Williamson Leads International Contingent To First Canandaigua Checkers
Lotz, Root and Kerrick add first of season while Grant & Spoor continue divisional domination
Canandaigua, NY – June 15, 2024 – Tom Skibinski, Land of Legends Raceway PR
While the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris get underway at the end of July, Land Of Legends Raceway got a head start providing fans with its own brand of international competition in the mid-June thriller.
Canadian chauffeur Mat Williamson collected the feature gold after his first-ever Pepsi Big-Block Modified victory, overtaking area American Justin Wright with the white flag in sight while Australian ace Peter Britten followed for his third consecutive podium finish at the hallowed Ontario Co. Fairgrounds oval.
“Didn’t think I’d ever get (victory lane), been good here and finished second a lot,” remarked a more relieved Williamson, 34, on the heels of his dramatic triumph worth $2,000. “This place, a lot of legends have won here that’s why they call it the ‘Land of Legends.’ Just nice to finally get the monkey off my back here and hopefully we can start running better and better and build a notebook.”
Timmy Lotz mirrored Williamson’s success with his own first career Canandaigua checkered flag in the MighTea Boba 305 Sprint Car A-Main while Nick Root (Stirling Lubricants Sportsman) and Daniel Kerrick (Lloyd's Contracting Hobby Stock) added their first wins of the ‘24 campaign. Reigning division points king Jimmy Grant (Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling Street Stock) and first-year wheelman Chase Spoor (Maguire Ford of Canandaigua New Legends Sportsman) closed out the 'Saturday Spectacular' presented by Maguire Ford of Canandaigua with two more convincing victories in their respective classes.
On this night the Sodus Microd Club was recognized as the beneficiary of the weekly 50/50 drawing.
While the previous week’s show survived threatening rainfall throughout the night, near-perfect weather conditions attracted 115 racers for the annual Father’s Day weekend celebration. Williamson found the slick track surface to his liking aboard the family-owned #6 S&W Service Centre-Marin Drywall/Bicknell car, making the winning move less than a mile from the finish to garner the long-awaited victory.
“What a race with Justin there, he was really good. In (turns) one and two I was really good on the bottom, then with about 10 or 12 (laps) to go when I was running with Zach (Payne) he slid off the bottom. I got him with my left front and think I bent the toe out. It was harder to run the bottom down there but man, that was a lot of fun,” noted Williamson, who placed seventh in Big-Block points as a Canandaigua regular in 2016 with four top-5 feature finishes to his credit. As the 111th Modified driver to reach victory lane at the fairgrounds since 1953, the St. Catharines, Ont. standout has already chalked up four front-fives in five starts this season and trails only leader Matt Sheppard, 276-273, in the current standings.
Pole-sitter Wright paced the 21-car field from the outset of the 30-lap Modified main, opening up a comfortable advantage over early chasers Payne and Dalton Martin. Starting ninth on the grid alongside Britten, Williamson cracked the top-five by the midway mark and with five laps to go reached second in a turn one maneuver past Payne. ‘Money Mat’ cut into Wright’s once comfortable margin as the remaining circuits clicked off, ducking low exiting turn four to forge the lone lead change on lap 29. Wright settled for runner-up in his first Top-10 tally of the season, holding off a late-race charge from Britten followed by Payne and three-time and defending track champion Justin Haers.
“It seems like all year we’ve wasted trying different things and just haven’t gotten anywhere with it so finally we got a win here,” added Williamson, the 2019 Super DIRTcar Series titlist and multi-time Super DIRT Week winner who swept both the Big-Block and Small-Block SDW Championships at Oswego Speedway last October. “It was a great race, Justin is one of my best buddies. Would rather have been racing with somebody that I would’ve liked taking it from but he’s won here before so I don’t feel as bad.”
Noted a disappointed Wright in post-race ceremonies, “As bad as we’ve been if you told me I was gonna run second and lead 28-½ laps when we got here, okay that’s fine. Started on the pole with the handicapping so that just explains how absolutely terrible we’ve been. Have to give a shout out to my dad, it’s just him and I in the shop. He’s my only crew guy here week in and week out. Makes a lot of sacrifices, really appreciate him with tomorrow being Father’s Day.”
