Gardner wins Sweetheart Special at Stateline!

August 21, 2016

New York State Senator Katherine Young reads a proclamation welcoming Stateline Speedway to New York State and Chautauqua County as county and Town of Busti officials look on.

Busti, NY (August 20, 2016): The UFo Series came to Stateline Speedway Presented by LiteHouse Auto for the track’s Grand Opening, attended by top Chautauqua County and Town of Busti officials including State Senator Catherine M. Young, who welcomed the track to the area, noting this rich history of the facility and the impact on the local community. The race was, in part, a celebration not only of the tracks 60-year history but also recognizing the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Jim & Jean Scott, who, along with Brian Horner, purchased the storied facility during the summer of 2015.

Jim Scott and Brian Horner both have been involved at varying levels throughout the history of the track. Both drove racers, both have owned racecars driven by others, and both, along with Jean Scott, now have realized every race fan’s dream, that of owning a first-class facility.to celebrate the occasion a fifty-lap feature for the Overhead Door of Jamestown Super Late Models, the premier class throughout the last six decades. At the end of the night it was veteran driver Rich Gardner standing in Victory Lane for the third time this summer, second among active drivers. Gardner’s career started in 1976. Another veteran driver, Dennis Lunger Jr, prevailed in the Shults Auto Group RUSH Crate Late Model feature. Justin Carlson had mechanical failure coming to the checkers in the Rusted Nutz ProMod feature but coasted across the line for his sixth win of the season. Amidst the veterans seeming to dominate, young Matt Kosinski collected his very first feature win in the Himes Auction Super Sportsmen feature while Andy Proper, the defending Bailey’s Towing & Recovery Super Challenger Champion, led the field to the checkers for the eighth time this season.

The Rusted Nutz ProMods were the first feature on the track. Scott Gurdak immediately grabbed the lead from pole sitter Dennis Hagg Jr with seventh starting Justin Carlson up to second by the time of the first caution at lap four, when Jeramy Williams spun in turn two. After green, Gurdak again led with Carlson challenging at every turn until lap seven when Gurdak started opening a lead. At halfway it was Gurdak by five lengths over Carlson, who was another five ahead of Jason Covey, then points leader Kelly Frederes, and Bill Silvis filling out the top five. With only four laps left Jason Brightman looped it in turn two, again slowing the race. When the race resumed Covey came to second but Williams again spun, this time at the end of the back straight. On this restart Covey was penalized for “jumping” the start, then on the next start Gurdak again led but only to the back straight when Carlson took over, going on to his sixth win of the year after suddenly losing power coming out of turn four, but making it to the checkers before Gurdak could get by. Frederes wound up third with Hagg fourth, and Silvis fifth.

The Ufo series started their 50-lap “Sweetheart Special” for the Plyler Overhead Door Super Late Model drivers with 25-cars led by Rich Gardner and Doug Eck on the front row with Matt Lux and John Lacki in row two. Eck led to turn one but seven racers failed to make it through turn two, including Chris Hackett, Dutch Davies, Darrell Bossard, Kirk Bradley, Jake Finnerty, Dylan Yoder, and David Scott. Eck led Gardner by 0.095 at the end of one lap and pulled ahead at two but Gardner powered back to the lead at the end of three then began opening a lead. At five laps complete Matt Lux edged ahead of Eck at the line with Max Blair challenging him for third a lap later. At nine laps in Gardner had caught the rear of the field then at ten complete Greg Oakes slowed on the front straight, forcing caution over the field. Under the caution Eck also had mechanical issues and pulled pitside from third spot. At green Dave Hess Jr was up to fourth from eighteenth on the grid. At lap thirteen Brent Rhebergen looped his mount in turn three, again slowing the race. One lap after green Gardner led Lux with Hess coming to third. On lap sixteen Blair was back to third when Steve Kania spun coming out of turn two, slowing the race for the third time. Again Gardner was leading after one lap of green with Hess working the extreme outside, in his quest for second. With twenty laps complete, second was a three way race down the back straight among Lux, Hess, and Max Blair with Hess second when caution flew at lap 21. With Gardner now joined by Hess at the front for this restart and the two Blair's on row two, green again was flying with Gardner again in control at the end of one lap. At 23 complete Blair was alongside Hess for second and a length ahead of him at 24. At halfway it was Gardner, Max Blair, Hess, Lux, and Rob Blair. At 29 laps Rob Blair was alongside Lux but Lux again had sole possession of the spot a lap later. At 32 complete Max Blair was challenging for the lead but Gardner was still the leader as they approached lapped traffic. Gardner opened a six length lead in lapped traffic. With five to go Gardner still had six lengths over Blair with Hess, Lux, and Rob Blair filling out the top five. On the final lap Blair closed to within five lengths at the checkers but for Gardner it was his third win of the season. Second through fifth were Max Blair, Hess, Lux, and Rob Blair.

