Mike Welch - Alex Bruce Photo
Elbridge, NY — September 27, 2008 – By Dave Medler, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Series Correspondent
Recently crowned Canandaigua Speedway points champion Mike Welch added another accomplishment to his season Saturday night at the Rolling Wheels Raceway Park as he held off fellow Canandaigua competitor Frank (Bubba) Burnell Jr. to win round two of the 2008 Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Championship Series to open World Series Weekend at the ‘Fast Track.’
“This track is wicked fast tonight,” remarked Welch, who successfully defended his title in the Parts Plus 25 for area Street Stockers. “I have to thank my guys and sponsors who I couldn’t do this with out. And the guys holding out and doing the track for us tonight, it was great to run on.”
With rain falling on Friday and throughout the morning hours on Saturday to narrow the window for racing in the full four-division show, Street Stock qualifying was scrapped and a draw was determined to line up the 20-car starting grid for the 25-lap main. Front row partners Shawn Frost and current Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series points leader Ron Hawker went into turn one even to start the feature and with the top side being quicker Hawker was able to grab the early lead as the pair exited turn two.
With two laps in the books Welch made quick work of Frost and then set his sights on the leader. A quick yellow on lap 5 allowed Welch to restart next to Hawker and with the leader having the choice of the inside or outside lane, Hawker abandoned the top side that got him the lead and went to inside for the green. As the front-runners exited turn four, Welch blasted around Hawker to be scored the leader on lap six.
Just as the leader crossed the start finish line the most serious incident of the night took place. About mid-pack on the front stretch a wild multi-car tangle took place causing cars to spin everywhere. The most serious contact involved Wayne Ellison as he took out a row of sponsor signs on the turn one side of Victory Lane and his car finally coming to a stop near the infield pit lane.
On the restart Welch got a good restart and bolted away from the field and as he took off Burnell got around Hawker to secure the runner-up spot. On lap 7 the yellow flag flew again after Chuck Thomas and Dan Hoffmann Sr. made contact on the front straight sending both cars spinning yet both would continue.
With 10 laps in the record books. Welch and Burnell had pulled away from the pack to wage their own battle for the win. Hawker, Adam DePuy and Andy Fisk were having a close race of their own further back for third through fifth.
At the halfway point Welch and Burnell ran nose-to-tail a quarter of a straightaway ahead of Hawker, DePuy and Fisk, although when the starter gave the 10 laps to go sign Welch opened up a little breathing room on Burnell leading by five car-lengths with the rest of the top-five remaining unchanged.
The last yellow of the race arrived on lap 18 when solid top-10 runner Dave Mannise suffered a flat left-rear tire as he crossed the stripe; a mishap the would end the night for Mannise and reluctantly earn him the Holley Hard Luck Award for the event.
With five laps to go Welch and Burnell remained the class of the field waging their nip-and-tuck battle for the win. Over the remaining laps Burnell could get to Welch’s back bumper but no closer, as Welch would be the first under the checkers. Burnell settled for a runner-up score followed by DePuy, nipped Hawker at the line for third, while Fisk rounded out the front-five.
“Bubba (Burnell) is always a good runner and always right there. We’re friends and always have a lot of respect for each other,” commented Welch on his race long battle with Burnell for the tour win, the fourth of his career.
Traveling teams return to competition in round three of the 2008 Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Series, with Fulton Speedway staging the third event on Friday, October 3 as part of the 23rd Schneider Brothers 200 Weekend.
Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Championship Series Race #2 – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, September 27, 2008 Parts Plus 25 Event Summary
Feature
FIN ST CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN
1 4 00 Mike Welch/Lyons,NY($500)
2 17 57b Frank Burnell Jr./Waterloo,NY
3 5 99 Adam DePuy/Macedon,NY
4 2 14 Ron Hawker/Jordan,NY
5 6 33 Andy Fisk/Williamson,NY
6 14 11 Mike Vaughn/Jordan,NY
6 16 37 Chris Fisher/Penn Yan,NY
7 1 15 Shawn Frost/Oneida,NY
8 20 115 Nick Rizzo/Wolcott,NY
9 11 90 Nathan Peckham/Seneca Falls,NY
10 8 6x Patrick Hobbs/Rochester,NY
11 7 2 Steve Woodworth/Fulton,NY
12 13 71 Dan Hoffman Sr./Hannibal,NY
13 9 55 Taylor Caprara/Watertown,NY
14 12 8x Dave Mannise/Fulton,NY
15 3 31t Bill Thomas/Fulton,NY
17 19 07 Leroy Lewis/Lyons,NY
18 10 17j Chris Jacobs/Rochester,NY
19 18 88x Chuck Thomas/Fulton,NY
20 15 18 Wayne Ellison/Geneva,NY
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Hawker (1-5), Welch (6-25).
CAUTIONS: 4 (lap 5, lap 6, lap 7, lap 18).
HOLLEY HARD LUCK: Dave Mannise.
CARS ENTERED: 20.
NEXT EVENT: Fulton Speedway – October 3, 2008.
Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Championship Series Point Standings (Sept. 27)
Rank No. Driver Points Bonus Diff Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
1 14 Ron Hawker 468 288 0 0 2 2 2
2 33 Andy Fisk 462 292 -6 0 2 2 2
3 00 Mike Welch 456 300 -12 1 1 1 2
4 57B Frank Burnell 452 292 -16 0 1 2 2
5 115 Nick Rizzo 452 284 -16 1 1 2 2
6 99 Adam DePuy 446 288 -22 0 1 2 2
7 90 Nathan Peckham 432 282 -36 0 1 2 2
8 8 Dave Mannise 430 300 -38 0 0 1 2
9 37 Chris Fisher 418 292 -50 0 0 1 2
10 11 Mike Vaughn 336 224 -132 0 0 1 2
11 2 Steve Woodworth 316 256 -152 0 0 0 1
12 07 Leroy Lewis 312 264 -156 0 0 0 1
13 93 Jared Hill 312 266 -156 0 0 0 1
14 18 Wayne Ellison 304 260 -164 0 0 0 1
15 75 Scott Smith 304 224 -164 0 1 1 1
16 19 Emerson Cargain 300 300 -168 0 0 0 0
17 38 John Aumick 300 300 -168 0 0 0 0
18 14NY Phillip Walker 300 300 -168 0 0 0 0
19 27 Dave Pope 288 288 -180 0 0 0 0
20 63 Jay Pepin 288 288 -180 0 0 0 0
21 7 Tim McCarthy 288 288 -180 0 0 0 0
22 44 John Dore 264 264 -204 0 0 0 0
23 10 Todd Raabe 264 264 -204 0 0 0 0
24 00r Mike Rasbeck 248 248 -220 0 0 0 0
25 50 Nicole Barzee 248 248 -220 0 0 0 0
26 16 Stan Vishinski Sr. 228 228 -240 0 0 0 0
27 23 Eddie Wright 226 226 -242 0 0 0 0
28 33 Jay Pepin Jr. 224 224 -244 0 0 0 0
29 4 Mike Durham 216 216 -252 0 0 0 0
30 45R Scott Kocher 212 212 -256 0 0 0 0
31 41 Daryl Krebs 206 206 -262 0 0 0 0
32 6x Deb Whalen 206 206 -262 0 0 0 0
33 ws7 Ray Smith 206 206 -262 0 0 0 0
34 78 Buck Barrett 202 202 -266 0 0 0 0
35 113 Frank Guererri Jr. 180 180 -288 0 0 0 0
UPCOMING EVENT:
Traveling teams return to competition in the 2008 Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Series next weekend as part of the 23rd annual edition of the Schneider Brothers 200 Weekend with the complete full-fender program slated for Friday, October 3.
2008 Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK LOCATION/WINNER
Fri-Sep 19 Canandaigua Speedway Nick Rizzo
Fri-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Mike Welch
Fri-Oct 3 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Fri-Oct 10 Cayuga County Fair Speedway Weedsport, NY
Sat-Oct 25 Black Rock Speedway Dundee, NY
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