Father’s Day in victory lane at LOLR may be coming a new tradition for second-generation driver Root after the rising open-wheel star from Geneva matched his first Sportsman win captured in Canadaigua on June 17 last season.
“We got that one caution and I got a good restart on the top,” figured Root, now seasoned at 16, who like Williamson started ninth and snatched the lead with only a half-mile left. “We took awhile to get by (Tim) Lafler and by that time (Frank) Guererri was already a straightaway in front of us. So we were doing everything we could and just hoping for that yellow and it came out with two to go.”
Guererri overtook early race leader Nick Ventura on lap five of the headline 25-lapper while Lafler and Root moved up hoping to challenge 10 circuits in. Guererri opened more than a 10-car length advantage halfway through with Paul Guererri and Ventura filling front-five slots. Root finally found his way past Lafler with 10 to go yet the lead still seemed insurmountable. A turn four tangle involving Tony Velez and Colby Adamcazk on lap 24 changed all that as the deficit was erased, suddenly putting the lead pair bumper-to-bumper for a two lap shootout.
Root was up to the challenge, throwing his no. 30 FX Caprara Honda-Mohawk Northeast-Fratto Curbing-JP's Custom & Cycle-SJP/Bicknell mount low into turn one then riding alongside Guererri before rounding turn four as the new leader with only one lap to go.
“I was watching the whole race (Guererri) would enter (turn) one a little high and come down and that’s where I knew I had to be,” added Root, whose father Kevin placed 12th in the Big-Block finale. “I could run the bottom so I just squeezed in there. We were side by side going down the backstretch and through three and four, touched doors a little and I got the lead out of four. Hit the bump and thought he was gonna go back under me and I almost spun in two. Thankfully we didn’t.”
Paul Guererri improved to third while Sobotka blasted from seventh to fourth over the last two laps as Lafler dropped to fifth on the final scoresheet.
Just as Root now stands third in points behind only leader Tyler Corcoran and defending track champ Zach Sobotka on the Sportsman points chart, Lotz first career triumph vaulted him to a best-ever third in the 305 Sprint standings behind all-time LOLR winged winner Darryl Ruggles and opening day victor Bobby Parrow.
“Those (yellows) kept coming one after another, was just hoping they’d stop,” exclaimed Lotz, 35, who took the lead from pole-sitter Lance Dusett on lap five then survived four caution flags over the final 10 circuits to claim the memorable win. “Was trying to figure out how to get around all that (lapped traffic) so I’m glad the caution came out for that (last) one. Every lap under caution I kept looking up at the (leader) board and seeing that #80 (Parrow) coming so I knew I had my hands full.”
First-year sprint driver Dusett set a fast pace at the drop of head flagman Scott Hixson’s initial green. Fourth starting Seneca Falls’ sprinter Lotz darted into second with three in the books and a handful of laps later sped to the point when Dusett got stranded behind a lapped car entering turn one.
Halfway through the 20-lap A-Main, Lotz and Dusett remained out front followed by soon to be married Tori Kaplin, Parrow and last week’s flip victim Dillon Paddock. A perfect 360-degree loop out of turn four for Ruggles brought out yellow lights on lap 10 while Tucker Donath suffered a broken rear-end to incur a second caution period two laps later. The seat belt came loose on Paddock’s revamped black #8 ride to force yellow on lap 13 before Vince Chicklets slowed in front of the leaders with just one lap to go to require the final slowdown.
That last caution brought the high-flying #18 Papa's Place Pizzeria of Clyde-Global Precision Products/XXX mount of Lotz back to the field once more, on this occasion possibly proving beneficial as lapped cars allowed top chasers Dusett and Parrow to close the gap before the white flag unfurled. Lotz pulled away by five car-lengths in the one lap dash to the checkers while Ruggles bolted from fourth to second as Dusett, John Smith, Parrow and Paddock crossed the line next in the most frantic finish of the night.
“Just tried to stay calm and hit my marks, tried to capitalize and finish it off,” said Lotz regarding his strategy. “The biggest difference tonight was Dillon Paddock and his whole crew came over and helped us out. And our sponsors helped him put the whole thing together and everything just came together. I didn’t even know it was the checkers, thought we still had one more (lap) to go and then I see (Hixson) throw the doubles (checkered flags) so I knew I was good to go.”
