Tommy Meier - Mckee wins; Tommy goes from 15th to 4th!

Mckee wins; Tommy goes from 15th to 4th!

05/04/09

By FRANK CATIZONE

MIDDLETOWN – Chuck McKee is quickly establishing himself as a driver to be reckoned with this season at the Orange County Fair Speedway.

McKee, fresh off his 358 Modified victory on April 25, found his way back into the winner’s circle again last Saturday night as he scored an impressive triumph in the Modified 30-lap main event. It was the “Middletown Missile’s’’ 24th career Modified win at OCFS and pushed him past Frank Cozze for 13th place all-time at the track.

McKee, after starting 10th in the 26-car field, quickly moved his way into third place behind leader Mike Kolka and Bob McGannon by the seventh lap. Kolka was enjoying a big lead and seemed well on his way to a victory. But Kolka’s early-season woes continued as the engine expired with 13 laps completed.

That opened the door for McKee, who blasted ahead of McGannon on the restart and never looked back.

“A win is a win,’’ said McKee, “we’ll take them any way we can get them. The outside was really fast early in the race and I felt like I was catching Kolka.

“But it started going away in the third and fourth turns as the race progressed and I had to move down a little bit. There wasn’t too much left on top to grab hold to. My tires started heating up and the car was getting a little loose at the end.’’

McGannon, who knows McKee flourishes on the outside rim, elected to begin the decisive 14th-lap restart on the outside following Kolka’s misfortune. But the move backfired.

“You pick your poison,’’ said McGannon. “I chose to start outside because of the oil slick put down on the track by Kolka. But Chuck got the jump on me and I got a little out of shape. We made contact and I was lucky to save it.’’

McKee said he didn’t mean to collide with McGannon.

“I pinched him a little, but didn’t know he was there,’’ said McKee. “Luckily, we were both able to keep going. Bobby’s car was really fast.’’

But not fast enough as McGannon, in the midst of his fourth modified season, matched his personal-best performance with a second-place effort. Kirk Horton followed in third place with Tommy Meier, Donnie Wilson, Clinton Mills, Jerry Higbie, Mike Storms, David Van Horn Jr. and Mitch Gibbss rounding out the top 10.

“My car was real fast, but I knew Chuck was coming,’’ said McGannon. “I know he likes to run on the outside. That also made me choose the outside for the restart. He just beat me.’’

McKee, who now stands in first place in both Modified standings, admitted he had to fight the car in the closing stages.

“I may have tightened the car up a little bit too much and had to overcompensate,’’ said McKee. “It was a real battle steering in the turns. Luckily, everything turned out okay.’’

In Sportsman action, Joe Conklin, after starting outside pole, vaulted into first place at the drop of the green and never wavered as he coasted to his first victory of 2009 in the 20-lap feature. Mike Ruggiero settled for second place with Bobby Hassenmayer, Matt Janiak and Doc Young following.

Reigning champion Mike Dutka, after blowing an engine a week ago, rebounded to score his first victory this season in the Pro Stock 20-lap feature. Scott Kehr and Bill Pascual, who also have victories in 2009, placed second and third. Tom Vigh Jr. and Russ Nuzzaro rounded out the top five.

Emerson Cargain Sr. pocketed his second straight Veteran Division victory this season in the combined Pure Stock 15-lap main event. Frank Thissen, who completed the race in fourth place, was the top Amateur Division finisher and was awarded his second win of the racing campaign.

Modified Feature Finish, 30 Laps: Chuck McKee, Bob McGannon, Kirk Horton, Tommy Meier, Donnie Wilson, Clinton Mills, Jerry Higbie, Mike Storms, David Van Horn Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Chris Shultz, Jesse Kline, Rich Eurich, Danny Creeden, Jeremy Markle, Craig Mitchell, Eric Marin, Cliff Ehrman, Brett Tonkin, Justin Gozzi, Jeff Heotzler Sr., Steve Dodd, Gary Edwards Jr., Mike Kolka, Chris Whitehead, Ric Hill. Did Not Qualify: Bill Wilson, Rick Mill, Rich Scagliotta.

Sportsman Feature Finish, 20 Laps: Joe Conklin, Mike Ruggiero, Bobby Hassenmayer, Matt Janiak, Doc Young, Erik Holmgren, Eddie Burgess, Matt Hitchcock, Frank Venezia, Bob Hentschel, Mike Barrett, Rich Coons, John Aumick, Jake Schlagel, Bill Johnston, Tyler Odendahl, Frank Doty, Chris Stevens, Andy Sier, John Corry, Tim Paul, Joe Wilgus, Anthony Perrego, Jimmy Spellmon. Did Not Qualify: Burt Irwin Jr., Ken Moulton, John D. Odendahl.

Pro Stock Feature Finish, 20 Laps: Mike Dutka, Scott Kehr, Bill Pascual, Tom Vigh Jr., Russ Nuzzaro, Roger Oubina, Troy Arnold, Tom Cilurso, John Velde, Bobby Shade, James Devitt, Stevie Galgano, Jim Smith, Tim McCarthy, Terry Arnold, Steven Shortway.

Pure Stock Veteran Feature Finish, 15 Laps: Emerson Cargain Sr., Jay Pepin, Marty Van Neiuwland, John Dore.

Pure Stock Amateur Feature Finish, 15 Laps: Frank Thissen, Matt Burke, Stan Vishinski Jr., John Miracle, Paul Aragon Jr., Dave Van Sise, John Woinoski, Tom Shortway, Matt Monroe, Joe Paino, Stephen Kammer, Charles Donald, Tom Talamini Sr., Kenny Reed, Sam Burlum, Ron Constable.