ARDC Jennerstown results

For more information: Linda Mansfield, lindamansfield@CompuServe

Cicconis Finish One-Two at Jennerstown in ARDC CARQUEST Midget Action

JENNERSTOWN, Pa., June 28 - Lou Cicconi Jr. of Prospect Park, Pa., led his brother Bob of Aston, Pa., across the finish line to win the 20-lap American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) CARQUEST Midget Series feature Saturday night at Jennerstown Speedway before an enthusiastic crowd.

The torrid non-stop event had three different leaders even though it only took a little over seven and a half minutes to complete.

It was the third ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series victory of the year for the youngest member of the Cicconi clan, who was in his low-slung neon yellow and red Cicconi Brayton sponsored by Weiland Racing Enterprises. His other two victories this year were on clay tracks, while Saturday's triumph came on Jennerstown's .522-mile asphalt oval.

Ron Lauer of Millersville, Md., looked very good in the Starrett D&G Fontana usually driven by fellow Marylander Greg Klar. He led the first six laps before Bob Cicconi took command from laps seven through 12.

Around lap nine Bob Cicconi saw something fly off another car and hit his. The debris broke the brake line off the right front of the car he was driving Saturday night, Jack Kirchner's Boston Hawk Gaerte usually driven by Mark Wakefoose of Hopatcong, N.J. The elder Cicconi drove without brakes from that point on but still finished second, although there was nothing he could do to catch his youngest brother. Lou Cicconi Jr. took the lead from his brother on lap 13 going out of two and flying down the backstretch, and was never again headed.

Tim Dietz of Hanover, Pa., finished third in his own Avenger Dietz. Shannon Mausteller of Bloomsburg, Pa., was fourth and Michael Roselli Jr. of Brodheadsville, Pa., finished fifth. Bryan Kobylarz of Birdsboro, Pa.; Rudy Boetticher of Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; defending champion Phil DiMario of Piermont, N.Y.; Ed Stimely Jr. of McVeytown, Pa.; and Gary Halteman of Gilbertsville, Pa., rounded out the top 10. Just after he lost the lead to Bob Cicconi, Lauer slowed on the backstretch because his car jumped out of gear. He managed to get it back into gear but he'd lost a lot of spots. He regrouped to finish 11th.

Robert Boetticher of Fanwood, N.J. and Lou Cicconi Jr. won the 8-lap heats.

The next ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series race is Saturday night, July 5 at Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford, Pa., a clay track. The teams then revert back to their asphalt set-ups for races at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway on Saturday, July 19 and Flemington (N.J.) Speedway on Saturday, July 26.

The summary:

First Heat (8 laps) - 1. Robert Boetticher, 2. Michael Roselli Jr., 3. Tim Dietz, 4. Phil DiMario, 5. Ed Stimely Jr., 6. Gary Halteman, 7. Ron Lauer, 8. Randy Mausteller, 9. Lew Blair, 10. Monnie Wonder III. No time.

Second Heat (8 laps) - 1. Lou Cicconi Jr., 2. Bob Cicconi, 3. Rudy Boetticher, 4. Shannon Mausteller, 5. Bryan Kobylarz, 6. Tom Martocci, 7. Mike Lapp, 8. Scott Jackson, 9. Fred Schell, 10. Brian Suchy. 2:22.31

Feature (20 laps) - 1. Lou Cicconi Jr., 2. Bob Cicconi, 3. Tim Dietz, 4. Shannon Mausteller, 5. Michael Roselli Jr. 6. Bryan Kobylarz, 7. Rudy Boetticher, 8. Phil DiMario, 9. Ed Stimely Jr., 10. Gary Halteman, 11. Ron Lauer, 12. Randy Mausteller, 13. Robert Boetticher, 14. Lew Blair, 15. Tom Martocci, 16. Mike Lapp, 17. Monnie Wonder III, 18. Scott Jackson, 19. Fred Schell, 20. Brian Suchy (DNS). 7:39.00 Lap Leaders - Laps 1-6, Ron Lauer; laps 7-12, Bob Cicconi, laps 13-20, Lou Cicconi Jr.