When it comes to full-fender competition at LOLR, Grant is always good to go and Saturday night’s performance in the 20-lap Street Stock feature continued his streak of success at the fairgrounds. A last lap maneuver around a lapped car only heightened the excitement as the Penn Yan pilot held off all-time Canandaigua stock car winner Mike Welch by two car-lengths for his fourth victory in five starts.
“Wasn’t sure what was going on over there (last lap), was just tip-toeing around,” said Grant, now with 26 career wins at LOLR, 13 coming last year en route to his second track crown. “Wasn’t sure where Marc (Minutolo) was or if it was Welch, I don’t look at the leaderboard.”
Veteran Patrick Hobbs out-gunned front row partner John Burritt when the opening green flag flew, with Grant starting deep in the pack amidst 14 full-fender foes. Rolling from sixth on the grid, Minutolo grabbed the point just as C.J. Guererri slowed down the back chute to force out yellow lights with four laps complete.
Halfway home Minutolo remained ahead yet new runner-up Grant and warhorse Welch closed in tight to challenge. In a daring three-wide stunt at the end of the back straightaway, high-riding Grant and low-running Welch sandwiched Minutolo with Grant ultimately emerging from turn four as the new leader with nine laps complete.
Late race traffic had little affect on the winning no. 36 Fratto Curbing-Washburn Excavating Chevrolet Camaro entry with Grant adding to his already ballooning points lead entering the summer season in the Finger Lakes.
“It was fun, knew it was gonna be a task tonight getting to the front. Started back in the field but we made the right changes to the car so we guessed good,” added Grant, after holding off still winless Welch followed by Minutolo, Rick Crego and Chris Woodard, who edged Hobbs on the final circuit. “To park (victory lane) on the same night as Danny (Kerrick) that’s awesome. Can’t wait to park here on the same night as my nephew Brighton (Grant). Have to thank all those that help me, very humble and always grateful to be here.”
After having a victory in May taken away due to a post-race trailing arm infraction, third-generation standout Kerrick persevered to officially notch his first feature win of ‘24. “9” once again proved to be the magic starting number as Kerrick joined division points leader Minutolo inside row five before his late-race heroics landed him the first-place trophy.
“Didn’t think I really had a chance. knew maybe I could stay with (leaders) but didn’t think I was gonna get around Nate, he’s pretty smooth,” divulged Kerrick, 21, who disposed of Minutolo on a lap 12 restart before blasting around Nathan Peckham as the lead duo crossed under the waving white flag signally just one lap to go. “Just had to get around him and Marc. You gotta run a totally different line, there’s no getting underneath them and they aren’t going to give you room at all.”
Blane Smith, Eddie Stevens and Peckham swapped the lead over the first four circuits while Kerrick ran seventh with five laps scored. Four yellow flags flew for minor mishaps between laps four and twelve, each time tightening the pack behind point man Peckham and inching Kerrick closer to the front.
Halfway through the 15-lap finale Peckham, Jamie Eldredge and Minutolo remained in command while Kerrick and Brighton Grant diced further back. With most of the field clinging to the low lane, Kerrick moved up top and advanced to second on lap 12 when Eldredge turned pitside after slowing in a shower of sparks.
Continuing to follow the high line around the smooth half-miler, Kerrick made it stick one last time as his #61 Fratto Curbing-Mike O. from Geneva Truck Repair Chevrolet Camaro went around Peckham as the white flag dropped in yet another race left undecided until the final circuit was covered.
“I was further back even behind Marc and he was pulling away from me, didn’t think I had a chance at all to catch them,” stated Kerrick, before the Stanley driver overtook Peckham en route to a narrow two car-length victory and received the $100 Prouty’s Bar Bonus for ending Minutolo’s three-race win streak. Grant and Smith rounded out the top-5 in the 20-car feature.
Battles were nip’n tuck all night in every division until Spoor closed out the six-star card leading flag-to-flag uncontested in the 12-lap Legends Sportsman nightcap. The #41S Rushco Gas Company-Friendly Ford-Cargill-Conley Farms/Bicknell mount ran flawless for the duration, locking up a third consecutive victory for the 13 year-old Middlesex racer.
