After being washed out on Saturday, the North East Late Model
Association (NELMA) held its fourth annual MyRaceLife.com Late
Model Challenge Sunday at Mountain Speedway. With a great piece
underneath him, especially on restarts, Tommy Spencer, Jr.
grabbed the late model main event for his second straight Late
Model Challenge win. Max Zachem led every lap to take the
checkers in the WPW Equipment Rental Supply Legends Fall Classic
event and Chris Turbush went to victory lane as the NELMA Pro
Truck winner. Ricky Ross, Jr. overtook his brother, Nick and
cruised to his second straight victory in the strictly stock
showdown.
Twenty-eight late model stock cars lined the pit area and took
time with hopes of qualifying for the fourth annual
MyRaceLife.com Late Model Challenge. Rookie late model standout,
Travis Fisher, grabbed the pole by running a lap of 14.525
(82.534 mph). Fisher lined up fourth on the starting grid after
a redraw.
After time trialing fourth quickest, Tommy Spencer led the
25-car field to the drop of the green flag in the 100-lap main
event. Spencer held the lead for the first seven laps before
Kevin Metzger overtook him. Dave Macomber ran third, followed by
Jarrod Hayes, and Buzzy Eriksen.
The red flag was displayed on lap nine when Hayes and Jimmy
Wismer made contact on the front stretch. Wismer pounded the
front stretch wall and his badly damaged car came to rest at the
entrance of turn one. Wismer appeared to be uninjured and
retired from the event.
Several caution periods slowed the event dramatically and
Macomber seized the opportunity to take the race lead on lap 17.
He held the point as the field headed into the lap 50
competition caution (for fuel and adjustments).
Green-flag racing resumed and Macomber led over Joe Hoffman,
Zane Zeiner, Metzger, and Travis Fisher.
Zeiner and Hoffman battled for second, then tangled, which
brought out the yellow on lap 53. The exchange moved Larry
Fisher to fourth and Mike Sweeney to fifth.
After falling back early on, Spencer worked his towards the top
five. He passed Sweeney for fifth on lap 65 and then took Larry
Fisher for fourth fifteen laps later. He overtook Travis Fisher
for third fourteen circuits later.
The final caution of the event waved when Sweeney made contact
with Travis Fisher while the two battled for the third spot in
turn one.
Spencer, who was terrific with restarts all afternoon, restarted
in the third spot behind Metzger and Macomber. The green flag
flew and Spencer completed a daring pass on the front two for
the race lead.
Spencer went on to pick up his second straight MyRaceLife.com
Late Model Challenge win over Metzger, Macomber, Zeiner, and
Eriksen. Eriksen was later disqualified and Bill Catania was
awarded the fifth position.
Max Zachem led 24 other legend drivers to the drop of the green
flag in the 35-lap feature event. Zachem lurched into the race
lead and by mid race he continued out front ahead of Jason
Palmer, Mike Gervais, John Beatty, and Mike Alcaro.
Despite several caution periods, Zachem led flag-to-flag en
route to victory. Palmer crossed the strip to finish as the
runner-up, followed by Alcaro, Gervais, and Jason Knox completed
the top five.
Fifteen super pro trucks took the stage for a 30-lap feature.
Frank Dumicich, Sr. led the field to the green, but Chris
Turbush quickly took the race lead.
A few mid race cautions slowed the event and with five laps
remaining, Turbush continued out front ahead of Brian McElearney,
Erin Dumicich, Roger Turbush, and Frank Dumicich, Sr.
Chris Turbush cruised on to take the victory over McElearney,
Erin Dumicich, Frank Dumicich, Sr. and Roger Turbush.
Teddy Bear Racing gave plaques to the super pro truck heat race
winners in memory of Erin Dumicich’s crew chief last season,
Carl Rackoff, who passed away following last season. Turbush
also dedicated his win in memory of Rackoff.
Kevin Green, the official track photographer, provided the late
model fast timer with a special clock. He also awarded the heat
race and B-main winners for the late models and legends with
plaques.
For more information on NELMA visit
www.nelmaracing.com.
NELMA Late Model Challenge (100-laps) 1. TOMMY SPENCER, JR 2.
Kevin Metzger 3. Dave Macomber 4. Zane Zeiner 5. Bill Catania 6.
Tom Rogers Jr 7. Joe Hoffman 8. Larry Fisher 9. Greg Kleila 10.
Jim Lamoreaux 11. Mike Sweeney 12. Roger Maynor 13. Francis
Gross III 14. Kyle Harvell 15. Elliot Wohl 16. Travis Fisher
17.Jarrod Hayes 18. Brian Defebo 19. Shawn Patrick 20. David
Imler 21. Justin Onderko 22.Todd Geist 23. Roger Oxee 24. Jimmy
Wismer DQ: Buzzy Eriksen DNQ: Doug Renalds, Barry Christman,
Geno Steigerwalt
Legends (35-laps) 1. MAX ZACHEM 2. Jason Palmer 3. Mike Alcaro
4. Michael Gervais 5. Jason Knox 6. Cameron Patrick 7. John
Beatty 8. Derek Hopkinson 9. Roger Coss 10. Kevin Nowak 11. Karl
Heisler 12. Matt Maring 13. Randy Burns 14. Glenn Maningo 15.
Johnnie Gloor IV 16. James Pape Jr 17.John Visconti 18. Justin
Grimm 19. Robby Walton 20. Luke Marzano 21. Scott Hubler 22. AJ
Wright 23. Joey Mattis 24. Vinny Troia DNS: JD Abrahams DNQ:
Wendell Mapper, Steve Gaul, Kenny Van Wickle, Tom Sherman, Greg
Rittenhouse, Raven Schrantz, John Lotti
Super Pro Trucks (30-laps) 1. CHRIS TURBUSH 2. Brian McElearney
3. Erin Dumicich 4. Frank Dumicich Sr 5. Roger Turbush 6. Rich
Giordano 7. Frank Dumicich Jr 8. Shaun Gouldsbury 9. PJ Vecchio
10. Peter Rotzi 11. Anthony Daleo 12. Dave Koenig 13. Michael
Albasini 14. Michael Bologna 15. Matt Odwazny DNS: Jeff Zalutko
Source: NELMA PR
Posted:
October 26, 2008
