Eriez Speedway
June 24, 2012
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Wade Watson Wins Sportsmen Special at Eriez Speedway on Autograph Night

by Jay Pees
HAMMETT, PA (June 24) - On the annual Autograph Night at Eriez Speedway the Gannon University Super Sportsmen had a $500 to win special that was one by Wade Watson, who has won all but one feature this season. Defending champion Dave Hess Jr charged into the Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Model feature with a dominating performance, leading from green to checkers. Max Blair got another Dan’s Rt 8 Boardwalk Bar & Grill FASTRAK Late Model feature and Joel Watson came out victorious in a thrilling Plyler Overhead Door E-Mod finale. Young star Steve “Kid” Kania orchestrated another victory in the Conway & O’Malley Limited Late Model feature and Joe Rohrer finally returned to Eriez Victory Lane in the Bonnell Collision Center Street Stock feature. To cap off the night Kasey Hammond became the first female to win a feature in the Kandy’s Dinner Theater Challengers.

Dave Hess Jr started outside front row and wasted no time assuming the lead of the Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Model feature, a lead that was challenged by no-one over the remainder of the race. Pole-sitter Dave Lyon ran second until suddenly slowing on lap 17.Hess’s half lap lead evaporated for the restart which had Scott Johnson and five-time champion Rich Gardner right behind. Gardner got into second after green was back on the speedway while Johnson retired to the infield at lap 19. Hess went on to his first Super Late Model win of the season at Eriez with Gardner second, Mike Knight third, Scott Gurdak fourth, and Andy Boozel fifth.

Defending champion Kyle Zimmerman and Bob Dorman were side by side at the end of the first green flag lap of the Dan’s Rt 8 Boardwalk Bar & Grill FASTRAK Late Model feature with Dorman in sole possession of the lead after two laps. One lap later fifth-starting Max Blair was second, and next to the leader at lap eight. Using the momentum of the high line, Dorman held the lead until the halfway point but it was all Blair from there on out as the Centerville, PA speedster went on to his third win of the season at Eriez. Dorman wound up second over Zimmerman, Chad Wright, and Billy Henry.

Joel Watson and Rich Michael Jr led the 18 Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods to the green with the two racing side-by-side for the first lap with Watson slightly ahead at the stripe. After a restart with one lap completed Watson established himself as the leader but Michael was on his rear bumper and pulling alongside in the turns. At lap eight the leaders were coming into traffic with Michael getting nearly by Watson when Steve Rex spun coming out of turn four, bringing caution over the field. After the green Watson began pulling away until another caution slowed the action at lap 14. After green again flew, Russ Dunn and Shane Crotty both got by Michael while Watson went on to his third win of the season. The top five were Watson, Dunn, Crotty, Michael, and John Boyd.

The Conway & O’Malley Limited Late Model feature had Mike Lozowski and Steve Kania on the front row. Lozowski led lap one but spun out of contention in turn two of lap two. 2011 champion Chris Ottaway made his way to the runner-up spot and was challenging on the high side for the lead by lap 6. At halfway Kania had the lead but only by a fender-length with the positions reversed the next lap. By the end of twelve, Ottaway was in sole command only to have a tire lose pressure, forcing him from the event. Kania went on to his second win of the season over, Chris McGuire, Tyler Green, Dustin Eckman, and Jake Finnerty.

Brent Crandall took the immediate lead at the start of the $500 to win Gannon University Sportsman Special. Four laps into the 15-lap feature Wade Watson took over at the front. After a caution at lap five, Ben Burgess Jr joined Watson at the front but was unable to get by Watson as he went to his fourth win of the season. Burgess settled for second over Jim Kibbe, Hank Francis, and Jake Eller.

Joe Rohrer and Andy Faulhaber led the nineteen Bonnell Collision Center Street Stocks to Mark Matthews green flag with Rohrer shooting out to the lead with Steve Keith Jr coming to second before the end of lap one. By the end of four laps Pat McGuire was up from his twelfth starting spot to second and was pressuring Rohrer every lap. At lap twelve John Phelps Jr grabbed second back from McGuire but very briefly. At the end of the next lap Phelps spun from contention in turn four. At the checkers it was Rohrer for his first Eriez feature win in several years with McGuire second, Mark Frontera third, Brian Crandall fourth, and Tim Thompson fifth.

The Kandy’s Dinner Theater Challenger feature was led by Bob Swanson for the first several laps with Wes Stull alongside. On lap six Kasey Hammond slipped under both leaders in turn two for the lead, going on to the win over Bill Baker Jr and Joe Beach. Although second at the finish, Swanson was penalized for rough driving.

Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Models:
Heat 1: Rich Gardner, Scott Johnson, Dave Lyon, Mike Knight, Andy Boozel
Heat 2: DaveHess Jr, Scott Gurdak, Doug Eck, Greg Johnson, Andy Kania,Jason Morell
Burger King of the Hill: Dave Lyon, Rich Gardner
Feature: Dave Hess Jr, Rich Gardner,Mike Knight, Scott Gurdak, Andy Boozel, Andy Kania, Doug Eck, Greg Johnson, Scott Johnson, Joe Rohrer,Jason Morell

Dan’s Route 8 Boardwalk Bar and Grill FASTRAK Late Models:
Heat 1: Bob Dorman, MaxBlair,Chad Wright, Kyle Zimmerman, Bruce Hordusky Jr, Bobby Rohrer, Billy Henry, Breyton Santee, Khole Wanzer
Feature: Max Blair, Bob Dorman, Kyle Zimmerman,Chad Wright, Billy Henry, Bobby Rohrer, Bruce Hordusky Jr,Mike Knight, Khole Wanzer

Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods:
Heat 1: Russ Dunn,Mike Knight, Butch Southwell, Jack Young, Scott Gurdak, Steve Sornberger Jr, Brian Fardink, Steve Rex, Gary Eicher (DNS)
Heat 2: Joel Watson, John Boyd, Rich Michael Jr, Shane Crotty, Steve Simon, Ron Seeley, John Boardman, Clint Brady, Bud Watson
Feature: Joel Watson, Russ Dunn, Shane Crotty, Rich Michael, John Boyd, Bud Watson, Scott Gurdak, Steve Simon, Ron Seeley, Butch Southwell, Clint Brady, Steve Rex, Steve Sornberger, Gary Eicher, Brian Fardink,Mike Knight, John Boardman, Jack Young

Conway & O’Malley Limited Late Models:
Heat 1: Chris Ottaway, Chris McGuire, Tyler Green, Dan Maxim, Stan Davis, Terry White
Heat 2: Steve Kania, Jake Finnerty,Mike Lozowski, Dustin Eckman,Mike Moon, Ken Wanzer
Feature: Steve Kania, Chris McGuire, Tyler Green, Dustin Eckman, Jake Finnerty, Stan Davis,Mike Lozowski, Terry White, Chris Ottaway,Mike Moon, Ken Wanzer, Dan Maxim (DNS)

Gannon University Super Sportsman:
Heat: Don McGuire, Jake Eller, Brent Crandall, Wade Watson, Hank Francis, Jim Kibbe,Mike Murray, Chris Market, Ben Burgess Jr, Tim Card
Feature: Wade Watson, Ben Burgess Jr, Jim Kibbe, Hank Francis, Jake Eller, Brent Crandall, Chris Market,Mike Murray, Don McGuire, Tim Card

Bonnell’s Collision Center Street Stocks:
Heat 1: Ron Johnson, Pat McGuire, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Ken Lamp Jr, Tim Thompson, Joe Rohrer, Jeffrey Keith, Tyler Lyngarkos, Josh Hebner, Cherry Sweet
Heat 2: Mark Thompson, Brian Crandall, Steve Keith Jr, John Phelps Jr, Mark Frontera, Andy Faulhaber, Jason Martin, Donald Hebner, Michael Heman
Feature: Joe Rohrer, Pat McGuire, Brian Crandall, Tim Thompson, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Ron Johnson, Steve Keith Jr, John Phelps Jr, Jeffery Keith, Josh Hebner, Tyler Lyngarkos, Ken Lamp Jr, Cherry Sweet, Jason Martin, Andy Faulhaber, Mark Thompson, Don Hebner, Michael Heman

Kandy‘s Dinner Theater Super Challengers:
Heat 1: Kasey Hammond, Bill Baker Jr, Wesley Stull, Carl Hebner, Jeff Nunemaker, Justin Boardman, Kevin Scalise, Douglas Melter, Kelsey Parker
Heat 2:Mike Pohl, Joe Beach, Bob Swanson, Geoff Maloney, Daniel Wasiela, Tim Fisher, Jason Brightman, David Scrixon, Tom Cupp
Feature: Kasey Hammond, Bill Baker Jr, Joe Beach, Wesley Stull, Jeff Nunemaker, Jason Brightman, Tom Cupp, Geoff Maloney, Tim Fisher, Justin Boardman, Robert Parker, Kevin Scalise,Mike Pohl, Bob Swanson, Carl Hebner, Dan Wasiela, Doug Melter (DNS), David Scrixen (DNS)