“Crucial … if you missed the bottom (groove) down there, you don’t want to do that, because then you’re spinning and you’re sideways,” Spoor said. “As long as I’m winning I’ll be coming back but want to try out some other tracks soon.”
LEGEND LEDGER
Land Of Legends Raceway heats up the first weekend of summer when the top traveling Sportsman teams invade the Finger Lakes Region for a Northeast Central/West Region Series event June 22 with members of the Ontario County Fairboard enjoying the evening activity. The mighty Pepsi Big-Block Modifieds fill the card featuring a full program of 305 Sprint Car, Street Stock and Hobby Stock action. The Ontario County 4-H Horse Program is the weekly 50/50 beneficiary. Pit gates open at 3:30pm, spectators are admitted at 5 o'clock with practice and Sportsman timed hot laps starting at 5:30 followed by heat race qualifiers at 6:30.
SKIDMARKS
Guided by award-winning executive producer Art Rorick, the talented LOLR TV broadcast team boasting production assistants Makenna Hansen & C.J. Miller, graphics coordinator Mark Rore, camera operators Mike Yawney, Jim & Michelle Mullen, and veteran voices Steve Ovens (PA announcer) and Doug Elkins (pit reporter) is once again on-site to provide LIVE video coverage of every event through Land of Legends TV, with LIVE streaming continuing to be offered FREE in 2024. On-line registration at https://landoflegendstv.com for a free account is the only step to take.
Also available for download is the LOLR mobile app found at Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.landoflegends or
App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/land-of-legends/id1508128970?uo=4 to secure your raceday pass today.
In addition to LOLR's weekly racing being simulcast on Land of Legends Raceway TV, each show will also be broadcast live on DIRTVision and highlighted by the mighty DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds. To watch, sign up for an annual Platinum FAST PASS with DIRTVision and experience every event either online or through the DIRTVision App.
2024 TICKET BUNDLES & PIT PASS SPECIALS REMAIN AVAILABLE
General Admission Ticket and Pit Pass bundles continue to be offered to LOLR fans and race teams while providing a great opportunity to save money in the process. G.A. packs of 20 ($220) or 50 ($475) and Pit bundles of 20 ($700) or 50 ($1,700) must be pre-ordered to be used during the upcoming season.
Regular weekly G.A. ticket prices stay set at $15 Adults and $13 Seniors while Kids 16 yrs. and under (must be accompanied by an adult) remain FREE. Pit passes are $40. For those youngsters needing pit access, a Child Season Pit Pass is $50 for tykes under 2 yrs. and $150 each for kids 2-13. Camping is FREE at all race events.
To purchase ticket and pit pass bundles or discuss marketing opportunities available at the track in 2024, please contact LOLR Director of Marketing & Operations Tana Robinson via e-mail tana@landoflegendsraceway.com or cell 716-799-5669.
Check out www.landoflegendsraceway.com often as the latest news and season schedule information will be posted right up to raceday.
Land of Legends Raceway is located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, east of the city on Town Line Road (County Road 10), with easy access off either Exit 43 (Manchester, Route 21 South) or Exit 44 (Farmington, Route 332 South) of the New York State Thruway, just ½-hour southeast of Rochester.
Land of Legends Raceway Event Summary – June 15, 2024
Maguire Ford of Canandaigua presents Saturday Spectacular
Pepsi Big-Block Modified
*Feature (30 laps): 1. 6-Mat Williamson ($2,000), 2. 19w-Justin Wright, 3. 21a-Peter Britten, 4. 7z-Zach Payne, 5. 3-Justin Haers, 6. 18k-Dalton Martin, 7. 99L-Larry Wight, 8. 70a-Alex Payne, 9. 9s-Matt Sheppard, 10. 3rs-Dalton Slack, 11. 27j-Danny Johnson, 12. 34-Kevin Root, 13. 42p-Pat Ward, 14. 27jr-Daniel Johnson Jr., 15. 17-Marcus Dinkins, 16. 14j-Alan Johnson, 17. 11n-Ricky Newton, 18. 15-Todd Root, 19. 21-Derrick Podsiadlo, 20. 07-Gary Tomkins, 21. 11j-James Sweeting.
