Lebanon Valley Results 4-17-04

ALBERTI GETS FIRST CAREER MODIFIED WIN AT THE VALLEY, YETMAN EXTENDS OPENING NIGHT WIN STREAK


April 17, 2004

West Lebanon, NY-A huge opening night crowd was on hand for the 52nd annual grand season opener at Lebanon Valley on Saturday night. The fans patiently sat through intermittent rain showers and were rewarded with some great racing action. Second generation driver, John Alberti found the winning combination for the first time as he dominated the 30-lap modified feature. Rob Yetman likes winning on opening night and this year was no different. He took the lead on an early race restart to record the victory in the 20-lap pro stock feature. The four pure stock feature winners on Saturday night were Bob Palmer, Poncho Hankey, Pete DeFiglio and Jon Routhier. The 10-lap rookie pro stock feature was won by Frank Boucher. Randy Davis won the 15-lap four-cylinder enduro. The night's sponsors were L&M Motors and Heavy Hauler.

Denny Soltis and John Alberti led the field of thirty modifieds to the start of the 30-lap feature. Alberti took his Abele Tractor & Equipment #473 into the lead going into turn one and paced the field. Five of the seven caution flag periods that slowed the event came before the halfway point of the race. Ron Dwyer slowed on the frontstretch on lap six when a power steering hose let go and doused him with hot fluid. He suffered some minor burns, but did not need medical attention. A turn four pileup on lap eleven eliminated Rich Ricci Jr, Guy Sheldon, Hector Stratton and Matt Quinn's chances of winning. 

The most serious accident of the race came on lap 13 when Wayne Jelley lost his brakes in turn three and made hard contact with the outside retaining wall. Jelley had the wind knocked out of him, but was eventually all right. The front-end of his racer was not however. Problems for the defending track champion Brett Hearn on lap 14 as he pulled into the pits and was done for the night. For the second straight year motor problems plague Hearn on opening night. At the halfway point of the race it was Alberti, Soltis, Donnie Corellis, Andy Bachetti and Kenny Tremont in the top five.

One of the best races on the track all race long was between Corellis and Bachetti. The two banged bumpers several times during the race with Bachetti taking the advantage for good on lap 19. The final caution of the race came out on lap 25 when Kenny Tremont had a right rear tire go flat on the backstretch. With two laps to go Bachetti was able to get around Soltis for the runner-up position and set his sights on the leader. Bachetti was able to get a nose under Alberti on the final lap, but to no avail. Alberti was able to hang on for his first career big block modified victory. "Its always fantastic any time you can win" a jubilant Alberti said after the race. Alberti was piloting a new 2004 PMC chassis with a twelve-year-old Tant engine under the hood. "Once we had passed Soltis on the start I knew I had something good going tonight" according to Alberti. Lebanon Valley legend Les Alberti had this to say about his son's victory "I am happier than a pig in..." Well lets put it this way he was really happy. Alberti would like to thank Abele Tractor, Port Welding, J. Mullen, Armstrong Fabrication, CRC Racing Covers and Advance Auto Parts. Rounded out the top five in the modified feature was Soltis, Corellis and Chris Whitehead.

Going into Saturday night Rob Yetman had won six of the nine opening night features he has raced. On Saturday night he made it seven out of ten as he led from lap three of the 20-lap pro stock feature and never faced any serious challenges. Robbie Speed was in contention early on as he led the first several laps before tire problems arose. Speed pitted a couple of times for new rubber and finished sixth. Buddy Hencke had a strong second place finish but could not mount a serious challenge on Yetman. Bill Lobdell had a great third place finish with Danny Sanchez fourth and Chris Crews rounding out the top five.

"It is great to win on opening night, its great for morale and really sets the tone for the whole season' Yetman said after the race. " The car was flawless tonight; coming out last week for practice was very helpful. The team chemistry is better than ever and we all looking for good things in '04" The Troy Management Group, Beer Belly Bobs and Boomers Performance all helped the #7 to victory on Saturday night.

Lebanon Valley will be back in action next Saturday night. Waste Management Night will see a regular card on tap as the sportsman division makes their first appearance of 2004. For more information about the speedway check us out online at www.lebanonvalley.com or call the speedway at (518) 794-9606 for more info.