2010 RoC Dart Dirt Tour T-Shirt
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Gular Runs Out Of Fuel; Rudalavage Wins Penn-Can RoC Stop |
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08/13/09 -
By JR KENNERUP
SUSQUEHANNA, PA - It appeared that former Penn Can Speedway Modified track champion Mike Gular would make a triumphant return to the track on Tuesday night in the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Tour Hot Summer Nights 75 lap Special.
Gular who started 19th had the talented Modified field covered only to run out of racing alcohol (fuel) coming down to take the white flag.
A wild scramble ensued between second place runner Mike Colsten and third place runner Jeff Rudalavage in getting past the slowing Gular machine. The end result saw Colsten slipping up the track in turns one and two and defending Penn Can Modified track champion Rudalavage powering underneath Colsten to get the lead and claim the $4,750 feature win. Jerry Higbie, Jr. ended up in third with Danny Johnson coming from 23rd in the Mike Trautschold owned car to end up fourth and Jimmy Phelps bringing home the Joe Beyea owned car in fifth.
In the Race of Champions Dart Dirt Sportsman Tour event Grant Hilfinger held off a determined Jamie Batzel to win the 40 lap $1,000 to win feature. Nick Petrilak was third followed by Brian Decker and Joey Colsten.
The Trackside Products Race of Champions Dart Dirt Pure Stock Tour saw defending champion Butch Green race a borrowed ride to the 25 lap feature win. Current point leader Rich Talada was second with Jonathon Carpenter in third, Charlie Gilbert in fourth and 17th place starter Jason Butler in fifth.
Joey Colsten and Jim Gabriel, Jr. brought the 29 car starting Modified field to green with Colsten who won his first career Modified feature three days prior at the track taking the lead over Gabriel, Brett Hearn, Jimmy Phelps and Mike Colsten.
Hearn quickly ducked under Gabriel for second on lap two with Phelps and Mike Colsten both doing the same and on the next lap Brian Weaver moved into fifth.
Following two caution periods trying to complete lap four Hearn got the jump on the younger Colsten to grab the lead on the lap four restart. Mike Colsten followed Hearn through the hole to take second with Joey Colsten in third, Phelps in fourth and Gabriel in fifth.
Defending Penn Can Modified track champion Jeff Rudalavage started to make some noise as he moved into fourth on lap six from his seventh place starting spot and one lap later moved into third.
On a lap nine restart Hearn chose the outside groove and many thought that the veteran Colsten would hand Hearn his lunch on the start. But Hearn showed just how good of a racecar driver he is as he powered around Colsten to resume the lead in his first ever appearance at the track. Hearn then opened up a good sized lead as Rudalavage passed Colsten for second on lap 14 just before the yellow came out.
On the restart Hearn got the jump on Rudalavage but Jeff came back under Hearn going into turn three. Exiting turn four the Rudalavage car slid up the track and contact was made between the two lead cars and that gave Rudalavage the lead. The contact seemed to rattle Hearn as Colsten snuck by him for second on the next lap.
Meanwhile the action for positions four through eight was heating up with Phelps, Bobby Trapper, Jerry Higbie, Jr., and Mike Gular all racing hard for these positions.
When the yellow came out on lap 20 Rudalavage was given a one spot penalty by RoC officials for advancing his position with contact. This placed Mike Colsten in the lead with Rudalavage moved back to second, Hearn in third, Trapper in fourth, and Phelps in fifth.
During another caution flag period on lap 23 the left rear tire on the Hearn machine went flat sending the third place runner to the pits where his crew changed the tire and he re – entered the race.
With all eyes on the rear of the field watching Stewart Friesen, Pat Ward, and Hearn all coming back through the field. One driver who hardly anyone noticed up to this point took command of the feature.
Mike Gular the former Penn Can Modified track champion started 19th was getting his racing alcohol powered small block hooked up as he was in fifth by lap 24. Gular was able to drive under everyone and he worked his way methodically to the front.
Gular running exclusively in the bottom groove took fourth from Higbie on lap 32 and on a lap 38 restart motored by Phelps for third. Now with the crowd in a frenzy Gular slipped under Rudalavage for second on lap 46 and when the caution flew on lap 50 everyone knew when the race returned to green a battle was brewing for the lead.
On the restart Colsten got a good jump and was able to hold off Gular on lap 51 but entering turn one on this lap Gular got under Colsten and came out of turn two with the lead. Gular continued to open his lead up and it seemed that he was well on his way to a big feature win.