Heats (8 laps)
#1: Haers, K.Root, Williamson, Wright, Tomkins, T.Root, Podsiadlo.
#2: Britten, Sheppard, Martin, Wight, D.Johnson Jr, Sweeting, A.Johnson.
#3: D.Johnson, A.Payne, Z.Payne, Slack, Ward, Dinkins, Newton.
Stirling Lubricants Sportsman Modified
*Feature (25 laps): 1. 30-Nick Root ($750), 2. 113jr.-Frank Guererri Jr, 3. 7-Paul Guererri, 4. 38-Zach Sobotka, 5. 51-Tim Lafler, 6. 12g-Matt Guererri, 7. 32c-Kasey Coffey, 8. 21-James Henry, 9. 44-Dave Conant Jr., 10. 64-Tyler Corcoran, 11. 10-Karl Comfort, 12. 31k-Kennedy Payne, 13. 35-Nick Cooper, 14. 711-Nick Ventura, 15. 9-Tim Baker, 16. 6-Dave DiPietro, 17. 21j-Justin Liechti, 18. 00-Sam Hoxie, 19. 34-Behr Grover, 20. 69v-Tony Velez, 21. 7t-Tyler Guzzardi, 22. 23b-Timmy Borden Jr., 23. 42-Colby Adamczak, 24. 28-Mark Potter, 25. 24m-Tyler Moore, 26. 25n-Evan Nugent, 27. 2-Mike Taylor, 18h-Justin Henderson(DNS).
Heats (8 laps)
#1: Lafler, Henry, Baker, Coffey, Ventura, Borden, Taylor, Velez, Adamczak, Nugent.
#2: Comfort, Payne, Root, P.Guererri, DiPietro, Cooper, Guzzardi, Hoxie, Potter.
#3: F.Guererri, M.Guererri, Sobotka, Conant, Corcoran, Grover, Liechti, Moore, Henderson.
MighTea Boba 305 Sprint
*Feature (20 laps): 1. 18-Timmy Lotz ($500), 2.48jr.-Darryl Ruggles , 3. 14x-Lance Dusett, 4. 23-John Smith, 5. 80-Bobby Parrow, 6. 8-Dillon Paddock, 7. 17e-Ethan Gray, 8. 29-Tori Kaplin, 9. 14-James Layton, 10. 2-Randy Years, 11. 18c-Dan Craun, 12. 48a-Alysha Bay, 13. 21b-Blake Warner, 14. X-Dan Bennett, 15. 77-Matt Rotz, 16. 26j-Johnny Kolosek, 17. 25g-Tyler Graves, 18. 30-Kirsten Dombroski, 19. 10p-Vince Chicklets, 20. 25-Cameron Moss, 21. z28-Tucker Donath, 22. 99-Adam DePuy, 33z-Sydney Wetherbee(DNS).
Heats (8 laps)
#1: Craun, Dusett, Ruggles, Bay, DePuy, Moss, Chicklets, Wetherbee(DNS).
#2: Parrow, Layton, Paddock, Years, Donath, Rotz, Dombroski, Gray.
#3: Lotz, Smith, Warner, Kaplin, Kolosek, Bennett, Graves.
Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling Street Stock
*Feature (20 laps): 1. 36-Jimmy Grant, 2. 00-Mike Welch, 3. 25b-Marc Minutolo, 4. 5c-Rick Crego, 5. 57j-Chris Woodard, 6. 3-Patrick Hobbs, 7. cj1-CJ Guererri, 8. 122-Chris Beyea, 9. 8-Brett Crawford, 10. 33-Justin Neff, 11. 12-John Burritt, 12. 63-Mike Fellows, 13. 34t-Tommy Bowen, 14. 74- Doug Smith, 15. 87x-Rick Gulvin.
Heats (6 laps)
#1: Grant, Minutolo, Woodard, Welch, Burritt, Fellows, Neff, Smith.
#2: Guererri, Hobbs, Crego, Crawford, Beyea, Bowen, Gulvin.
