ANDY BACHETTI & RYAN LARKIN GET CAREER FIRSTS AT LEBANON VALLEY

August 17, 2002

West Lebanon, NY- Andy Bachetti, from Great Barrington, scored the victory in
the 30-lap modified feature Saturday night at Lebanon Valley. Second
generation driver, Ryan Larkin captured his first career sportsman victory in
their 20-lap feature. Rob Yetman was the winner of the 20-lap Pro Stock main
event. Lebanon Valley hosted its first ever spectator racing and Todd
Goldstein took top honors in the event. The great folks at Saxton Signs were
responsible for bringing us this action-packed night of racing.

There was trouble on the very first lap of the 30-lap modified feature. Matt
Quinn and Kenny Tremont made contact going down the back straightaway, but
both continued without any visible damage. Andy Bachetti brought his Coors
Light # 21 into the lead on the very first lap and set a torrid pace.
Bachetti was so quick on the lead that he caught the back of the field by lap
six. The A. Calarusso & Son #74 of J.R. Heffner was in the runner-up position
and trying to keep pace with the leader. Denny Soltis had another strong run
going in the Albreada Waste #22 until he retired suddenly on lap nine. With a
third of the race now completed Kenny Tremont Jr. was only up to tenth while
Brett Hearn had only gotten up to eleventh. Rich Ricci Jrâ€™s Fall Fittings #55
was biting by the bad luck bug again. He had moved into fifth until motor
woes sidelined him on lap 14.

The second of four caution flags in the race came on lap 18 as Sparky Lowe
made heavy contact with the turn two wall. Tremont moved from eighth to sixth
on the ensuing restart. The caution flag flew for Matt Quinn on lap 25 as his
right rear tire went flat. Problems for the Gable Motorsports #1 Budweiser
car of Hearn on lap 26 as he suddenly slowed coming off turn four. It appears
that an ignition problem caused the car to stop and the crew could not fix
the problem, which relegated Hearn to 18th in the finishing order. Hearn
trailed the Emerick Associates # 115 of Tremont by only three points going
into Saturday nightâ€™s race. This gave Tremont a chance to make his lead quite
a bit larger, but Tremont uncharacteristically was only able to get up to
sixth by the end of the race.

Bachetti was clearly the class of the field on this night. At times he held
almost a full straightaway lead over Heffner. Bachetti has had a fast car
every week, but mechanical problems had prevented a victory to this point.
That all changed Saturday night as Bachetti made it to victory lane for the
first time ever in a big block modified at Lebanon Valley. Heffner ended some
poor luck of his own to finish second, with Dave Leckonby an impressive
third. Donnie Corellis returned after a one week hiatus to recorded a fourth
place finish and last weekâ€™s winner Eddie Marshall rounded out the top five.

The 20-lap sportsman feature had a little trouble getting in the first lap
Saturday night. Three caution periods were necessary before lap one appeared
on the lap counter. Jay Haviland and John Hotchkiss were both send to the
rear for violating the changing lane policy and Jeff Carr was sent to the
rear for spinning Roy Bridge. All this happened with zero laps completed! The
call was made on the third restart to go single file. Ryan Larkin now found
himself the leader of the race. Frank Harper held off and early bid from Art
Collins to maintain third on lap three. Bobby Knipe cracked the top five for
the first time on lap six.

Collins was finally able to get by Harper for third at the halfway point of
the race. The caution came out again on lap eleven as Bridge found himself
spun once again. This time Mike Keeler was sent to the pits for the evening
for his role in the incident. Larkin had a potent car and was able to fend
off every challenge to get his first career sportsman victory. Lebanon Valley
modified legend; Dickie Larkin was in victory lane to present the checkered
flag to his son. As some might not know Ryan is hearing impaired and his
father conducted the interview in a very jubilant victory lane with his son.
Ed Harkins finished second followed by Collins, Knipe and K.C. Goewey.

Dan Blackburn led the first lap of the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. He lost the
lead to Adam Haas on the very next lap. The battle for fourth between Jim
Langenback and Robbie Speed went side by side for several laps. Danny Sanchez
made his way by both driver and into fourth on lap five; he then made a move
into third on the same lap. The first caution period of the race came on lap
six for Bobby Duzlak. While under the yellow flag Sanchezâ€™s car appeared to
suddenly stop. That left Langenback with no where to go and the two cars got
hooked together. Both would continue in the race, but now from the back of
the field. Rob Yetman moved into the lead on the restart.

Langenback got turned around on lap ten relegating him to the back once
again. The motor gremlins have caught Robbie Speed and donâ€™t appear to want
to let go. His sixth motor of the season went up in smoke on lap eleven.
Problems for the Blackburn boys on lap 15. Al Blackburn made contact with
Haas sending Haas into the turn one wall. Dan Blackburn could not avoid Haas
and suffered heavy damage as well. It ended a great top five run for all
three drivers. Yetman still maintained the lead but now he had Tom Brandt and
Paul LaRochelle right behind him. Brandt slipped in turn two on the restart,
which allowed LaRochelle to get by for second. After suffering heavy damage
to his racer last week, Yetman and his crew were rewarded with a trip to
victory lane this week. LaRochelle finished second with Brandt third and
Duzlak fourth. After all his problems Langenback was still able to record a
top five finish.

Next Saturday night Lebanon Valley Speedway will be hosting their 50th
Anniversary celebration. Many drivers from throughout Lebanon Valleyâ€™s
history will be on hand to meet the fans. This is truly an historic occasion
that you will not want to miss. Check out the speedwayâ€™s web site for more
information at <A HREF="http://www.lebanonvalley.com/">www.lebanonvalley.com</A> or call the speedway at (518) 794-9606.