June 24, 2005

CAPRARA, WILLIX TAKE THUNDER ALLEY WINS

EVANS MILLS, NY.....On a balmy summer night at Caprara's Thunder Alley Speedpark, two drivers dominated their respective divisions to collect feature wins. For Lance Willix, it was a return to Victory Lane, coming in the night's 30-lap Sunoco/A Plus Sportsman Super DIRT Series. For Frankie Caprara, it was his first win of 2005 as the streak of different DIRT Modified feature winners continued.

Caprara took the lead on lap 8 from Ryan Bartlett and never looked back to take the checkers. "We put a new powerplant in the car two weeks ago," said Caprara, "And we nailed the setup for tonight. I've been waiting for a night like this since the start of the season." Bartlett spent the second half of the race fending off a stiff challenge from John Ramsey to take runnerup honors. Tim O'Brien and Matt Butler rounded out the top five finishers.

The 30-lap Sunoco/A Plus Sportsman Super DIRT Series event went caution free, and Lance Willix led all 30 laps to claim his first series win of 2005. While Willix motored away at the front of the field, Kevin Bates battled with Joe Williams and Marcel Pecore for the second spot. The handling started to go away on the Pecore car as the race progressed, and Bates was able to pass both drivers to claim second at the race's end. Williams grabbed third, with Greg Doust claiming fourth as Pecore slipped to fifth.

The 15-lap IMCA Modified feature found Rob Keller slipping to fifth in the opening laps, but he stormed back through the field to take the lead from John Mason at lap 9 to claim another win. Chris Thurston had a spectacular run and was rewarded with a second place finish, with early leader Mason nabbing third. Mark Webb and Tom Conklin rounded out the top five.

The Street Stock feature event found another familiar face in Victory Lane, as Dave Pope avoided an early tangle when leader Dave Mannise got sideways, collecting Ron Hawker and Dana Aikens. Pope took over the lead and held it to the finish for another win, with Hawker and Aikens coming back through the field to claim second and third. Mannise and newcomer Dave Janczuk completed the top five.

Thundercar wins were claimed by Josh Vern (4 Cyl. Domestic), Mike Durham (4 Cyl. Foreign), Rush Walts (6 Cyl.), Kevin Smith (8 Cyl.) and Kelvin Bice Jr. (Truck).

RACE SUMMARY-CAPRARA'S THUNDER ALLEY SPEEDPARK
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2005

DIRT MODIFIED FEATURE (30 LAPS) - FRANKIE CAPRARA, Ryan Bartlett, John Ramsey (358), Tim O'Brien, Matt Butler (358), Todd Stewart, Bob Bennett, Justin Mason (358), Mike Prentice (358), Doug Fuller (358), Tyler Bartlett, Adam Roberts (358), Billy Dunn, Jason Potter (358).

SUNOCO/A PLUS SPORTSMAN SUPER DIRT SERIES (30 LAPS) - LANCE WILLIX, Kevin Bates, Joe Williams, Greg Doust, Marcel Pecore, Robby Bellinger, Chris Higgins, Roy Bresnehan, Jordan Bennett, Mike Bowman, Jim Dallett, Jason Riddel, Jeremy LaSalle.

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE (15 LAPS) - ROB KELLER, Chris Thurston, John Mason, Mark Webb, Tom Conklin, Dan Hilts, Jeff Shannon.

STREET STOCK FEATURE (12 LAPS) - DAVE POPE, Ron Hawker, Dana Aikens, Dave Mannise, Dave Janczuk, Keith Doxtater, Clint Middlemiss, Scott Kocher, Pete Backus (DNS), Ken Hamm (DNS).

THUNDERCAR WINNERS:
4 CYL. DOMESTIC - JOSH VERN
4 CYL. FOREIGN - MIKE DURHAM
6 CYL. - RUSH WALTS
8 CYL. - KEVIN SMITH
TRUCK - KELVIN BICE JR.