MSA Race Summary

Fisher Gets First Sandusky Super Win

6-4-05

By Lee A. Booze

Sandusky, Ohio… "Big John and Ralph, I know you’re right here with us tonight," said Denny Fisher in victory lane. Fisher made the reference for John Evans a crew member who passed away this past winter, and Ralph Jaycox car owner who passed away almost two years ago. Fisher outlasted the field through three cautions and a red flag to take his third career Enerco/Mr Heater Midwest Supermodified Association win and first at Sandusky Speedway.

Fisher and Jon Henes paced the Rapid 2 Way Radios feature lineup with Fisher getting the edge on the first lap. It was easy going for the first couple of laps with everyone holding their spots. Lap four proved to be the sticking point when Terry Gibson spun coming off turn four bringing out the caution. On the restart, Matt Ferrell spun in turn 2. On the third restart, Jack Smith made a bid on the outside of Jon Henes and the two touched sending Smith hard into the back straightaway wall. Fast qualifier Moe Lilje caught a piece of the debris and pitted for repairs. The red flag was thrown to clean up the accident.

On the restart, Lou Cicconi and Charlie Schultz staged a battle for the third spot behind Fisher and Henes. The last caution flew on lap 12 for a second spin by Ferrell. On the restart Cicconi got by Henes for second with Schultz getting by two laps later. The duo hooked up to run down Fisher who quietly continued to lead. The action turned toward Henes, Randy Burch and Rich Reid as they battled for the fourth position.

Cicconi and Schultz closed within a car length of Fisher but could not mount a challenge as the veteran streaked across the finish line for his first win at Sandusky Speedway. Cicconi held on for second with Schultz third. Henes and Burch rounded out the top five.

Earlier in the day Bob Dawson captured the first heat win, but lost a motor on the cool down lap. After an extensive cleanup, Fisher won the second abbreviated heat race. Moe Lilje topped all qualifiers with a 15.53 clocking.

The Enerco/Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association will head to Kalamazoo Speedway next week to take part in the open wheel shootout with the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Midgets, USA Modifieds and Michigan Legends Series. For more information visit MSA on the web at www.midwestsupers.com.

Marne, Michigan…The Enerco/Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association’s first ever trip to the famous Berlin Raceway saw a little bit of everything last Saturday night. The raw spring Michigan weather that greeted the Ohio based group when it arrived in the morning eventually returned to put an early end to the 30 lap feature event. "We really wanted to get this in," said winner Dave Shullick Jr. "I hope we gave them a good show while we were out there." Shullick’s collected $1700 for his second straight win in MSA competition.

New London, Ohio’s Rich Reid and Brampton, Ontario’s Dave McKnight paced the Rapid 2 Way Radios feature lineup. When the green flag dropped however, Denny Fisher wiggled his way to the front to lead the first lap up from third. Fisher stretched his lead in the first five circuits while field sorted themselves out behind. Polesitter Reid spun in turn three while working lap six bringing out the first of two cautions. The MSA and Berlin safety folks quickly turned Reid around as the skies grew more ominous overhead. On the restart, Charlie Schultz blasted to the point in turn two for the lead. Schultz never had a chance to shake the pack however as Dave Shullick Jr., Dave McKnight, Joe Grunda and Moe Lilje were all hooked up in a duel inside the top five.

On lap after starter Bobby Hayduk showed the crossed flags, Shullick made what turned out to be the winning move in turn two. Meanwhile, Lilje shot to third place as the skies threatened to open up on the racers and crowd alike. On lap nineteen, Jon Henes spun coming off turn four sliding through the water left over from the morning rains. This final caution of the evening, would be the last action on the track for the drivers as the rains came while the safety crew was turning around a soaking wet Henes. The race was red flagged for about thirty minutes while Berlin Raceway crews tried keeping the track dry with their stock car divisions. The rain grew heavier and all opportunity to finish the event was lost to plummeting temperatures and a cold soaked track. The race was declared official at nineteen laps with Shullick taking the win over Schultz, Lilje, McKnight and Grunda.

Earlier in the day when the sun shone brightly Denny Fisher and Charlie Schultz captured the two heat races. Shullick set the fastest qualifying mark of the day with a 13.692 clocking.

The Enerco/Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association will return to action on June 4 at Sandusky Speedway.

Shullick Jr. opens new season with new car and a win.

"This crew built me one fast hot rod," smiled Dave Shullick Jr. in victory lane at Sandusky Speedway Saturday night. The second-generation driver opened the fifth season of the Enerco/Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association with a win in a brand new offset roadster. "We hardly touched the car all night, My dad and Steve (Stout) talked and made one little adjustment and it was a rocket," the winner continued. Shullick’s victory was worth $1500 and put him in the lead of the point standings early in the season.

LaGrange, Ohio’s Jon Henes and Stone Mountain, Georgia’s Joe Grunda paced the Rapid 2 Way Radios feature lineup with Grunda getting the jump on the start. The former Sandusky track champ led in the early going with everyone fighting for the bottom groove on the cool May evening. A few drivers ventured out into the second groove looking for grip and a way around to the front. Denny Fisher moved quickly to reach the top five and Liquid Lou Cicconi followed right behind. I became clear early that it was Shullick’s race to lose as he motored from eighth to fourth in the first six laps.

The only caution of the night flew that lap as New London Ohio’s Rich Reid slowed in turn four and Matt Ferrell climbed his right rear spinning him out and ending his night. Reid changed a tire and returned to the tail of the pack. When the green came out again, Grunda still paced the field, but Shullick was on the prowl. In lap he moved into third, two laps later second and by lap eleven, he and Grunda were in a drag race down the back chute for the lead. Shullick won that contest for the point and by the crossed flags extended his lead to ten car lengths over the veteran.

The real battle was for a spot in the top five, as Fisher, Cicconi and Mark Sammut hooked up in a duel for the third place spot. Sammut’s night ended early when a fuel pump broke sending him pitside with only a handful of laps remaining. Cicconi eventually squeezed by for the final podium finished relegating Fisher to fourth. A hard Chargin’ Charlie Schultz climbed from ninth to take the final spot in the top five.

The Enerco/Mr. Heater Midwest Supermodified Association will be in action again next Saturday as the offset roadster crowd heads to Marne, Michigan’s Berlin Raceway for the first time in the group’s history