09/06/2003

ROOKIE PEPIN WINS AT ORANGE COUNTY

First year rookie in the Pure stock division at Orange County Fair Speedway, Julius Pepin was hesitant on entering the North East Enduro Tour Series 100 lapper at first. The #33 Pure stock driver is used to only doing 12 lap features on a weekly basis and thought he or his car would not be able to finish the extended lap event. He proved to himself, the other entrants, and his 20 or 30 family and fans that joined him in victory lane that his skills as a driver were proven.

  It was a race of attrition and took it's toll on many of the regular NEETS members throughout the race. Flat tires, broken suspensions and failing motors were the norm on the 5/8 mile clay surface which shown many green flag pit stops and at least 10 lead changes.
  At the start a few of the regular NEETS members # 443 Bill Blessing and #55 Dave Shafnisky and current points leader #16x Ray Fitzgerald were exchanging the lead but then it looked as if #51 Jeff Hager, #33 Pepin and #17 Bob Swanson, also regular OCFS Pure stocks were going to run away with the race, overtaking the lead and lapping all but a few of the other top 5 cars. One by one they fell to a needed pit stops for a flats. Hagers problems were mechanically fatal and never came back out. Swanson returned to the race but later fell to motor troubles ending his chance at the win. The last 50 laps had the OCFS announcer busy informing the packed grandstands of the many race leader battles. It looked as if NEETS regular #9 Bobby pease had the race all sewn up when he blew a lower hose off the radiator giving the lead to another NEETS regular #21 of Caesar Cunnacia. Caesar  himself with trans problems was going to win with only 7 laps left but on came Julius from his 23 starting position and a few laps down because of the pit stop, overtook and passed the #21 and taking the most crowd applauding victory we have ever heard.

#21 Cunnacia held his trans together for a second place finish, followed by NEETS point leader #16x Ray Fitgerald, #02 Pappy Herman and #13 Jim Erdbrink.

  OCFS is the largest track on the NEETS tour. It is a great facility, run by great people such as track manager JoAnne Chadwick. NEETS wants to thank JoAnne and all the officials for allowing our drivers to experience the big 5/8 mile.

 The NEETS tour will be going up the road a bit to Kauneonga Speedway in White lake, NY for it's next event on Sunday, September 14th. It will be a 150 lapper on the 1/4 mile paved surface for the Big cars and a 100 lap 4cyl Enduro. Mostly all the drivers from OCFS told us they had a great time and will be attending the Kauneonga event.

  After Kauneonga, only one more race will decide the 2003 NEETS Champion. It will be the Bartley Racing Enterprises 250 at Mountain Speedway on Sunday, October 12th. The race will be 250 laps with $1,000 guaranteed to win plus up to $2500 in lap money. There will also be a 100 lap 4cyl Enduro with $500 guaranteed to win.

For all NEETS info visit www.speedwaytech.net

OCFS results:  33 JULIUS PEPIN, 21 Cunnacia, 16x Fitzgerald, 02 Herman, 13 Erdbrink, 03 Houghtaling, 44 McKenna, 55 Shafnisky, 9 Pease, 39 Levering, 17 Swanson, 91d VanHorton, 15 Osborn, 75 Bott, 443 Blessing, 1 Johnson, 86 DeBetta, 26 Carlson, 43 Petey, 1x Vigiletti, 9x Kurtzman, 51 Hager, 310 Stockert, 78 Barrett, 14 Brown, 152 Barnes.

Sources:  Billy B./NEETS PR
Posted:  September 9, 2003