Warner picks up two wins at Glen Ridge

PHOTOGRAPHER:
Rocky Warner holds both trophies in Victory Lane after sweeping the modified and crate modified features Sunday at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in Fultonville. (The Leader-Herald/James A. Ellis)

FULTONVILLE — Rocky Warner pulled off a rare feat Sunday night at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.

With the big block/small block Fueled by Sunoco modifieds making their first appearance at The Ridge this season, Warner put the Jake Spraker-owned modified in Victory Lane.

Then he came back with the Red Chair 602 Crate Modified later in the program to complete the sweep of the modifieds main events on Palmer’s Service Night at The Ridge.

“It took a little bit to get these Teos figured out but I think we are where we need to be right now,” Warner said in Victory Lane. “I want to thank the fans for coming out and supporting the track tonight.”

Luke Horning outdueled Nick Stone to pick up his third straight Pro Stock win of the season at The Ridge, while Cliff Haslun drove to his second-straight street stock victory and Brendan Gibbons won his second limited sportsman feature of the year.

Josh Samrov and Josh Kane picked up the wins respectively in the single cam and dual cam 4-cylinder mini stock features, while Brett Putnam won the All-Star Slingshot feature and Brock Pickerous won the Northeast Paving & Sealcoating Jr. Slingshot feature.

By virtue of their heat race victories, Warner and Mike Ricci brought the Sunoco Modifieds to the green with Bobby Varin and Michael Maresca in the second row.

Warner got the edge going into turn one as Ricci battled with Varin, Jackie Brown Jr. and Maresca for the second spot.

Ricci got turned around to bring out the caution on lap three, which gave Varin a front row spot next to Warner on the restart.

Warner got the edge over Varin on the restart to maintain his lead and stretched the lead.

Warner survived a pair of mid-race restarts to lock up the 35-lap feature win over Varin, Maresca, Randy Green, Brown, Craig Hanson, Cody Bleau, Johnny Lutes, Jim Introne, Jim Becker and Al McCoy.

Scott McCoy and Warner brought the Red Chair 602 Crate Modified field to the green with Warner again getting to the front early over McCoy, Brian Calabrese and Andrew Buff.

With the 30-lap feature slowed only once by the caution, Warner distanced himself from the field to pick up his third win in as many weeks at The Ridge.

Calabrese was second, followed by Buff, Joe Orlando, Chad Edwards and Ryan Heath and Jim Introne Jr.

Horning and Nick Stone kept the crowd on its feet during the 20-lap Yurkewecz Auto Crushers Pro Stock main event.

Stone got the early lead over Steve Cosselman before Justin Knight moved up to press Stone for the lead.

The caution flew on lap eight to tighten the field and lead to a four-car battle with Stone, Horning, Knight and Ivan Joslin battling for the lead.

Stone and Horning broke away from the field and raced side-by-side, swapping leads often two to three times in a lap.

Horning got the break he was looking for as he and Stone came up on a lapped car and Horning was able to use the car to break Stone’s momentum and pull away for his third-straight Glen Ridge victory.

Stone was second, followed by Joslin, Jim Normoyle, Andy Graves, Cosselman, Buck Gasner, Scott Lawrence and Jamie Warner.

The WRA Wingless Racers Alliance sprint cars will make their first-ever local appearance when they join the race program next Sunday at The Ridge.

By Paul Wager

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