Mike Lutz, Kevin Welsh and Chris Coyle Kick off Bully Hill Nationals Weekend
With Sweet 16 Victories; Lutz Wins Also-Star Dash

 by Dean Reynolds

Pit Photos

DUNDEE, N.Y. - The Fifth Annual Bully Hill Vineyards Fall Sprint Nationals presented by S.P. Wilson/Lakes Gas got off to a fast start Friday night at the Black Rock Speedway.  Empire Super Sprint (ESS) point leader Mike Lutz along with the United Racing Club (URC) stars Kevin Welsh and Chris Coyle kicked off the $43,000 two-day event with $1,000 victories in the triple "Sweet 16" feature events.

  The special Bully Hill All-Star dash that pitted three drivers each from URC, ESS and the Patriot Sprint Group (PSG) went wire to wire with Lutz collecting the $300 top prize.  The Mercer Pa. star, who will win the 2003 ESS title if he attends the ESS/URC Challenge Series event at Rolling Wheels in October, was virtually unchallenged on the 10 lap event.  Following the ProSpas backed #58 were former URC champion Curt Michael and Western Pa. star Scott Bonnell.

  The victories for all three top chauffeurs were a vital part of earning points under the Knoxville Nationals point system that is used to determine the starting lineups for the main events on Saturday night.

   SWEET 16 #1:

  At the start of the first 16 lap feature event, ESS regulars Rob Dietrick and John Karklin Jr. led Lutz to the stripe on the first lap.  It didn't take long for Lutz, who won the ESS opener back in April, to take charge of the event.  He swept by Dietrick on the second lap and then leader Dietrick on a lap five restart to officially lead as lap six was in the books. 

  Another caution and a few lap cars were just about the only challenges that the leader faced in what was an easy victory.  "We lost power steering on out time trial laps and that put us behind a bit." said Lutz after hi strong effort.  "But, the car is perfect, I could put it high, put it low and even through the choppy parts in the middle.  The time did hurt us but I'm happy considering I could steer the car too well."

  Lutz was the heart break story of the 2002 Bully Hill Nationals when he was leading the event with five laps to go until his front wing came loose and the lead was lost to eventual winner Mike Woodring.  "I'm still thinking about last year.  In my mind I felt like I won the race but you still have to be first at the checkered flag."  Lutz reflecting back about last year.  "I have a good shot again and we as a team had two goals for this season, to win the ESS title and to win Bully Hill.  We need some breaks but we have a shot."

  Lutz took Tommy Burton's checkered flag ahaed of Bonnell who made some strong moves to the front as well.  Dietrick was third with Michael in fourth and Ohio's Darren Long rouding out the top five.  The next five was made up of Karklin Jr., two-time Bully Hill Champion George Suprick, legendary Kramer Williamson, who started in 17th, former URC champion Dave McGough and current URC point leader Dave Ely.

  Three cautions slowed the pace; PSG drivers Dan Deming, slid of the track on lap three, and Chris Muhleisen, just nudging the turn one wall on lap five were the first two.  Central Pa. 358 star Blaine Hiembach stopped on lap 10 with his #12.

   SWEET 16 #2:

  As much of a convincing win Lutz had, Far View, N.J.'s Kevin Welsh did pretty much the same feat after he disposed on fellow URC mates Ed Aikin and Bill Brian Jr.  While it was a good three car race for the top spot once Welsh made his moves he opened up a good sized lead on the field for the $1,000 prize.

  "The car was just about as good as it could get tonight, we just came out too late for time trails and that has down in the point s a bit." said Welsh who took an ESS/URC Challenge victory last year at Grandview.  "The track was nice and wide tonight and it made for alot of passing.  I hope it's the same for tomorrow because I think we have a good shot.  It would be nice to win an event like this with so many cars, it was a highlight to win the challenge at Grandview but this one will be bigger."

  Welsh was first under the line with Aikin edging Brian Jr. for second.  The two drivers swapped positions several times in what was a heated duel.  Doug Emery took fourth with Mike Haggenbottom recovering from a lap two jingle to take fifth.  Rounding out the top ten was New Hampshire's Don Sharp Jr., current PSG point leader Billy Krull, Mike Stelter, Mike Lauterborn and Becca Anderson.

