Paul Gilardi Scores Win With a Loaded Field, Jason Harrington Wins Budget Debut
Saturday May 2, 2009
By: Rodney Rescott
West Lebanon, NY: As the fans rolled through the front gates at the legendary Lebanon Valley Speedway, a surprise awaited them as they began to take their seats and settle in for an action packed night of racing. Not only was the Jersey Jett back at the Valley of Speed for another shot at taking the win, but he brought help, as the “Doctor” made a house call at the high banks.
DirtCar star “The Doctor” Danny Johnson made the trip from Rochester, NY to West Lebanon for a chance at a win. J.C. Flach and Matt Quinn were on the front row for the start of the 30 lap Funplex Funpark and Boomer’s Performance Big Block Modified Feature Event.
At the drop of the green, Matt Quinn charged out to the front of the pack taking control early. Looking back about mid pack, the big dogs started to bark as Kenny Tremont Jr., Brett “the Jet” Hearn, the Dr. Danny Johnson, Andy Bachetti, and Eddie Marshall began their charge to the front.
The super fast high banks saw the third place starter Paul Gilardi in his #87X get shot out of a cannon and charge to the front of the class, taking over 1st place on lap 6.
By lap 10, it was Gilardi, Quinn, Ryan Larkin’s #39, and the #88 of Kory Sandstedt. But as Gilardi was controlled the front of the field, Tremont, Hearn, Bachetti, and Johnson were picking them off one at a time. As the field stayed under green, the closer they got to the front, the harder it got to pass for positions.
Leading the charge was Tremont, who had a little extra incentive to get to the front as his starting spot on the Funplex and Gillespie Automotive Big Money Challenge wheel for the extra $1,000 bonus for winning from 14 starting spot.
As the laps began to tick off the Kokosa Oil Inc lap counter, Gilardi held a comfortable lead on Quinn. With 10 laps left, the boys were coming for Gilardi as most of them cracked the top 10. But with a caution free feature, nobody was gonna catch Gilardi’s #87X!
Gilardi scores his 1st win of 2009 at the end of the 30 lap feature. Quinn held on for 2nd, Larkin hung in for 3rd. Eddie Marshall charged to 4th, with Tremont settling for 5th. Other notables were Hearn crossing the line 6th, last weeks winner Mark Flach Jr was 7th, Bachetti was 10th, Corellis 11th, and Johnson 12th.
Boomer’s Performance and Funplex Funpark also presented the Sportsman 20 lap feature. On the front row at the start was #3 of Kim Lavoy and the #55 of Brett Haas, as the green flag flew. Lavoy powered away quickly to take over the top spot.
Kevin Petrucci charged into 2nd before the lap was even complete. Caution flew on lap 3 as the #09 of Chris Lynch made contact the 3rd turn wall for the 2nd time of the night. On the restart, Lavoy charged back out front, but this time she was dogged by the #12 of Brian Sandstedt.
Lavoy was out front and in control as the #87 of Neil Stratton moved up to second past Sandstedt. Stratton was charging and made up the gap, and passing Lavoy on lap 12.
Once the #87 was out front, he was gone. Stratton checked out on the field, and at the checkers, it was Stratton crossing the line first, Lavoy 2nd, Sandstedt 3rd. Kolby Schroder powered his way to 4th, and Kyle Hoffman battled to 5th.
At the time for this release, the results are “Unofficial” due to a post race protest. The official finish will be posted on our website at www.LebanonValley.com by no later than Tuesday May 5th.
Saturday Night was also the debut of the Budget Sportsman Division. 18 teams made the trip to the Valley of Speed for a 15 lap sprint. After a nearly caution free feature, Jason Harrington’s #81 made his way to the win from his 4th starting position. Harrington was followed by Don Miller, Anthony Montessi, Scott Duell, and Michael Sabia to round out the top 5 for the first night!
The Pro Stocks were also on tap for their 20 lap feature event as Matt Shadic out ran a charging Robbie Speed to take the Funplex and Boomer’s Perfomance Pro Stock win. Jay Corbin crossed the line 3rd, with Paul LaRochelle and Tim Sayers rounding out the top 5.
Cord Becker took the honors in the Limited Pro Stocks. In the Pure Stocks, 45 teams were split into three 8 lap events, and the winners were: Chris Streeter in PS#1, Lloyd Tomlin in PS#2, and PS#3 was won by Jeff Kreutziger.
Boomer’s Performance also presented a special 20 lap Pure Stock Clash in memory of the legendary Boomer Bedell. Al Relyea charged to the front by lap 4, and that was all he needed. Even a late race charge by Pete Weigand wasn’t going to deny Relyea from the win and a bonus $250.
