew again on lap 3 for the #78 of Paul LaRochelle with a flat tire. The green flew again on lap 4 only to be slowed under yellow on lap 5 for LaRochelle and Clark making contact on the front stretch.
All the while, Casey was still in control of the field as the #17 of Nick Hilt began his bid for the top spot. Just behind him was the #8 of Jay Corbin, Shadic’s #12S, and the #324 of Jason Casey. The caution flew on lap 8 for the #8 of Corbin with carburetor issues as the #78 pitted as well.
The restart on lap 9 set the field for the final 11 lap shootout for the win. But Casey had too much for anyone, including a few challenges by the #17 of Hilt.
At the checkers, Jay Casey captures his first win of 2009, with Carlson charging back through the field to finish second. Third was Hilt while Kevin Arnold’s #76 was fourth, followed by Jason Casey’s #324 to complete the top 5.
The Limited Pro Stock shootout had Jay Kreutziger Jr capture the crate motor win. In the Pure Stock division nearly 40 cars competed in three 8 lap features. The feature winners were: Ray Hall Jr in Pure Stock #1, Pure Stock #2 was captured by Pete Wiegand (his career win #60), while Pure Stock #3 was captured by Jeff Kreutziger.
The action on opening night was just the beginning of a phenomenal season at the Valley of Speed. Next weeks events will be presented by Contractor Sales, and Next Door Beer & Wine located on Route 7 in Pownal Vermont, as the Sportsman make their weekly return to the high speed high banks. Also, the much anticipated debut of the Budget Sportsman will take to the speedway.
For more information, rules, tickets, points, and even directions, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com and click on the "Speedway".
Saturday April 18, 2009 - L & M Motors, Heavy Hauler and Wentworth Construction $3,000 to Win Modified Results (30 Laps) - 1) Kenny Tremont Jr, 2) Andy Bachetti, 3) Lorne Browe, 4) Eddie Marshall, 5) Donnie Corellis, 6) Guy Sheldon, 7) Keith Flach, 8) Mike King, 9) Paul Gilardi, 10) Ryan Larkin, 11) Brian Berger, 12) Kyle Sheldon, 13) Kory Sandstedt, 14) Hector Stratton, 15) Mark Flach Jr, 16) Rich Salisbury, 17) J. C. Flach, 18) Wayne Jelley, 19) Matt Pupello, 20) Ben Fox, 21) Steve Hough, 22) Matt Quinn, 23) D.J. Faulkner, 24) Donnie Ackner, 25) Rob Pitcher
Pro Stock Results (20 Laps) - 1) Jay Casey, 2) Don Carlson, 3) Nick Hilt, 4) Kevin Arnold, 5) Jason Casey, 6) Robbie Speed, 7) Victor Hopkins, 8) Chris Crews, 9) Matt Shadic, 10) Tom Harkins, 11) Rick Dempsey, 12) Kent Clark, 13) Johnny Rivers, 14) Joe Mennite, 15) Allen Tarantino, 16) Jay Corbin, 17) Paul LaRochelle, 18) John Santolin, 19) Jon Routhier, 20) Brian Keough, 21) Tim Sayers
Limited Pro Stock Results (10 Laps) - 1) Jay Kreutziger,Jr 2) Jay Casey, 3) Cord Becker, 4) Ron Zagata
Pure Stock #1 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Ray Hall Jr, 2) Phill Wood, 3) Al Relyea, 4) Brian Houghtaling, 5) Bob Palmer, 6) John Devine, 7) John Felarecki, 8) Dave Stickles, 9) Dan Herring, 10) Scott Adams, 11) Justin O'Neall, 12) Dave Houser
Pure Stock #2 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Pete Wiegand, 2) Lou Ganczar, 3) Rob Partridge Jr, 4) Howard Madsen, 5) Doug Olds, 6) Harold Tarantino, 7) Ed Hubbard, 8) Tim Niles, 9) Leo Herring, 10) Brian Vandenburgh, 11) Dave Fachini, DNS) Jesse Murphy
Pure Stock #3 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Jeff Kreutziger, 2) Lynn Wesley, 3) Ed Hatch, 4) Chris Streeter, 5) Chad Arsenault, 6) Lloyd Tomlin, 7) Mark Webb, 8) Jeff Douglass, 9) Joe Walcott, 10) Bob Camilli, 11) John Miller, 12) James Hatch
4 Cylinder Dual Cam Top Five (15 Laps) - 1) Todd Goldstein, 2) Steven Loomis, 3) Mark Burke, 4) Mike Dianda, 5) Matt Mooradian, 6) Steven Frank, 7) Brian Walsh, 8) Tony Perez, 9) Jeff Hassan, 10) Jim Williams, 11) Lindsay Sayers, 12) Marty Poole, 13) Jason Meltz, 14) Tim Cramer, 15) John Williamson
4 Cylinder Single Cam Top Five (15 Laps) - 1) Don Curley, 2) Mike Verhagen, 3) Terry McNamara, 4) Cody Speed, 5) Chris White, 6) Joshua Stall, 7) Chris Garhartt, 8) James Bivins, 9) Dave Lavarge, 10) Karen Verhagen, 11) Danny, Webber, 12) Jamie Warner, 13) Todd Pelkey
For more information, the 2009 schedule, and links to the rules for all classes on tap for 2009, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, and click on “Speedway”, or call the Speedway Offices during regular business hours at (518) 794-9606 or (518) 794-9965.
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