Race Results: May 24th, 2006

KIRKWOOD, NY - There was something distinctly different about Rich Keehle Jr.'s view prior to the start of Wednesday night's Southern Tier Star Modified Invitational at Five Mile Point Speedway.

He looked straight ahead and saw clear track.

Using the rare up-front start to his advantage, Windsor, N.Y.'s Keehle won the 15-lap go-for-broke event on Giant Markets "Pack the Track Night" at the Kirkwood quarter-mile oval.

"Any win is good," noted Keehle, 26, who picked second in the pre-race draw. "Whether it's a heat, a feature or a special race like this."

Typically mired deep in the field due to his uncanny consistency, Keehle fired into the lead on the opening lap aboard his Dickinson Automotive-powered Bicknell No. 19, outgunning polesitter J.R. Crouse into turn one.

The former Super Stock standout had accrued a straightaway lead on the second-place tussle when the event's first caution flew for debris on lap 10.

Two more yellow flags - on laps 11 and 13 - slowed the event, but Keehle cruised to the victory.

Nazareth, Pa.'s J.R. Crouse placed second in his inaugural run aboard a brand-new No. 8JR Teo-Pro car equipped with a Wally Fiehl-built big-block engine.

Crouse was pleased with the new ride's performance.

"We didn't have any bugs," Crouse, 46, said. "For the first time out, I'm happy."

Joel Batzel of Kirkwood, N.Y., rallied from eighth to place third, ahead of Chris Ostrowsky in a new No. 29 Bicknell and veteran Dave Rumsey.

Mike Stolarcyk III represented the local contingent well, winning the 20-lap IMCA-Modified feature with a star-studded field on hand.

The Whitney Point, N.Y., native collected his first sanctioned IMCA victory in a 21-car field that included some of the Northeast's top names.

Starting seventh, the 30-year-old driver inherited the lead on lap three when Larry Robbins made contact with early pacesetter Kevin Cole entering the third turn. Five of the front-running cars piled in, but Stolarcyk squirted through the melee with the number one spot.

Stolarcyk went on to win over Gary Dence, Dale Caswell (who rebounded from a lap-one spin), Mike Smith and Ray Menard.

Tommy Eiklor scored an emotional victory in the rain-postponed IMCA-Modified feature from May 13.

Eiklor, of Barton, N.Y., led from green-to-checkered in his No. 44, dedicating the win to Jan Billings, who passed away during the off-season. She was a part owner of Eiklor's car and his future mother-in-law.

Dence, Joe Cole, Menard and Stolarcyk rounded out the front five.

Charlie Gilbert of Binghamton, N.Y., posted the trifecta, topping his third straight 20-lap Pure Stock feature. Gilbert raced from seventh to lead by lap five, then fended off the fierce charges of 11th-starter Doug Stack.

Stack's determined run ended on the 18th lap exiting turn four when the right-front tire went down on his No. 10, leaving Gilbert home-free.

Darl Ellis Jr. beat Jeremy Shaw to the line by a nose for second, with Matt Spencer and Joe Rafferty Jr. filling out the front five.

Mark Andrus of Kirkwood, N.Y., took advantage of Steve Simpson's lap-four mechanical woes to win the 99.1 The Whale Figure Eight 12-lap feature.

Racing resumes at FMP on Sat., May 27 with Youth Night - all kids 17 and younger admitted FREE! Big-block/small-block Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Vintage Modifieds will be on hand. The Street Stocks will take part in their heldover feature from May 13 and Modified heat winners will compete in a Dash-for-Cash presented by Fabrications by Tauschman and Teo-Pro car. Race time is 6 p.m.

For further information, contact the track office at: (607) 775-5555 or visit the website: www.fivemilepointspeedway.net.

COUNTER POINTS: Car counts for the midweek event were 21 IMCA-Modifieds, 22 Pure Stocks and Four Figure Eights. Promoter Andrew Harpell invited eight Modifieds to participate in the Southern Tier Star Invitational....

The Modified drivers in attendance took part in an autograph session in the grandstand area. The Modifieds also fanned out for a four-wide salute to the fans on the wave lap for the Invitational....

A large crowd turned out for the event. By 9:30 p.m., the final checkered of the evening had flown....

Two of the eight cars in the Southern Tier Star Invitational were brand new: J.R. Crouse debuted a fresh Teo-Pro Car with Wally Fiehl big-block power, while Chris Ostrowsky turned his first laps in a 2006 Bicknell. The car is powered by a Wally Fiehl-built small-block on alcohol....

Glenn Knapp retired from the Mod event on lap four when a large clump of clay lodged in his left-rear wheel....

Brad Weaver, the teenage son of Modified standout Brian, won his first-ever event: the second IMCA-Mod heat race driving Bob Chapman's No. 12....

Among the notable IMCA invaders was Sean Lias of Westfield, Pa., the winningest IMCA-Mod driver in the Northeast with over 100 wins....

A moment of silence was observed prior to the start of the program for Tammy Pastl, the girlfriend of Pure Stock racer Eddie Felker, who was killed on May 17....

GIANT MARKETS “PACK THE TRACK NIGHT” RACE SUMMARY

Modified Southern Tier Star Invitational Finish:
RICH KEEHLE JR., J.R. Crouse, Joel Batzel, Chris Ostrowsky, Dave Rumsey, Dana Wagner, James Cornell, Glenn Knapp.

IMCA-Modified Feature Finish:
MIKE STOLARCYK III, Gary Dence, Dale Caswell, Mike Smith, Ray Menard, John Hill, Sean Lias, John Rohacevich, Walt McClenon, Kevin Cole, Josh Sawyer, Mike Stoddard, Scott Bennett, Rick Hunsinger, Tom Eiklor, Brad Weaver, Larry Robbins, Rich Talada.
Did Not Start: Tyler Stoddard, Steve Hartford, Joe Cole.

Heldover IMCA-Modified Finish From May 13:
TOM EIKLOR, Gary Dence, Joe Cole, Ray Menard, Mike Stolaryck III, Kevin Cole, Josh Sawyer, John Rohacevich, Walt McClenon, Steve Hartford, Brad Weaver, Mike Stoddard, Tyler Stoddard.

Pure Stock Feature Finish:
CHARLIE GILBERT, Darl Ellis Jr., Jeremy Shaw, Matt Spencer, Joe Rafferty Jr., Don Russell Jr., Tom Garren, Mike Codington, Craig Decker, Bimmer Gully, Steve Polhamus, Dennis Warren, Bob Melovitz, Dave Conklin Jr., Doug Stack, Scott Edwards, Ray Lindquist, Duane Codington.
Did Not Start: Josh Towner, Duane Head, Ed Felker, Tom Eiklor.

99.1 The Whale Figure Eight Feature Finish:
MARK ANDRUS, Don Lantz Jr., Steve Simpson.
Did Not Start: Dave Cronk.