Tommy Meier - Tommy finishes 10th in the BB and 3rd in the SB!

Tommy finishes 10th in the BB and 3rd in the SB!

07/20/09

Week #14 Recap By FRANK CATIZONE

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Joe Morel became the newest member of the Orange County Fair Speedway Modified winner’s club last Saturday night as he cruised to a convincing victory in the 30-lap main event.

Morel, who became the 194th driver to earn a feature victory in the 1,328 Modified races that have been contested at this historic racing facility since 1948, was nearly lost for words after taking the checkered flag from OCFS starter Jerry Enright nearly five seconds ahead of Craig Mitchell.

“I’m just on cloud nine right now,’’ said Morel, following his first career Modified triumph. “I guess you could say I’m now among the big boys that have raced at this track. This is fantastic. It’s just a great feeling for me, Cliff and Eric Ehrmann, and the entire Sparta racing team.’’

Morel, who was making just his fourth appearance of the racing season, and Cliff Ehrmann agreed to share the driving chores in 2009. Both drivers have their own cars and Mike Sparta has supplied them with a big block engine built by JPM.

“We work well together,’’ said Morel. “We’re teammates and good friends. Cliff raced the first six weeks with his car and I used it for two weeks. But I just didn’t feel comfortable.

“We decided to drop the motor into my car two weeks ago and I felt a lot better. The car really was hooked up. I’ve got two more weeks to race and then we’ll go from there. This has been a lot of fun for the whole team.’’

Morel, who started on the pole, was overpowered at the drop of the green by Bill Wilson, who was able to build a comfortable lead during the event’s early stages. The 70-year-old Ramsey, N.J., driver was averaging speeds of over 103 miles per hour as he led for the first 13 laps.

However, Morel, who was cutting into Wilson’s advantage, caught a break moments later when Mike Kolka slammed hard into the wall between the first and second turns. Kolka was pushed into the wall by Jeremy Markle, who was sent to the rear for rough-riding.

Morel took control on the 14th lap restart as Wilson elected to start inside. Wilson retired after 22 laps with a flat right rear tire.
“Billy told me he had a right rear going down after the race,’’ said Morel. “But he was really going good there for a while. I was catching him, but he’s really fiery.’’

Morel was really never challenged from that point on as he was able to register speeds of over 107 mph to finish well ahead of Mitchell. Rich Eurich followed in third place with Jerry Higbie, Chuck McKee, Mitch Gibbs, Ric Hill, Tim Hindley, Danny Creeden and Tommy Meier rounding out the top 10.

Rick Mill, who picked up his second Modified win of the season on July 4, won the King of the Track Series by two points over Meier. It was worth $1,500 to Mill.

Reigning track champion Jerry Higbie finally found his way into the OCFS victory lane this season as he recorded an impressive win in the 25-lap feature event.

Higbie was averaging higher speeds than his Modified counterparts as he blistered the five-eighths mile, hard clay oval with a quick lap of 107.779 miles per hour. Higbie toured the track in 20.876 seconds as compared to Joe Morel’s top speed of :20.950.

“Yeah, this car was really fast tonight,’’ said Higbie. “It didn’t matter where I put it. It was just as fast in the middle of the track as it was on the top.

“I made some changes since we last raced and it really made a difference. I changed the shocks and springs, and I changed the gear after our heat race. I think that perked it up a bit.’’

Higbie, who drives for Goshen car owner Steve Canfield from Affordable Transmissions, soared past Tom Hindley on a 13th lap restart and never looked back en route to his 12th career OCFS small block victory. McKee was a distant second with Meier, Tom Hindley, Billy Eggers Jr., Markle, John Lieto, Danny Creeden, Kirk Horton and Chris Shultz rounding out the top 10.

“I had a lot of confidence all night,’’ said Higbie, whose only other win this season came in his own big block car at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood. “It was a good night all around counting my fourth place in the Modified race. We needed a night like this.’’

Tom Hindley, who was behind the wheel of his own No. 17H car for the first time this season, darted to the early lead from his pole position and remained there until David Van Horn Jr. stopped in the second turn with 12 laps completed. That opened the door for Higbie’s winning move on the restart.

