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5/21/2000 Race Results

Shimek Nabs Career First at Hickory

Even though bike races were held for the children, action at New Castle's Hickory Speedway was concluded at 9:00. Two of the winners were making repeat appearances in victory lane with Russ Dunn winning his third in the SMODA Modifieds and Chris Matthews claiming his second in the 305's. The other two winners picked up first wins of the season. Bryan Shimek earned his career first win in the Micro Sprints and Jim Hooks was back in the saddle in the Stocks.

The SMODA Modifieds were the first feature trackside. Jeff Haefke and Russ Dunn started on the front row with Dunn coming out on top. He led the entire race, holding off the challenges of Dale Fuller who had started third. Haefke would eventually be relegated to fifth, unable to defend against the challenges of Bob McCann and Jim Frontz. McCann had been charging hard, working his way up from starting eleventh. Fuller and Dunn won the heat races.

Next up were the 305 Sprint cars, lead to the green by Chris Matthews and Brad Miller. Matthews took the lead from the line and lead the entire race, lapping half the field. By lap four, Goob Schuller had worked his way up to third from starting eleventh. He would not advance any further as engine problems sidelined him with five to go. Paul Long took over the third spot when Schuller pulled off the track and held onto the position for the rest of the race. Shawn Watkins followed with Nathan Hines rounding out the top five. Matthews and Schuller won the heat races.

Jim Hooks and Keith Nagy paced the Stock feature. Hooks jumped into the lead and ended up posting a wire-to-wire win. The sixth caution flag flew on lap 17 when Dwayne Clay and Terry Kroner were involved in a turn two incident. The pair had been running third and fourth when they collided. This allowed Shaun Hooks, now up to third from twelfth, to focus on the leaders. On the restart, Chuck Taylor gave everything he had to try and pass Jim Hooks, but he couldn't quite do it. Shaun caught up in the meantime and began challenging Taylor for second. It was unclear who would come out on top, but Shaun crossed the line just a half of a car length ahead of Taylor. Jim Davis finished fourth with Bob McConnell. Hooks, Clay and Nagy won the heats.

Last, but not least were the Micro Sprints. Bryan Shimek and Tim Graham shared the front row with Shimek taking the lead from the green. Only one lap had been completed when the red came out for Russ Kost. He flipped hard at the end of the front stretch but was uninjured. Tom Jasen was second on the restart, but J.J. Kapuchuck took over that spot just past halfway. Jim Young had been weaving his way up from ninth and also passed Jasen on the same lap. Jasen would finish the evening in eighth. Shimek worked lapped traffic well and held on to the top spot for the win. Kapuchuck was second, Young was third and Pup Nystrom finished fourth. The hard charging award went to Craig Stephens who managed to round out the top five after starting fifteenth.

Bike race winners were Gerald Best, Jeffrey Haefke, Jeff Work, Chelsea Best, Josh McCrackin and Morgan Miller. The winners in each age group got to take home a nice trophy.

Next Sunday is Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night at Hickory. Monday, the 410 Sprints will take to the ¼-mile oval for a special show, along with the York Series SMODA Modifieds. (No Micro Sprints on Monday.) Be sure to come out for both days of action. New Castle's Hickory Speedway is located four miles east of New Castle on 108, Harlansurg Road.

SMODA MODIFIEDS: 1. Russ Dunn 2. Dale Fuller 3. Bob McCann 4. Jim Frontz 5. Jeff Haefke 6. Shawn Domhoff 7. Chuck List Sr. 8. Casey Allen 9. Bob Williams 10. John Strickler

305 SPRINTS: 1. Chris Matthews 2. Brad Miller 3. Paul Long 4. Shawn Watkins 5. Nathan Hines 6. Maria Mayerchak 7. Doug Anderson 8. Paul "Bubba" Kapuchuck 9. Jeff Kasbee 10. Jim Kurpakus

STOCK CARS: 1. Jim Hooks 2. Shaun Hooks 3. Chuck Taylor 4. Jim Davis 5. Bob McConnell 6. Matt Rubright 7. Gary Norman 8. Keith Nagy 9. Rick Norco 10. Tony "Spaghetti" Buno

MICRO SPRINTS: 1. Bryan Shimek 2. J.J. Kapuchuck 3. Jim Young 4. Pup Nystrom 5. Craig Stephens 6. Brandon King 7. Tim Robertson 8. Tom Jasen 9. Karlan Miller 10. Jay Groves