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Billy Putney Wins 2008 Modified
Opener Dunn Tire Raceway Park held their 50th annual Opening Day May 10th. On card for the show were the 4 cylinders, TQ Midgets, Street Stocks, SST Sportsman and the Modified BUD 50. It was a beautiful afternoon in downtown Lancaster, NY as everyone was optimistic about how things were going to be run under the new owner, Ralph Galluzzi. The first feature of the evening was that of the TQ Midgets. Team Christiano had many of their cars starting up front. On lap 1, Bobby Holmes made contact with the #39 of Charlie DiRosa as both cars went spinning. Dave Wollaber took the lead and had pressure from Vinny Christiano Jr the whole race. Both cars were handling well and Wollaber was able to hold off Vinny Jr to take home his first feature win of 2008. It was a familiar site seeing the #1 Wollaber machine in Victory Lane as he was the 2007 Lancaster Raceway Park Champion. The fast and furious 4 Cylinder machines were next out on the racing surface. Tim Haniszewski Sr started out front and stayed there the entire race. He was able to get a decent sized lead over the second place car. Cars were battling for position back in the back the entire race and lapped traffic came into play later on in the feature. Haniszewski Sr went on to win the race with Kevin Morreale second. The SST sportsman feature was next up on the lineup. Eddie Murray started on the pole with 15 cars making the race. Frank Batista Jr did not start the event after being involved in a lap 1 wreck in his heat race. Tom MacLeod got around Murray on lap 3. It looked as if MacLeod was going to pull away from the field put early on, but MacLeod got loose in turn 2 and Erick Rudolph who was sitting second, took advantage of the situation and moved around the slower MacLeod car. Many cautions led to MacLeod being able to get back around the Rudolph car on the restart. On lap 22, Eddie Murray spun in turn 3. Now the race was heating up. MacLeod and Bobby Holmes were battling for the lead and Holmes tried to move under MacLeod coming out of turn 4 but they made contact and the Holmes machine rode over onto of the hood of Tom MacLeod. This caution put Rudolph into the lead. Erick Rudolph went on to win the SST Sportsman feature. Billy Putney, Jeff Price, Russ Gian and Craig Dolphin rounded out the top 5.
The Street Stocks were up next. 22 cars started the feature. Bobby Hanel Jr started on the pole. Hanel was able to hold the lead for a few laps before Jim Bryant got around him to take the lead. Bryant had his brand new Street Stock out front and the car was hooked up. Nobody could touch Bryant the entire feature. John Julicher Jr was able to battle his way up to 2nd but didn't have anything for Bryant. Jim Bryant went on to win his first feature on the 2008 season. Julicher, Mutka, Garlock and Gallagher rounded out the top 5.
17 Modifieds started the BUD 50 with Billy Putney starting on the pole. Buck Catalano was able to get around Putney and led from lap 2-29. Billy Putney got around Catalano and was able to lead the rest of the race. Erick Rudolph was charging hard in the final few laps. He almost got around Putney, but Rudolph had another problem as Sege Fidanza was right on his tail for 2nd. Fidanza was able to get around the Rudolph machine as it seemed like the handling on Erick's car began to fade near the end. Putney went on to win his first feature in 5 years at Dunn Tire Raceway Park. Fidanza, Rudolph, Hebing and Buck Catalano rounded out the top 5.
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