Thomas prevails at Lake Erie

(North East, PA- July 4, 2009)         The Fourth of July spirit was in full swing at the Lake Erie Speedway on Saturday night, which was presented by Kwik Fill Night at The Races plus Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza. Over 4,650 people were in attendance for the 4^th of July races.

        The Boyer RV Center Bandoleros were the first feature race of the night. #69 Brody Wood began the twelve-lap race in first position, but #1 Brandon DeBrakeleer was able to pass Wood during Lap 7. The first caution flag of the night was thrown after #23 Devon Moore spun out during Lap 8. Wilson and #81 Michael Walker tangled during the last turn of the race, causing Wilson to lose her position. DeBrakeleer finished in 1^st place, Wood in 2^nd place, #33 Melissa Brockman in 3^rd place, and #9 Carl Vilardo IV and #26 Anthony Riforgiato in 4^th and 5^th places.

        The second race of the night featured the Jensens Target Collision Compacts racing for fifteen laps. #17m Rich Miller started the race in first position, closely followed by #21 Mike Neubauer. #96 Greg Irish was lapped during Lap 8 by numerous cars. Neubauer was able to take the lead during Lap 11, and #95 Jonathan Breads moved into the third position during Lap 13. #14 Jim Tobin slipped into fourth position from third position before a caution flag was thrown for oil on the track. During Lap 14, #34b Brandon Huffman and #77 Julie McAvoy tangled in corner 3, causing debris to be littered all over the track. The clean-up crew worked on the track for over fifteen minutes while the ambulance took Huffman away. The race continued for two laps until Neubauer crossed the finish line in first place, Miller in 2^nd place, Tobin in 3^rd place, and #28 Jay Johnson and #56 Rod Houser rounding out the top 5.

        The next race of the night featured the Street Stocks. Nine cars took to the track to race fifteen laps, with #99 Dennis Kszos leading the pack and #1 Jeff Campbell close on his bumper for the first six laps. During Lap 7, Campbell took the lead, with both Kszos and #83 Russ Conti attempting to pass. Campbell led the rest of the way, with Conti coming in a close 2^nd place, Kszos in 3^rd place, #01 Leslie Bohrer in 4^th place, and #78 Chris Crossman in 5^th place.

        After the intermission, the Career Concepts Legends were up. Sixteen cars raced for twenty-five laps. #39 Jeremy Haudricourt started the race in first position, followed by #25 Steve Sunday. Sunday took the lead during Lap 8, and #3 Zac Carter took control of the third position for over ten laps. #21 Patrick Lyden battled for third position with Carter, and was able to pass him during Lap 18. #8 Justin Hines made a quick move from further back to the third position during Lap 20 but was unable to make a pass on the leaders. Sunday finished in 1^st place, followed by Lyden, Hines, Haudricourt, and Carter.

        Next on the track were the Dodge Modifieds. #28 Dale Murdock led the race for four laps until a caution flag was thrown after #22 Ken Moore blew his engine. The clean-up crew worked quickly for twenty minutes to clean up the oil that was leaked from her car. After the flag, #24 Randy Culver took the lead, followed by Murdock, and #32 Eric McCray and #77 Dave McAvoy fighting for third position. #17jr. James-Paul Weisser took over the fourth position during Lap 13 and the third position during Lap 15. Culver pulled out to a lengthy lead during Lap 20 and never looked back. During Lap 22, Weisser spun out into the infield. Culver finished in 1^st place, followed by Murdock in 2^nd place, McAvoy in 3rd, and #14 Carter Mook and McCray in 4^th and 5^th places.

        The last feature race of the night were the Plyler Overhead Door Late Models. #32 Glenn Gault Jr. started the race in first position with #3 Jeff Brown close on his heels when the second caution flag of the race was thrown when #33 Tom Morell Jr. and #86 John Gallagher tangled during Lap 4. #9 Will Thomas moved into second position during Lap 13 with a battle for third position between Brown, #55 Matt Barndt, and #65 George Skora III. Gault Jr. held a lengthy lead going into Lap 20 with Thomas close behind. Skora III held the third position and Barndt the fourth position for more than thirty laps. Thomas caught up to Gault Jr. after Gault Jr. was stuck behind #33 Tom Morell and Thomas took the lead during Lap 31. A caution flag was thrown during Lap 32 when three cars crashed into one another in corner 3. After passing Gault Jr. during Lap 31, Thomas held onto the lead to finish in 1^st place. Gault Jr. finished in 2^nd, followed by Skora III, Barndt, and #2 Ron Nurmi.

Will Thomas takes the checkers in front of Glenn Gault Jr and a packed house...John Corbett Photo

 

For more information contact Branden Kaczay at 814-725-3303 or email at bkaczay@lakeeriespeedway.com.

Lake Erie Speedway July 4^th Quick Results

Plyler Overhead Door Late Models

1. #9 Will Thomas
2. #32 Glenn Gault Jr.
3. #65 George Skora III
4. #55 Matt Barndt
5. #2 Ron Nurmi
6. #69 Josh John
7. #3 Jeff Brown
8. #24 Dave Rigan
9. #59 Bryce Scott
10. #17 Chris Bailey Jr.
11. #56 Rich Skora
12. #26 Mike Smith
13. #99k Ryan Kirkpatrick
14. #50 Mike Fieblkorn Jr.
15. #04 Bret Guzik
16. #12 Scott Baker
17. #02 Jeff Amsdell
18. #19 Chris Bohlman
19. #23r Mike Reed
20. #33 Tom Morell Jr.
21. #86 John Gallagher

Dodge Modifieds

1. #24 Randy Culver
2. #28 Dale Murdock
3. #77 Dave McAvoy
4. #14 Carter Mook
5. #32 Eric McCray
6. #30 Chris Briggs
7. #75 Bob Fisher
8. #20 Bob Belson
9. #17 Eric Bohrer
10. #13 Nate Carlson
11. #17jr. James-Paul Weisser
12. #49 Bob Russell
13. #66 Al Crossman
14. #84 Amber Belson
15. #11 Casey Swabik
16. #22 Ken Moore
17. #1 Terry Akerly       DNS

Street Stocks

1. #1 Jeff Campbell
2. #83 Russ Conti
3. #99 Dennis Kszos
4. #01 Leslie Bohrer
5. #78 Chris Crossman
6. #55 Ken Moore Jr.
7. #20 John Denny
8. #15 Charles Houser
9. #35 Larry Houser

 

Jensens Target Collision Compacts

1. #21 Mike Neubauer
2. #17m Rich Miller
3. #14 Jim Tobin
4. #28 Jay Johnson
5. #56 Rod Houser
6. #1 Brett Sloganhoff
7. #77 Julie McAvoy
8. #43 Jason Johnson
9. #12 Luke Johnson
10. #98 Chris McQuiston
11. #95 Jonathan Breads
12. #22 Dave Neubauer
13. #53 Nelson Johnson
14. #33 David Thompson
15. #34b Brandon Huffman
16. #9 Ashley Huffman
17. #96 Greg Irish
18. #6 Tony Caruana
19. #7 Angela McAvoy  DNS