Story content provided by Dave Kittey
MARKLEYSBURG, PA (June 12, 2010) - The UFo Championship Series for Super Late Models invaded Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex for their first of four visits. Mel Minnick, Jr. found himself in victory lane for the first time since May 26, 2007. CJ Nicola grabbed his career first win in the TC Race Car Parts Chargers. Rick Strickler (Brooks Automotive Group FASTRAK Late Models) and Todd Dennis (Bobby Lake Motorsports Street Stocks) won their third features of the season. Shawn Davis made his first visit of the season a winning one in the Melvin's Automatic Transmission Modifieds. All feature winner trophies were provided by Arsenberger Trucking of Mill Run, PA.
CJ Nicola was looking for his career first win in the 12-lap TC Race Car Parts Chargers. He started on the front row and grabbed the lead at the drop of the green. Nicola led all 12 laps but never was able to breath as he had some heavy hitters on his rear bumper. Nicola never faltered as he held off Kyle Burkholder for the milestone win. JT Baird, Marty Spade, Jr. and Kenny Burkholder were the top five. Jerry Walters, Jr., Brad Jenkins, Eric Miller, Justin Howell and Bus Matthews completed the top ten. Heat winners were Walters and Bus Matthews.
Rick Strickler started on the pole and was never seriously challenged on his way to his third 20-lap Brooks Automotive Group FASTRAK Late Model feature win. Troy Shields took second on the final lap from KC Burdette. Bobby Cossell, Dusty Hamrick, Mike Lewis, Cody Hardesty, Sprout Cossell, Ricky Meglaye and Greg Tressler. Strickler, Burdette and Sprout Cossell were the heat winners.
The UFo Championship Series made its first visit of the season. Tommy Beck jumped into the lead from his outside pole start. Beck looked strong running away at first and leading the first 17 laps of the 38 lap event. Fourth starting Mel Minnick Jr. closed in and took the lead from Beck on lap eighteen. Minnick then pulled out to a half lap lead. Minnick had a comfortable lead when the caution appeared on lap 31. On the double file restart Minnick chose the outside. Once again Minnick took off as Chuck Harper chased him. Harper made a last lap attempt but Minnick held on for his biggest win of his career. Harper took second over Gary Dalton, Doug Horton, Chad McClellan, Tommy Beck, Bob Hershman, Keith Barbara, Jim Kutas and John Mollick. Heat wins went to Bob Gordon, Gary Dalton and Jim Kutas.
Vic Vandergrift and Shawn Davis put on an exciting show for the fans in the Melvin's Automatic Transmission Modifieds. Davis led lap one before Vandergrift blew by on lap two. Davis was glued to his rear bumper. Vandergrift could never shake Davis and on lap 14 Davis made his move and retook the lead. Davis, making his first appearance of the season, scored his first win. Vandergrift, Tony Garber, Deana Groves and Russell Erwin claimed the top five. Nick Cramer, Eric Erwin, Nathan Baker, Josh Cramer and Dennis Perigo rounded out the top ten. Brent Trimble and Davis were heat winners.
The final feature of the night was the 15-lap Bobby Lake Motorsports Street Stocks. Tom Newman led the first two laps before Todd Dennis blew by and went unchallenged the final thirteen laps to win his third feature of the year. Joe Wrona took second over Matt Rishel, Chris Lucy, Marshall Coleman, Bob Nelson, Charlie McClain, Jim Bendishaw, Jr., Chuck Bloom and John Redshaw. Bendishaw and Tom Newman claimed the heat wins.
In cooperation with the big shows at Elkins and Thunder Valley, Roaring Knob will be silent Saturday, June 19, BUT will race SUNDAY June 20 with a full program featuring the 2nd Shootout Roaring Knob vs. Dog Hollow for FASTRAK Late Models, plus Super Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Chargers.
UFo Super Late Models: Mel Minnick, Jr., Chuck Harper, Gary Dalton, Doug Horton, Chad McClellan, Tommy Beck, Bob Hershman, Keith Barbara, Jim Kutas, John Mollick, Bob Gordon, Danny Pugh, Jeff Ferguson, Billy Holbert, Richard Frazier, Danny Mitchell, LC Powers, DJ Myers
Brooks Automotive Group FASTRAK Late Models: Rick Strickler, Troy Shields, KC Burdette, Bobby Cossell, Dusty Hamrick, Mike Lewis, Cody Hardesty, Sprout Cossell, Ricky Meglaye, Greg Tressler, Jim Bryce, Jeremy Zufall, Josh Gordon, Garry Sisson, Andy Spooner, Russell Baird, Jr., John Over, Jayme Beck, Scott Beitzel, Daniel Hill, Quinton Wyandt, DNS: Gary May
Melvin's Automatic Transmission Service Modifieds: Shawn Davis, Vic Vandergrift, Tony Garber, Deana Groves, Russell Erwin, Nick Cramer, Eric Erwin, Nathan Baker, Josh Cramer, Dennis Perigo, DNS: Brent Trimble, Bobby Bennett
Bobby Lake Motorsports Street Stocks: Todd Dennis, Joe Wrona, Matt Rishel, Chris Lucy, Marshall Coleman, Bob Nelson, Charlie McClain, Jim Bendishaw, Jr., Chuck Bloom, John Redshaw, Chris Henry, Bob Miller, Russell Baird Sr., Tom Newman, Mike Duritsky, Jim Byers, Ryan Newman, Barry Faris
TC Race Car Parts Chargers: CJ Nicola, Kyle Burkholder, JT Baird, Marty Spade, Jr., Kenny Burkholder , Jerry Walters, Jr., Brad Jenkins, Eric Miller, Justin Howell, Bus Matthews, Buzz Coddington, Bennie Dennis, Mark Sullivan, Andy Vogel, Bob Matthews, Joey Tomasek
