Aug. 30th, 2003 - Dave Hess Jr. Wins 
Triathlon Fall Nationals and 
 Super Late Model “Run Watcha Brung”
at Stateline Speedway
By Glenn Slocum

Busti, NY: A perfect evening for racing featured the York Triathlon Fall Nationals for the E-mod class at Stateline Speedway. Seamens Auto Wrecking sponsored the events which also featured the Super Late Model class in a “Run Watcha Brung” race in which all the racers were allowed to race modified bodies so most cars had front wings, large side boards and no roofs. Dave Hess Jr. simply moved to the high side and cruised to the victory in both of the featured events. Rod Maloy fell to Hess early in the Super Late event as did Randy Hall in the Triathlon race. Bob Van Arsdale survived a last lap caution to win his first Budweiser Super Sportsman feature. Brian Crandall won his third Spectator feature and Barrett Brown beat J. R. Brown to win his second. Phil Knight dominated the Outlaw Cadet feature leading from green to checkers. Scott Gurdak used the Hess groove to beat Ed Simmer with five to go and win his third Limited Late Model feature.

             The York Triathlon Fall Nationals started off with a groan as Mike Hess, Joel Watson and Jeff Sharp tangled right at the drop of the green. Randy Hall and Dave Hess Jr. brought the field around for the next attempt followed by Doug Glessner and Bill Thomas. Hall just barely led Hess past the start finish line on lap one then Hess moved to the high side and began to move away from Hall, Glessner and Thomas. Ron Roncaglione, Stu Rickard, Carl McKinney and Jeff Rudrick collided in turn one on lap five for the second caution. Hess used the Delaware restart to stay I the lead but Hall fell back a spot as Glessner move into second. Bill Thomas was third followed by Brett Porter, Justin Carlson and Dale Applebee. Hess was lapping cars by lap thirteen and had nearly a straight away lead over Glessner who lead Hall by several car lengths. Laps fifteen thru twenty saw Hess weave through lap traffic. Hess had nearly a half lap advantage on lap twenty-five with less than ten cars remaining on the lead lap. Hess finished the last five winning the event and leaving only six other cars on the lead lap.

             Rod Maloy was on top after the first lap of the “Run Watcha Brung” Super Late Model event with Dave Hess Jr. in the second spot. Lap two had just completed when an electric line broke by the head flagman causing a brief delay while the lights were repaired. Hess flew around Maloy in turn three on the restart to lead the third lap. Paul Briggs was bounced around on the back stretch stopping on the inside of the speedway for the first yellow caused by the race cars.  Rich Gardner was third with Wally Fox fourth, Chris Hackett fifth and Dan Armbruster in the sixth spot. Hess had a ten car length lead over Maloy at the end of the next green flag lap then the yellow appeared for Andy Boozel, Jason Morel and Ward Schell in turn two. Hess was glued to the outside on the restart leading the next couple of laps until and incident involving Al Crocker, Steve Halpainy and Ted Kosinski brought out the yellow. Moose Dunnewold had to retire during the caution because of fluid leaking from his car.  Hess climbed to the top of the speedway and began to move away from the field. Maloy lead Gardner by several car lengths while Hackett was just a couple back of Gardner. Hess was lapping cars on lap fourteen and the yellow appeared on lap fifteen for a track tire which had been booted onto the racing surface. Hess was placed in front followed by Maloy, Gardner, Hackett, Armbruster, Dave Lyon, Chad Valone and Fox. Randy Lobb caught a piece of the fence in turn four on the restart and Doug Eck suffered a flat.  Lobb was able to continue. Armbruster stuttered on the restart causing Scott Gurdak and Keith Zimmerman to spin and Eck returned to the track on the yellow. Valone moved into the fifth spot on the restart as Lyon and Armbruster fought for the sixth spot. Lyon had trouble on lap nineteen coming to rest on the inside of the speedway just off turn two. Armbruster passed Valone and Valone fought back through laps twenty and twenty one. Valone finally grabbed the spot and he and Armbruster moved by Hackett for fourth and fifth. Gardner beat Maloy with one to go as Hess cruised through the last two laps to win the event.

