“ROCKY” ROTHWELL RETURNS TO SKYLINE VICTORY LANE -Fleming’s IMCA Modified win streak at 11 Fan favorite Jim “Rocky” Rothwell earned his second triumph of 2014 as the defending track champion drove to victory in the 25 lap Doug’s Trash Removal Open Sportsman feature event at the Skyline Raceway last Saturday night. Ben Wheeler became the newest Skyline Raceway feature winner as he earned the victory in the 602 Sportsman division, his first career triumph while Chris Fleming continued to dominate the IMCA Modified division with his eleventh straight feature win. Scott Smith topped the Street Stock division for the second consecutive week with Bill Flask claiming his eighth win in the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Rich Wagner won his second Four Cylinder Stock feature of the season. The 25 lap Doug’s Trash Removal Sportsman feature saw polesetter Lee DeWitt jump out to the early race lead as the green flag waved to begin the 25 lap feature event. DeWitt set the pace for the opening laps as eventual winner Rothwell made his way toward the front of the field. Rothwell was able to run down DeWitt and was able to wrest the lead away after several laps of side by side racing action. Once out front, Rothwell was able to motor away from the field as he moved out to a comfortable advantage. With Rothwell comfortable out in front of the field, the battle was on hot and heavy for the runner-up position as DeWitt, Andrew Ferguson, Mark Weaver, and Rich Townsend were all locked in a battle for the second position. The four were racing hard when they rolled up on the lapped car of Bobby Heintz. Hintz pushed up the track exiting the second turn, directly into the path of the onrushing battle. The front-runners were forced to do some nifty driving to get around Heintz without crashing and their battle resumed and continued all the way to the finish. Ferguson wound up coming out on top of the battle as he finished second behind Rothwell. Mark Weaver finished third despite a deflating right rear tire that slowed his pace over the final laps with Rick Townsend and De Witt fourth and fifth respectively. The 602 Sportsman division saw a new face in victory lane as Ben Wheeler drove to his first Skyline Raceway victory in the 20 lap feature event. Wheeler was able to take advantage of a front row starting position to drive away from the field. Despite a pair of caution flags that bunched the field, Wheeler drove away on each restart to re-establish his advantage. Wheeler went on to win by a comfortable margin over Randy Gates. Gates just held off a challenge from Anthony Stockman to earn the runner-up finish with Stockman third. Coty Bishop and George Dyer were fourth and fifth respectively. Despite the bounty on his head by track officials, Chris Fleming continued his dream season as he recorded his eleventh consecutive feature win. Fleming snagged the lead for good just past the halfway point of the event, as he came out on top of a great thee car scramble for the top spot between himself, Dan Searls, and Bumps Scutt. The three raced hard for many laps before Fleming took control of the event. Searls would chase Fleming all the way to the checkered flag, but wound up settling for a second place result. Will Ward slipped past Scutt to finish third with Scutt crossing the line fourth. Bill Ward finished firth, his first top five run of 2014. Scott Smith picked up the win in the 15 lap Street Stock feature, his second consecutive trip to victory lane. Smith worked for the victory as he and Tommy Paige battled side by side for several laps before Smith was able to pull away and secure the win with Paige finishing second. Tyrone Scott finished third ahead of Dominic Fuller. The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature saw Bill Flask pick up his eighth feature win of 2014, outdistancing Tristan Kline to score the win with Kline finishing second. Tim Parker came home with a third place finish ahead of Richie Hurlbert and Grayson Albanese, who was making his first start in the IMCA Hobby Stock division. Rich Wagner drove to his second win of the season in the Four Cylinder Stock class. Wagner had to hold off a strong challenge from Timmy Filkins, who was making his first start of the season aboard Bobby Wagner’s #08. Current point leader Eric Rowley finished third ahead of Leon Brockway and Phil Burns. Kyle Peirce drove to his second SRP Sprint Car Series feature win of the season. Pierce held off a challenge from fellow Skyline feature winner Bill Nichols to pick up the win. Dakota Armstrong, Cliff Pierce, and Chad Chibbles. Racing continues this Saturday night at the Skyline Raceway with another big six division racing show featuring the Doug’s Trash Removal Sportsman, 602 Sportsman, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Four Cylinder Stocks. It will also be Christmas in July night as Santa Claus will be making a visit with gifts for all of the good young race fans. Racing gets underway at 6:30 PM with gates opening at 4:30. For all the latest information, log onto skylineracewayny.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:25:59 +0000
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