Dan McGarvie Memorial Winner Casey Burch with Honorary Flagman Steven McGarvie

Casey Burch wins McGarvie Memorial at Eriez Speedway!

Oakes and Michael get first of year, Scott and Henry repeat, Groters gets first-ever at Eriez!

By Jay Pees

Hammett, PA, May 19, 2013: The Dan Mc Garvie Memorial, originally scheduled for May 12, was run at Eriez Speedway Sunday night with Mother’s Day give-a-ways all evening. The on-track action was wild but fast with controversy and close action throughout the entire evening. Casey Burch led every lap of the McGarvie Memorial but Kasey Hammond, the 2012 points champion, started eighteenth but advanced all the way to second at the end of the 15-lap event.

Greg Oakes and Chris Hackett ran side by side early during the Super Late Model feature but Oakes prevailed for his first triumph of the young season.

Side by side racing was the norm in the FASTRAK Crate Late Model feature with a three-way tussle for the lead on nearly every lap. On the final lap Max Blair swung to the outside on leader Billy Henry but slid wide in turn two, allowing third-running Matt Latta to get to Blair’s inside down the back straight. Coming out of turn four the cars ran out of room with Blair slapping the wall hard while Henry went on to his second feature win of the season. In the heat of the moment fists were thrown but order was quickly restored and the incident was deemed to be a ‘racing incident’ when two first-rate drivers are fighting for position on the final run to the checkers. For Henry, it is the best start to a season he has had since starting to race the FASTRAK Late Models.

Ryan Scott seems to have regained his winning form from 2011, leading every lap of the Limited Late Model feature in a race that went green to checkers without any cautions.

Rich Michael started the E-Mod feature from the sixth spot on the grid and took six laps to get to the front, but once there, was unchallenged over the remaining distance for his first Eriez win of the new season.

Mark Thompson led eight laps in his pristine ’57 Chevy until something went wrong in the ignition and the car suddenly shut off in turn four. Brandon Groters, who had just taken over second from Eric Ester, went on to the win, his first-ever at Eriez.

Twenty-four Kandy’s Gentlemans Club Challengers started the McGarvie Memorial with Dan McGarvie’s son, Steven, throwing the green to get the race underway. Casey Burch came from third on the grid to the lead in turn one with Wes Stull, the pole car, falling into the runner-up spot. Caution flew at lap four of the scheduled fifteen laps when Leo Hanlon met the retaining wall in turn two. At five laps in Mike Pohl was second. Stull got into the wall in turn two a lap later. At green Burch again led with Pohl second and Stephen Enlow now third. At halfway the order was the same with 2012 class champion Kasey Hammond up to seventh from her eighteenth starting berth. With four to go Pohl lost the right rear wheel, erasing a quarter lap lead held by Burch. For the restart it was Burch, Enlow, Steve Keith Jr, Gary Olson, and Hammond leading the remaining 14 cars. With two laps remaining Hammond was up to second but Burch had a big lead, big enough to hang on for the win worth $500. Hammond was second with Keith winding up third, Enlow fourth, and Olson fifth.

Fourteen Super Late Models took the green for the Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Model feature. Greg Oakes and former track champion Chris Hackett led the fired to the green with caution immediately shown when Scott Johnson looped his mount in turn one. When event again got underway Oakes and Hackett ran side by side for the first two laps but then John Volpe came to a halt against the outside wall in turn two. Oakes led the field back to green and led Hackett and Chub Frank. Oakes steadily built his lead over Hackett to six car-lengths by halfway with Frank still third and Dave Hess Jr fourth. Defending champion Mike Knight was fifth at halfway. With five to go Oakes was coming into heavy traffic, narrowly missing Scott Johnson as he got sideways in turn two. Hess got by Frank with one to go but it was Oakes taking home his first win of the year over Hackett, Hess, Frank, and Knight.

