QUINN WINS 3RD OF '03, HARKIN 9TH DIFFERENT SPORTSMAN WINNER

July 26, 2003 

West Lebanon, NY-Matt Quinn was the victor in the 30-lap modified feature at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Saturday night. It was the third victory of 2003 for the Card Shaq II #20 of Quinn. Ed Harkin became the record ninth straight different winner in the 20-lap sportsman feature. Danny Sanchez was victorious in the 20-lap pro stock main. Other winners on the night included Larry Megan in the rookie pro stocks. Kory Sandstedt, Chris Stalker, Bill Moffitt and Bob Gibson all won pure stock features. A special thanks you to the night's three sponsors, IGA HOMETOWN WHEELS, GARRITY ASPHALT RECLAIMING and BENJAMIN MOORE PAINTS. 

The modified feature did not get off to a very good start as polesitter; Guy Sheldon blew up going into turn one on the initial green flag. That resulted in the rest of the field having to take evasive action and five cars piled into each other on the backstretch. One of the cars involved was Brett Hearn. Only Sheldon and Donnie Corellis retired from the race at this point. When the green dropped again Paul Gilardi was in command. Dave Leckonby took over the runner-up position from Mel Schruffer on lap four. The lead pack caught the back end of the field by lap ten. Leckonby made the pass for the lead on lap 13. At the halfway point it was Leckonby, Gilardi, Quinn, Andy Bachetti and Schruffer.

The lead trio of Leckonby, Quinn and Bachetti had pulled away from the rest of the field by lap 22. Brett Hearn cracked the top ten for the first time on lap 22 as well. While the lead three were battling for the victory there was a great four-way race for fifth. The battle for the lead really started to intensify in the final laps. Quinn kept ducking the nose of his racer under Leckonby. Coming off turn four on the white flag lap contact was made between the two cars sending Leckonby into wall.

This gave the lead to Quinn, who motored away on the restart on took his third win of the season. Bachetti finished second, Rich Ricci third, Hearn fourth and Leckonby was able to salvage a fifth place finish. It was a terrible night for Kenny Tremont as his primary car had motor trouble in the heat race. Tremont took his back-up car out for the feature and finished deep in the pack. That finish combined with Hearn's top five run gave the point lead over to Hearn.

The sportsman drivers were shown the black flag before the start of their 20-lap feature and told to keep it clean. Apparently they need their eyes checked as seven caution flags marred the event. Ted Layton was the early race leader and was able to hold the top spot until just before the halfway point. As the field came down to take the crossed flags for halfway, Ed Harkin was able to motor past and into the lead. Jeff Watson now sat second, with Layton back to third, Art Collins fourth and K.C. Goewey fifth.

Goewey made his way to third on lap 12. He would challenge Watson for second in the final stages of the race to no avail. Harkins easily cruised home for his first victory in 2003. Nine different winners have graced victory lane so far in 2003 with no repeat winners. This breaks the record of eight different winners set back in the early '90s. Watson finished second, Goewey third, Lorne Browe fourth and Collins fifth.

Rob Yetman made his way past early race leader Dan Blackburn to assume the lead of the 20-lap pro stock feature on lap five. Danny Sanchez took over second position lap eight and set his sights on Yetman. The two raced side by side for one lap before making contact going into turn one. The contact send Yetman up the banking enough to allow Sanchez to assume the lead. The rest of the race saw Yetman try a run down Sanchez and was on his back bumper for the final five laps. 

Jim Langenback was right off Yetman's rear bumper waiting to pounce if either driver made an error. Yetman was able to get a nose under Sanchez several times, but never made a pass stick and would have to settle for second. Langenback had an eventful night as was probably happy with a podium finish. Scott Govertsen and Paul LaRochelle rounded out the top five.