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Tracks: Point Chases Begin to Heat Up at Lebanon Valley

20 July 2000

WEST LEBANON, NY- As we head into the second half of the season at Lebanon 
Valley we wanted to take a quick glance at how the point championships are 
shaping up in the respective divisions. This looks to be one of the closest 
years yet in many of the classes at the Valley. Let's take a look first at 
the modified division.

At this point in the season last year Kenny Tremont had already had a virtual 
lock on the modified point title. He totally dominated the division by 
winning sixteen features including Mr. Dirt Track, USA and the CARQUEST 200. 

This year it is a much different story as nine drivers have already made the 
trip to victory lane. Tremont has had a series of bad finishes and has not 
had the consistency of past years. Right now the man at the top of the 
mountain is Rich Ricci Jr. Ricci has already had one victory this season for 
the Gable Motorsports team and has chipped away at Tremont's lead week after 
week. Rich Ricci's fifth place finish on July 8th vaulted him past Tremont to 
take the point lead seven points ahead of Tremont.

The driver lurking in third has also put together some great run here in the 
middle of the season. Chris Moore did not have the best start of the season 
but has rebounded nicely and his is just fifty-two points behind Ricci. Moore 
has also visited victory lane in the year 2000. Just four points behind Moore 
in fourth is John Hewitt. The Troy native continually posts top ten finishes 
week in and week out and can not be ruled out of the championship chase. 

Rounding out the top five in the modifieds in the driver of the Rifenburg 
#57, Donnie Corellis who has also found his way to victory lane this season. 
Corellis needs to find that early season magic if he wants to go after the 
coveted modified championship.

While Ricci is seven points ahead of Tremont in the modified division, he is 
currently eight points behind in the 358-modified chase. Tremont has been 
flawless in the 358-modifieds driving the Tremont Lumber #21 owned by his 
cousin Dennis. Tremont has won both of the races run so far and will be a 
force to be reckoned with. Sheffield, Mass young gun, Todd Wilkinson sits 
just eight points behind Ricci in third and could play the role of spoiler in 
this mini-series. Hector Stratton has found success away from home and finds 
himself fourth after two events. A winner in the modified division this year. 
J.R. Heffner had branched out into the 358-modifieds as well and he is 
currently fifth in the title hunt.

The sportsman division title race looks to be a barnburner. George Marcus is 
currently sitting on top of the heap. A place that he has been familiar with 
in the past. This year Marcus has not had the consistency of past seasons and 
with have to contend with several drivers to take home the crown. Art Collins 
is making a quick habit out of visiting victory lane. He has made that trip 
four times already this season and he is quickly erasing that 
twenty-four-point lead that Marcus has. Sparky Lowe finished the 1999 season 
on a very high note by winning the sportsman portion of the Kings 200 
Weekend. He already has a trip to victory lane in 2000 and is just thirteen 
points behind Collins. Bobby Knipe made Lebanon Valley his regular Saturday 
night home a couple of seasons ago. He seems to be getting used to the high 
banks nicely and currently sits fourth in the standings. "Rapid" Roy Bridge 
made his way to victory lane already this season and currently rides fifth in 
the overall point chase.

The IMCA Modified points find Paul LaRochelle leading the way with a 
comfortable lead over Steve Hough. Chris Crews sits third with Dan Galullo 
and Pete Tucker rounding out the top five. Anything can happen in this 
division so look for some possible changes in the points by the end of the 
season.


Todd Goldstein was euphoric when he visited victory lane a couple of weeks 
ago. He has had the point lead in the street stock division for most of the 
season and will be tough to beat. Rob Yetman sits twenty-four points behind 
Goldstein and is poised to make a charge if Goldstein falters. Scott 
Govertsen has also made his way to the winner's circle this season and right 
now he is third in the standings. Last years champion, Jim Lagenback, has 
struggled a little this season, but do not count him out in the second half 
as he looks to make a charge to repeat as champion. Ricky Duzlak sits in the 
fifth position just one point out of fourth and three points out of third. 

The younger of the Duzlak brothers is hungry to make a title run.
One person who can easily earn the title of Mr. Consistency is Rookie Street 
Stock driver Brian Keough. Brian currently sits atop the Rookie point list 
and with the exception of a 7th place finish on the second week has not 
finished any other race worse than 4th place. Brian finally captured his 
first Rookie feature win on July 8th. Although Keough has a sizable lead in 
the points look for challenges from young George Stalker Jr. and third place 
point man Dan Humes to make this a closer battle towards the end of the 
season.

 The Pure Stock division is the largest class we have at Lebanon Valley. With 
close to 50 Pure Stock drivers competing on a weekly basis in three separate 
races it makes this point chase very close. Much like the Rookie Street 
Stocks Bob Palmer is also becoming Mr. Consistency. He also has one 7th place 
finish with the rest of his finishes no worse than 4th. Bob has visited 
victory lane twice in 2000 and looks to finish the second half of the year 
with more. Ryan Crellin is hot on the heels of Palmer just 30 points behind. 

Bill Hughes, Fran Marchand and Pete Wiegand are all in the hunt for the 
coveted Pure Stock point championship and it should come down to the wire 
making this an exciting battle.

You can catch all the great action at Lebanon Valley every Saturday night at 
6:15. A full field of modifieds, sportsman, IMCA modifieds, street stocks, 
rookies and pure stocks thrill the fans every week. General admission is only 
eight dollars while children under twelve are just a buck. So load the whole 
family in the car and see who will be the 2000 point champions at the high 
banks.