First Time Winners Abound
At Whip City Speedway
BY MARK McKEON
Westfield, MA – Saturday night’s session at Whip City Speedway provided a number of drivers the opportunity to collect their first feature win, either the first in their careers, or in the first in the current season.
Tyler Jackson claimed his first 750cc Mini Sprint victory, in a rapid race that was slowed by only a single caution flag. Tyler, last season’s 750 Sportsman champion, had struggled since moving up to the A-class, but his performance this week indicates that he’s put all the pieces together.
“We went over the whole car and made lots of adjustments,” Jackson said of his team’s preparations. “The track was really fast and it matched our set-up. Once Nikki Oullette got caught in lapped traffic, I was able to check out.”
Rookie Kyle Smith claimed his first 750 Sportsman win in a race that wasn’t decided until the white flag lap. Early leader and fellow rookie R.J. Currey appeared to have the brass ring within his grasp, but lapped traffic once again came into play on the last lap. It was Smith’s fourth podium finish in four attempts so far this season.
Kurt Conklin claimed his first 270cc win of the season, after finishing second last week and Doug Meyer did the same in the Quad 4 Midgets. Modified Lite star Eric Bacon took his first win of the season, in only his second start.
Rich Crooker (600cc) and John Virgilio (1200cc) each won his second feature of the year.
270cc: KURT CONKLIN, Seth Carlson, Wayne Ibitz, Brian Boudreau, Grant Sabo, Bryan Russo, Scott Franqueza, Kendall Segar, Frank Russo, Tara Galko, Tony Massaro, Alan Chambers, Kara Franqueza.
600cc: RICH CROOKER, Luke Greenwood, Jim DeCambra, Dylan Campbell, Ricci Hirth, Chris Lennox, Greg Smith.
750cc: TYLER JACKSON, Nikki Oullette, J.D. Casazza, Phil Bessette, Rick Stone, Ed Adametz, Mark Taylor, Jack Fogarty, David Williamson, Mike King, George Plant, R.J. Tufano.
750 Sportsman: KYLE SMITH, R.J. Currey, Timothy Stick, Makayla Lucia, Cori Tufano.
1200cc: JOHN VIRGILIO, Charlie Pease, Bill Adamsky, Peter Dance, Jerry Sehn, Jon Moore, Mark Taylor, Will Casazza, Paul Rose, Stephen Lapine, Jamie Beaudry.
Modified Lite: ERIC BACON, Ryan Nicewicz, John Durst, Dale Shallow, David Deskis, Rick Ashlaw, Bob Poloski.
Quad 4 Midget: DOUG MEYER, Jim Mossman, Jim Close.
250 Youth Sprint: ALEX ADAMSKY, Cullen Pike, Derek Robbie.
4 Cyl Street Stock: STEVEN BANACH. Stephanie Banach, Brian Hohenstein, Darren Sallee, Wade LaFogg, Michael Pierce.
Karts: Novice: TANNER CORREIA, Aiden Pike, Lauren Hauser.
Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, Dylan Irish, Spencer Brockman, Matthew McCuin.
Junior: RYAN IRISH, Nora Lemelin, Ryan Fujimoto, Connor Leighton, Mike Langevin, Travis Snow.
Lite: KATE LAFRENIERE, Mike Hauser, Roy Gauthier, Brandon Sorel, Will Coons, Steven Banach.
Heavy: JAKE SAPOWSKY, John Duval, Gary Sapowsky Jr., David Comeau, Bill Tack, Paul Luntta.
2 Stroke: STEVE ROCKWOOD, Bruce Dodge, Jason Wood, Ernie Whidden.