However with the two to go signal being given the Gular car started to make side to side movement signifying that the fuel cell was out of fuel. With the white flag waving Gular trying to get fuel to the fuel pickup starting weaving coming down the front straightaway. Colsten and Rudalavage came out of turn four and Colsten got stuck behind Gular just long enough that it enabled Rudalavage to power his way under Colsten in turn one.
Colsten slammed the throttle to the floor in an attempt to get back by Rudalavage but to no avail as he slipped up the track instead and Rudalavage went uncontested the final half a lap to claim the win in front of a shocked grandstand.
Rudalavage dedicated the feature win to his new crew member Jack Gillespie who was injured while putting air in a racing tire at the garage two weeks ago, Jack underwent additional surgery from his injuries on Tuesday.
With the win Rudalavage also earned a guaranteed starting spot in the Short Track Super Nationals presented by Dart Machinery that takes place on October 10th at the Five Mile Point Speedway.
Qualifying action for the 34 car Modified field saw heat wins go to Butch Tittle, Phelps, Higbie, and Colsten with Joey Grammes winning the consi and Dave Calaman capturing the Motorsports Expo sponsored B Main.
P – C PONDERINGS: The track was quite racy and in good condition considering that the area received nearly four inches of rain on Monday evening. Hearn, Phelps, and Matt Sheppard were making their first career Penn Can starts. Danny Johnson never took hot laps as the car hauler broke down on the way to the track. Stewart Friesen, Pat Ward, and Hearn all made nice recoveries in the feature after pitting. Hearn leads the points heading into the three race Championship Series. Bobby Trapper at one time in the feature had the fastest car until breaking an axle ending his strong run. Mitch Gibbs was in the Chuck Brady owned Modified for the evening. A very entertaining racing program will keep the paying customers talking about the end results for some time. Shaun Walker won the two free pit passes for the Short Track Super Nationals presented by Dart Machinery that takes place on October 10th at Five Mile Point. The drawing took place for the first ten racing teams who have already pre – entered for this mega event. The additional money that was added to the Modified purse was posted by huge race fans Jack & Joanne Owens. Penn Can hosts the first Championship Series event on Friday September 18th.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH; Jeff Rudalavage, Mike Colsten, Jerry Higbie, Jr., Danny Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Stewart Friesen, Pat Ward, Brett Hearn, Alex Tonkin, Joey Grammes, Matt Sheppard, Mitch Gibbs, Kevin Bates, Dave Calaman, Mike Gular, Nick Rochinski, Alan Rudalavage, Joey Colsten, Butch Tittle, Danny Tyler, Ted Lamb, Jr., Bobby Trapper, Jim Gabriel, Jr., Danny Creeden, Dan Pompey, Brett Tonkin, Brian Weaver, Billy Van Pelt, Jackie Brown, Jr.
Lap Leaders; J. Colsten ( 1 – 3 ), Hearn ( 4 – 14 ), J. Rudalavage ( 15 – 20 ), M. Colsten ( 21 – 51 ), Gular ( 52 – 73 ) M. Colsten ( 74 ), J. Rudalavage ( 75 ).
Dart Machinery Small Block Bonus Award $500; J. Rudalavage.
RoC Provisional; Tyler.
Five Mile Point Provisional; Rochinski.
Penn Can Provisional; Pompey.
Utica – Rome Provisional; Lamb.
DNQ’S; Josh Purcell, Bobby Sandt, Jr., Bobby Trapper, Jr., Tim Votra, Michael Lartz,
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS SPORTSMAN FINISH; Grant Hilfinger, Jamie Batzel, Nick Petrilak, Brian Decker, Joey Colsten, Jeff Crambo, Johnny Scarborough, Jeff Leslie, Steve Davis, Adam MacGeorge, Justin Holland, Rick Ross, Jr., Kenny Hammond, Casey Plummer, Dwayne Robbins, Stanley Wilkins, Tyler Boniface, Bret Welch, Mike Nagel, Jr., Nick Ross, Paul Strohl.
Lap Leaders; Hilfinger ( 1 ), Batzel ( 2 ), Hilfinger ( 3 – 4 ), Batzel ( 5 ), Hilfinger ( 6 – 40 ).
DNS; Dave Hinsch, Ken Boniface.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS PURE STOCK FINISH; Butch Green, Rich Talada, Jonathon Carpenter, Charlie Gilbert, Jason Butler, Rich Green, Gene Sharpsteen, Hank Decker, Steve Polhamus, Tyler Yeagle, Harold Humphrey, Buck Mills, Mike Codington, Eric Beach, Earl Zimmer, Dan Babcock, Darl Ellis, Jr., Tom Garren, Jim Sykes.
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