Little Valley Speedway
Valone rallies from 10th for first ULMS victory
LITTLE VALLEY, N.Y. (July 3) — Chad Valone pulled away from a three-way battle for the lead with eight laps remaining at Little Valley Speedway Saturday to grab his first victory on the Northern Tier United Late Model Series. The 10th-starting Valone earned $3,000 for the Freedom Daze victory at the half-mile oval
John Lacki of Sinclairsville, N.Y., and Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., running 1-2 when Valone caught the lead duo on the 20th of 30 laps. After a lap-22 restart, Valone motored away for the victory over the runner-up Lacki and third-finishing Hedman. Polesitter Jason Dupont of Cyclone, Pa., ended up fourth after leading the first 10 laps and outside front-row starter Dick Barton of Ashville, N.Y., rounded out the top five.
Former ULMS champ Bob Close of Eldred, Pa., started 15th and ran as high as fourth, but ducked into the pits during the lap-22 caution period and wasn’t able to rejoin the event.
ULMS competitors return to action July 9 with a $2,000-to-win race at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio. A July 10 race at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y., pays $5,000 to the winner.
Freedom Daze: (1) Chad Valone, (2) John Lacki, (3) Bump Hedman, (4) Jason Dupont, (5) Dick Barton, (6) Brent Rhebergen, (7) Dennis Lunger, (8) Dereck Frank, (9) Dave Norton Jr., (10) Jeff Dayman, (11) Terry Porter, (12) Bob Close, (13) Pete Alspaugh, (14) Jeff Hoffman, (15) Tony Morris, (15) John Rohacevich, (16) Chad Silleman. Scratched: Ed Carley. Heat race winners (among 17 cars): Dupont, Lacki.