Week one winner Billy Henry started the Bonnell Collision Center FASTRAK Late Models from the pole with 2012 Champion Max Blair outside. Matt Latta managed to get to second by the end of lap one with Blair third when Bobby Rohrer spun to the infield, bringing caution over the speedway. After green was again on the track Latta was able to get alongside the leader but fell back behind after one lap with Blair still third. With seven laps into the event Blair got back by Latta and began to close on Henry, now with a substantial lead. At lap thirteen Khole Wanzer got sideways in turn three and came to a halt, erasing Henry’s lead. Henry was able to lead after the caution period but Joe Buccola spun in turn two only a lap later, again allowing Blair and Latta to restart right behind the leader. Blair got alongside Henry again after green but Henry was in sole command at sixteen complete. On lap 17 Blair managed to get by briefly but Henry nosed ahead again at the white flag just as caution again flew, again for Wanzer. The final restart was single file and one lap for the glory. Blair changed his line for the restart, trying the high side, getting too high in turn two and allowing Latta to pull alongside on the back straight. The two made contact coming out of turn four with Blair hitting the wall hard as Henry took the checkers. Latta wound up second with Mike Knight third, Jamie Brown fourth, and Kyle Zimmerman fifth.

The Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods were the first feature on the track with week one winner Steve Dixon on the pole with Brian Douglas outside. Dixon led from the drop of the green. By the end of three laps Greg Johnson was second with Rich Michael and last year’s champion Joel Watson fighting over third. At a restart at lap three Michael came to second and was leading at the end of lap six. At the line it was Michael over Dixon, Johnson, Shane Crotty, and Watson.

Week one winner Ryan Scott and Chris McGuire started the Conway & O’Malley Limited Late Model feature from the front row with Scott quickly establishing himself as the leader, looking for two in a row to start 2013. At halfway Scott had a substantial lead over Dustin Eckman while Andy Kania, filling in for the 2012 champion Steve Kania, was trying both inside and outside to take the spot. At lap eleven, Kania dived low coming out of four and wound up sliding into the infield but maintaining control and not spinning his mount although losing several spots. Scott continued leading, taking the checkers over Eckman, 2011 champion Chris Ottaway, Chris McGuire, and Jake Finnerty.

The Eric Walters Tree and Stump Removal Street Stocks had Mark Thompson’s ’57 Chevy on the pole with Ken Lamp outside front row. After a four car pile-up on the initial start Thompson took off to the lead with 2012 champion Pat McGuire coming to second after one lap. After a lap three restart McGuire started falling back with Eric Ester coming to second and Brandon Groters third. Coming out of turn four, Thompson suddenly lost power at lap eight as Groters came by Ester for the lead. One lap after green eighth starting Greg Fenno was second and right behind Groters. Groters was able to open a lead and go on to his first win of the year. Fenno was second with week one winner John Phelps third, Ester fourth, and Kyle Schreckengost fifth.

Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Models:

Heat 1: Mike Knight, Chub Frank, Dave Hess Jr, Darrell Bossard, Rob Blair, Rich Gardner, Andy Boozel

Heat 2: Boom Briggs, Greg Oakes, Chris Hackett, Scott Gurdak, Ron Davies, John Volpe, Scott Johnson

Burger King of the Hill: Ron Davies, Mike Knight

Feature: Greg Oakes, Chris Hackett, Dave Hess Jr, Chub Frank, Mike Knight, Andy Boozel, Rob Blair, Rich Gardner, Ron Davies, Scott Gurdak, Boom Briggs, Darrell Bossard, John Volpe, Scott Johnson

Bonnell Collision FASTRAK Crate Late Models:

Heat 1: Max Blair, Billy Henry, Bob Dorman, Scott Gurdak, Mike Knight, Kyle Zimmerman, Joe Buccola, Al Brewer

Heat 2: Matt Latta, Bobby Rohrer, Bobby Whitling, Bruce Hordusky, Chad Wright, Kevin Decker, Jamie Brown, Dereck Frank, Khole Wanzer, Jason Reagle (DNS)

Feature: Billy Henry, Matt Latta, Mike Knight, Jamie Brown, Kyle Zimmerman, Bobby Whitling, Scott Gurdak, Joe Buccola, Kevin Decker, Dereck Frank, Bruce Hordusky, Jason Reagle, Max Blair, Al Brewer, Khole Wanzer, Bob Dorman, Bobby Rohrer, Chad Wright (DNS)

Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods:

Heat 1: Rich Michael Jr, Brian Douglas, Russ Dunn, Gary Eicher, Chad Carlson, Tony Maratto, Jake Eller

