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FETZER, MCCONNAUGHEY AND ECKAM WIN ALONG WITH WEATHER AT HOLLAND |
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Holland, NY: A major electrical storm complete with heavy rain forced cancellation of the balance of the Saturday evening racing program at the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex while the third of eights scheduled main events was on the track. This marks the eighth event of 2008 at Holland affected by the weather in some way. In the racing which was completed, Joe Fetzer of East Aurora, NY picked up his first win of the season in the shortened Carquest Charger main, Dean McConnaughey of Strykersville, NY earned his first career win in the main for the visiting Casey’s TQ Midget Series, and “Mad Mike” Eckam of East Aurora, NY took his first of the season in the Alliance Auto Recycling Figure 8 Car run. Slated events for the NASCAR Sunoco SST Pro Modifieds, LAMOT Late Models, Cup Lites Series, Native Pride Pro Fours, and Thiel Motorsports Hornets were lost to the weather. Holland rain checks from August 9th will be honored on August 16th. In the Carquest Charger main, Joe Fetzer was engaged in a tight battle for the lead with Tom Northem, with Fetzer’s Camaro Specialties/Brian Parisi Copier Systems Malibu holding a ˝ car length advantage when the decision was made to put the race on hold due to weather on lap 19 of the scheduled 30 lap distance. When the weather system forced the curtailment of the program, the running order was made official as the finishing order. Sixteen year old Dean McConnaughey held off a mid-race challenge from Jamie Collard, which ended prematurely when Collard slowed with mechanical problems, then opened up a nice sized lead advantage to race on to that very first win in the 20 lap feature race for the Casey’s TQ Midget Series. Vinnie Christiano, Jr. placed second, with Camden Barber edging Justin Mapes at the line for third in the caution-free event. The Alliance Auto Recycling Figure 8 Car race had a crazy first lap with three lead changes, but it was “Mad Mike” Eckam who came away with the top spot at the end of that lap, and rolled on to the 12 lap win. Sean McDonald took second, followed by Jason Adams. As a prelude to the regular racing program, the Faster Firefighter race took place, with proceeds benefiting the Roswell Park Cancer Institute of Buffalo, NY. Area firefighters took to the oval in strictly stock 4-cylinder races provided by the Motorsports Complex. Firefighter Paul Fino, Jr. of the Blasdell, NY Volunteer Fire Department made a gutsy three-wide mid-race move to take second place, then raced by Craig Sponholz of the Crittendon, NY Volunteer Fire Department a lap later for the lead and the win. News and Notes -- At the time the Carquest Charger main was put on hold, the grandstand was cleared for safety concerns due to the proximity of lightning in the area – the original thought was to wait out the electrical storm and continue the program, but when the skies opened with a heavy rain about ten minutes later, the cancellation decision was quickly made … Both of the Jim Fleischman racing team TQ Midgets were trailered during hot laps with engine woes, forcing Fleischman and Wayne Turnbull to miss the Midget race … Sixteen NASCAR Sunoco SST Pro Modifieds on hand only to have another main event washed away – Holland’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division has been able to complete only four events thus far in 2008. Action will continue at the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex on Saturday, August 16th, with the Bar Cup Challenge getting the evening started at 5:15 PM. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program, featuring the NASCAR Sunoco SST Pro Modifieds, LAMOT Late Models, Carquest Chargers, Native Pride Pro Fours, Alliance Auto Recycling Figure 8 Cars, and Thiel Motorsports Queen Bees plus a special appearance by the Cup Lites Series, will follow at approximately 7:15 PM. For more information, call the Holland office at (716) 537-2272 or visit the web site at www.hollandspeedway.com. RESULTS SUMMARY – 8/9/08: Carquest CHARGERS (called complete after 19 of 30 laps – rain): 1. (started 6th) JOE FETZER, 2. (16) Tom Northem, 3. (11) Mark Hoch, 4. (5) Matt Welshans, 5. (9) Jim Loffredo, 6. (7) Shawn Lafferty, 7. (18) Marty Hughes, 8. (12) Jerry Kosmowski, 9. (2) Rich Carnes, 10. (3) Donnie Aquino, 11. (17) Chris Kline, 12. (15) Al Grimmer, 13. (14) Mark Harsch, 14. (1) Mike Flaig, 15. (4) Ted Welshans, 16. (8) Bryant Burns, 17. (13) Paul Alberti, 18. (10) Jim Mallaber. Casey’s TQ MIDGET SERIES (20 laps): 1. (started 2nd) DEAN McCONNAUGHEY, 2. (9) Vince Christiano, Jr., 3. (6) Camden Barber, 4. (5) Justin Mapes, 5. (8) Charlie DiRosa, 6. (7) Dan Lawrence, 7. (1) Johnathan Reid, 8. (12) Russell Knutsen, 9. (3) Mark Schulz, 10. (13) Paul Faleski, 11. (10) Mike Blair, 12. (4) Jamie Collard, 13. (11) Bobby Holmes. (Did Not Start - Jim Fleischman, Wayne Turnbull.) Alliance Auto Recycling FIGURE 8 CARS (12 laps): 1. (started 2nd) MIKE ECKAM, 2. (6) Sean McDonald, 3. (5) Jason Adams, 4. (3) Bill Lutz, 5. (4) Scott Pastorius, 6. (8) James Steins, 7. (7) Jason Eck, 8. (1) Waylon Price. NASCAR Sunoco SST PRO MODIFIEDS (40 laps): rained
out
Source:
Rick Mooney/Holland PR
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