Mechanicsburg results 97-04-25

For more information: Linda Mansfield, lindamansfield@CompuServe.com

Cicconi Becomes Third Different ARDC CARQUEST Midget Winner

MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 25 - Three "juniors" were smiling in victory lane Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, as Lou Cicconi Jr. of Aston, Pa.; Michael Roselli Jr. of Brodheadsville, Pa.; and Ed Stimely Jr. of McVeytown, Pa.; took the top three positions in the 20-lap American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) CARQUEST Midget Series feature.

Cicconi started 15th, took the lead with a slingshot move under Duane Mausteller of Bloomsburg, Pa., on the restart of lap four, and was never again headed as he became the third different ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series feature winner in as many races.

(Polesitter Bryan Kobylarz of Birdsboro, Pa., led initially but a spin by Don Trent II of Honeybrook, Pa., caused that lap not to count. Mausteller led the first official lap after dipping under Kobylarz in turn two.) The restart with three laps down was necessary because Jim Jackson flipped in turn four; fortunately the Sweet Valley, Pa., driver wasn't hurt.)

Cicconi was driving his Weiland Racing Enterprises/Church's Auto Parts/Simpson Stealth which was supposed to be driven by Tom Fraschetta of Oaks, Pa. Fraschetta was at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia instead of the Grove, however, as he broke his hand when a tire exploded in Cicconi's race car shop Thursday.

After Cicconi passed Mausteller the real battle was for second, and it was a thriller. Seventeen-year-old Roselli slid under Mausteller in turn two following a restart with seven laps down caused when the driveshaft twisted off Gary Halteman's Schaeffer's Family Restaurant Hawk, leaving the Gilbertsville, Pa., driver on the backstretch in a cloud of smoke.

Bob Cicconi of Prospect Park, Pa., had third from lap eight until lap 12, when Stimely got under him on the backstretch. Five laps later Stimely was right on Roselli's rear nerf bar, and he applied the pressure until the very end.

He tried to squeeze by Roselli on the last lap, but the pair came on the lapped car of Dennis Schaeffer of Conestoga, Pa., between turns three and four. Schaeffer held his line perfectly but racing room ran out. The front of Stimely's Creek climbed over the back of Schaeffer's Ellis, and Roselli took the checkered in second. The incident bent the left front axle of Stimely's car but he brought it home in third. Brian Seidel of Allentown, Pa., was fourth and the defending champion, Phil DiMario of Piermont, N.Y., finished fifth. Bob Cicconi crossed the line in fifth but he was penalized four positions for jumping a restart.

Gary Mondshein of Stewartsville, N.J.; Tim Dietz of Hanover, Pa.; Mausteller; Bob Cicconi and Kobylarz rounded out the official top 10.

The non-stop heats went to Lou Cicconi Jr. and Duane Mausteller.

In May, the ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series will appear at Dixieland (N.C.) Speedway Friday night, May 16; Flemington (N.J.) Speedway on Saturday night, May 24; and the Albany-Saratoga (N.Y.) Speedway on Friday night, May 30.

The summary:

Hunt Magnetos First Heat (8 laps) - 1. Lou Cicconi Jr., 2. Doug Borger, 3. Tom Martocci, 4. Phil DiMario, 5. Ed Stimely Jr., 6. Don Trent II, 7. Bryan Kobylarz, 8. Fred Schell, 9. Randy Mausteller, 10. Jim Jackson, 11. Brian Suchy.

Hank's Performance Products Second Heat (8 laps) - 1. Duane Mausteller, 2. Michael Roselli Jr., 3. Brian Seidel, 4. Mark Freeland, 5. Gary Halteman, 6. TIm Dietz, 7. Shannon Mausteller, 8. Gary Mondschein, 9. Bill Ertel, 10. Dan Shelbo Jr., 11. Dennis Schaeffer, 12. Bob Cicconi.

Feature (20 laps) - 1. Lou Cicconi Jr., 2. Michael Roselli Jr., 3. Ed Stimely Jr., 4. Brian Seidel, 5. Phil DiMario, 6. Gary Mondschein, 7. Tim Dietz, 8. Duane Mausteller, 9. Bob Cicconi, 10. Bryan Kobylarz, 11. Fred Schell, 12. Tom Martocci, 13. Dennis Schaeffer, 14. Bill Ertel, 15. Mark Freeland, 16. Brian Suchy, 17. Randy Mausteller, 18. Dan Shelbo Jr., 19. Gary Halteman, 20. Shannon Mausteller, 21. Doug Borger, 22. Jim Jackson, 23. Don Trent II, 24. Ted Schmid (DNS).

Feature Lap Leaders: Laps 1-3, D. Mausteller, laps 4-20, L. Cicconi Jr.