ZACHARIAS TAKES HOME SPENCER 100-LAP SST VICTORY
by Gary M. Spaid
WILLAIMSON, NY….The 2009 Spencer Speedway racing season started off featuring a 100-lap SST Modified feature, which was shortened to 75 laps. This past Friday as the Spencer Speedway season winds down, the second scheduled 100-lap SST Modified feature went to the line. Jimmy Zacharias, from Candor, NY, took home the top honors in the 100-lap affair.
Twelve yellow flags slowed the 100-lap SST Modified feature. Buck Catalano took the lead at the drop of the green from his pole starting position. Ryan Beeman fell in second followed by Jimmy Zacharias and Bill Hebing. The first yellow flew on lap seven when the 2008 SST Champion, Joey Evans slowed exiting the four turn after blowing the motor on his number 91. Following a restart, Fred Taylor made contact with the back stretch wall bringing out the second yellow of the race. Up front the running order had changed somewhat with Buck still leading followed by Bill Hebing, Zacharias, Jeff Hammon and Kevin Timmerman. On lap17, Beeman had a shock break and he slide off the track between the third and fourth turns to bring out a yellow. Following a couple more yellows for minor spins, the action turned to the front of the field. Bill Hebing, who had dropped back to fifth on lap 19 was working his way back towards the front when he made contact with Jeff Hammon, who was running second. Hebing spun off the track and the yellow flew. Officials sent both cars to the rear and the race resumed. Zacharias was able to get by Buck Catalano for the lead. On lap 33 the yellow flew when Andy Jankowiak, running in third, spun between the third and fourth turns. Jankowiak exited the race and Amy Catalano was then sent o the rear for the restart.
Buck challenged for the lead on the restart, but Zacharias remained in front. On lap 36, Daryl Lewis Jr. looped around between the third and fourth turn to bring out the yellow again. One lap later it was Kevin Timmerman’s turn to spin, this time in the second turn.
From this point to lap 64 the race ran green with Zacharias now ahead of Chris Finocchario, who had passed Buck for the runner up spot on lap 42. Catalano ran third followed by Terry Cheetham and Jerry Gradl. On lap 43 saw Catalano drop back to fourth as Cheetham took third.
Lap traffic started to become an issue around lap 52. Up front Zacharias was holding off Finocchario and Hebing, running in third as Cheetham started to drop off the pace. Gradl had moved into fourth with Amy Catalano working her way back up to fifth.
Gradl continued to move forward, taking third from Hebing on lap 62. Lap 64 saw the yellow fly when Timmerman spun into the front stretch infield grass.
Once underway the race remained green until the checkers flew with Jimmy Zacharias taking the win. Finocchario came home in second followed by Gradl, Hebing and Amy Catalano.
This Friday will see August come to an end is an extra special way. Both the Cup Lite cars and the NORA Limited Supermodifieds return for their final appearances of the 2009 season at Spencer Speedway. They join a complete Four Star program of NASCAR Weekly Modifieds, Street Stocks, Super Sixes and Auto Value Scorpions.
Just two weeks remain in the 2009 Spencer Speedway season. Come and join in all of the weekly action.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester, NY, along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson. Spencer Speedway is the local “NASCAR Place to Race” for upstate New York. Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
SST CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT SUMMARY
SST MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1: R. Beeman, C. Finocchario, P. Jeffers, A. Catalano, T. Cheetham.
HEAT 2: K. Timmerman, A. Jankowiak, J. Hammon, D. Lewis Jr., P. Catalano.
HEAT 3: J. Zacharias, B. Catalano, B. Hebing, J. Gradl, J. Price
FEATURE (100-laps): JIM ZACHARIS, Chris Finocchario, Jerry Gradl, Bill Hebing, Amy Catalano, Buck Catalano, Terry Cheetham, Ricky Kluth, Jonathan Price, Kevin Timmerman, Erich Stritzel, Patsy Catalano, Ryan Beeman, Scott Combs, Daryl Lewis Jr., Andy Jankowiak, Matt Lees, Dick Kluth, Paul Jeffers, Jeff Hammon, Fred Taylor, Joe Evans.
Congrats Jimmy