Heat 2: Greg Johnson, Steve Dixon, Joel Watson, Steve Simon, Shane Crotty, John Boyd, Steve Sornberger Jr

Feature: Rich Michael Jr, Steve Dixon, Greg Johnson, Shane Crotty, Joel Watson, John Boyd, Gary Eicher, Steve Simon, Chad Carlson, Steve Sornberger Jr, Tony Maratto, Russ Dunn, Jake Eller, Brian Douglas

Conway and O’Malley Limited Late Models:

Heat: Ryan Scott, Dustin Eckman, Chris McGuire, Chris Ottaway, Andy Kania, Stan Davis, Chad Schauers, Jake Finnerty, Mike Lozowski, Dan Maxim

Feature: Ryan Scott, Dustin Eckman, Chris Ottaway, Chris McGuire, Jake Finnerty, Mike Lozowski, Andy Kania, Dan Maxim, John Cline, Chad Schauers, Stan Davis

Eric Walter’s Tree And Stump Removal Street Stocks:

Heat 1: Greg Fenno, Ron Johnson, Pat Fielding, Ken Lamp Jr, Ron Boardman, Elaine Best, Don McGuire, Joe Rohrer, John Phelps

Heat 2: Pat McGuire, Mark Thompson, Brandon Groters, Eric Ester, Eric Reinwald, Kyle Schreckengost, Shawn Fawcett, Charlie McMillen, Matt Tuzynski, Wade Watson

Feature: Brandon Groters, Greg Fenno, John Phelps, Eric Ester, Kyle Schreckengost, Eric Reinwald, Pat Fielding, Shawn Fawcett, Matt Tuzynski, Wade Watson, Ron Boardman, Elaine Best, Mark Thompson, Pat McGuire, Ken Lamp. Don McGuire, Joe Rohrer, Charlie McMillen, Ron Johnson

Kandy’s Gentlemen’ Challengers:

Heat 1: Stephen Enlow, Geoff Maloney, Matt Marcy, Jesse Phelps, Drew Panko, Mike Pohl, Holden Heineman, Keith Hall, Mike Rotunda, Eddie Orton, Jeff Nunemaker, Todd Hanlon, Tim Fisher, Joe Beach (DNS)

Heat 2: Casey Burch, Kevin Covell, Steve Keith Jr, Wes Stull, Gary Olson, Jason Brightman, Kenny Luma, Ryan White, Kasey Hammond, Leo Hanlon, Kelsey Parker, Garrett Zimmer, Tom Cupp, Matt Wolf

Feature: Casey Burch, Kasey Hammond, Steve Keith Jr, Stephen Enlow, Gary Olson, Geoff Maloney, Joe Beach, Jesse Phelps, Eddie Orton, Jason Brightman, Kelsey Parker, Ryan White, Drew Panko, Mike Pohl, Holden Heineman, Wes Stull, Matt Marcy, Garrett Zimmer, Todd Hanlon, Tim Fisher, Mike Rotunda, Keith Hall, Leo Hanlon, Matt Wolf, Kenny Luma (DNS), Jeff Nunemaker (DNS), Tom Cupp (DNS), Kevin Covell (DNS)

Hammett, PA, May 5, 2013: The 2013 racing season finally arrive but the results looked like a continuation of 2012 with three of the six reigning champions getting wins to start the year.Jay’s Auto Wrecking defending champion Mike Knight led every enroute to the win, the sixteenth Eiez triumph of his career. Billy Henry picked up his second career Eriez Speedway Bonnell Collision FASTRAK Late Model feature. Steve Dixon got his first-ever Plyler Overhead Door E-Mod feature win, defending champion Steve Kania started the defense of his Conway & O’Malley Limite Late Model with a win. John Phelps drove into the Winner’s Circle after a wild Eric Walters Tree and Stump Removal Street Stock feature, the second of his career. Kasey Hammond waithed till the last lap, but started her Kandy’s Gentlemen’s Club Challenger championship defense with a notch in the win column.

