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National Short Track Stars And Local Hot Shoes Set To Lock Horns In Piney Lasky Fall Fest II Date Posted: 9/30/2009 (Smithton, PA) The second running of the Piney Lasky Memorial Fall Festival at Motordrome Speedway this Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, has drawn interest from professional racers across the nation, as well as the top local performers. One Super Late Model driver could earn $10,000 in the prestigious 100-lap crown-jewel event Saturday. Included in that total is a $3,000 Bounty Bonus awarded to any driver that can defeat the strong competitors who call Motordrome their home track. Those vying for the bonus money who have filed pre-entries include: Gary St. Amant, of Columbus Ohio, who may be the most surprising entry. Having abandoned his driving efforts to serve as a crewman/mentor for rising young talent recently, the former American Speed Association (ASA) two-time National Champion will return to the cockpit to try and land all $10,000 up for grabs. St.Amant has raced over 25 years, and has been a regular in Hooters ProCup Series, Main Event Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Just as experienced, former Iceman Series Champion Scott Baker has entered the Piney Lasky Memorial for the second straight year. In 2008, the veteran dropped out of the event with mechanical problems, but like St.Amant, Baker has recently put a greater focus on his driving, when not constructing race cars at his fabricating shop near Akron, Ohio. Michigan s Brian Campbell is the current ASA Late Model Challenge Series national points leader, and has won in ASA, CRA, Main Event, and MAARA sanctioned events in his young career. His pre-entry indicates that he will race at Motordrome for the first time this week, although his legendary father Fast Freddy Campbell visited Smithton, PA for special events in the early 1990 s. Texan, Colt James (now residing in North Carolina to further his racing endeavors), is without a doubt one of the south s hottest drivers of late. In addition to ASA success, James has recently pocketed two huge paychecks by defeating several NASCAR Cup Series Development Teams in special events at the Concord Motorsports Complex, outside Charlotte. James has never raced before in the Keystone State. Canadian Pete Vanderwyst has become one of the Maple Leaf nation s most recognized names in motorsports, since the retirement of the legendary Junior Hanley. Vanderwyst was a popular contender with the ASA Late Model Series, and the former MAARA Tour, in which he made starts at Motordrome in recent seasons. Todd Hoddick, a three-track Champion, has won the Race Of Champions, the U.S. Open, and the Bud 100 in his home state of New York. Currently an ARCA ReMax Series competitor, with pavement Modified experience, Hoddick has only made a couple of starts at Motordrome in years past. Like Hoddick, Glenn Gault, Jr. is a former Lake Erie Speedway Champion, and has won in multiple series, including MAARA and the ASA Late Model tour. The second generation Ohio driver is more familiar with the Smithton, PA oval, as a part-time visitor and the son of a former Motordrome Speedway Champion. George Skora, III comes from a rich racing heritage in New York, and is one of the most feared young drivers at Lake Erie and Holland Speedways. A multi-track feature winner, Skora is rather unfamiliar with Motordrome s pavement, but a master of the shorter bullrings. Tommy Beck, a local driver eligible for the $3,000 Bounty Bonus because he is outside the top 25 in Motordrome Points, has reunited with Bentz Motorsports and entered this weekend s event. Beck is one of three drivers in recent seasons to win 100-lap special events at the wheel of the Bob Bentz #60 car at Motordrome. As entries from PA and NY continue to flow in for this weekend s second running of the Piney Lasky Memorial Fall Festival, attention has suddenly shifted from the Midwest and Southeast s outside invaders, to a former Motordrome Speedway weekly competitor. The 2008 Motordrome Speedway Champion, Richard Mitchell, has filed an entry for the 100-lap Piney Lasky Memorial 100, and will compete for the $10,000 possible winner s prize in the Subway Super Late Models. Although he raced every Friday last season, Mitchell has not driven a race car in exactly twelve months, since the inaugural Lasky 100 last October. The four-time Champ s absence from the NASCAR All-American Series in 2009 leaves much speculation in regard to the equipment he will use this Friday and Saturday. Mitchell s title-winning ride remains in his West Virginia race shop, but has not touched a speedway all season. Some are guessing that Mitchell will either partner with a top-ten team from 2009 in a backup car, or perhaps step into a winning machine as a substitute driver for this one, big event. Since he is outside the top 25 in Motordrome s 2009 standings, he is technically eligible for the $3,000 Bounty Bonus created by promoter Stan Lasky, for any driver that can defeat the weekly Motordrome aces. Pennsylvania drivers hoping to keep all the Super Late Model cash at home include recently crowned 2009 Champion Mark Cottone. With two wins this season, Cottone secured his third career Motordrome title and is among the favorites to take the checkered flag. Rick Miller, also a three-time Champion, won a 50-lap feature in 2008 on a limited schedule, and may have more 100-lap event experience than anyone else in the field. Mark Poole has won numerous times in the past two seasons, and is seeking his biggest career paycheck in this weekend s Piney Lasky Memorial. He joins Barry Awtey and former track Champions Garry Wiltrout, and Bobby Henry as 2009 feature winners pre-entered for the big show. Shawn Pilla, winner of the Penn West Toyota Lift 100 in June, has also signed up to compete. Will Thomas, a winner at six speedways in his career and a former MAARA Series Champion, clinched another Lake Erie title in 2009. He is a two-time Motordrome feature winner and will be driving his own #9 car this weekend. Other visitors include (from Pennsylvania): former NASCAR All-Pro and Hooters Cup competitor Robby Marhefka; former National Banderlos Champion Chris Bailey, Jr., former Go-Kart Champion Nathan Russell, and veteran Joe Moose. From New York: Former Ams Oil Challenge Series winner Bill Weber; veteran Scott Wylie, and Dave Rigan - who impressed many with a late-race charge to the front in the August 100-lapper at Motordrome. The expanded two day format for the Fall Festival II includes practice and qualifying events for all five divisions on Friday. Saturday will be last chance events and the five feature races, including the 100-lap Piney Lasky Memorial for Super Late Models. Advance tickets are on sale now, and save $5 over gate prices. Call 724-872-7555 or visit www.motordrome.com for more information. |
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