Pifer, Groters, Harmon All Get First Feature Wins At Raceway 7

Conneaut, OH (May 8, 2015): exceptionally warm temperatures greeted race fans and competitors as the came into Raceway 7 for the second regular event of first class racing this season. At the end of the night Josh Ferry (Zimmer Service Center Economods) and Percy McDonald (Bonnell Collision Center E-Mods), both former track champions, had repeated their opening night wins. Bob Pifer returned to Victory Lane for the first time since moving up to the Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models. While Brandon Groters (Campbell’s Mini-Storage Street Stocks) and Casey Harmon (Specialty Products Mini Stocks) collect their first-ever Raceway 7 wins, for Harmon his first anywhere.

The Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models were the first feature on the track with Bob Pifer and Dave Airgood leading the pack to the green. Pifer led the way after the first lap then disaster struck in turn one when eight cars piled up hard in turn one with Dennis Lunger and Dave Airgood getting “air time”. Lunger and Airgood were unable to continue but the others all continued. Three laps were complete when Matt Latta slowed on the front straight, coming to a halt, bringing caution over the field. Pifer went on to his first ever CARS Crate Late Model win. Dave Lyon challenged most of the event but Pifer started increasing his lead over the last several laps. Defending champion Kyle Zimmerman was third with Breyton Santee fourth and Chad Wright fifth.

The Bonnell Collision Center E-Mods were next on the track with Brent Rhebergen and Bud Watson at the front of the field. Watson led Rhebergen the first three laps then making way for Rhebergen with Joel Watson coming to third then to second at lap five with Jack Young coming to third a lap later, just as caution flew for Bill Taylor, who had slowed on the front straight. At the restart Young got by Joel Watson on the back straight then Watson spun high in turn four while Young slowed on the front straight. For the restart it was Rhebergen, Bud Watson, last week’s winner Percy McDonald, Gary Sullivan, and Josh McDonald. Coming out of turn four with eight complete the leader spun in turn four with a flat right-rear tire, again slowing the event. Percy McDonald was now the leader, looking to become the first repeat winner of 2015 with Josh McDonald right behind. Third-running Ken Zimmer suddenly slowed on the back straight at lap fourteen and exited to the pit. After one more caution Percy McDonald went on to the win over Bud Watson, Paul Schreckengost, Josh McDonald, (who had engine problems in the final turns), and Bill Taylor.

The Specialty Products Mini Stocks had Dylan Goodman on the pole with Casey Harmon alongside. Harmon took off to the immediate lead with former champion Brad Cole coming to second from his fourth starting berth. The race went green until lap eight when Scott Gill slowed on the back straight. Brad Cole got next to Harmon at the restart but Harmon was up to the task, going on to his first ever win. Cole was second, Tyler Fulton wound up third with Jason Easler fourth and Bud Sergeff fifth.

A seven car field started the Bonnell’s Auto Sales Economod feature with Eric Reinwald and Rick Prosser leading the field to green. Prosser jumped into the lead at the onset with last week’s winner Josh Ferry starting sixth. Prosser was leading by a straightaway over Reinwald until lap seven when Reinwald spun in turn one, closing the field back, then Russ Kapalin spun on lap nine. On the ensuing restart Prosser led Ferry back to green. Ferry went to the inside on lap thirteen, taking the lead on the backstretch. Ferry went on to win his second feature on the season. Rick Prosser was second, Russ Kapalin third, Gary Miller fourth, and Bob Bellinger fifth.

Nine cars started the Campbell’s Mini storage Street Stocks with Brandon Groters and Brain Crandall on the front row. Goters immediately took the lead while a battle was going on between Chris Withers and Ed Bolyard for third behind Crandall. Groters lead by a full straightaway and captured his first ever Raceway 7 feature by fourteen seconds over Chris Withers who passed Brain Crandall on lap thirteen for second. Last week’s winner Shawn Fawcett finished fourth with Ed Bolyard fifth.

Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models:
Heat 1: Dennis Lunger, Kyle Zimmerman, Bob Pifer, Wendell Pinckney, William Pinckney, Chris Nicholson
Heat 2: Chad Wright, Dave Lyon, Mike Mitchell, Matt Latta, Khole Wanzer, Billy Henry, Gary Winans
Feature: Bob Pifer, David Lyon, Kyle Zimmerman, Breyton Santee, Chad Wright, Wendall Pinckney, Billy Henry, Mike Mitchell, Darrell Bossard, William Pinckney, Khole Wanzer, Matt Latta, Dave Airgood, Dennis Lunger, Chris Nicholson (DNS)

Bonnell Collision Center E-Mods:
Heat 1: Jack Young, Brent Rhebergen, Bud Watson,Bill Henry, Kenny Zimmer, Dan McDonald
Heat 2: Josh McDonald, Joel Watson, Gary Sullivan, Percy McDonald, Chuck Steinle Jr, Paul Schreckengost
Feature: Percy McDonald, Bud Watson, Paul Schreckengost, Josh McDonald, Bill Taylor, Jack Young, Gary Sullivan, Chuck Steinle Jr, Ken Zimmer, Brent Rhebergen, Dan McDonald, Joel Watson

Campbell’s Mini-Storage Street Stocks:
Heat 1: Brandon Groters, Chris Hochschild, Chris Withers, Mike Harmon, Dan McEwen
Heat 2: Shaun Fawcett, Brian Crandall, Ed Bolyard, Rob Bates
Feature: Brandon Groters, Chris Withers, Brian Crandall, Shaun Fawcett, Ed Bolyard, Chris Hochschild, Mark Harmon, Rob Bates, Dan McEwen

Bonnell Auto Sales Economods:
Heat 1: Rick Prosser, Russ Kapalin, Josh Ferry, Gary Miller, Eric Reinwald, Bob Bellinger, Jace Ferringer (DQ)
Feature: Josh Ferry, Rick Prosser, Russ Kapalin, Gary Miller, Bob Bellinger, Jace Ferringer, Eric Reinwald

Specialty Products Mini Stocks:
Heat 1: Brad Cole, Tyler Fulton, Dale Fraschetti, Alex Forbes, Joe Keney, Hoyt Mihalak, Jason Easler, Scott Gill, Jeannie Fowler
Heat 2: Casey Harmon, Mitch Stokes, Justin Boardman, Dylan Goodman, Jake Shipman, Zoey Gill, John Bulger, Bud Sergeff (DNS)
Feature: Casey Harmon, Brad Cole, Tyler Fulton, Jason Easler, Bud Sergeff, Justin Boardman, Dylan Goodman, Mitch Stokes, Jake Shipman, Dale Fraschetti, Hoyt Mihalak, Joe Keney, Alex Forbes, Zoey Gill, John Bulger, Scott Gill, Jeannie Fowler