             Nineteen Limited Late Models reported to the speedway for their feature event and John Cline led the first lap followed by Ed Simmer and Brian Fardink. Simmer wrested control from Cline to lead lap three. Point leader Pat McGuire spun in turn three causing the first yellow of the race and allowing the field to move up behind Simmer. Hagberg was third after the restart with Scott Gurdak in the fourth spot. Gurdak was up on the outside passing Hagberg and Fardink to gain the second spot on lap thirteen. Gurdak caught the leader on lap fourteen getting around on the outside then lost the position after going high in turn four. Gurdak came back on the next lap making the pass stick and sending Simmer back to second. Simmer held on to second beating a strong challenge by Hagberg as Gurdak won his third feature.

             Phil Knight jumped out to ten car length lead on the initial lap of the Outlaw Cadet feature with Jim Bergman second and Dustin Eckman third. Knight had caught the tail end of the field by lap five then a lap six spin by Nathan Short brought out the yellow flag. The green was shown then the yellow reappeared as Short slowed in turn two. Knight began rebuilding his lead on the restart. Eckman moved by Bergman with two lap to go. Matt and Cliff Lamphere tangled in turn three. Several cars brought out the caution one lap later including Jeff Campbell, Jamie Erhard, Rich Becker, John Boardman and Vern Sheldon. Knight finished in dominating style leading every lap to notch his third win of the season.

            Aaron Robinson took the green in the initial start of the Budweiser Super Sportsman event then spun in front of the pack in between turn one and two. Robinson was not touched in the spin but half of the remaining car became involved as the field tried to slow for Robinson. Only eight cars made it through the caution placing Mike Murray in the top spot and Doug Birath in the second place. Eleven cars remained for the complete restart with Bob Van Arsdale leading lap one followed by Randy Parmenter and Don McGuire. The yellow flew for Scott Kuschel who slowed on the back straight just as Parmenter managed to get around Van Arsdale. Van Arsdale was place back in first as scoring reverted to the last green flag lap. McGuire got by Parmenter on the restart then two laps later let McGuire back by after getting too low in turn two. Parmenter caught Van Arsdale with two to go and was attempting the outside pass when Hank Francis and Don Standley tangled on the back stretch setting up a one lap dash for the win. Van Arsdale was up the challenge winning his first of the season.

            Bill Volkenburg and Kevin Brumett brought out the first Spectator feature and after one false start Brumett led lap one with Volkenburg second and Rick Thompson third. Mike Zemcik brought out the John Swabik spun on lap two. Brumett went to the front on the restart then Dennis Lunger lost control one lap later for the second caution. Volkenburg spun just past the half way point putting Chris Couchenour in the second spot followed by Rush Firestone and Brian Crandall. Zemcik had more trouble on lap seven bringing out the next caution. The restart was marred by a multi-car incident collecting Merle Burlingham, Swabik, Clarence Dickerson, David McClanahan and Dana Wellington. Brumett remained the leader on the restart then Crandall moved alongside and passed on the white flag lap to win the event with Brumett second and Firestone third.

             Justin Tatlow brought the second Spectator feature to Spanky Halls green flag but Brian Johnson grabbed the lead. Barrett Brow was second with Rod Thoms third. Ron Bush spun in turn one on lap four bringing out the first yellow. Brown moved into the top spot on the restart with Johnson second and Thoms third. J. R. Brown move into fourth one lap later then second just before the yellow flew for the second time. J. R. Brown beat Barrett Brown to the line to lead lap seven then a two-car spin slowed the race for the third time. Barrett Brown came back on the next restart to lead lap eight and Josh Lucas moved into the third spot. Barrett Brown took the white and then the checkers and yellow as several cars had trouble negotiating the last circuit.

