Tommy Flannigan Scores Modified Victory Friday Night At “The Big R”

Story By: STEVE PETTY / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – “The Tornado” Tommy Flannigan from St. Catharines, Ontario won the main event for the Krown Undercoating Modifieds on Crop Production Services, Snyder Industries, Barker Lion’s Club and Firth’s Jewelers night at the Ransomville Speedway on Friday evening.

“Hot Wheels” Greg Martin from Youngstown, NY won his first Investors Service Sportsman feature of the season. Jake Stefanski from North Tonawanda, NY scored his second win of the season for the KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks. Ashley Blech from Ransomville, NY scored her first win of the season in the Gippsters Collision 4 Bangers, her first as a married woman. Kyle Wendt from Ransomville, NY scored his third win of the season in the Stevenson’s Hardware Novice Sportsman.

“The Professor” John Smith and “The Tornado” Tommy Flannigan brought the strong field of Krown Undercoating Modifieds to the green flag for their 30 lap main event with Flannigan in the lead. Ryan Susice would move up from his 10th starting position and quickly worked his way into fourth place in the first three laps. Erick Rudolph would work his way into the top five after passing Steve Schumacher on lap nine, just as Susice went after Scott Kerwin for third place. Susice would continue to head towards the front of the field as he battled with John Smith for second, and would complete the pass going down the back straightaway on lap 12, as Tommy Flannigan had a four-second lead over the field. The leader would hit lap traffic at the halfway mark. Rudolph would clear both Kerwin and Smith to move into third-place with 12 laps remaining. As the leader continued working his way through lap traffic, Susice would start to close the gap that Flannigan had over the field. Pete Bicknell entered the top-five for the first time with eight laps remaining after passing John Smith. Flannigan would lead every lap, flag to flag to score his first win of the season. With his fourth-place finish, Scott Kerwin received a free tire from Hoosier Racing Tire.

Dustin Gorhan and Brett Martin led the Investors Service Sportsman to the green flag for their feature event with Brett Martin taking the initial lead. Chris Burek spun in turn four to bring out the races first caution on lap four. On the restart, it was Martin and Garrison Krentz on the front row with Martin in the lead with James Henry following the leader. The caution would immediately come back out as Dave Flannigan Jr and Derek Borkenhagen came together in turn one. The second attempt on the lap four restart would see Martin in the lead with James Henry in second. Garrison Krentz would spin in turn one on lap six to bring out the caution, with several other cars spinning to avoid. On the restart, Martin and Henry would start to pull away from Kevin Wills, Greg Martin, Brett Senek and Matt Farnham as the heavy hitters of the division started to work their way towards the front of the field. James Henry would take the lead away from Martin on lap 12, just after Chris Burek and Derrick Borkenhagen collided on the back straightaway to bring out the caution. The restart would see Greg Martin, and James Henry battle for the lead with “Hot Wheels”, Greg Martin taking over the lead. Brett Senek battled with Kevin Wills for third place as Matt Farnham took fifth away from early race leader Brett Martin. Chris Burek slowed on the back straightaway to bring out the caution on lap 16. The single file restart would see “Hot Wheels” take off in the lead with Brett Senek passing Henry for second as Matt Farnham battled with Henry for third. Greg Martin would pull away from the rest of the field to score his first win of the season. Senek, Henry, Farnham and Derek Wagner completed the top five.

Joey Zimmerman and Mike Kramarz led the field of KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks to the green flag for their 20 lap feature with Kramarz jumping into the early race lead. While running second, Pat O’Keefe got loose on the main straightaway, went into the moat and shot back up onto the racing surface, and only lost two positions in the process. Brandon Sherwood would take the lead away from Kramarz on lap four with Kramarz, Jake and Pete Stefanski, and O’Keefe racing inside the top five. Kramarz would regain the lead on lap five, edging Sherwood at the line. Jaren Israel lost a right rear tire and Pat Dell spun on the back straightaway to bring out the caution on lap seven. Off the restart, Kramarz would be the leader with the Stefanski family battling for second. Jake Stefanski looked underneath Kramarz and took the lead away from Kramarz on lap 11. Kramarz would reel in Jake in the late going, but it was Jake Stefanski scoring his second win of the season.

