Former Champions Are Big Winners On Raceway 7 Driver Appreciation Night

Conneaut, OH (May 20, 2016): It was “Driver Appreciation Night” at Raceway 7 with several racing-related prizes given out to drivers in all classes including gift certificates and various racing parts including fuel, oil, shocks, brakes, and related items. On track the racing was as hot as ever on the reconfigured oval. Several hats and tee-shirts were thrown into the crowd during intermission for the fans. Feature events all went to former class champions with Kyle Zimmerman (Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models) and Joel Watson (Bonnell’s Collision Center E-Mods) leading from flag to flag. Defending champion Shawn Fawcett took over at the front on lap three of the Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stock finale while defending Bonnell’s Auto Group Economod champion Rick Prosser grabbed the lead on a late race restart in their caution-marred feature.

The Bonnell Collision Center E-Mod feature was up first with defending and two-time champion Percy McDonald starting from the pole with many time champion Joel Watson outside front row. Watson jumped into the early lead over McDonald with Troy Johnson third. With two laps complete veteran Bill Taylor spun into the infield on the back chute, slowing the field under caution. After green Dennis Lunger came to third and began challenging for the runner-up spot while Watson was opening a substantial lead, nearly half a straight at five complete when Bruce Powell and Jeff Johnson spun in turn four, again slowing the event. Lunger immediately came to second after green but Watson was again driving away. With eight complete Josh Ferry, Josh McDonald, and Bill Taylor piled up in turn four. At halfway Watson led Lunger, Percy McDonald, Troy Johnson, and Bud Watson. With thirteen complete Lunger came to a halt in turn one and needed towed from the track with apparent mechanical problems. With four laps remaining caution mysteriously appeared. For the five lap run to the checkers Joel Watson led Percy McDonald, Justin Carlson, Troy Johnson, and Cale Crocker back to the green. Crocker spun in turn four with two left, setting up another restart. The final yellow appeared at the white flag when Gary Sullivan spun coming out of turn four. Watson then went on to the win, his second in the three week old season, over McDonald, Johnson, Carlson, and Jesse Gould. The win was the thirty-fourth E-Mod win for Watson.

The McDonald Sand & Gravel Mini Stocks were brought to green by Hoyt Mihalak and Derrick Tuttle with two-time winner and points leader Jason Easler starting back in twelfth spot for the twelve-lap main event. Mihalak led the first lap and was leading Kyle Adkins and Jake Shipman when Derrick Tuttle slowed to a stop on the back straightaway with three complete. Two cars spun in turn four before another lap was complete. At halfway Mihalak was still leading over Bud Sergeff, Casey Harmon, Jason Easler, and Jake Shipman. With three laps remaining Shawn McBride slammed the wall hard in turn four, bringing the red flag over the race. He was uninformed but fluid poured from the car, necessitating a lengthy cleanup. For the three laps remaining the order was Mihalak, Sergeff, Casey Harmon, Easler, and Shipman. Harmon came to second at green but Sergeff got back to second by the end of one lap under green. Zoey Gill then hit the wall, dropping debris and again slowing the field. On the restart Harmon got by the leaders and then the top three ran three wide down the back straight on the final lap. Coming off turn four for the checkers Sergeff edged ahead, winning his twentieth Raceway 7 feature over Mihalak and Harmon but Harmon was penalized two position for “jumping” a restart. Jason Easler was third, and Shipman fourth.

The Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks were brought to green by heat winner Russell Byler and Chris McGuire. Byler led lap one with defending champion Shawn Fawcett coming to second. Fawcett was leading after two laps with Chris McGuire now second and Don McGuire third. Fourth running Tony Marotto spun in turn four and was collected by Byler, who had fallen to fifth. Chris McGuire began challenging for the lead at lap five but a debris caution slowed the event on lap six. Before another lap was in the books Byler spun in turn four, again slowing the race. Coming to the end of lap thirteen Chris McGuire spun after contact from a lapped machine, collecting Tony Marotto. With one lap remaining Byler again spun in turn four, setting up a single lap dash for the checkers. After green again flew 2015 champion Fawcett, in his first appearance of the season, went on to the win over Don McGuire, Chris McGuire, Pat Fielding, and Marotto. It was Fawcett’s eleventh career win.

The Bonnell Auto Group Economods started the biggest field in their history with twenty five starters for their fifteen lap feature. Tyler Frankenberry and Kyle Fellow brought the field to green but Josh Mueller and Brandon Blackshear got together in turn four negating the start. Frankenberry again led from green with Fellows, Harmon, and Chaddock trailing. Chaddock came to third at the end of three laps. At the end of four laps Chaddock was second but Frankenberry had a sizable lead. At six complete Haley Lapcevish spun in turn three, slowing the event and erasing Frankenberry’s lead. On the third attempt to get the race restarted three cars piled up in turn three but the leaders had completed the lap. With the race becoming a “caution-fest” the decision was made to restart single file. Frankenberry led past the halfway but spun in turn four, turning the lead over to Chaddock with Harmon now second and defending champion Rick Prosser third after starting ninth. Under the yellow flag Chaddock pulled to the pit. Prosser then grabbed the lead at the start line, leading for just one lap before yet another yellow flag flew. Two more cautions slowed Prosser’s march to his second win of the season over Brian Toto,Mitch Wright, opening night winner Steve Haefke, and Mike Harmon.