Tommy Kosinski led the Himes Auction Super Sportsmen through lap one but Jim Jim Kibbe spun in turn three, bringing yellow over the race. At green, Kibbe and Kendelle Kosinski got together in turn two, putting the race back under caution. When the race resumed Kosinski again led with Matt Kosinski coming to second and Ted Kosinski third. At halfway Tommy Kosinski led Matt Kosinski, Mike Kosinski, Kibbe, and Dan Nocero Jr. One lap after halfway the leader spun in turn four, ending his run at the front. Matt Kosinski held on for the win with Kibbe winding up second, over Nocero, Ted Kosinski, and Michael Kosinski.

Mike Wonderling and Dave Hess Jr brought the Shults Auto Group RUSH Crate Late Models to green with the leaders still side by side after one lap of green but Hess pulling to a three length lead at the end of two when caution flew as three-time 2016 feature winner Damian Bidwell came to a stop in turn four. By the end of three laps, points leader Ryan Scott was second with Wonderling third and defending champion Jason Genco up to fourth. At six laps in, three time winner Darrell Bossard was fifth. Hess had a half straight lead at the end of eight when caution again flew. At halfway Genco was up to second but Hess had a half straight lead with Dennis Lunger now third. Mike Wonderling spun in turn two at eleven complete, again slowing the race. After green Lunger came to second and was pulling alongside Hess when caution again slowed the race when Matt Harvey and Chad Schauers got tangled in turn two. With five to go Hess led Lunger with Dave Lyon coming to third. At four to go Hess and Lunger were side by side with Lunger showing 0.020 sec ahead. A lap later he had a car length lead and, with the white flag flying, Lyon was pulling alongside Hess, gaining the spot at the finish. Genco wound up fourth with Bossard fifth. It was Lunger’s first win at Stateline in 2016.

Brandon Huffman and John Zeleznick brought the Bailey’s Towing & Recovery Super Challengers to green with Huffman leading Gary Troyer at the end of one lap but points leader Andy Proper was second at the end of three. Proper took over at the front at five complete with last week’s winner Pete Volpe third at halfway. With four left Volpe came to second but Proper was on his way to win number eight on the season. Volpe settled for second with Huffman third, Zeleznick fourth, and Troyer fifth.

Stateline Speedway presented by Lite House Auto Complete Results for July 23, 2016

Overhead Door of Jamestown Super Late Models/UFo “Sweetheart Special”:

Heat 1: John Lobb, Chad Valone, Matt Lux, Kirk Bradley, Steve Kania, Bob Dorman, Ward Schell (DNS), Damian Bidwell (DNS)

Heat 2: Jake Finnerty, Rich Gardner, Max Blair, Bump Hedman, Joel Watson, Brent Rhebergen, Matt Urban, Mike Mott

Heat 3: John Lacki, Chris Hackett, Dutch Davies, David Scott, Dave Hess Jr, Greg Oakes, Pete Alspaugh, Jason DuPont,

Heat 4: Doug Eck, Rob Blair, Dylan Yoder, Darrell Bossard, Rick Singleton, Mike Pegher Jr, John Volpe, Matt Latta

