5-8-04 Lebanon Valley Results

STRATTON, HARPER & LAROCHELLE WIN AT LEBANON VALLEY

May 8, 2004

West Lebanon, NY-Hector Stratton brought home top honors to the Green Mountain State in the 30-lap Modified feature on Saturday night. It was the second career modified victory for the Bennington, Vermont native. Frank Harper dominated the 20-lap sportsman feature on his way to his first victory in three years. Paul LaRochelle made a daring last lap pass to win his first 20-lap pro stock feature of the season. Larry Megan became the first repeat winner in the rookie pro stock division. The pure stock feature victories went to Mike Eichstedt, Jim O'Neil, Tom Harkin and Jeff Wilbur. A special thanks to our sponsors of the night; NATIONAL PLANNING ASSOCIATES and QUANDTS FOOD SERVICE.

The only car number that led in the 30-lap modified feature on Saturday night was #87. But that did not mean that Hector Stratton led every lap. Paul Gilardi had his #87 in the lead for the first thirteen laps of the race. Stratton made his bid for the lead on the backstretch and ran away. In the first half of the race there was plenty of two and three wide racing, but little contact and no caution flags. The top five at the halfway point was Stratton, Gilardi, Denny Soltis, Ron Dwyer and Charlie Hume. The complexity of the race really changed just past the halfway point of the race.

J.R. Heffner came into the night as the point leader and was looking to extend that lead. A turn one incident that saw him get turned around eliminated his chances at victory and took a chunk out of his point lead. Heffner did recover for a top ten finish and was able to stay atop the leader board. Also eliminated in that incident on lap 16 were Matt Quinn, Andy Bachetti, Mel Schruffer and Dave Leckonby. Brett Hearn made his way into the top five in the Gable-Budweiser #1 for the first time on lap 18. Hearn was challenging Dwyer for the third position when he suddenly pulled into the pits on lap 22. For the second time in four weeks motor problems sidelined Hearn. 

Donnie Corellis and Guy Sheldon made contact in turn three on lap 24 and sent Sheldon hard into the turn three wall. Kenny Tremont slowly made his way to the front and found himself in the top five by lap 25. These late races incidents gave Soltis several chances at Stratton, but to no avail as Stratton took his second career modified victory at the high banks. " My 2004 Teo has been strong all year, we had a little problem with the motor but now that is fixed and the car is a rocket!" Stratton said after the race. Big Boys Toys, CLS Transportation and West Side Citgo all help sponsor Stratton's racing efforts. 

Another great top five run for Jelley, finishing third in his PMC racer. Tremont finished fourth and Eddie Marshall rounded out the top five.

Frank Harper had the car to beat in the 20-lap sportsman feature. Harper wheeled his PMC chassis-Bedell powered car into the lead on the start and never looked back. Just before the first of five caution flags flew on lap six Harper had a full straightaway advantage over second place. Three separate incidents on laps six and seven took Ryan Larkin and K.C. Goewey out of contention. Art Collins moved into the runner-up position on the second restart on lap seven, but he could not close in on Harper. Bobby Knipe made a patented late race charge to get to third by the end of the race. Carmen Carnibucci was fourth and Brian Sandstedt was fifth. 

"I was beginning to have doubts that I would every win again," said Harper after the race. Harper would like to thank Thoma Tire, Beer Belly Bobs Beverage Center and Troy Boiler for their support.

Jay Casey held the early lead in the 20-lap pro street feature. He appeared to slow on lap two and was out on the race by the very next lap. This handed the lead over to Paul LaRochelle. Adam Haas made that lead short-lived as he took the front spot shortly thereafter. Buddy Hencke; Rob Yetman and Danny Sanchez were all in hot pursuit of the lead two cars at the halfway point. The pro stock drivers ran a very clean race as the first caution flag did not fly until lap 17. The best battle on the track for the later portion of the race was between Hencke and Yetman. The two drivers battled side by side for several laps. A caution flag on lap 19 set up a one-lap shoot-out. On the restart Hencke's car went up in smoke giving Yetman third. But all eyes were on the leaders as LaRochelle went after Haas. The two went neck and neck into turn three. Haas drifted high and that was all LaRochelle needed to grab his first win of the 2004 season. "Adam was strong in the first half of the race and we were a little weak, but the track came to us in the end and we were strong at the right time. 2004 had been awful to this point with two DNF's and a third it is really nice to win tonight. We had a brand new Belot Auto Machine engine in the car tonight and that helped alot." LaRochelle would also like to thank Shell, Wohrles and Carlo Motor Express.

Lebanon Valley will be back in action next Saturday night with the 358-modifieds making 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 information