MAY 10TH LEBANON VALLEY RESULTS
"PRESS RELEASE" For Immediate Release May 10, 2003 LECKONBY & COLLINS FIND Z-LINK TO VICTORY AT LEBANON VALLEY West Lebanon, NY- Dave Leckonby captured the victory in the 30-lap DIRT-modified feature Saturday night at Lebanon Valley. The "Alligator" Art Collins scored a very emotional victory in the 20-lap DIRT sportsman main. It was great night for chassis builder, Pete Chuckta, as both Leckonby and Collins piloted his PMC Z-link racers to victory lane. The ageless veteran, Jim Langenback was victorious in the 20-lap DIRT pro stock feature. The great folks at National Planning Associates, Metal Supermarket and Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming brought us the superb racing event. Dave Leckonby and Paul Gilardi brought the modified field down to the green flag in the 30-lap modified feature. Leckonby had some mechanical problems the first two weeks of the season, which resulted in the up front starting spot. Leckonby held the top spot as the first of four caution flags flew on lap one. Mel Schruffer, Eddie Marshall and Dickie Larkin were involved in a turn four tangle, all three returned to competition. Denny Soltis had his night come to an early end as he pulled pitside on lap six. The Jasper Engines and Transmissions #88 of Leckonby was looking to run away and hide as he opened up a half straight-away lead by lap seven. Another caution flag wiped out his advantage on the eighth lap. This caution was for Matt Quinn as he got spun around in turn three. The final caution of the race came on lap ten as Gilardi made hard contact with the turn three wall while running in the top five. Chris Moore was looking to add yet another good finish to his 2003 resume. Moore started back in 16th, but was up to fourth by lap eleven. Kenny Tremont Jr had moved into the runner-up position by lap 12 and began reeling in the front running Leckonby. Brett Hearn had suspension problems in his heat race and started 25th, but cracked the top ten by halfway. Ernie Palmer did a good job of holding off Hearn and Rich Ricci Jr for sixth on lap 18. Marshall recovered from his early race mishap to run eighth by lap 24. The best race on the track in the final stages of the event was for positions three through six between Corellis, Moore, Hearn and J.R. Heffner. The four veterans raced hard in the final three laps all trying to improve their finish. Leckonby was untouchable as he cruised to the checkered flag. Tremont had to settle for second. Hearn was able to grab third in the final lap, while Corellis beat Moore to the line for fourth. A very happy Leckonby was quick to thank his crew and Ken Tremont Sr. for all their hard work this week, which propelled him to victory lane. The 20-lap sportsman feature had a little trouble getting off the ground as three of the events seven cautions came in the first four laps. When the dust finally settled Art Collins was setting the pace with his St. Lawrence Cement #68 with K.C. Goewey and Roy Bridge in tow. Another hat trick of caution flags came out on just before the halfway point. Each restart allowed Goewey to challenge Collins for the lead, but to no avail. With four laps remaining Collins now had a sizable advantage over Goewey, but that disappeared when the final caution flew on lap 17. Bridge made the most of the restart as he got by Goewey for second, but he ran out of time to catch Collins and settled for second. Goewey finished third, Ryan Larkin fourth and Ed Harkin rounded out the top five. Last weeks winner, Jeff Watson, was involved in the first caution of the race back on lap one, but recovered nicely to finish sixth. Collins was quick to dedicate this race to the memory of his sister who passed away in the off season and had played an integral role in his life and racing efforts. The caution flag that plagued the start of the both the modified and sportsman feature reared its ugly head in the 20-lap pro stock main as well. Chris Crews got spun around on the initial start in turn one and Danny Sanchez went pitside under this yellow flag to change a left rear flat tire. Al Blackburn took the lead from Jason DiBello on the restart. Paul LaRochelle and Jim Langenback moved with Blackburn into second and third on that same restart. LaRochelle passed Blackburn for the lead on lap six, but Blackburn got it back in turn four on the same lap. Sanchez recovered from his early flat tire to take fifth on a lap seven restart. Just passed the halfway point both Rob Yetman and Langenback made their way passed Blackburn on a restart and both pulled away from the rest of the field. With three laps to go Langenback made his move and got by Yetman for the lead. But Yetman wasn't going to give up that easy and the two battled door to door for the final two laps. In the end the cagey veteran, Langenback held on for victory. Al Blackburn finished third, Sanchez fourth and LaRochelle rounded out the top five. Lebanon Valley will be back in action next Saturday night with all divisions in competition, plus the 358-modifieds make their first appearance of 2003. Race time is set for 6:00. For more information about any event at the speedway check out our website at www.lebanonvalley.com or call the speedway at (518) 794-9606. NATIONAL PLANNING ASSOCIATES, METAL SUPERMARKET 7 GARRITY ASPHALT RECLAIMING TOP FIVE SUMMARY - (30 LAPS) - 1) Dave Leckonby, 2 Kenny Tremont Jr, 3) Brett Hearn, 4) Donnie Corellis, 5) Chris Moore SPORTSMAN TOP FIVE SUMMARY- (20 LAPS)- 1) Art Collins, 2) Roy Bridge, 3) K.C. Goewey, 4) Ryan Larkin, 5) Ed Harkin PRO STOCK TOP FIVE SUMMARY - (20 LAPS) - 1) Jim Langenback, 2) Rob Yetman, 3) Al Blackburn, 4) Danny Sanchez, 5) Paul LaRochelle. ROOKIE PRO STOCK FEATURE WINNER - (10 LAPS) - 1) Dave Blanchard PURE STOCK #1 WINNER - (8 LAPS) - 1) Pete Wiegand PURE STOCK #2 WINNER - (8 LAPS) - 1) Tom Harkins PURE STOCK #3 WINNER - (8 LAPS) - 1) Pete DeFiglio PURE STOCK #4 WINNER - (8 LAPS) - 1) Bob Palmer