  Two yellows and one red were thrown in this 16 lap event.  Lady racer Becca Anderson spun on the first lap, Haggenbottom and Tim Hogue came together on lap two with Hogue getting pushed to the pits.  Danny Massey came in contact with a lap car and flipped over on lap 13, the URC regular was unharmed. 

  SWEET 16 #3:

  While Lutz and Welsh were the headline makers in the first two events, the third 16 lap event was a great two car battle for the final seven laps that kept the crowd on edge.  URC rookie Josh Weller was looking for his first ever feature event win and took thelead from his pole starting spot in hopes for that first victory.

  Multi-time URC feature winner Chis Coyle came through the field and on lap nine he took second spot and had his sights on Weller's #63.  With lapped cars and the two car dog fight, the third 16 was easily the most exciting of the three.  Both Weller and Coyle used every inch of the Dundee, N.Y. oval to battle each other and to pass the slower traffic as well.

  On the 15th lap it was experience that proved key with Coyle doing a wild inside dive going into turn one pass Weller and also to sweep by a lapped car for the lead and the eventual victory.  "I gave it a shot!" dead-panned Coyle.  "I was either going to hit the wall, Josh or get the lead, luckily I came away with the lead.  When you get an inch you have to take it, especially when every car you pass counts to your point total.  I felt bad for Josh, he's run great all year and ran a great race but you're out here to win and that's what we wanted to do.

  Coyle did open up a sizeable lead as Weller got held up by the slower car on the last lapped for an unchallenged triumph.  It's Coyle's second Sweet 16 victory in a row.  URC's Scott Pursell was third with teenager Justin Barger closing in fast for fourth and Dan Kaszubinski in fifth.  Rounding out the top ten were Lance Yonge, Kyle Drum, Quebec's Alain Bergeron, URC star Trevor Lewis and Randy West.

  Only one caution for a stopped Brad Knab slowed the action in this wild affair.

   BULLY HILL DAY ONE NOTES: A total of 61 cars took time...The field was broken down with 21 cars from URC, 20 ESS regulars, 14 from the Patriot Group, Darren Long and J.R. Stewart spend time in the midwest with NRA and SOD,Bonnell travles all throughout Western Pa. and Ohio, Blain Heimbach runs Central Pa. 358 and 410 sprints, Becca Anderson has made a late season return and Blase Regina entering the world of sprint cars...Suprick set fast time on the night with a 13.244 time trial run, young Kyle Drum was second quick with Anderson third fastest...Kramer Williamson timed 13th fastest but had his time pulled as he ran without a muffler...Motor woes was the story of the night as Dave Ely (who changed and engine after time trials), Stewart and Jeff VanDusen lost motors...Brian Dumigan was the only other flip victim of the night, he returned for his feature event...After the nights action Suprick was leading Barger and Long in total points.

RESULTS:

Last Chance Race #1 - Kramer Williamson, Bubby Kerrick, Jared Zimbardi.

Last Chance Race #2 - Don Sharp Jr., Russ Bennett, Tim Zimbardi.

Heat 1 - Bill Brian Jr., George Suprick, Blase Regina, Trevor Lewis, Billy Krull, Justin Barger.

Heat 2 - Dave Ely, Gary Troutman, Alain Bergeron, Curt Michael, Bob Podolak, Ed Aikin.

Heat 3 - Nick Fratto, Blaie Heimbach, Scott Pursell, Mike Lutz, Kevin Welsh, Mike Stelter.

Heat 4 - Randy Years, Dan Deming, Lance Yonge, Darren Long, Doug Emery, Tim Hogue.

Sweet 16 #1 - Mike Lutz, Scott Bonnell, Rob Dietrick, Curt Michael, Darren Long, John Karklin Jr., George Suprick, Kramer Williamson, Dave McGough, Dave Ely, Midge Miller, Randy Years, Bob Podolak, Blaine Heinbach, Chris Muhlheisen, Bobby Seidel, Dan Deming, Russ Bennett.

Sweet 16 #2 - Kevin Welsh, Ed Aikin, Bill Brian Jr., Doug Emery, Mike Haggenbottom, Don Sharp Jr., Billy Krull, Mike Stelter, Mike Lauterborn, Becca Anderson, Curt Shuttleworth, Nick Fratto, Jared Zimbardi, Blase Regina, Danny Massey, Jeff VanDusen, Tim Hogue.  DNS- J.R. Stewart.