The first feature race of the 2013 season was for the Eric Walters Tree and Stump Removal Street Stocks with Jimmy Kennerknecht and former track champion Greg Fenno sharing the front row. Fenno took off to the immediate lead. After two cautions in the first two laps, Ron Johnson began challenging for the lead at lap four, showing as the leader at lap five, when caution again flew, this time for Jimmy Kennerknecht and Pat McGuire who had spun in turn four. Randy Wyant was sent to the pits for rough driving on his part in the incident. After another yellow flag, Fenno regained the lead from Johnson, who was being challenged by Mark Tompson in his pristine ’57 Chevy. At lap nine the runner up position was in Thompson’s control. a lap later Shawn Fawcett took over third.  Fenno, spun out after a restart, collecting the cars of Shawn Fawcett, Johnson, and Ken Lamp. For the restart at lap ten, the running order was now John Phelps in the lead with Eric Ester, Andy Faulhaber, and Ron Boardman following. The run to the checkers was all Phelps for his second Eriez win over Shawn Fawcett, Greg Fenno, Ron Boardman, and Elaine Best,

The Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods were not able to get through the first two turns before a caution period was needed as Steve Rex spun at the exit of turn two. Then on the second try, Chad Carlson spun coming out of turn two. The third try succeeded in getting one lap into the book, but only one. Steve Dixon was the immediate leader with Ron Davies and Shane Crotty battling for second. By five laps in, Davies had the spot with Rich Michael Jr getting by Crotty a lap later. At the halfway point Michael, who had been using the high line, spun in turn two. With five to go, Dixon had a good-sized lead over Davies but saw it evaporate when Brian Fardink spun in turn three. Dixon drove on to his first E-Mod win at Eriez with Davies second, Michael third, John Boardman fourth, and Chad Carlson fifth.

Chris McGuire and Steve Kania, two second-generation drivers, brought the Conway & O’Malley Limited Late Model field to the green flag. At the end on one green flag lap, Kania, the reigning champion, had a substantial lead over second-running Mike Lozowski. Lozowski spun in turn four at the end of lap three. For the restart it was Kania leading Chris Ottaway and Dustin Eckman to the green. Eckman grabbed second at the restart but Ottaway stayed right with him until Ryan Scott came by at lap eleven. Coming to the stripe at lap 13 Kania suddenly lost power and headed to the infield, turning the lead over to Eckman. One lap later Scott was showing the way. Scott went on to the win over Eckman, Ottaway, Dan Maxim, and Chris McGuire.

Billy Henry led from the start on the Bonnell Collision Center FASTRAK Late Models but Rob Bates spun in turn four to halt the event after one lap. After yellow had been show, the cars of Max Blair, Adam Sixt, and Jamie Brown tangled in turn one. They were restored to their running order due to the caution already being out. Sixt had enough damage that he went out of the event. The race ran green until the halfway point with Henry leading Scott Gurdak and Matt Latta with Max Blair fourth.  At the Haley point Khole Wanzer spun in turn four right in front of the leader but they managed to avoid contact. At lap thirteen Kyle Zimmerman’s engine exploded coming down the front straight. Zimmerman spun in the oil and wound up in the infield, clipping Jamie Brown on the way.  After green, Matt Latta appropriated second from Gurdak. With two to go Blair was alongside Gurdak. Henry went on to the win with Latta second, Gurdak holding on for third, Blair fourth, and Jamie Brown fifth.

Mike Knight, the defending champion, wasted no time getting to the lead in the Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Model feature with Ron Davies second and pole-sitter Chris Hackett third.  The front three remained the same through to the finish in the all-green 25 lap event. Following the top three were Dave Hess Jr and Rich Gardner, who completed the pass at the checkers.

The Kandy’s Dinner Theater Challengers had Jason Brightman leading the early stages with Tim Fisher and Kasey Hammond challenging every lap. Hammond came to second at lap 9 and took over at the front on the backstretch of the final lap. Brightman wound up second with Fisher settling for third.

