|
UFo Media
MARKLEYSBURG, Penn. (June 12) - A late afternoon rain shower delayed the start of the Laurel Highlander at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, PA. But promoter Rick Jones and staff made the decision to patiently wait out the weather, and nobody was happier for that Mel Minnick. The veteran driver from Uniontown, PA took the lead from Tommy Beck on lap 18 and held off a strong challenge on a late restart to collect the popular victory.
The redraw for the top 12 starting positions for the Laurel Highlander 38 produced front row starting positions for Jim Kutas and Tommy Beck. At the drop of the green flag, Beck used the outside groove to take the early lead. Two laps in, the first of three cautions in the 38-lap main event flew for D.J. Myers, as his car rolled to a stop in turn two. Beck chose the outside lane for the double-file restart, and again grabbed the lead as just one more lap was registered before a caution for a Danny Mitchell spin in turn four.
The race would now see an extended period of green flag racing. Beck chose the outside, and again pulled into the lead over Kutas, Bob Gordon, fourth starting Mel Minnick. Gordon got a nose ahead of Kutas on lap 7, but Kutas was able to fend him off to hold second. Ninth starting Chuck Harper entered the top five on lap 9. The leaders hit race traffic on lap 13, with Beck still showing the way. Kutas was still leading the battle for second, but had issues on lap 15 which reshuffled the running order as he fell back in the running order. Minnick was the benefactor as he advanced to second over Gordon, Harper, and 12th starting Doug Horton.
Minnick quickly closed on Beck as the leaders continued to work race traffic. Working lap 17, Minnick caught Beck down the backstretch, and swooped inside entering turn three. The move worked, and Minnick would be the new leader on lap 18.
At halfway with the green light still on, Minnick led Beck, Harper, Horton, and Gordon. Still working race traffic, Minnick worked hard through the traffic to gain a comfortable advantage, leaving his challengers to battle for second. On lap 23, Harper and Horton both got by Beck, but were a long way behind the leader.
At lap 31 with seven laps remaining, the race took a major change in complexion. Sixth running Gordon slowed on the front stretch to bring out the caution. While Minnick would now get a break from race traffic, his comfortable lead was now gone. With his choice of lanes for the double-file restart, Minnick selected the outside, putting Harper to the inside.
When the green waved, both drivers got an even start and raced side-by-side to turn one. Minnick slid to the top of the banking, and got a good run through turns one and two, pulling ahead to resume the lead down the backstretch. Gary Dalton nosed by Horton to take third. With laps clicking by, Harper stayed close and closed in on the final lap. But Minnick remained flawless and scored the popular victory.
Harper settled for a close second. Dalton, who was quiet in the early part of the race, got better as the event went along in his third place run. Horton was fourth. Chad McClellan advanced from 11th starting spot to get fifth, as Beck, Bob Hershman, Keith Barbara, Kutas, and John Mollick rounded out the top ten.
Bob Gordon, Gary Dalton, and Jim Kutas won the three heat races for the 18 entries.
The next stop for the UFo Race Championship will be Thunder Valley Raceway in Central City, PA. The "Shawn McGarvey Showdown" will take place on Saturday, June 19. This event will mark the firstt-ever appearance of the UFo Super Late Models at this Laurel Highlands race track.
With his fifth place finish, coupled with the tenth place finish for John Mollick, Chad McClellan gained ground in the UFo Race Championship point standings. The two drivers are now tied for the Series point lead, as the Series champion will tentatively earn $5000. Keith Barbara is third in the point chase, with Tommy Beck fourth. Danny Mitchell is now fifth, as Doug Horton, Jared Miley, Jim Kutas, Gary Dalton, and Tony Musolino round out the top ten.
UFo Championship Series
Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex
June 12, 2010
A-Main
1 M1 Mel Minnick Jr
2 00H Chuck Harper
3 14 Gary Dalton
4 46 Doug Horton
5 119 Chad McClellan
6 91 Tommy Beck
7 25 Bob Hershman
8 17 Keith Barbara
9 S1 Jim Kutas
10 4J John Mollick
11 31 Bob Gordon
12 43 Danny Pugh
13 77 Jeff Ferguson
14 7 Billy Holbert
15 0F Richard Frazier
16 18D Danny Mitchell
17 9 LC Powers
18 70J DJ Myers
Heat #1
1 31 Bob Gordon
2 00H Chuck Harper
3 70J DJ Myers
4 46 Doug Horton
5 4J John Mollick
6 43 Danny Pugh
Heat #2
1 14 Gary Dalton
2 119 Chad McClellan
3 17 Keith Barbara
4 77 Jeff Ferguson
5 0F Richard Frazier
6 9 LC Powers
Heat #3
1 S1 Jim Kutas
2 M1 Mel Minnick Jr
3 25 Bob Hershman
4 91 Tommy Beck
5 7 Billy Holbert
6 18D Danny Mitchell
|