Next Saturday night is another special night at the high banks. Madsen Overhead Doors presents Autograph Night! All classes will be on tap including the 4 cylinders! Also, this being the 2nd Saturday of May, is still School Appreciation Month!
For details, visit our website at www.LebanonValley.com, and click on “Speedway” or call the Speedway Offices during normal business hours.
Saturday May 2, 2009 - Funplex Funpark & Boomer's Performance Modified Results (30 Laps) - 1)Paul Gilardi, 2) Matt Quinn, 3) Ryan Larkin, 4) Eddie Marshall, 5) Kenny Tremont Jr, 6) Brett Hearn, 7) Mark Flach Jr, 8) Donnie Ackner, 9) Keith Flach, 10) Andy Bachetti, 11) Donnie Corellis, 12) Danny Johnson, 13) Kory Sandstedt, 14) Guy Sheldon, 15) Brian Berger, 16) Lorne Browe, 17) Mike King,18) Steve Hough, 19) J. C. Flach, 20) Matt Pupello, 21) Rob Pitcher 22) Ted Teal, 23) Rich Salisbury, 24) Kyle Sheldon, 25) Tom Faxon
Sportsman Results Unofficial
Budget Sportsman Results (15 Laps) - 1) Jason Herrington, 2) Don Miller, 3) Anthony Montessi, 4) Scott Duell, 5) Michael, Sabia, 6) Danny Cross, 7) Joe Carnibucci, 8) David Hinsch, 9) Kenny Towne, 10) Seth Roberts, 11) Chris Reome, 12) Jake, Jelley, 13) Lisa Schoonmaker, 14) Brian Peterson, 15) Dan Peckham, 16) Kenny Hhinsch, 17) Kevin Wright, 18) Nick Hotaling
Pro Stock Results (20 Laps) - 1) Matt Shadic, 2) Robbie Speed, 3) Jay Corbin, 4) Paul LaRochelle, 5) Tim Sayers, 6) Nick Hilt, 7) Kevin Arnold, 8) Jason Casey, 9) Jay Casey, 10) Victor Hopkins, 11) Tom Harkins, 12) Johnny Rivers, 13) Allen Tarantino, 14) Chad Jeseo, 15) Joe Mennite, 16) Steve Hankle, 17) Jon Routhier, 18) Rick Dempsey
Limited Pro Stock Results (10 Laps) - 1)Cord Becker, 2) Jay Kreutziger, 3) Jay Casey
Pure Stock #1 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Chris Streeter, 2) John Devine, 3) Lenny Fields, 4) Ray Hall Sr, 5) Todd Lane, 6) Doug Olds, 7) Brian Vandenburgh, 8) Leo Herring, 9) Tim Niles, 10) Karl Castagna, 11) Justin O'Neall, 12) Dave Houser, 13) Rich Rogers, 14) Joe Walcott, 15) Ed Hubbard
Pure Stock #2 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Lloyd Tomlin, 2) James Hatch, 3) Kevin Winters, 4) Jeff Wilbur, 5) Dave Fachini, 6) Harold Tarantino, 7) Anthony Maddalla, 8) Chad Arsenault, 9) Scott Morris, 10) Robert Gilpatrick, 11) John Miller, 12) Dan Herring, 13) Wuggie Burdick, 14) Brian Houghtaling, DNS) Jesse Murphy
Pure Stock #3 Results (8 Laps) - 1) Jeff Kreutiziger, 2) Ed Hatch, 3) Ray Hall Jr, 4) Jeff Douglass, 5) Pete Wiegand, 6) Al Relyea, 7) Lynn Wesley, 8) Lou Ganczar, 9) Phill Wood, 10) John Felarecki, 11) Mark Webb, 12) Bob Palmer, 13) Kirk Stanaway, 14) Bob Camilli, 15) Rob Partridge Jr
Boomer's Performance Purestock Clash - 1) Al Relyea, 2) Ray Hall Jr, 3) Jeff Kreutiziger, 4) Lynn Wesley, 5) Ray Hall Sr, 6) Doug Olds,7) Chris Streeter, 8) James Hatch, 9) Todd Lane, 10) Lloyd Tomlin, 11) Brian Vandenburgh, 12) Kevin Winters, 13) Jeff Douglass, 14) John Devine, 15) Pete Wiegand, 16) Harold Tarantino, 17) Jeff Wilbur, 18) Ed Hatch, 19) Dave Fachini, 20) Chad Arsenault
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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