There were 20 cars signed in for the third 358 Modified event of the season. The heat winners were Markle, Horton and Creeden. All entrants made the feature.

Matt Hitchcock, after winning the inaugural Sportsman Elimination race and the $600 that went with it, came back to register a commanding victory in the 20-lap feature nightcap. Erik Holmgren took the 20-lap held-over event from June 13.

Hitchcock overtook John Aumick on a third-lap restart following Jake Schlagel’s fourth-turn spin. The Stony Point driver then avoided four more wrecks and the presence of Aumick to register his first victory of the season.

Aumick, who recorded his best finish since graduating from the full fender ranks, settled for second place with Eddie Burgess, Frank Doty and Bobby Hassenmayer rounding out the top five.

Holmgren also earned his first win of 2009 as he utilized a nifty four-car pass to outrace Rich Coons, John Ferrier, Matt Janiak and Bobby Hentschel to checkered flag.

Holmgren, who jumped from fifth place to the lead following a fourth-lap restart, withstood the late-race challenges offered by Coons en route to his win. Coons crossed the line just 0.434 seconds off the pace.

Kyle Cicio, who faded to 11th place at the finish, led the race for three laps before Doty spun in the fourth turn to force a caution. That set the stage for Holgren’s winning move as he passed Cicio, John D. Odendahl, Tim Paul and Jimmy Spellmon following the restart.

Hitchcock, Cicio, Tyler Odendahl and Aumick were the four heat winners as 37 cars checked into the pits. Paul grabbed the consolation victory.

Roger Oubina Jr. chalked up his first career Pro Stock win as he led the entire 20-lap distance and then dedicated the triumph to his father during the post-race festivities.

“This is for you dad,’’ said Oubina. “I’m dedicating this win to my father. This is the reason I come up here every week and race.’’

Oubina, after starting on the pole, was never seriously as he finished well ahead of defending champion Mike Dutka at the checkered flag. Tom Cilurso, Stevie Galgano and John Velde rounded out the top five.

“This is awesome,’’ said Oubina. “It’s a great feeling to be out here tonight. I just have a great race car out here tonight.
“I just want to thank the Cargains for all of their help, and my wife and grandparents for all of their support.’’

Bobby Schade, who dropped out early in the feature, and Dutka won the heat races.

Emerson Cargain Sr. reached a significant milestone in his long racing career as he grabbed his 25th victory in the Pure Stock ranks.

Cargain, who began his OCFS career in the early 1980s, took the checkered flag in fifth place as the event was shortened from 15 to 10 laps because of several cautions. But Cargain was the first Veteran Division driver across the line and it was good for his seventh win of the racing campaign.

Tom Shortway was declared the Amateur Division winner. Shortway actually took the checkered flag second to Kyle Pepin, who was penalized two positions from jumping a restart.

Shortway, who grabbed his second career win, was followed by Mike Consales, Pepin and Joe Paino in the Amateur part of the Combined race.

The Northeast Vintage Modified 12-lap race was won by Jeff Richardson with Howard Murphy, Stan Wetmore, Robby Casti and Ray See Sr. following.

Richardson grabbed first place on the ninth lap after early leader Rob Rowe was involved in a second-turn tangle with Casti and Wetmore. Rowe was forced to the pits, but Casti and Wetmore continued as the 13-car field was depleted by three cautions.

The worst of the accidents came in the first turn when Anthony Cannizzaro slammed hard into the wall with his vintage No. 85 racer. Cannizzaro wasn’t injured, but his car sustained heavy damage.

Modified Feature Finish, 30 Laps: 1. Joe Morel, 2. Craig Mitchell, 3. Rich Eurich, 4. Jerry Higbie, 5. Chuck McKee, 6. Mitch Gibbs, 7. Ric Hill, 8. Tim Hindley, 9. Danny Creeden, 10. Tommy Meier, 11. Rick Mill, 12. Kirk Horton, 13. Chris Shultz, 14. Bob McGannon, 15. Chris Whitehead, 16. Bruce Kline, 17. Jesse Kline, 18. David Van Horn Jr., 19. Gary Edwards Jr., 20. Jeremy Markle, 21. Joe Puzzella, 22. Steve Dodd, 23. Billy Lowden Jr., 24. Bill Wilson, 25. Jeff Heotzler Sr., 26. Mike Kolka. Did Not Qualify: Clinton Mills, Bill VanInwegen Jr.

