ESS: Cayuga County results for 2000-07-02

Two Year Dry Spell Ends for Bobby Podolak: Wins ESS Event at Cayuga County.
by Dean Reynolds

WEEDPORT, N.Y. - It's been a long two years with many close efforts, but Auburn, N.Y.'s Bobby Podolak finally cracked victory lane at the Empire Super Sprint Tour 2000 event at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway on Sunday night. The veteran driver lead the final 15 laps in heavy lapped traffic to collect his sixth career ESS win which proved very popular with many family and friends on hand. With the victory, Podolak now has a chance for the pole position at the Bully Hill Vineyards Sprint Nationals in September at the Black Rock Speedway.

The Bully Hill Qualifier victory was worth and extra $100 as well as being rewarded with a special five foot trophy. The annual event produced a near sellout crowd at the DIRT flagship speedway located on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds. The fans saw the best of "America's Race Cars" on the weekend that celebrates our Nation's birthday. Only one caution flag was waved all night which made for some great sprint car action on the high banked 3/8ths mile oval.

"This feels so good, especially after losing that one last night." noted Podolak who lost the lead with two laps to go at Canandaigua the night prior. "I ran many laps here and knew what the track was going to do. The car was perfect and it was all up to the driver tonight."

The Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions #29 of Dick Spadaro lead the first four laps before Podolak took over. With the only caution of the event on lap three, Podolak would see his entire rein as the leader under green conditions which meant lapped traffic was going to be a factor. Scott Holcomb moved from his ninth place start to second on lap seven and began a race long chase of Podolak who did open up a big lead on the slick Weedsport oval. Lap after lap in with slower cars figured into the fray, it was the cat (Holcomb) chasing the mouse (Podolak). Both were looking for their first win of the ESS Tour 2000.

Just as Holcomb appeared to make a challenge, Podolak got a good run of his own to open up the lead again. "I was worried about the lapped traffic, I think I lost last night because of it." said Podolak. "I usually run down low and that's where they (lapped cars) will be so I had to go around them. I thought at one time I say a yellow car under me and I thought it was Scotty. But, they told me I had a good lead all race."

Indeed, Podolak's self-owned, unsponsored sprinter never got that challenge from Holcomb and he went under Dave Farney's checkered flag first. Holcomb's second was well received after a year of bad luck for the Lucky's Trailer Sales sponsored mount.

Current ESS point leader Mike Woodring came from 15th to third to collect the Walt's Hobby Hard Charger bonus. The Lane's Yamaha #5 of Lance Yonge took a fine fourth with a lap 18 pass on Mike Stelter who finished fifth. Rounding out the top ten was Spadaro, George Ely, Mike VanDusen, Canandaigua winner Rich Wood and Quebec's Alain Bergeron.

Dan Kaszubinski and Steve Dow made hard contact for the only caution on lap three. Both drivers were alright but their sprinters were towed to the pits. Taking the Brodix Cylinder Heads heat events were Ely, Rob Dietrick and Podolak with the Walt's Hobby Dash won by Holcomb.

ESS NOTES: A total of 25 sprinters entered the event...Bobby Seidel was sidelined early with a broken fuel pump...Rob Dietrick would like to thank the Bill Coffey team for loaning their Jereco powerplant after Rob blew his at Canandaigua...In the last two nights, the caution flag was seen only a total of TWO times during the night's action. A job well done by at the chauffeurs of the Empire Super Sprints.

RESULTS: Heat 1 - George Ely, Mike VanDusen, Dan Kaszubinski, Lance Yonge, Tim Zimbardi, Darrell Bragman.

Heat 2 - Rob Dietrick, Mike Stelter, Alain Bergeron, Rich Wood, Steve Dow, R.C. Faigle.

Heat 3 - Bob Podolak, Scott Holcomb, Mike Woodring, Doug Emery, Dick Spadaro, Ray Preston. Walt's Hobby Dash - Holcomb.

Did Not Qualify - Bobby Seidel.

A-MAIN - BOB PODOLAK, Holcomb, Woodring, Yonge, Stelter, Spadaro, Ely, M. VanDusen, Wood, Bergeron, Dietrick, Emery, Preston, Randy Years, Mike Young, Faigle, Bubby Kerrick, Zimbardi, Don Sharp Jr., Bragman, Jeff VanDusen, Mike Bozzuto, Kaszubinski, Dow. Lap Leaders - Spadaro 1-4, Podolak 5-20.

Walt's Hobby Hard Charger - Woodring (12 pos.) $50 Vicomp Graphics Halfway - Podolak $50

Winner's Bonuses: Car-Mate Dealers $50, Pro Shocks $100, Black Rock Speedway $100, Tire Comp. East $75, Red's Speed Shop $25.

Other Bonuses: Weld Racing Hard Luck - Dow $75. Design 500 - Preston $100, Stelter $50. Griffin Thermal Products - Holcomb $50. Hank's Performance Products - Holcomb $50. Total Seal - Holcomb $50, Bergeron $30. Penske Shocks - Bergeron $150. Bailey Racing Products - Young $35. Bicknell Racing Products - Holcomb $35. Behrent's Performance Warehouse - Holcomb $30. Thunder Mtn. Wings - Holcomb $20. Powder Birns - Preston $10. Dave Ely Racing - M. VanDusen, Stelter, Holcomb. Lauterborn Electric - Faigle $10.