Todd Bertrand Romps to Whip City Win,
Cupid Shoots Arrow Through Mark Irving’s Fuel Tank
BY MARK McKEON
WESTFIELD,MA – Todd Bertrand used his equipment to full advantanage at Whip City Speedway, winning his heat and then defeating 17 competitors to capture the season opening 270cc Mini Sprint feature.
“Our Skeetz motor gave us plenty of power, and the anti-roll adjustment package that Danny Drinan built for the RTS chassis let me adjust the car to run where the track was good,” Bertrand said. “It’s the same chassis package that Damien Gardner is using on his USAC Midget.”
Bertrand led from green to checker, often accumulating long leads that were wiped out by numerous caution flags. His only serous competition came from fellow heat winner Mark Irving, until Irving ran out of fuel halfway through the 20 lap feature.
“That’s what happens when you fall in love and get engaged,’ Irving joked after the race. “You forget to put fuel in the race car.”
In Quad 4 Midget action, Joe Krawiec picked up where he left off last year and drove the Skip Matczak owned Seals-It mount to victory. The always colorful Vince Jacobs had a strong opening, winning his heat and coming from fifth to finish second in the feature.
Makayla Lucia also reprised her 2009 season, shaming the 750 Sportsman field with a domineering run and easy victory.
Chris Haskell subbed for Rob Walendy in the Alloy Wheels Repair 750 Mini Sprint and drove it to a hard fought win over Mike King. J.D. Casazza, a transplant from the Empire Lightning Sprints, came home third.
Rich Crooker made it look easy, leading from wire to wire in the 600cc Mini Sprint Main.
The 1200cc Mini Sprint main saw veterans Jon Moore and Doug Norrie swap the lead until Moore finally grabbed it for keeps. Norrie was second and Peter Dance was third.
Defending champ Ryan Nicewicz swept the Modified Lites, wiring both his heat and the feature.
The second week of action at Whip City gets underway this Saturday at 12:30 pm with an afternoon of Kart racing. The evening program of Mini Sprint, Quad 4 Midget and Modified Lites gets underway at about 5:00 pm and a single admission ticket buys a grandstand seat for both shows.
270cc: TODD BERTRAND, Seth Carlson, Frank Russo, Brooke Bennett, Grant Sabo, Kendall Segar, Bryan Russo, Mark Irving, Tara Galko, Glen Clark, Alan Chambers, Ben Martelle, Scott Franqueza, Kurt Conklin.
600cc: RICH CROOKER, Greg Smith, Ricci Hirth, Brandon Igo, Jim DeCambra, Susan Lescynski, Dylan Campbell, Matt Seymour, Dylan Menditto, Andrew Narducci.
750 Sportsman: MAKYLA LUCIA, Kyle Smith, Timothy Stick, Mark McKeon, Brandon Hunt, Richard Breese, Brandon Michael.
750cc: CHRIS HASKELL, Mike King, John Casazza, Richard Stone, Dan Schaubert, Mark Taylor, Ed Adametz, Tyler Jackson, Jack Fogarty, Nikki Ouellette, Phil Bessette.
Quad 4: JOE KRAWIEC, Vince Jacobs, Doug Meyer, Eli Deshaies, Jim Close, Jamie Spalding, James Mossman, Tim Gallant, Thom Ring.
1200cc: JON MOORE, Doug Norris, Peter Dance, John Virgilio, Charlie Pease, Jamie Beaudry, Mark Taylor, Joseph Szczapa, Bill Adamsky, Kristen Phillips, Paul Rose, Jerry Sehn.
Modified Lites: RYAN NICEWICZ, Joseph Anselmo, Roger Angers Jr., Robert Poloski, John Durst, Brett Crowther, Thomas O’Malley, Rich Ashlaw, David Deskis, Casey Ouellette, Dale Shallow.
4 Cylinder Stock: DAREN SALLEE, Keith Holtman, Stephanie Banach, Steven Banach, Brian Hohenstein, Jack Fogarty, Michael Pierce, Fred Cheney.
Novice: JAKE ELLIS, Tanner Correia, Lauren Hauser, Kerrian Adamsky.
Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, Dylan Irish, Spencer Brockman, Matthew McCuin, Kacie Heath.
Junior: RYAN IRISH, Jeff Champagne, Nora Lemelin, Connor Leighton, Ryan Fujimoto, Mike Langevin, Travis Snow.
Lites: KATE LAFRENIERE, Steven Banach, Mike Hauser, Will Coons, Josh Rutola.
Heavies: JAKE SAPOWSKI, Tim Gallant, Gary Sokoloski Jr., Ron Fenner, Rit Dulac, Bill Tack, Mike Dulac, Shaun Fenner, David Comeau, Justin Dube.
2 Stroke: BRUCE DODGE, Jason Wood, Ernie Whidden.
250 Youth Sprints: DEREK ROBIE, Cullen Pike.