Jimmie D Beats the Heat,
and the Competition,
at Whip City Speedway
BY MARK McKEON
WESTFIELD, MA – On a sultry, steamy night with a triple digit heat index, 60 year old Jim DeCambra ended a two year drought with a wire-to-wire win in the 600cc Mini Sprints.
“I guess I outlasted the kids,” DeCambra said. “Our division is so fast and the cars are so nearly equal, that almost anybody could win on any given night. This week, I was in the right spot at the right time and it makes up for a race I should have won a couple of weeks ago.”
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, teenager Nikki Oullette picked up her first 750cc win. The former 750 Sportsman champ was mistake free in a very fast paced event.
The 750 Sportsman points battle continued to focus on Makayla Lucia and Kyle Smith, who finished first and second, respectively. Lucia also won her heat, placing her just a pair of points behind Smith.
John Virgilio, who has recently expanded his racing resume with some additional Sprint Car starts, won the 1200cc Mini Sprint feature.
Scott Viets marked his return to Quad 4 Midget racing with another victory.
Bob Poloski took the honors in the Modified Lite feature.
The afternoon karting program was rained out.
270cc: 1. Kurt Conklin, 2.Wayne Ibitz Jr, 3. Seth Carlson, 4. Grant Sabo, 5. Tara Galko, 6. Matt Galko, 7. Bryan Russo, 8. Brian Hurd, 9. Kendall Segar, 10. Jake Sapowsky.
600cc: 1. Jim DeCambra, 2. Richard Crooker, 3. Ricci Hirth, 4. Greg Smith, 5. Dylan Campbell, 6. Brandon Igo, 7. Luke Greenwood, 8. Kevin Stolte, 9. Chris Lennox.
750cc: 1. Nikki Ouellette, 2. John Casazza, 3. Tyler Jackson, 4. Phil Bessette, 5. Mark Taylor, 6. Rick Stone, 7. Mike King, 8. David Williamson.
750 Sportsman: 1. Makayla Lucia, 2. Kyle Smith, 3. Timothy Stick, 4. Shelby Klekotka, 5. Ron Hunt.
1200cc: 1. John Virgilio, 2. Jon Moore, 3. Peter Dance, 4. Joseph Szczapa, 5. Justin Phillips, 6. Jerry Sehn, 7. Kristen Phillips, 8. Jamie Beaudry, 9. Mark Taylor.
Quad 4 Midget: 1. Scott Viets, 2. Joe Krawiec, 3. Vince Jacobs, 4. Tim Gallant, 5. Jamie Spalding.
Modified Lite: 1. Robert Poloski, 2. Ryan Nicewicz, 3. Roger Angers Jr., 4. Brett Crowther, 5. John Durst, 6. Dale Shallow, 7. Casey Ouellette.