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Wade Slaney Wins Erie Beer Spectator Special
at Eriez Speedway
By Glenn Slocum
Erie, Pa: The last race of the year at Eriez Speedway sponsored by
Budweiser and Erie Beer was held on a warm Sunday afternoon. Twenty-seven cars
were on hand for the event. Nate Lester, Eriez 2005 Spectator Champion won the
first qualifier earning the pole, Wade Slaney won the second and Jim Bergman the
third. Nate Lester led the early laps with Wade Slaney taking the lead on lap
thirteen for the win. Kari Moore won the Lady Challenger event with a flat tire
and Glenn Slaney win the Super Challenger race after Lee Matczak suffered a flat
with three laps remaining. Mark Studley won the first demo with Dwayne Nickerson
second. Tom Froman won the second demo with Greg Bidwell second.
Mort John suffered a flat at the initial start of the Spectator Special
causing a gain complete restart. Lonnie Waldron got out of shape on the restart
and the yellow flew again but the lap was counted with Nate Lester the leader
and Wade Slaney in second. Lester beat Slaney to turn one on the restart and two
more laps were completed before the next yellow brought out because of Brian
Bush and Wade Watson sandwiched together at the exit of turn four. Lester and
Slaney ran two more laps then Jason Genco slowed to a stop in turn four for
caution number four. Genco left the speedway on the hook and Lonnie Waldron was
pushed into the pits. The top five for the lap seven restart were Lester,
Slaney, Tom Norland Jr., Chris Couchenour and Jim Bergman. Bergman broke his
front suspension on the restart and managed to limp to the pits not causing a
yellow. Mike Rhines was the next racer to have problems with a spin at the exit
of turn four for caution five. Eighteen cars remained for the restart. Lester
stayed in control with Slaney one car length back. Rob Bates and Mike Zemcik
tangled in turn one for the sixth caution with twelve laps complete. The restart
went smoothly until turn three when Norland tagged Couchenour. Couchenour spun
bringing out the caution and Norland was disqualified. The top five for the lap
thirteen restart were Lester, Slaney, Casey Swabik, John Galati and Kevin King.
Couchenour, Rhines and John Kelsey did not get through turn one on the restart
for caution eight. Slaney moved to the outside and led Lester by bumper on lap
thirteen then complete the pass on lap fourteen. Slaney and Lester started to
pull away from the field leading Galati who was running third twenty car
lengths. Rhines spun coming out of turn four in front of the leaders who managed
to avoid hitting Rhines for caution number nine. One more lap was completed when
the yellow flew for Dave Surrena. With ten laps remaining Slaney had a four car
length lead over Lester. Couchenour and Galati tangled collecting Zemcik and
Kelsey for the tenth caution on lap twenty-three. Bill Reeves moved up to
challenge Lester for the second spot on the restart taking the spot one lap
later. Lester continued to fade losing several more spots on lap twenty seven.
With three laps remaining Lester slowed to stop up against the fence on the
front stretch causing caution number eleven. Lester pulled back onto the
speedway in time for the restart. Slaney, Reeves, King were the top three.
Slaney quickly rebuilt a lead over King and Reeves who were contesting the
second spot. Slaney won and King bested Reeves for the runner up spot.
Kari Moore used her front row starting spot to gain the lead at the start of
the Lady Challenger fifteen lap event. Stephanie Hilyer the pole sitter was
second with Amber Belson third. Moore was lapping cars by lap eight and had
nearly a half lap lead over Hilyer. The yellow flew for Amanda Swanson with five
laps remaining allowing the field to close with Moore. Moore stopped during the
yellow requiring a push to restart once the field was reset. Belson lost several
spots on the restart as Katelyn Pinckney and Amanda Swanson moved up. Moore
suffered a flat in the final laps but held on for the win.
Twenty-five Super Challengers reported to the speedway for their feature
event. Lee Matczak led the first circuit with Bob Belson second and Chris
Withers third. Leonard Enos made hard contact with the front stretch wall then
stopped near the flag stand for the first caution. Matczak was the first into
turn one on the restart with Belson close behind. Withers was trying to hold
third against a charging Glenn Slaney. Ryan Harvey brought out the second
caution when he stopped in turn four. Belson came out on top after the restart
and Slaney grabbed third from Withers but a slowing Monty Seekings brought out
caution three. Belson slowed on the restart turning the lead back to Matczak.
Slaney was second with Jason Black third. With five laps remaining Matczak led
by nearly a straight away with Black fifteen car lengths behind second running
Slaney. Len Strange and Leslie Armstrong tangled with three laps remaining
bringing out the yellow. Matczak had a flat on the restart turning the lead over
to Slaney with Ben Burgess second and Jason Black third. Slaney ran the final
three laps unchallenged for the win.
Spectators:
Heat 1: Nate Lester, Jason Genco, John Kelsey
Heat 2: Wade Slaney, Lonnie Waldron, Wade Mohawk
Heat 3: Jim Bergman, Mike Zemcik, Tom Norland Jr.
Feature: Wade Slaney, Kevin King, Bill Reeves, Chris Couchenour, Rob Bates,
Wade Mohawk, Nate Lester, Terry Lavery, Wade Watson, Lonnie Waldron, John
Galati, Travis Swabik, John Kelsey, Carl Mary, Dave Surrena, Mike Rhines, Tom
Norland, Mike Zemcik, Phil Kimmy, Jim Bergman, Ron Bush, Jason Genco, Brian
Bush, Ken Lamp Jr., David Brown, Mort John, Mike Harmon
Lady Challenger:
Heat 1: Stephanie Hilyer, Kari Moore, Amber Belson
Feature: Kari Moore, Katelyn Pinckney, Stephanie Pinckney, Kayla Riefstahl,
Michelle Swabik, Amber Belson, Amanda Swanson, Jodee Jordan
Super Challenger:
Heat 1: Lee Matczak, Ryan Harvey, Leslie Armstrong
Heat 2: Bob Belson, Chris Withers, Monty Seekings Jr.
Heat 3: Glenn Slaney, Leonard Enos, Greg Rockwell
Feature: Glenn Slaney, Ben Burgess Jr., Monty Seekings Jr., Brandon Pierce,
Jason Black, Robert Swanson, Ed Proper, Gary Lee, Len Strange, Bryon Johnson
Jr., Dan Clark, Lee Matczak, Gary Fisher, Leslie Armstrong, Clayton Blackman,
Kyle Jackson, Chris Withers, Jeff Lamb, Carlos Aponte, Bob Belson
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