Steve Matson and Brendan O’Keefe were on the front row for the Gippsters Collision 4 Bangers feature with Matson showing the way. Ashley Blech would take second away from O’Keefe on lap one with Chris Leone running in third. Blech would go underneath Matson to take the lead on lap four. Cole Susice would enter the top five for the first time on lap five after passing Chuck Cala. Matt Hornquist would battle with Leone and Matson for second place, as Blech would start to pull away from the field. Hornquist would reel in Blech with six laps remaining, as Leone would battle with Hornquist, allowing Blech to keep the lead and Cole Susice the chance to reel in the top three. Blech would go on to score the win, her first of the season and first as a married woman.

Orval Harris and qualifying winner Bubby Pawlak brought the field of Stevenson’s Hardware Novice Sportsman with Pawlak quickly getting into the lead. Orval would spin in turn two to bring out the first caution. Kyle Wendt would take the lead on the restart and would open the lead by over two seconds over the field. Wendt would slow on the front stretch to bring out the caution with five laps remaining. Robbie Johnston would take the lead on the restart, but Wendt would drive his way back through the field and would go on to score the win, his third of the season.

NEWS AND NOTES: 77 cars signed in pitside. Fans were treated to the popular Autograph Session on track during intermission. Hoosier Racing Tires gave away one free tire to a lucky Modified driver. The Sportsman will race for a Sponsorship laps are now available for the Street Stock and Sportsman King of the Hill 100 lap features as well as the final Modified race of the season on September 1st. Contact the speedway office to sponsor your laps today!

Racing is back at the Big R on Monday, August 21st as it is our second #MondayMadness of the season plus $1 Hot Dog Night and Kids Rides! Pit gates will swing open after 5:00 pm with grandstands opening at 6:00 pm with showtime being at 7:15 pm.

Friday racing will continue at Ransomville on Friday, August 25th as Moley Magnetics presents the second visit of the season by the Patriot Sprint Tour! The PST will be joined by the Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Bangers and Novice Sportsman. The pit gates will open at 5:00 pm with grandstands at 6:00 pm with showtime at 7:15 pm

RACE RESULTS – Crop Production Services, Barker Lions Club, Firth’s Jewelers Night

Krown Undercoating Modifieds: TOMMY FLANNIGAN, Ryan Susice, Erick Rudolph, Scott Kerwin, Pete Bicknell, Rick Richner, John Smith, Steve Schumacher, Jeff McGinnis, Kenny Wills, Jesse Cotriss, Scott George, Steve Lewis Jr, Jim Zimmerman, Phil Vigneri III, Allan Wills, Russ Zimmerman

Qualifying Winners: John Smith, Erick Rudolph, Steve Schumacher

Investors Service Sportsman: GREG MARTIN, Brett Senek, James Henry, Matt Farnham, Derek Wagner, Kevin Wills, AJ Custodi, Mike Williams, Ed Cain, Brett Martin, Dave Flannigan Jr, Noah Walker, Anthony Muscato, Derek Borkenhagen, Dave DiPietro, Jim Harbison, Chase Matteson, Zack Sam, Chris Burek, Bryan Harris, Garrison Krentz, Dustin Gorhan, Darrell Borkenhagen

Qualifying Winners: Dustin Gorhan, Tony Muscato, Kevin Wills

KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks: JAKE STEFANSKI, Mike Kramarz, Pete Stefanski, Ken Camidge, Chris Dziomba, Brandon Sherwood, Joey Zimmerman, Randy Zimmerman, Casey Jonathan, Pat O’Keefe, Roger Smith, Jordan Moden, Pat Dell, Brian Monahan, Jaren Israel

Qualifying Winners: Jake Stefanski, Joey Zimmerman

Gippsters Collision 4 Bangers: ASHLEY BLECH, Chris Leone, Cole Susice, Chad Leaderhouse, Matt Hornquist, Steve Matson, Chuck Cala, Dave Dusseault, Brendan O’Keefe, Ryan Plante, Brandon Potter, Nick Tarnowski, Chad Desso

Qualifying Winners: Matt Hornquist, Ashley Blech

Stevenson’s Hardware Novice Sportsman: KYLE WENDT, Robbie Johnston, Bubby Pawlak, Zack George, Cameron Tuttle, Orval Harris, David Fingerlow, Adam Harris, Matt Foster

Qualifying Winner: Bubby Pawlak