Tommy Meier - Wilson and McKee Win, Tommy 10th and 25th

Wilson and McKee Win, Tommy 10th and 25th

06/05/07

Bill Wilson, elder statesman of the modified ranks, won the 30-lap feature race Saturday night at Orange County Fair Speedway.

The sole caution flag of the event flew on the first lap, as Donnie Wilson slid high between turns one and two. Drivers behind him checked up and tangled. Gary Edwards, Jr., Rick Mill, and Jeremy Markle collided.

On the restart, Wilson stayed ahead of Kirk Horton, Steve Dodd, and Danny Creeden, as David Van Horn passed Creeden to gain fifth spot on lap two.

Wilson was never seriously challenged and, at mid-race, he stretched his lead. By lap 23, he had a 1/2-straightaway lead over the field. Four laps later, he was a full straightaway in front of the competition, and took the checkered flag.

“I thought I would be chasing Donnie tonight. My car wasn’t working that well in the heat race, but I made a bunch of changes to it. Donnie had a flat, drifted up, and that was that. My car was good, very good. The track was very good, also. It’s a big improvement of what it’s been.”

The win was Wilson ’s seventh at OCFS, moving him up to 43rd in all-time wins. His first win at the speedway came in July, 1965.

Order of finish:

1. Billy Wilson; 2. Kirk Horton; 3. Steve Dodd; 4. Craig Mitchell; 5. David Van Horn Jr.; 6. Jeff Heotzler Sr.; 7. Davie Franek; 8. Danny Creeden; 9. Brett Hearn; 10. Tommy Meier; 11. Jerry Higbie Jr.; 12. Rich Eurich; 13. Cliff Ehrmann; 14. Jared Petruska; 15. Chuck McKee; 16. Brian Krummel; 17. Joe Morel; 18. Chris Shultz; 19.Clinton Mills; 20. Gary Edwards Jr.; 21. Mike Kolka; 22. Donnie Wilson; 23. Bruce Kline; 24. Jeff Heotzler Jr.; 25. Chris Whitehead; 26. Rick Mill; 27. Jeremy Markle.

Chuck McKee won the 25-lap smallblock modified feature. Starting third, he remained in that spot for a few laps, being passed by Johnnie Guarino. Then, on a fourth-lap restart, he began his march to the front, attaining second spot on lap six. Two laps later, he blew by John Finley coming off the second turn for the lead, which he never surrendered.

There was a wild melee on the first lap as Kirk Horton spun in turn two, collecting half the field. On lap five, Tim Hindley jumped the wheel of another racer, went sideways, saved it, but slowed off turn four and pitted with a flat.

“I knew that whatever happened in turn two wouldn’t be good. There were too many cars pointed in the wrong direction,” said McKee after the race. “My favorite line tonight was definitely the outside. I wish I could run there with my big block. But the small block could run anywhere.”

Order of finish:

1. Chuck McKee; 2. Jerry Higbie Jr.; 3. John Finley; 4. David Van Horn Jr.; 5. Brett Hearn; 6. Johnny Guarino; 7. Dom Roselli; 8. Craig Mitchell; 9. Mike Kolka; 10. Tim Hindley; 11. Chris Shultz; 12. Randy Sherlock; 13. Gary Edwards Jr.; 14. Tim Bayles; 15. Gary Napolitano; 16. Ryan Stortini; 17. Jim VanAnden; 18. Benny Rizzo; 19. Jerry Wildrick; 20. Brian Krummel; 21. Jeremy Markle; 22. Jim Finnegan; 23. Mike DePalma; 24. Kirk Horton; 25. Tommy Meier; 26. Joe Barbagallo.