Results:

Spectators:

      Heat 1: Ron Bush, Ken Jackson, Scott Perrin

      Heat 2:  Joe McMurdy, Josh Lucas. Brian Johnson

      Heat 3: Chris Couchenour, Bran Crandall, Nate Lester

      Feature 1: Brian Crandall, Kevin Brumett, Rush Firestone, Tommy Fox, Chris Couchenour, Wade Mohawk, Nate Lester, Paul Norman, Joe McMurdy, Dave McClanahan

      Feature 2: Barrett Brown, J. R. Brown, Josh Lucas, Justin Krieder, Scott Perrin, Rodney Thoms, 92, Bob Kinne, Ray Churchill, Berton Chapel

 Budweiser Super Sportsmen:

      Heat 1: Mike Murray, Hank Francis, Chris Kuschel

      Heat 2: Randy Parmenter, Chad Carlson, Bob Van Arsdale

      Feature: Bob Van Arsdale, Randy Parmenter, J.R. Nocero, Don McGuire, Chad Carlson, Doug Birath, Al White, Hank Francis, Don Standley, Mike Murray

Outlaw Cadets

      Heat 1: Cliff Lamphere, Bob Van Arsdale, Phil Knight

      Heat 2: Nathan Short, Pete Alspaugh, Matt Lamphere

      Heat 3:  Greg Johnson, Ron Seeley, Louis DeDionisio

      Feature 1: Phil Knight, Dustin Eckman, Jim Bergman, Jeff Van Arsdale, Terry Daniels, Ron Seeley, Greg Johnson, Pete Alspaugh, Tom Norland, Bill Dunn

Triathlon E-Mods:

     Heat 1: Doug Glessner, Brett Porter, Ron Roncaglione, Jeff Rudrick, Jeff Sharp

      Heat 2: Bill Thomas, Justin Carlson, Rick Robinson, Tim Rhoades, Mike Samuelson

      Heat 3: Dave Hess Jr., Dale Applebee, Al Cressley, Joel Watson, Kari Gasser

      Heat 4: Randy Hall, Scott Pangrazio, Mike Potosky, Andy Teno, Carl McKinney

      Consi 1: Jeff Sharp, Mike Hess, Mike Boyd, Mike Samuelson, Matt Swanson

      Consi 2: Carl McKinney, Stu Rickard, Dan Nocero, Dave Surrena, Jim Abbott

      Coy Brothers Trucking Dash: Randy Hall, Dave Hess Jr., Doug Glessner, Bill Thomas

      Feature: Dave Hess Jr., Doug Glessner, Randy Hall, Bill Thomas, Brett Porter, Justin Carlson, Dale Applebee, Tim Rhoades, Mike Samuelson, Rick Robinson, Scott Pangrazio, Kari Gasser, Al Cressley, Mike Boyd, Mike Hess, Quincy Turner, Shane Applebee, Dan Nocero, Mike Potosky, Stu Rickard, Carl McKinney, Ron Roncaglione, Andy Teno, Jeff Sharp, Dave Surrena, Jef Rudrick, Joel Watson

Limited Late Models:

      Heat 1: Mike Moore, Chad Ramsey, Scott Gurdak

      Heat 2: Bobby Rohrer, Pat McGuire, John Cline

      Feature: Scott Gurdak, Ed Simmer, Tom Hagberg, Brian Fardink, Chad Ramsey, John Pencile, Andy Knight, Bob Rohrer, John Cline, Joe Weber

American Racer Dash: Rich Gardner, John Lacki, Dan Armbruster

Super Late Models:

      Heat 1: Wally Fox, John Lacki, Keith Zimmerman, Steve Halpainy, Al Crocker

      Heat 2: Rod Maloy, Rich Gardner, Chris Hackett, Paul Briggs, Randy Lobb

      Heat 3: Dave Hess Jr., Dan Armbruster, Scott Gurdak, Dave Lyon, Doug Eck

      Feature: Dave Hess Jr., Rich Gardner, Rod Maloy, Chad Valone, Dan Armbruster, Chris Hackett, Al Crocker, Scott Gurdak, Wally Fox, John Lacki, Doug Eck, Randy Lobb, Keith Zimmerman, Dave Lyon, Andy Boozel, Jason Morell, Ted Kosinski, Paul Briggs, Moose Dunnewold, Steve Halpainy, Bump Hedman