Randy Hall BRP CanAm Late Model Winner at Genesee

Batavia, NY... Randy Hall, the Olean Flash, accomplished one of his 2006 racing goals and he is on his way towards the second.

Goal number 1 – win a BRP CanAm Late Model Series A-Main. Hall’s first win came on start number six at Genesee Speedway on Saturday night.

Goal number 2 – win the Series championship. Hall’s consistent top 10 finishes had him leading the points chase going into the Genesee Speedway event. Now six events into the twelve event 2006 Series Hall tops the point chase with 630 points ; 85 points ahead of Jon Rivers. [Complete point standings are available at www.BRPCanAmSeries.com]

Hall had a perfect night in his “Perfect 10” CRS Camry. Hall won his qualifying heat after starting ninth in a nine car field. He drew the Brad Penn pole starting spot for the 40 lap A-Main. Hall out dragged fellow front row starter, Pete Waldron and lead every lap.

“It was a great night for us. We have wanted this Series win since the first show back in April. We have been close with a great car every night, but just could not get it done. We guessed on American Racers tonight while many of the other guys chose Hoosiers. I guess we guessed right! The cautions helped since it kept me out of heavy lapped traffic. Joel [Smith] and the guys at Closes have built us a great car,” related Hall as his car was going through post-race technical inspection.

Bruce Miller earned the DART Championship Engine Parts Hard Charger Award with his ride from 23rd starting spot to second at the checkered flag. Miller’s run through the field within the tight confines of the Genesee Speedway was not always pretty, but it was very entertaining.

Larry Knowles has returned to front runner status with his CAT Rental Stores Monte Carlo after experiencing engine problems at both Ransomville and Cayuga County. Knowles finished third after starting fifth in the 26 car field. His car worked well on the top, bottom, and even the middle as he used any open lane fighting both lead lap and lapped cars during the entire 40 laps.

Jeff Chesebro finished fourth for his best Series finish of the year. Chesebro started his Fitzsimmons Construction Monte Carlo 10th and was in the thick of things all race long. Chesebro a three time Series winner last year has been steadily improving after a DNF in the Series opener at Black Rock. Improving, but still looking for a 2006 win. He likes his chances at McKean County Raceway on Thursday August 17. McKean is his home track and he won an unsanctioned event there earlier this year.

The story for the night belongs to fifth place finisher Jon Rivers. Rivers, the defending Genesee track champion and a Series winner at Genesee last year entered the event tied for second in Series points. He hoped that his home track advantage would earn him his second 2006 Series win. He had won at Merrittville in May and had looked forward to the Genesee Series event all season long. The entire program changed for the Rivers race team when he rolled his Rocket Monte Carlo in a wild off course incident during the second heat. In near Nextel Cup style the crew rebuilt the car during the evening. It was assumed that Rivers would use his provisional starting spot for the A-Main. Since each team is allowed only two provisionals per year they are treated like gold. Rivers saved the gold and raced his way into the main via an amazing run in the B-Main. That amazing run was overshadowed by an even more amazing performance in the A. Rivers raced from 24th to fifth at the checkers in his battle scarred race car.

Steve Dixon, the 2005 Series Rookie of the Year, had a good night in “foreign and unfriendly territory.” The second generation Smethport, PA race car driver recorded his best Series finish of the year coming home in sixth place.

Paul Grigsby entered the event tied for second in points with Rivers. He lost a little ground to both Rivers and Hall, but remains very much in the championship hunt after another smooth and consistent run which yielded a seventh place finish.

TJ Shaw finished eighth, but was not happy. Shaw was sent to the pits during somebody else’s caution for what appeared to be dangerous loose parts which in reality probably did not warrant the repairs. Shaw, the 2005 McKean County Raceway champion, fought back through the field to record his fourth top ten finish of the year.

Rich Michael was another who salvaged a top ten finish despite a pit stop under caution. Michael, fresh of a win at Freedom the night before, was realistically looking for his first Series win with his new Ed Carley built Shaw Monte Carlo. A flat tire on lap eight helped Michael to finish ninth and still be looking for that first Series win.

Tim Schram rounded out the top ten in the affair that was slowed nine caution periods. Schram too rebounded from the back after being caught up in a tangle on lap 15.

The field for the 26 car A was set from 37 entries by four F/A Products – Clevite Engine Parts heat races and the Ed Carley Motorsports B. Heat race winners were TJ Shaw, Jim Johnson, Don Newton, and Randy Hall. Jeremy Wonderling won the B-Main.

Brad Penn Racing Oil pole award winners were TJ Shaw and Randy Hall.

The Suzuki Motorcycle and ATV hard luck award was assigned to Tim Dunham. Dunham towed his beautiful racer all the way from Scio, NY and made less than one lap in hot laps before suffering terminal drive line failure.

This week is another double duty deal with Southeastern Transmissions sponsored County Fair Classic at McKean County Raceway on Thursday and the Bicknell Racing Products sponsored 55th Merrittville Speedway Anniversary Party on Saturday. The Merrittville event is the highest paying event ever for the Series and will award 100 bonus points to all entries.

Pro Speed / East Coast Speed.com A-Main Finish: RANDY HALL, Bruce Miller, Larry Knowles, Jeff Chesebro, Jon Rivers, Steve Dixon, Paul Grigsby, TJ Shaw, Rich Michael, Tim Schram, Dave Stephens, Rick Baker, Jeremy Wonderling, Neil Patterson, TJ Downs, Tim Kauffman, Bob Babbitt, Pete Waldron, Jim Johnson, Ron Mogavero, Ron Baker, Darren Kish, Brian Kotarski, Dave DuBois, TJ Newton, Don Newton – DNQ: Joe Watson, Rick Hale, Brian Farnsworth, Junior Peters, Joe Horton, Tim Dunham, Jason Bridge, Tim Barnard, AJ Young, John Venuto, Carl Shelter [complete box score at www.BRPCanAmSeries.com]

Marketing Partners for the 2006 BRP CanAm Series include: Bicknell Racing Products, Bob Mullen’s Pro Speed, Brad Penn Racing Oil, Can & Bottle Return of Delevan, Clevite Engine Parts, Cool Edge Web Designs, Cousin’s Designs, DANA Corporation, DART Machinery / DART Heads, DIRT MotorSports, DSE1 Race Engines, East Coast Speed.com, Ed Carley Motorsports, F/A Products, Hoosier Tire of Canada, LEAF Racewear, Lias Tire – American Racer, Mohawk Speed Shop, Signs Plus of Kanona, Southeastern Transmissions, Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Dealers of NY & PA, the Young Family, and the host tracks.

The 2006 BRP CanAm Series will visit Black Rock Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Cayuga County Fair Speedway, Genesee Speedway, McKean County Raceway, Merrittville Speedway, Ransomville Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway for 12 point events in 2006. The 2006 Series will conclude at Black Rock on Saturday October 7 with a $10,000 non-point affair.

For complete BRP CanAm Series news and information see www.brpcanamseries.com.