McKean County Raceway
King earns $12,000 for first ULMS victory
Russ King emerges from his winning car. (pbase.com/cyberslash)
EAST SMETHPORT, Pa. (Oct. 3) — Big-block modified graduate Russ King of Bristolville, Ohio, led the final 20 laps at McKean County Raceway in making his first career Dirt Late Model victory a big one. The 20-year-old King earned $12,000 in winning the fourth annual Priority Care RaceFan 50 on the Northern Tier United Late Model Series. | Slideshow
King inherited the lead on the 30th lap when a flat tire sent polesitter Chad Valone of Warren, Pa., spinning, and then fought off late challenges from veteran Dick Barton of Ashville, N.Y., who settled for second. Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., was third followed by Bump Hedman of Sugar Grove, Pa., and Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa. Valone ended up 10th in the 50-lapper postponed a week by rain.
Valone and King started on the front row with King taking control early while spins by fast qualifier Jason Dupont (turn three on lap two) and fourth-running Dan Stone (turn four on lap three) whittled the field.
On the lap-three restart, Valone took control with King, Barton and 12th-starting Mike Knight of Ripley, N.Y., in pursuit. After Chris Hackett's lap-eight spin, Valone began stretching his lead over King before Gregg Satterlee drew a lap-18 yellow before retiring.
Valone went back to work and was pulling away at the halfway point, but disaster struck the leader when his left-rear tire went flat rounding turn four, causing a spin that knocked him from the lead.
King inherited the point with Barton in second and Knight moving past Rhebergen on lap 33 to grab the third spot. But Knight's run ended six laps later when he stopped in turn four simultaneously with Bob Close, who wrapped up the ULMS championship despite finishing 17th.
Barton lined up behind King for the final restart, but he'd get not closer the rest of the way as King raced to his first full-fendered victory.
Notes: King's Rocket Chassis is sponsored by King Bros. Ready-Mix Concrete, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and A-1 Racing Products. ... Dick Barton's second-place finish came in his next-to-last event driving for long-time car owner Ron Nielson. ... Bob Close of Eldred, Pa., won his second� ULMS championship; his first came in 2006.
Priority Care RaceFan 50: (1) Russ King, (2) Dick Barton, (3) Brent Rhebergen, (4) Bump Hedman, (5) Dave Hess Jr., (6) Dylan Yoder, (7) Greg Oakes, (8) Dutch Davies, (9) Jeff Hoffman, (10) Chad Valone, (11) Chris Hackett, (12) Alan Sagi, (13) John Lobb, (14) Denny Fenton, (15) Jim Yoder, (16) Mike Knight, (17) Bob Close, (18) Jason Dupont, (19) Gregg Satterlee, (20) Ron Davies, (21) John Mollick, (22) Dan Stone, (23) Scott Lebarron, (24) Darrell Bossard. Fast qualifier (among 37 cars): Dupont, 14.44 seconds. Heat race winners: King, Valone, Davies, Fenton. Consolation winners: Mollick, Lobb.