Sweet 16 #3 - Chris Coyle, Josh Weller, Scott Pursell, Justin Barger, Dan Kaszubinski, Lance Yonge, Kyle Drum, Alain Bergeron, Trevor Lewis, Randy West, Brian Dumigan, Tim Kelly, Gary Troutman, Bubby Kerrick, Tim Barnard, Tim Zimbardi, Don Adamczyk, Brad Knab.

 Time Trials:
1. George Suprick/Rock Solid Motorsports #87 - 13.244.
2. Kyle Drum/Drum #47 - 13.573.
3. Becca Anderson/Anderson #A18 - 13.574.
4. Tim Hogue/Hogue #39 - 13.595.
5. Justin Barger/Barger #32 - 13.624.
6. Scott Bonnell/Bonnell #3B - 13. 647.
7. Danny Massey/Massey #76 - 13.666.
8. Darren Long/Long #7L - 13.687.
9. Jeff VanDusen/VanDusen #56D - 13.723.
10.Dave McGough/McGough #669 - 13.760.
11. Chris Coyle/Turpin-Kennedy #56 - 13.769.
12. Doug Emery/Patterson #33 - 13.793.
13. Trevor Lewis/Palladino #99 - 13. 795.
14. Curt Michael/Davis #2M - 13.805.
15. Kevin Welsh/Welsh #18W - 13.824.
16. Lance Yonge/Lane #5 - 13.852.
17. John Karklin Jr./Goff #69K - 13.873.
18. Dan Kaszubinski/Kaszubinski #20 - 13.968.
19. Mike Lutz/VanDusen #58 - 13.971.
20. Rob Dietrick/Dietrick #10 - 14.013.
21. Brian Dumigan/Dumigan #9 - 14.017.
22. Mike Lauterborn/Lauterborn #41 - 14.046.
23. Scott Pursell/Advanced Motorsports #1 - 14.100.
24. Midge Miller/Miller #8 - 14.142.
25. Josh Weller/Weller #63 - 14.144.
26. Ed Aikin/Aikin #16A - 14.203.
27. Mike Stelter/Stelter #36 - 14.213.
28. Bobby Seidel/Schmoyer #10X - 14.224.
29. Bill Brian Jr./Brian #16B - 14.279.
30. Mike Haggenbottom/BBJG, Inc. #5G - 14.305.
31. Randy West/Anfuso #3A - 14.307.
32. Brad Knab/Knab #38 - 14.378.
33. Curt Shuttleworth/Shuttleworth #12S - 14.378.
34. Alain Bergeron/Bergeron #8B - 14.392.
35. Blaine Heimbach/Heimbach #12H - 14.398.
36. Dan Deming Jr./Deming #80 - 14.405.
37. Tim Kelly/Vickio-Kelly #12 - 14.416.
38. Bobby Podolak/Podolak #7 - 14.447.
39. Chris Muhlheisen/Muhlheisen #10M - 14.451.
40. J.R. Stewart/Stewart #37S - 14.476.
41. Blase Regina/Regina #45 - 14.478.
42. Gary Troutman/Troutman #44 - 14. 511.
43. Nick Fratto/Fratto #F1 - 14.529.
44. Tim Barnard/Barnard #78 - 14. 531.
45. Billy Krull/Krull #7K - 14.545.
46. Dave Ely/JMO Motorsports #3 - 14.564.
47. Don Adamczyk/Adamczyk #21 - 14.793.
48. Randy Years/Years #2 - 14.805.
49. Bubby Kerrick/Kerrick #61 - 14.851.
50. Don Sharp Jr.,/Sharp #28NH - 14.866.
51. Jared Zimbardi/Zimbardi #35 - 14.960.
52. Ray Preston/Preston #22 - 15.059.
53. George Ely/Ely #90 - 15.082.
54. Tim Zimbardi/Zimbardi #82 - 15.116.
55. Howard Singer/Singer #26 - 15.141.
56. Russ Bennett/Bennett #65 - 15.228.
57. Jason Clauss/Clauss #08 - 15.397.
58. Justin Collett/Collett #69 - 15.541.
59. Gordy Button/Burlew #28 - 15.652.
60. Dave Wickham/Wickham #80W - 15.982.
61. Kramer Williamson/Williamson #73 - NT