Whip City Speedway 9/20/08.
Jon Moore, Rob Walendy Tops at Whip City,
Chris Haskell Takes Challenge, Passes 22 Cars
By Mark McKeon
Aside a steed from the Clayton McCartney stable, Jon Moore of New Lebanon, NY picked up the $1,500 first place check for his victory in the 1200cc Mini Sprint feature at Whip City Speedway on Saturday. Starting in third position, Moore grabbed the lead when R.J. Tufano made an unplanned excursion through the infield while exiting the second turn on the ninth lap. Tufano recovered nicely and came home second. Chris Haskell finished third, Rich Wood, Jr. fourth and Mike Kiser fifth.
The beginning of the race was as ugly as the picture of Dorian Gray; six caution flags in the first three laps eliminated seven cars from further competition. After the race finally got its rhythm going, there was only one additional caution flag.
A total of 29 cars participated in the 1200cc portion of the program and Chris Haskell had the fast time at 13.200. Former Track Champ John Lieto, who has been racing a Sportsman at Accord Speedway this season, returned and won the Dash for Cash. Pat potter won the B-Main.
Rob Walendy of Montague, MA won the East Coast Mini Sprint Association 750cc Fall Final, thanks in part to Marc Guerard’s misfortune. Walendy started on the pole and led the first seven circuits until Guerard passed him on the inside exiting turn four. Guerard held a commanding lead until his engine suffered a myocardial infraction and expired. Walendy then resumed the lead and held it until the checkers flew.
Second place finisher Chris Haskell provided the most excitement of the night, if not the year, by accepting the International Paper Container Corp Challenge and starting from the rear of the 24 car field. Haskell picked off cars lap after lap and was closing in on Walendy when the race ended.
Walt Feldman drove what may have been the best race of his career, starting in 10th and finishing third. Charlie Pease was fourth and Joe Platt, who had to race through the field after spinning on the second lap, was fifth.
The 750cc time trials drew 31 cars and Mark Dupuis topped the charts at 31.778. John Marangio won the B-Main and Chris Haskell took the Dash for Cash.
Vince Jacobs won the Quad 4 Midget feature, followed by Tony Montesi, Eli Deshaies and Rusty Tefft.
Tyler Jackson took the honors in the 250cc Youth Sprints, followed by Jim Santa Maria, Alex Curley, Wayne Ibitz, Jr. and Kyle Abbott.
Just two more weeks of racing remain at Whip City Speedway, with the Shorttrack Magazine Iron Man Challenge for Quad 4 Midgets and NEMA Lites being added to the program on this Saturday September 27.
1200cc Feature: JON MOORE, R. J Tufano, Chris Haskell, Rich Wood, Jr., Mike Kiser, John Virgilio, Shaun Gosselin, Dale Friedly, Tim Durland, Mark Dupuis, John Casazza, Rick Russell, Jerry Sehn, Jack Walts, Todd Lapp, Ralph Utter, Jr., John Lieto, Marc Guerard, Bubba Broderick, Denny Lamke, Jon Walts, Pat Potter, Justin Phillips.
750cc East Coast Mini Sprint Association Fall Final: ROB WALENDY, Chris Haskell, Walt Feldman, Charlie Pease, Joe Platt, Mike King, Jon Moore, Rick Stone, Rich Blanchard, Ed Adametz III, Jack Fogarty, Dan Schaubert, Paul Rose, John Marangio, Mark Dupuis, Marc Guerard, John Virgilio, Ed LeClerc, Will Einemann, Justin Phillips, Matt Tanner, Peter Dance, Mike Parolo.
Novice Karts: JAKE HIGGINSON, Dylan Irish, Corey Lemelin, E.J. Adametz, Ryan Fujimoto.
Turquoise: CULLEN PIKE, Kyle Smith, Ryan Irish, Kate Lafreniere, Alex Blanco, Alex Adamsky, Jeffery Champagne, Nora Lemelin, Michael Langevin, Kaitlyn Brice.
Junior: JUSTIN WALTS, John Wood, Kara Franqueza, Dylan Dexter, Makayla Lucia, Mike Hauser, Dylan Campbell, Anna Coons.
Lite: STEVE ROCKWOOD, Dylan Campbell, Scott Kalber, Josh Dexter, Will Coons, Brandon Chrétien, Scott Franqueza.
Heavy: JUSTIN DUBE, David Jackson, Jake Sapowsky, Tim Gallant, Eric Jorgensen.
2 Stroke: DON WOOD, Roger Angers, Jr., Ernie Whidden.