Jay’s Auto Wrecking Super Late Models:

Heat 1: Ron Davies, Mike Knight, Chris Hackett, Dave Hess, Rich Gardner, Andy Boozel

Heat 2: Rob Blair, Darrell Bossard, Scott Gurdak, Greg Oakes, Chub Frank

Feature: Mike Knight, Ron Davies, Chris Hackett, Dave Hess Jr, Rich Gardner, Darrell Bossard, Rob Blair, Scott Gurdak, Greg Oakes, Chub Frank, Andy Boozel

Bonnell Collision FASTRAK Crate Late Models:

Heat 1: Billy Henry, Scott Gurdak, Adam Sixt, Kyle Zimmerman, Jamie Brown, Ryan Scott, Colton Flinner, Bruce Hordusky,

Heat 2: Max Blair, Matt Latta, Dennis Lunger, Bobby Rohrer, Chad Wright, Joe Buccola, Al Brewer, Rob Bates, Khole Wanzer

Feature: Billy Henry, Matt Latta, Scott Gurdak, Max Blair, Jamie Brown, Chad Wright, Dustin Eckman, Colton Flinner, Bobby Rohrer, Joe Buccola, Ryan Scott, Khole Wanzer, Al Brewer, Kyle Zimmerman, Rob Bates, Adam Sixt

Plyler Overhead Door E-Mods:

Heat 1: Shane Crotty, Steve Dixon, Joel Watson, John Boardman, Steve Sornbger, Steve Simon, John Schenker, Jake Eller

Heat 2: Ron Davies, Rich Michael, Gary Eicher, John Boyd, Brian Fardink, Steve Rex, Steve Rex, Chad Carlson, Kevin Peru

Feature: Steve Dixon, Ron Davies, Rich Michael Jr, John Boardman, Chad Carlson, Steve Simon, Brian Fardink, John Boardman, Kevin Peru, Joel Watson, Shane Crotty, Gary Eicher, Steve Sornberger, Steve Rex, Jake Eller, John Boyd

Conway and O’Malley Limited Late Models:

Heat 1: Tyler Green, Chris McGuire, Mike Lozowski, John Cline, Stan Davis

Heat 2: Steve Kania, Dan Maxim, Ryan Scott, Chris Ottaway, Jake Finnerty

Feature: Ryan Scott, Dustin Eckman, Chria Ottaway, Dan Maxim, Chris McGuire, John Cline, Stan Davis, Mike Lozowski, Steve Kania, Jake Finnerty, Tyler Green

Walter’s Tree Tree and Stump Removal Street Stocks:

Heat 1:  Mark Thompson, Greg Fenno, Ron Johnson, Ken Lamp Jr, Andy Faulhaber, Eric Ester, Mark Frontera

Heat 2: Gary Fisher, Shawn Fawcett, Eric Reinwald, Pat McGuire, Joe Rohrer, Ron Boardman, Pail Schreckengost

Heat 3: Chris Withers, Randy Wyant, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Elaine Best, Chris Withers, Don McGuire, Matt Tuzynski

Feature: John Phelps Jr, Shawn Fawcett, Greg Fenno, Ron Boardman, Elaine Best, Eric Ester, Andy Faulhaber, Ken Lamp Jr, Mark Thompson, Ron Johnson, Gary Fisher, Matt Tuzynski, Eric Reinwald, Chris Withers, Don McGuire, Randy Wyant, Pat McGuire, Jimmy Kennerknecht, Joe Rohrer, Paul Schreckengost, Mark Frontera

Kandy’s Dinner Theater Challengers:

Heat 1: 18 Geoff Maloney, 16 Jason Brightman, 99 Eddie Orton, 11 Kasey Hammond, 10 Jeff Nunemaker, 64 Tim Fisher, 98 Tom Cupp, 5 Ryan White, 23 Gary Olsen, 88 Matt Wolf, 84 Drew Panko, 25 Mike Pohl

Heat 2: 55 Casey Burch, 48 Zach Downes, 1 Matt Marcy, 7 Todd Hanlon, 63 Wesley Stull, 72 Preston Matve, 5 Leo Hanlon, 04 Kelsey Parker, 61 Keith Hall, 31 Stephen Enlow, 27 Chad Fletcher, 14 Justin Boardman (DNS)

Feature: Kasey Hammond, Jason Brightman, Tim Fisher, Wesley Stull, Casey Burch, Jeff Nunemaker, Eddie Orton, Matt Marcy, Stephen Enlow, Tom Cupp, Gary Olsen, Kelsey Parker, Leo Hanlon, Mike Pohl, Preston Matve, Matt Tuzynski, Drew Panko, Geoff Maloney, Chad Fletcher, Todd Hanlon, Zach Downes (DNS), Matt Wolf (DNS), Justin Boardman (DNS)