Mike Malone, a Long Island Legends driver who has racked up
many laps on the quarter-mile oval now known as Bethel Motor
Speedway, made his 2009 debut at the track this past Saturday.
Malone, who suffered some misfortune during the feature and
walked away with a tenth place finish, had a finish on paper
that was in no way indicative of the performance he gave prior
to that point.
Malone, by the luck of the draw, started his heat race from the
pole. He took the lead at the drop of the green, only to be
challenged on the outside by Michael Blaskey. Blaskey was able
to grab the lead from Malone on lap one. Malone quickly fought
back, however, and he regained the top spot one lap later.
Several laps into the event, Blaskey got loose and drifted high
in turns three and four, allowing Joe DeGracia to get by for
second. Caution waved on lap eight for Kenny VanWickle. This set
up a double-file restart with Malone on the inside and DeGracia
– who has recorded one feature win at Bethel in 2009 – on the
outside. DeGracia was able to briefly take the lead over Malone
in the two-lap shootout. Malone pulled to DeGracia’s inside and
the two ran side-by-side until Malone took the lead in turns
three and four on the white flag lap. Malone won the heat race,
followed by DeGracia and Blaskey.
Malone came to the starting grid on the outside pole. He quickly
shot out to the lead, leaving polesitter Ron Poley and Blaskey
to battle for second. Blaskey took second, and Poley was
shuffled back to third. Caution flew when Fresco spun in turn
four on lap one.
Malone restarted on the pole, with Blaskey on the outside. The
duo put on an exciting and lengthy side-by-side duel for the
lead, swapping the spot several times. When they crossed the
line to complete lap five, Malone was scored as the leader by
mere inches. The caution came out again on lap six as DeGracia
spun. Numerous other cars were involved, including six-time 2009
Bethel Legends feature winner Mike Alcaro. Alcaro pitted and
returned to the track, only to head into the pits for the night
before the green flag waved for the restart, ending his
undefeated streak at Bethel .
When racing resumed, the battle for the top spot between Malone
and Blaskey continued, while Joe Graf moved into third behind
them. Blaskey used an inside pass to take the lead from Malone
on lap 11, and the pair began to pull away from the rest of the
field. On lap 14, however, Blaskey went around in turns one and
two. Malone made contact with the rear of Blaskey’s car, and
Malone went over, with his car coming to a rest on the right
side. Malone’s car was righted and the driver emerged from the
car unhurt. Malone’s car was towed from the track, and he was
done for the night.
The incident handed the lead to Matt Maring, who led John
Demarmels and Poley to the single-file restart. Maring pulled
away on the restart, while Demarmels and Poley duked it out for
second behind him. For numerous laps, the two ran door
handle-to-door handle, with Demarmels comfortably in the spot by
lap 22. One lap later, the caution was out for Kenny VanWickle,
whose car had spun on the backstretch. Race leader Maring came
to a stop in turn two under the yellow, and had to be towed off
as he had suffered a broken trailing arm.
Demarmels inherited the lead for the green-white-checker dash
for the win. Blaskey worked his way back up to third on lap 24,
as Poley pressured Demarmels for the win. Poley’s attempts would
not prove to be successful, as Demarmels drove on to the win in
what was the first-ever race in a Legends car for the BMS
regular who has recorded more than 80 wins and numerous
championships in other divisions at Bethel. Poley was second,
and Blaskey was third.
Legends Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. John Demarmels, 2. Ron
Poley, 3. Michael Blaskey, 4. Joe DeGracia, 5. Kenny VanWickle,
6. Joe Graf, 7. Raven Schrantz, 8. Joe Fresco, 9. Matt Maring,
10. Mike Malone, 11. Mike Alcaro.
Source: Tracy Chirico
Posted: July 26, 2009