B-Main 1: Joel Watson, Steve Kania, Damian Bidwell, Brent Rhebergen, Bob Dorman, Matt Urban, Mike Mort. Ward Schell (DNS)

B-Main 2: Dave Hess Jr, Mike Pegher, Rick Singleton, Pete Alspaugh, John Volpe, Matt Latta, Greg Oakes, Jason DuPont (DNS)

Feature: Rich Gardner, Max Blair, Dave Hess Jr, Matt Lux, Rob Blair, Bump Hedman, John Lacki, Darrell Bossard, Mike Pegher Jr, David Scott, Dutch Davies, Dylan Yoder, Jake Finnerty, Chris Hackett, Brent Rhebergen, Damian Bidwell, Rick Singleton, Joel Watson, Mike Mort, Steve Kania, Chad Valone, John Lobb, Doug Eck, Greg Oakes, Kirk Bradley

Shults Auto Group RUSH Crate Late Models:

Heat 1: Darrell Bossard, Dennis Lunger, Mike Wonderling, David Lyon, David Scott, Matt Harvey, Scott Gurdak

Heat 2: Jamie Brown, Jeff Hoffman, Jeremy Wondering, Wyatt Scott, Damian Bidwell, Joel Watson, Paul Norman

Heat 3: Ryan Scott, Jason Genco, Dave Hess Jr, Travis Martineau, Chad Schauers, Nathan Earle, Eric Wilson

Feature: Dennis Lunger Jr, Dave Lyon, Dave Hess Jr, Jason Genco, Darrell Bossard, Ryan Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Wyatt Scott, Damian Bidwell, Eric Wilson, Jamie Brown, Jeremy Wonderling, Scott Gurdak, Davis Scott, Joel Watson, Mike Wonderling, Chad Schauers, Matt Harvey, Paul Norman, Travis Martineau, Nathan Earle

Rusted Nutz ProMods:

Heat 1: Kelly Frederes, Dennis Hagg, Bill Silvis, Brian Mohawk, Bryon Johnson, Zack Johnson

Heat 2: Scott Gurdak, Justin Carlson, Jason Covey, Jeramy Williams, Dennis Asel, Jason Brightman

Feature: Justin Carlson, Scott Gurdak, Kelly Frederes, Dennis Hagg Jr, Bill Silvis, Jeramy Williams, Dennis Asel, Zach Johnson, Jason Covey, Brian Mohawk, Byron Johnson, Jason Brightman

Himes Auction Super Sportsmen:

Heat 1: Tommy Kosinski, Shane Horner, Mike Genco, Tom Kosinski, Steve Longo, Mike Kosinski

Heat 2: Dan Nocero Jr, Ted Kosinski, Matt Kosinski, Jim Kibbe, Kendelle Kosinski

Feature: Matt Kosinski, Jim Kibbe, Dan Nocero Jr, Ted Kosinski, Mike Kosinski, Tommy Kosinski, Mike Genco, Kendelle Kosinski, Shane Horner, Steve Longo, Tom Kosinski (DNS)

Bailey’s Towing & Recovery Super Challengers:

Heat 1: Pete Volpe, Brandon Huffman, Andy Proper, Nick Lamb, Garrett Yeager, Ben Sudol, Mike Riche Jr, Pat Oyer, Joe Karash, Jacob Lamb

Heat 2: Gary Troyer, Greg Marsh, John Zeleznick, Kevin Covell, Chris Knisley, Travis Darling, John Angeletti, Jasmine Markham, Preston Matve

Feature: Andy Proper, Pete Volpe, Brandon Huffman, John Zeleznick, Gary Troyer, Mike Riche Jr, Greg Marsh, Kevin Covell, Nick Lamb, Ben Sudol, Chris Knisley, Travis Darling, Jacob Lamb, Joe Karash, Garrett Yeager, John Angeletti, Jasmine Markham, Preston Matve, Patrick Oyer