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Swiernik Takes OCFS Eastern States Championship, Tanner Earns Title |
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| posted by Admin
on 10/18/09 |
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MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – For the fourth time in 2009, 15-year-old Dylan Swiernik captured a Capital Region Sprint Agency 25-lap main-event.
His latest triumph came at the Orange County Fair Speedway as part of 48th Annual Eastern States Weekend.
“Feels good to get another won,” said Swiernik. “Hopefully these wins help me get my name out there and I can get some help getting a 360 (engine) for next year. We want to move up.”
John Lodini and John Cunningham started on the front row of the A-Main event. Cunningham found the groove early and took the lead at the start of the event by utilizing the high lane in turns three one and two.
His lead lasted just four circuits before Jeff VanSteenburg, who started fifth, powered by him on the outside in turns one and two for the top position in the feature.
VanSteenburg showed the way with Swiernik moving into the runner-up position on lap five. He remained there for the next several circuits as he was forced to run down VanSteenburg.
With 10 laps complete in the feature, VanSteenburg still led but Swiernik had closed in. One lap later, Swiernik made his move.
VanSteenburg worked high getting into turn three while Swiernik dove to the bottom. They were even through the middle of the corner but Swienik got enough of a run off the bottom to take the lead away.
“This car has been good on the bottom all weekend,” said Swiernik. “I decided early on in the feature that was my line and I was going to stay down there.”
On lap 13, the red flag was displayed and Jeremy Quick’s chances of being a two time series champion were negated as he got into the inside wall in turn three and then got upside down. He was uninjured in the event but his No. 72 received extensive damage.
The restart brought the field up to Swiernik one more time. At the green the Port Leyden, N.Y., driver was flawless as he was able to pull away from VanSteenburg once again.
Swiernik got his first taste of slower traffic with 20 laps complete in the feature. As he attempted to navigate through, John Matrafailo was closing in from his tenth starting position.
On the final lap of the main-event, Swiernik held the lead in traffic with Matrafailo sneaking down low in turns one and two. He closed as they exited the corner and got nearly even as they entered turn three.
They raced off the corner together with Swiernik scoring the victory by a nose over Matraifailo.
“Lapped traffic slowed me up quit a bit there at the end,” commented Swiernik. “I got caught up a few times, but luckily I was able to hold on for the win.”
Matrafailo was extremely patient in the early laps of the feature and that gave him a very strong car at the end of the event. It was nearly enough to secure the win.
“I was saving my tires early on,” said Matrafailo. “After the the red flag on lap 13 I began picking up the pace and I started closing on him (Swiernik). I wanted to win but I’m happy with the finish. I’m really glad we got this one in.”
VanSteenburg, of West Shokan, N.Y., faded late in the race back to the third spot. That finish was a much better ending than his last visit at the big five-eights mile speedway which saw him destroy his car.
“This is the first time I’ve ever finished a race here other than a dash,” stated VanSteenburg about his luck at Orange County. “We’ll take it.”
John Lodini, of Stony Point, N.Y., came home in fourth after starting on the pole. Chad King, of Caroga, Lake, N.Y., advanced one position in the feature to complete the top five.
By virtue of Quick’s poor luck and his sixth place finish, Matt Tanner is the 2009 series champion. Tanner, of Berlin, N.Y., came on strong late in the season to earn his first ever CRSA title.
"It feels great,” said Tanner. “We’ve struggled here all weekend. The car was over heating on me there in the feature but when I saw Jeremy (Quick) wrecked I just took it easy to make sure I could finish.
“We started the season with some bad luck at Fonda but came back and won at Accord (Speedway) and here. We also won a 360 race up in Vermont at Bear Ridge Speedway. It seemed like after that we were pretty good wherever we went.”
Tanner also captured the D&D Auto Parts Southern New York Tour Championship.
The Capital Region Sprint Agency would like to thank our 2009 series sponsors: Pancho’s Racing Products, Triple X Racecars, Peak Racing Equipment, D&D Auto Supply and Checkers Out Speedway.
CRSA also would like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions to Eastern States Weekend: Chuck Alessi Plumbing and Heating, Hennessy Liquors, Terricino Hardwood Floors, T.T.I. Luxury Coaches, Leombruno Racing and Planet Wings.
Pit Notes: 22 cars signed in for weekend competition…Billy VanInwegen and Justin Barger broke motors during Friday night qualifying…John Cunningham is the 2009 Rookie of the Year…Matrafailo and Jim McCaffery earned hard chargers honros as they both advanced eight positions…
RACE RESULTS (10/17/09)
CAPITAL REGION SPRINT AGENCY A-MAIN (25-LAPS): Dylan Swiernik, John Matrafailo, Jeff VanSteenburg, John Lodini, Chad King, Matt Tanner, Craig Rochelle, Tyler Rice, John Cunningham, Billy Jaycox, Jim McCaffrey, Daren Bolac, Bruno Leombruno, John Leombruno, Dan Hennessy, Jeremy Quick, Chuck Alessi, DNS – Josh Flach, Bob Tichenor, Billy VanInwegen, Justin Barger
PRO FAB ENGINEERING HEAT RACE WINNERS (8-LAPS): Matrafailo, Cunningham, Swiernik
BRUCE’S SPEED SHOP DASH (4-laps): Matrafailo, VanSteenburg, Lodini, Hennessy, Swiernik, King, Rice, Cunningham, DNS - Alessi
KELLY FUEL AWARD: Swiernik
PANCHOS RACING PRODUCT BONUS: Matrafailo, King
MAGSARUS HARD CHARGER: Matrafailo, McCaffery (+8)
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