Jul 6, 2013 01:35 AM EDT
John Waters Notches BRP CanAm Series Win at Black Rock
Rich Vleck, DUNDEE, NY, (July 5, 2013)- After winning 7 out of the 10 regular season events at Black Rock last season, John Waters had come back down to start of 2013 with his presence in Victory Lane noticeably absent. The defending track champion changed that in a big way though on Friday Night.
It was a big night at Black Rock Speedway. The pits were crammed with 116 race cars, due in large part it being the Black Rock/ Raceway 5 Challenge. Rain in the area was forecasted, and that almost came to fruition during the heats when heavy rains hit downtown Dundee and moisture was even felt in the pits, but thankfully avoided the racetrack. Towards the end of the night, a wild and massive fireworks show left every fan more than pleased.
Waters, of Whitesville, dominated the BRP CanAm Late Model Series event, leading the final 17 laps of the 25-lap feature which was presented by D.B. Miles Insurance Agency and Doug Gross Construction. Waters is also a favorite when he pulls into Black Rock, but tonight he was under some added challenges.
“I got about two and a half hours of sleep tonight because we got into an altercation last night (at Little Valley) and were up until about 5:00 A.M. working on the car and then getting right back up to work on it this morning,” noted Waters afterwards. “The guys did a great job, not just putting this thing back together, but getting it right, getting the setup good.”
Jason Knowles quickly took the lead at the start of the feature and controlled the bottom, but Waters, who started fourth, showed instant contention as he reeled in the No. 4. Waters took the lead on lap nine but even though he had convincingly moved forward, Jeremy Wonderling was also on a similar charge to the front.
Wonderling, who won his heat, started 12th but was up to the 2nd position by lap 13. It appeared that two of the top guns of the series would ago duke it out, but throughout the second half of the race Waters kept Wonderling at bay.
Waters had to endure three late-race restarts to capture the tour win, one of the events which eluded him last season, when he finished third. Incidently, Wonderling was also second on that night and to complete the podium flip-flop, Bruce Miller, the driver that won the 2012 event, finished third this time around after a hard-fought effort in the top groove. Mikey Wonderling and Glenn Whritenhour completed the top five.
Lawson started in sixth and was stagnant in that position until after the race’s first caution on lap 7. On the restart, leader Ross Vleck slowed on the backstretch with what turned out to be a broken u-joint. That would hand the lead back over to Nicole Hoag, but it was also about the time when Lawson started making his moves to the front.
Hoag handed the lead over to Welty on a lap nine restart when she chose the bottom lane, on the ensuing restart, Lawson would also move by her and begin to apply pressure to the leader. Welty slipped up the track on the final restart and Lawson capitalized to expand on his point lead. Welty held off Hoag for second, while Ron Cartwright and Shannon Whaley drove up to complete the top five.
Fleming, of Auburn, NY, took the lead from Phil Yaw on a lap 17 restart when the No. 98 skated up the track and held on for his sixth win of the season, his first at BRS. Yaw appeared as if he would cruise to his first IMCA-sanctioned win for most of the event, but would slip back to third as Mike Smith moved by on the final lap.
Brad Shepard scored the win in the FWD 4-cylinder feature, leading wire-to-wire. Shepard came down as part of the Black Rock/Raceway 5 Challenge and despite battling mechanical issues early in the night was untouchable during the feature.
Mathews and Teed did come together on lap four, cutting a tire down on Teed’s No. 14. She would be able to make repairs and drive back up to second in the running order, which would in turn earn her the win.
Black Rock is back in action next Friday and Saturday with a pair of events featuring monster trucks and their destructive friends. A full card of racing is also slated for Friday Night, minus the late models. For more information, visit www.BlackRockSpeedway.com.
Lap Leaders- J. Knowles 1-8, Waters 9-25.
Heat Winners- J. Wonderling, Hill, Waters.
Hoselton Auto Mall Crate Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- DONNIE LAWSON, Dale Welty, Nicole Hoag, Ron Cartwright Jr., Shannon Whaley, John Venuto, Ray Bliss, Chris Fisher, Rob Humphreys, Lance Keesey, Loren Lincoln, Dave Yehl, A.J. Lloyd, Ricky Newton, Chris Daugherty, Sarah Johnson, Matt Richmond, Brent Ayers, Eric Bell, Fran Hilton, Rob Richmond Jr., Tony Pangrazio, Brady Fultz, Ross Vleck, Brandon Butler, Chris Silvers, Josh Butler.
Lap Leader- Vleck 1-7, Hoag 8, Welty 9-16, Lawson 17-20.
Heat Winners- Lawson, Newton, Hoag.
Lap Leaders- Cecce 1, Potzrebowski 2-20.
Heat Winners- Potzrebowski, Winslow.
Lap Leaders- Yaw 1-16, Fleming 17-20.
Heat Winner- Karlnoski, Yaw.
Signs Plus of Kanona/ Watkins Glen NAPA 4-Cylinder Feature (20 Laps)- JAMES KREIDLER III, Del Cummings, Brian Grant, Bobby Teed, Bruce Kinner, Russ Wassner, Jayson Smart, Scott Brady, Chris Mashewske, Ed Neal, Erica Bell, Kailey Crandon, James Kreidler II, Chris Percy, Jack Ayers, Troy Collings, Rick Horton, Chad Ayers (DQ), Billy Cagle (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Horton 1-7, Kreidler 8-20.
Heat Winners- Cummings, Kreidler III.
Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Feature (12 Laps)- BRAD SHEPARD, Jeremy Trank, Adam DelGrosso, Craig Mahrt, Nate Freeland.
Lap Leaders- Shepard 1-12.
Heat Winner- DelGrosso.
Home Necessities Bandits (10 Laps)- ALLISON TEED, Trista Teed, Desiree Force, Matt Mashewske, Ray Bliss Jr., Joey Rodbourn, Brandon Mathews (DQ).
Lap Leaders- A. Teed 1-2, Mathews 3-10.