358 Modified Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Jerry Higbie, 2. Chuck McKee, 3. Tommy Meier, 4. Tom Hindley, 5. Billy Eggers, 6. Jeremy Markle, 7. John Lieto, 8. Danny Creeden, 9. Kirk Horton, 10. Chris Shultz, 11. Mel Schrufer, 12. David Van Horn Jr., 13. Craig Mitchell, 14. Don Elliott Jr., 15. Neal Harris, 16. Tim Hindley, 17. Clinton Mills, 18. Billy Lowden Jr., 19. Paul Kranz, 20. Lex Burritt.

Sportsman Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Matt Hitchcock, 2. John Aumick, 3. Eddie Burgess, 4. Frank Doty, 5. Bobby Hassenmayer, 6. Rich Coons, 7. Joe Conklin, 8. Mike Sabia, 9. John Ferrier, 10. Bobby Hentschel, 11. Erik Holmgren, 12. Jimmy Spellmon, 13. Tim Paul, 14. Chris Stevens, 15. Matt Janiak, 16. Sammy Piazza, 17. Tyler Odendahl, 18. Bob Wosyluk, 19. Kyle Cicio, 20. Anthony Perrego, 21. Mike Ruggiero, 22. Kyle Weiss, 23. Jake Schlagel, 24. Frank Venezia. Did Not Qualify: Bill Johnston, Dion Naples, Doc Young, Mike VanTassel, Bobby Dmuchowski, Randy Sweetman, Joe Wilgus, Aaron Doolittle, Burt Irwin Jr., John Alimurat, Rich Eggers, Mark Sasso, John Corry.

Sportsman Held Over Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Erik Holmgren, 2. Rich Coons, 3. John Ferrier, 4. Matt Janiak, 5. Bobby Hentschel, 6. Joe Conklin, 7. Eddie Burgess, 8. Mike Ruggiero, 9. Matt Hitchcock, 10. Mike Sabia, 11. Kyle Cicio, 12. Bill Johnston, 13. Jimmy Spellmon, 14. Anthony Perrego, 15. Kyle Weiss, 16. Sammy Piazza, 17. John D. Odendahl, 18. Tyler Odendahl, 19. Tim Paul, 20. Frank Doty, 21. Doc Young, 22. Mike Barrett, 23. Frank Venezia, 24. Bobby Dmuchowski.

Pro Stock Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Roger Oubina Jr., 2. Mike Dutka, 3. Tom Cilurso, 4. Stevie Galgano, 5. John Velde, 6. Bill Pascual, 7. Tom Vigh Jr., 8. Scott Kehr, 9. Steven Shortway, 10. Troy Arnold, 11. Tim McCarthy, 12. Russ Nuzzaro, 13. Jeff Hager, 14. Bobby Schade, 15. Terry Arnold, 16. Jim Smith, 17. Jimmy Devitt.

Pure Stock Veteran Feature Finish, 10 Laps: 1. Emerson Cargain Sr., Marty Van Neiuwland, 3. John Dore, 4. John Hechinger, 5. Mike Vigiletti.

Pure Stock Amateur Feature Finish, 10 Laps: 1. Tom Shortway, 2. Mike Consales, 3. Kyle Pepin, 4. Joe Paino, 5. Stan Vishinski Jr., 6. Kenny Reed, 7. Ron Constable, 8. Tim Daly, 9. Jim Maher, 10. Matt Monroe, 11. Stephen Kammer, 12. Matt Burke, 13. Frank Thissen, 14. Harry Shortway, 15. George Alkema Jr., 16. Bob Kowles, 17. Charles Donald, 18. Dave Van Sise, 19. Tom Behrman, 20. Pedro Soto.

Northeast Vintage Modified Feature Finish, 12 Laps: 1. Jeff Richardson, 2. Howard Murphy, 3. Stan Wetmore, 4. Robby Casti, 5. Ray See Sr., 6. Brad Zawaski, 7. John Hager, 8. Pat Murphy, 9. Ricky Rutt, 10. Rob Rowe, 11. Ronnie Sauger, 12. Don Penwarden, 13. Anthony Cannizzaro.