LAKE ERIE SPEEDWAY OPENING NIGHT 2009

(North East, PA- May 23, 2009)- Memorial Day weekend got off to an exiting start at Lake Erie Speedway on opening night while kicking off their 2009 season. Over 4,130 fans watched as 94 cars raced through six feature races.

The night began with the Boyer RV Center Bandoleros feature race. Eleven cars participated in this twelve-lap race. #23 Devon Moore started the action in Lap 2 with a spin-out that led to the night’s first caution flag. #69 Brody Wood took the early lead from Lap 4 on, closely followed by #21 Alexis Wilson and #1 Brandon DeBrakeleer. Moore was passed by the leaders in both Lap 5 and again in Lap 12. Wood held off all racers and remained in the lead position for the rest of the race, followed by Wilson, DeBrakeleer, #81 Michael Walker, and #26 Anthony Riforgiato.

The next group of competitors was the Jensens Target Collision Compacts which raced fifteen laps with 23 cars. #77 Julie McAvoy took an early lead with #17m Rich Miller and #95 Jonathan Breads racing closely on their heels. As #84 Amber Belson moved off the track in Lap 7, McAvoy began smoking in both Lap 7 and Lap 12, but quickly regained momentum. Breads finally took the lead in Lap 10 and never looked back. #12 Luke Johnson, #4b Ashley Huffman, #9 Dan Smith, and #43 Jason Johnson were some of the racers that were lapped by Breads. Breads was followed by McAvoy, #7 Dave McAvoy, Miller, and #34b Brandon Huffman.

The following group of cars to take the track were the nine Street Stocks, which didn’t even make it around once before a black flag was pulled on #1 Jeff Campbell for passing below the yellow line. After his stop-and-go penalty, he was able to pull back into 4th place in Lap 11. #83 Russ Conti took a huge lead in Lap 3, until he was forced to pull off the track and lose his lead in Lap 9. Along with Conti, #35 Larry Houser, #20 John Denny, and #99 Dennis Kszos all retired themselves from the race. After Conti left the race, #01 Leslie Bohrer took a huge lead in her pink car and continued to lead for the remainder of the twenty-five lap race. #21 Dave Wilson made a close attempt at passing Bohrer in Lap 21 but was unable to complete the pass. While Bohrer and Wilson raced under the checkered flag, Campbell made a comeback from his early penalty to finish in third place.

The next feature event showcased the Career Concepts Legends. This twenty-five lap race had three cautions, the first flag being waved after #38W Dan Weaver and #67 Bob McQuiston tangled in Lap 2. The second caution flag came when #38 once again spun in Lap 4. The third and final caution flag was waved when #26 Cody Myers spun out of control in Lap 7. #25 Steven Sunday remained on Hines’ back the entire race, but finished in second place. After the second flag, #8 Justin Hines held the lead from Lap 4 on and was able to get the trophy for the Legends feature. #21 Patrick Lyden, #39h Jeremy Haudricourt, and #9 Larry Occhibone finished in third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively.

The Dodge Modifieds were next to take the track with seventeen cars racing for 25 laps. Once again, many caution flags were pulled during this race, starting with #11 Casey Swabik and #24 Randy Culver spinning each other out in Lap 2. #32 Eric McCray took a huge lead in Lap 5 and never failed to let go of his position. McCray pulled further ahead while #1 Terry Akerly and #77 Dave McAvoy battled for second place. After chasing McAvoy for ten laps, Akerly moved into second place in Lap 11. Akerly came close to passing McCray in Lap 19 but was unable to take the lead. #14 Carter Mook and #30 Chris Briggs tangled and ended up nose-to-nose in corner 1 of Lap 15 which created another caution flag, followed by #28 Dale Murdock who spun but re-fired soon after. The last caution flag came during Lap 20 when #13 Nate Carlson and #20 Bob Belson bumped. McCray finished first with a huge lead while Akerly and McAvoy trailed behind.

The last feature event of opening night at LES was the forty-lap Plyler Overhead Door Late Models, which showcased 18 cars. #3 Jeff Brown, #24 Dave Rigan, and #69 Josh John got off to a quick battle beginning in Lap 3 until Rigan took a strong lead in Lap 7. #20 Scott Nurmi and #52 Joe Bizzaro tangled during the same lap creating a caution flag, followed by #99 Rob Marhefka spinning four times in Lap 8 and quickly leaving and returning to the race. Soon after #23 Jimmy Weller also spun out, left the race, and returned. #65 George Skora III moved into third place in Lap 16 until Rigan once again took the lead in Lap 18 and John dropped back into fifth place. Rigan, who has never won a race before, stayed in the lead through Lap 36 until #29 Richard Arndt, who was being lapped, spun out Rigan causing his night to end early. After this exciting and stunning end, Skora III moved into first place, followed by Brown, #56 Rich Skora, and #9 Will Thomas.