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Hewson
Goes From Last To First In Agen Memorial Race |
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Fidanza
and Durfy Also Visit |
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BY: Lori Overdorf |
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Lancaster,
New York – It was a night to honor Dunn Tire Raceway Park’s heroes,
with former drivers reuniting at Heroes Homecoming and the Street Stocks
racing in memory of their former competitor Tom “Golden Wheels” Agen
in a 50 lap feature event. John
Hewson, worked his way from his last place starting position to Starting the nights action were the 4 Cylinders who took to the ¼ inner DTRP oval for their 20 lap feature event. Dean Siminski and Jayme Thompson lead the field to the green flag while Tim Durfy and Deb Jurek followed in the second row. Siminski grabbed ahold of the lead at the start of the race while Durfy stayed low and slotted into the second position. On lap four, Durfy made his move down low on Siminski, who seemed to be battling an ill handling car, and took the lead. Roesch followed Durfy into second, relegating Siminski to third. By lap ten, Durfy had built a commanding lead over second place Roesch, but just three laps later the yellow flag appeared, erasing any lead the Durfy had built up. The single file restart led to a green, white, checkered finish and put Roesch right on Durfy’s bumper. However Durfy stayed out front and captured his first win of the season. The 35 lap Sportsman feature was up next and fourteen cars took the green flag. Mark Pennell started on the pole and took advantage of his starting position, taking command of the lead and building a cushion between himself and Russ Gian, Tom McGrath, Andy Jankowiak, and Sege Fidanza in the opening laps of the race. The field looked to settle in single file, but Fidanza began to make his march forward starting on lap six. Up front, McGrath had cut down Pennell’s lead and made his move for the top spot on lap eight, gaining the position and dispatching Pennell to second. By lap twelve, Fidanza had sliced and diced his way up to second and began to look over McGrath for the lead. Just two laps later, Fidanza went outside of McGrath coming out of four and took over the top spot. Fidanza began to build a huge lead over the rest of the field, who was strung out single file around the race track. As the laps wound down, no one was able to mount a challenge against Fidanza and he took home his third checkered flag of the 2010 season. The final event of the night was the most special – the 50 lap Tom “Golden Wheels” Agen Street Stock Memorial race. In honor of Tom, who was known for his gold painted rims, each one of the 24 competitors voluntarily painted their rims the same golden color. In addition, Tom’s friends and family raised over $3000 in lap money and special awards for the race. After driver introductions and pre race ceremonies, Scott Mutka and Joe Light led the field to the green flag. With the prestige of the race and the extra money at stake, the competition was fierce from the very beginning to the last lap. Mutka grabbed control of the lead after a brief battle with Light and was soon joined up front by Ed Nowak, who was racing in Agen’s former car, and Kevin Mendel. The top three soon were about fifteen car lengths ahead of the second pack of competitors comprised of Coty Gallagher, Mike Nash, and Kris Hamann. By lap eleven, Mendel had worked his way by Nowak for second and began challenging Mutka for the lead. However, a yellow flag on lap 16 changed the complexion of the race. The yellow flag turned into a red flag situation for a lengthy track cleanup after a car blew a transmission. When racing resumed, Mutka now had Mendel to his outside for a double file restart and Nowak, Nash, Hamann, Jim Stein, Rick Ortwein, and John Hewson right behind him. Nash made a bold three wide move for the lead coming out of turn two, as he and Mendel sandwiched Mutka going down the backstretch. Nash emerged as the leader while Mendel slotted into second and Mutka wound up third. Nash began building a comfortable lead over Mendel as the laps clicked away, but another yellow flag appeared on lap 24. A double file restart was called for and Nash managed to hold onto the lead over Mendel as the green flag waved again. At the halfway point of the feature, Nash had built a sizable lead over Mendel but again, a yellow flag erased any gains that the leader had made. The single file restart saw Nash lead Mendel, Stein, Mutka, Hewson, Ortwein, and Nate Straus to the green. Nash seemed to be losing some of his steam as the race progressed, as Mendel was able to stay glued to his bumper, all the while looking for a way around the leader. While Nash tried to hold off Mendel, Hewson continued his march to the front from his last place starting position. Hewson was up to third by lap 36 and looking for a way to join in the spirited battle for the lead. Nash gained some breathing room as Mendel had to give up his fight for the lead to try to protect his second place position from Hewson. A late race yellow flag on lap 44 set up a six lap shootout for the coveted win. Nash held onto his lead while Hewson worked over Mendel for second, taking the position with just fie laps remaining in the feature. Nash tried to keep his top spot as the laps wound down, but Hewson was all over his bumper, looking for the tiniest of opportunities to get by Nash. Hewson’s opportunity presented itself when , with just two laps to go, Nash drifted just slightly up the track coming out of turn two. Hewson pounced on the chance and stuck the nose of his racecar down low on the leader and the two raced side by side down the backstretch. Hewson was finally able to clear the leader and took possession of the lead as the white flag waved. Mendel was also able to advance a spot by passing Nash with barely a lap left. Hewson gained this third win of the season and was crowned the winner of the 1st Annual Tom “Golden Wheels” Agen Memorial. Next
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RESULTS |
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Tom “Golden Wheels” Agen Street Stock Memorial Feature Finish (8/14/10): John Hewson, Mike Nash, Kevin Mendel, Jim Stein, Nate Straus, Scott Mutka, Gary Bartella, Joe Light, Rick Ortwein, Dave Frieder, Kyle Sharpe, Heather Weber, Gary Light, Kevin Tarbox, Ed Nowak, Jeff Hodak, Keith Flanigan, Kris Hamann, Matt Druar, Paul Tessier, Chip Wood, Cory Gallagher, Steve Cochran, Joe Haley Heat Winners: Durfy, Jurek |