Patriot Sprint Tour This week At Raceway 7

By Jay Pees

Conneaut, OH (June 22, 2016): The winged, fire-breathing, alcohol burning machine of the Patriot Sprint Tour will be at Raceway 7 this Friday, presented by Bonnell’s Auto Group. Scott Bonnell, owner of Bonnell Auto Group, is a former competitor in the series. All five regular divisions will run regular length features as the 2016 season concludes its first half.

Jared Zimbardi currently leads the Patriot Sprint Tour standings and has won at Raceway 7 in the past along with Chuck Hebing, currently tenth in the tour standing, and last year’s winner Bryan Howland, a four-time tour champion. Dane Lorenc is currently second in points with Paul Habeck third, Dave Just fourth, and Tyler Graves fifth.

The Evergreen Lake Park Campground CARS Crate Late Models shows Darrell Bossard on top the list with a fourteen-point lead over Dennis Lunger, a former champion and two-time 2016 winner. Bossard got his sole win of the season on May 27 but consistent finishes have kept him on top. A three-time winner and past champion, Kyle Zimmerman, is third, another forty points back. Wendall Pinckney, winner for the first time last week, is fourth with Breyton Santee, shut out of the Winner’s Circle this far, fifth. With less than 100 points separating the top four spots, the title chase is heating up and every race will be important to the teams.

Joel Watson, many times a champion at Raceway 7 in various classes, has dominated the Bonnell’s Collision Service E-Mods. The only week Watson did not win was the only week he did not race! Mike Potosky won the second night of the season, May 13. As a result, Watson has a huge 78-point lead at the halfway point of the season over Dennis Lunger, doing double duty this season. Defending champion Percy McDonald is third, just four markers behind Lunger. Troy Johnson and Josh McDonald fill out the top five. Potosky, a part-time competitor due do job responsibilities, is tenth.

Pending night and last week’s winner Rob Bates leads the Campbell’s Mini Storage Street Stocks with an 85-point edge over defending champion Shawn Fawcett. Fawcett got a late start on the season but has run up front each week he has raced and was gaining ground until last Friday when the two points leaders staged a superb race for the win with Bates coming out on top. Two-time winner Chris McGuire trails second place by 65 markers and has two wins at the track. Jimmy Kennerknecht, winner June 10, is fourth with Chris Hochschild fifth. Leigh Wheeler scored a win on May 13.

The Bonnell’s Auto Sales Economods have the closest points race at the halfway point of the season with opening night and last week’s winner Steve Haefke holding a slim six-point advantage over defending champion Rick Prosser. Eric Reinwald, with a win June 10, runs third, another fifty points back. Mike Harmon and Kevin Sergeff, both winless so far this season, fill out the top five. Young Tyler Frankenberry got his first-ever win on May 27.

Three-time winner Jason Easler leads the McDonalds Sand & Gravel Mini Stocks chase for the championship by 25 points over Hoyt Mihalak, winless this season at this point. Former champion and single 2016 winner Bud Sergeff is third, another 69 points back. Steadily improving Kyle Adkins is fourth with Casey Harmon fifth although neither has broken into Victory Lane yet. Andy Proper and defending champion Brad Cole have single wins.

Weather permitting, gates open every Friday at 5:30 PM with pill draw cut off at 7 PM and racing at 7:30 PM. VIP suites are available for rental for $250 a night which includes eight general admissions passes. Admission is set for $15 for adults for this special event, kids 7-14 are $5. Children 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $25. For more information please visit www.raceway7.com or call the track on race day after 12 noon at 440-594-2222.