Canandaigua Speedway Grants Fans 2009 Bailout from Boredom Pass on Season Opener

Weedsport, NY – April 18, 2009 - Opening night at Canandaigua Speedway never looked so good as the 46^th season opener kicked off to a packed house full of eager fans awaiting the drop of the green flag on the 2009 season.     

Mike Greenwalt of Niagara Falls, N.Y. was able to hold off the advances of Mike Minutolo in the 25b to capture the checkered flag, sending Greenwalt to victory lane for the first time with this newly furbished car. “This is the first time the car had been out on the track, so to come with a win first time out is great,” rejoiced Greenwalt. The top five entered into the books are as follows: Greenwalt (17d), Minutolo (25b), Roger Bush (9r), with Jim Cronin (3c) and Cory Hunt (6) rounding out the top five.    

The DIRTcar Street Stock Feature was worth every one of its twenty laps as a three-way battle for the lead arose between Mike Schultz, Andy Fisk, and 5-time track champion Mike Welch. At the drop of the green, Schultz shot off to a commanding lead until Dan Scott’s #26 brought out the feature’s first caution, bringing the field back together. After enduring yet another caution thanks to a collision in turn 2 during lap 6, Andy Fisk was ready to take command of the field tracking down Schultz until a lead change during lap 8 granted Fisk the number one spot. However, “the Pit Bull” Mike Welch residing in the #00 Monte Carlo wasn’t ready to give up the fight just yet as he began reeling in the leader. And with just three laps to go in the Hoosier Tire 20 feature, Welch sealed Fisk’s fate, with a move to the outside taking the checkered flag moments later. 

Action continued as the Sportsman division rolled out onto the track for the LaBatt 25 with a strong field of 28 contenders all hungry for that top spot. Daryl Hickert started the night in the pole position but Ryan Susice in the Investor Service/Tim Phillips Garage sponsored #38k soon showed complete dominance, pulling out in front of the field after a lap 4 restart. As cautions continued to plague the night’s feature, Susice maintains the lead spot going into lap 10, as Dan Wiesner of Geneva, N.Y. worked his way from a sixth place start to take third by the conclusion of turn 4. And as the laps began to fall, the track got hotter and hotter as drivers reached their fastest laps with each completion around the bullring. With 7 laps to go, it would be Wiesner in the #66 that would put the nail in the coffin of Susice’s ride, ultimately taking the lead and checkered flag despite Susice commanding performance throughout the feature. Top Five: Wiesner, Susice, Steve Gray, Rob Bussey, and Kevin Ridley.  

Twenty five men lined up in front of the grandstands Saturday night as the Big Block Modifieds took to the stage for the Taylor Rental 35. Teen sensation Larry Wight would give the men a run for their money as the 16 year old started out the night on the pole, rocketing away from the field with ease as Matt Sheppard and Jimmy Phelps, currently running two and three, looked to gain some much needed ground. By lap 8, Sheppard took Wight to school going into turn one of the ninth circuit, becoming the night’s second leader. As Sheppard comfortably sat in the top spot, Gary Tomkins slingshot himself around both Billy Decker and Jimmy Phelps on the back straightaway as he set his sight’s for Sheppard’s Xtreme Lubricants sponsored ride. However, despite Tomkins best efforts it seemed as though he would have to settle for second best as the feature rolled into its final laps. With one lap to go, a caution in turn one involving Justin Haers, Ron Cartwright Jr, and Larry Wight gave Tomkins just the chance he was looking for as the field lined up single file for a one lap shootout. Going into turn one, Tomkins would go to his favored top side and Sheppard dug into the inside and the two would exit turn two with Sheppard remaining in the lead and as the checkered flag flew, the crowd cheered on Matt Sheppard as the night’s feature winner. Top Five: Sheppard, Tomkins, Decker, Phelps, and Jeff Brownell Jr. Stay tuned as the 2009 Bailout from Boredom Package resumes next Saturday, April 25^th for VP Racing Fuels Salute to Sponsor Night as the Big Block Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Pure Stocks look to do battle once more.