The final event of the evening was the Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models with Alex Anderson and Travis Martineau leading the way to Roger Osburn’s green flag. On the initial start Ed Bolyard spun up against the turn one rail necessitating a compete restart. Anderson led lap one with former champion Kyle Zimmerman coming to second from third. Anderson led after green with Zimmerman challenging and getting by on the back straight. Khole Wanzer spun in turn four on lap three bringing yellow again. Zimmerman led after five laps with Anderson now second, Breyton Santee, up from ninth on the grid, Dennis Lunger, and Darrell Bossard. At halfway Zimmerman had a quarter lap lead over Anderson who was being challenged by Santee. Travis Martineau spun in turn two again slowing the race and erasing Zimmerman’s lead. Santee came to second at green with Lunger also getting by Anderson before another lap was in. Anderson then spun with eleven complete. Bossard was penalized to the rear for rough driving in the Anderson spin. With Santee and Lunger right on the leader’s rear bumper the race resumed with Lunger slipping high in turn two and losing seven spots. Up front Zimmerman was extending his lead over Santee with Wendell Pinckney third, Chris Withers fourth, and Bossard back up to fifth. Zimmerman built up a several car length lead at the checkers with the top five remaining the same.

Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Late Models:

Heat 1: Wendell Pinckney, Kyle Zimmerman, Darrell Bossard, Travis Martineau, Breyton Santee, William Pinckney, Corey Ruffo

Heat 2: Dennis Lunger, Dave Lyon, Khole Wanzer, Alex Anderson, Brandon Porter, Ed Bolyard, Chris Withers (DQ)

Feature: Kyle Zimmerman, Breyton Santee, Wendell Pinckney, Chris Withers, Darrell Bossard, Khole Wanzer, Dennis Lunger, Travis Martineau, Corey Ruffo, William Pinckney, Ed Bolyard, Alex Anderson, David Lyon, Brandon Porter

Bonnell’s Collision Center E-Mods:

Heat 1: Josh Ferry, Justin Carlson, Percy McDonald, Jeff Johnson, Bill Taylor, Gary Sullivan, Jesse Gould, John Woodward, Kirk Bradley

Heat 2: Joel Watson, Troy Johnson, Josh McDonald, Dennis Lunger, Bruce Powell, Cale Crocker, Dan McDonald, Bud Watson

Feature: Joel Watson, Percy McDonald, Troy Johnson, Justin Carlson, Jesse Gould, Cale Crocker, Gary Sullivan, Kirk Bradley, Josh McDonald, Bud Watson, Dennis Lunger, Bill Taylor, Dennis Dellinger, Josh Ferry, Jeff Johnson, Bruce Powell, Dan McDonald, John Woodward (DNS)

Bonnell’s Auto Group Economods:

Heat 1: Josh Mueller, Kyle Fellows, Eric Reinwald, Justin Chaddock, Chuck Steinle Sr, Bob Vogt Jr, Geoff Conn, Gary Murphy, Steve Haefke (DQ)

Heat 2: Tyler Frankenberry, Mitchell Wright, Mark Harmon, Brian Toto, Kevin Sergeff, Jim Muma, Kyle Reinwald, Ashley Rogers, Dennis Dellinger (DQ)

Heat 3: Rick Prosser, Gary Miller, Brandon Blackshear, Brian Lacey, Tom Perkins, Haley Lapcevich, James Myers, Devin Henry (DQ)

Feature: Rick Prosser, Brian Toto, Mitchell Wright, Steve Haefke, Mike Harmon, Kevin Sergeff, Eric Reinwald, Gary Murphy, Tyler Frankenberry, Brandon Blackshear, Kyle Reinwald, James Myers, Brian Lacey, Geoff Conn, Haley Lapcevich, Tom Perkins, Jim Muma, Gary Miller, Ashley Rogers, Chuck Steinle Jr, Devin Henry, Bob Vogt Jr, Justin Chaddock, Kyle Fellows, Josh Mueller

Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks:

Heat 1: Don McGuire, Shawn Fawcett, Tony Marotto, Rob Bates, Brad Church, David Snyder(DNS)

Heat 2: Russ Byler, Chris McGuire, Pat Fielding, Art Gilcrest, Richard Chess, Ken Lamp

Feature: Shawn Fawcett, Don McGuire, Chris McGuire, Pat Fielding, Tony Marotto, Art Gilcrest, Ken Lamp, Richard Chess,Russell Byler, Brad Church, Rob Bates, Dave Snyder (DNS)

McDonalds Sand and Gravel Mini Stocks:

Heat 1: Andy Proper, Hoyt Mihalak, Zach Chaffin, Jason Easler, Pat Drennan, Joe Keney, Cale Sousa, Zoey Gill

Heat 2: Bud Sergeff, Kyle Adkins, Casey Harmon, Derrick Tuttle, Brad Cole, Alex Forbes, Emily Stoyer

Heat 3: Pat Hanlon, Matt Miller, Jake Shipman, Justin Boardman, Mitch Stokes, Jessica Harvey, Shawn McBride

Feature: Bud Sergeff, Hoyt Hihalak, Jason Easler, Jake Shipman, Casey Harmon, Justin Boardman, Andy Proper, Matt Miller, Joe Keney, Cale Sousa, Jessica Harvey, Emily Stoyer, Zoey Gill, Alex Forbes, Kyle Adkins, Shawn McBride, Mitch Stokes, Pat Hanlon, Derrick Tuttle, Zach Chaffin, Pat Drennan, Brad Cole (DNS)