Lloyd's Contracting Hobby Stock
*Feature (15 laps): 1. 61-Daniel Kerrick, 2. 90-Nathan Peckham, 3. 25b-Marc Minutolo, 4. 36x-Brighton Grant, 5. 55b-Blane Smith, 6. 56-Eddie Stevens, 7. 11-Dan Korpanty, 8. 21-Casey Wagner, 9. 22c-Craig Dingy, 10. 22j-Randy Johnson, 11. 67-James Werner, 12. 24k-Kevin Lloyd, 13. 97-Kevin Schrader, 14. 29i-Isaiah Murphy, 15. 8j-Jeff Rex, 16. 57jr.-Tyler Burnell, 17. 25j-Justin Eldredge, 18. 88-Justin Jacoby, 19. 13b-Brian Lloyd, 59-Justin Finger(DNS).
Heats (6 laps)
#1: Stevens, Smith, Peckham, Werner, Johnson, Murphy, Dingy, Wagner, Korpanty, Finger(DNS).
#2: Kerrick, Minutolo, Burnell, Grant, Eldredge, Jacoby, B.Lloyd, K.Lloyd, Rex, Schrader.
Maguire Ford of Canandaigua New Legends Sportsman
*Feature (12 laps): 1. 41s-Chase Spoor, 2. 20k-Kyle Ridley, 3. 53-Tyler Foster, 4. 63-Dylan Woodworth, 5. 20-Nick Galusha, 6. 25n-Elizabeth Nugent, 7. 29g-Evan Gray, 8. 11x-Chris Mangiarelli.
Heat (6 laps)
#1: Ridley, Foster, Spoor, Woodworth, Gray, Mangiarelli, Galusha, Nugent(DNS).
NEXT EVENT: Saturday Spectacular, June 22 @ 6:30pm; Ontario County Fairboard presents DIRTcar Northeast Sportsman Series Central/West Region(30L) plus Big-Block Modified/305 Sprint/Street Stock/Hobby Stock with Ontario County 4-H Horse Program Benefit.
Track Instant Info
Website: www.LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
E-Mail: info@LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
Twitter: @LandofLegendsNY
Facebook: @LandofLegendsNY
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Live Stream: https://landoflegendstv.com/
Along with recognizing its weekly 50/50 raffle fund beneficiaries, Land of Legends Raceway is proud to salute several sponsors and corporate partners that continue to help bring its fans the best Saturday night racing show in the Northeast. Listed alphabetically are 2024 division sponsors Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling, Lloyd's Contracting, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, MighTea Boba, Pepsi Geneva Club Beverage, Stirling Lubricants; event sponsors Auto Value Parts Stores, AMS Enterprises, A-Verdi Storage Containers, Busch Light/Lake Beverage, Cargill, Disbatch Brewing Company, DC Rauscher Contractor, Empire Seneca, Ferris Mowers, Honeoye Auto Parts, Hoselton Auto Mall, Jack Howell Properties, iFreeze Storage & Distribution Center, Labatt/Wright Beverage, LSI Solutions, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, Pepsi/Geneva Club Beverage, Phelps Cement Products, Prouty's Bar & Grill, Regional Truck & Trailer, Rushco Gas Company, Ryan Phelps Auto Sales, Seneca Meadows Landfill, Smith Drywall, Tradition Automotive Group, Wilbert's Premium Auto Parts; promotional partners Always Locked Self Storage, American Woman Designs, Auto Wash Car Wash, Baker's Exterminating, Champion Power Equipment, Close Racing Supply(CRS), Disbatch Brewing Company, Ed's Garage/Krown Undercoating of Ransomville, Elab Smokers Boutique, Elderlee, Emerson Oil Company/Castrol, Fox Pest Control, Hoosier Racing Tire, Legott's Club 86, Mac's Dairy Bar & Mini Golf, Meyer's Finger Lakes RV, Mike Emhof Motorsports, Ontario County Fairboard, On The Rocks Bar & Grill, The "Original" Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Schultz Heating & Cooling, Speed Connection, Stop DWI NYS, Turn 5 Media, VP Racing Fuels, Weedsport Hall of Fame, Wicked Tees.