News Director 
Story By: CHARLIE LANGLOIS / FREEDOM MOTORSPORTS PARK – DELEVAN, NY – Phil Vigneri III and Billy Van Pelt put on an incredible show in the Prime Time Energy Services Outlaw Modified feature on Friday night and it was Vigneri III who captured his first ever Outlaw Modified win on Mesler Trucking Night. In the return of the Crate Late Models, Jeremy Wonderling was the $1000 victor and Don Whiteside went home with the big $400 first prize in the Danny Heineman & Sons Mini Stocks.
Patrick Emerling and Tony Pangrazio occupied the front row at the start of the Prime Time Energy Services Outlaw Modified feature but the race was halted before one lap was complete when Randy Shantel went around in turn four.
Once the green flew, it was Emerling who was able to fend off the challenges of Pangrazio while James Sweeting, Phil Vigneri III and Dillon Groover ran in the top five.
Vigneri III was the first car on the move as he took second from Sweeting on lap three. Emerling continued to set the pace as Vigneri III looked for a way to take the lead and caution flew for the second time on lap nine when Adam Hilton looped it in turn four. Bad luck befell Sweeting who was forced to the pits with a flat tire.
Two laps of spirited upfront racing which included Van Pelt’s charge from sixth to third was slowed when Andy Jankowiak spun in turn two. This was to be the last caution of the race.
On the double file restart, Emerling, as the leader, chose the outside but it was Vigneri III who dashed to the lead, followed by Van Pelt and Groover which dropped Emerling to fourth. Shannon Whaley joined the top five.
Thus began one of the most exciting Outlaw Modified battles you will ever see as Vigneri III and Van Pelt ran side by side for the remainder of the 25 lap affair. Vigneri was committed to the cushion while Van Pelt ran the bottom and they traded the lead numerous times with the outcome in doubt until the checkered flag. As the white flag flew, the duo were inches apart and as the checkered waved over the speedway, Vigneri, of Elba, was able to hold on for his first ever Outlaw Modified win. Van Pelt settled for a close second place while Groover, Emerling and Whaley completed the top five.
In the Crate Late Models, Jeremy Wonderling started on the pole with Sam Pennachio outside and it was Pennachio who got the jump at the start. Wonderling bolted back into the lead just as the first caution of the race flew on lap three for a spin by Damian Bidwell in turn two. Bidwell’s night would be far from over.
On the restart, Pennachio dove under Wonderling in turn two to retake the lead and the duo of Pennachio and Wonderling ran door handle to door handle until Wonderling commandeered first place on lap six.
While many eyes were on the up front tussle, a tremendous battle heated up for third as Kyle Murray, Jason Knowles and JJ Mazur were all over each other. Bidwell was a man on a mission as he sliced his way through the field. Bidwell entered the top five as he went around Mazur on lap 13.
Halfway found Wonderling with a comfortable lead from the rest of the field as Murray and Knowles were in a fight for second and Bidwell blasted into fourth.
Lap 19 found a furious battle for the runner-up spot between Murray, Knowles and Bidwell. On lap 23, Bidwell moved into third and three laps later, he took over second and now set sail after the high flying Wonderling.
As the laps wound down in the 30 lap affair, Bidwell cut into Wonderling’s lead as each circuit passed. As the white flag flew, Bidwell was within striking distance, but Scio’s Wonderling was able to take down the $1000 Crate Late Model win followed by Bidwell, Knowles, Murray and Pennachio.
Extra money was on the line in the Danny Heineman & Sons Mini Stocks courtesy of Mancuso Limo as Tyler Oakes led Don Whiteside, Dylan Strade, Dante Mancuso and Matt Mowery at the completion of lap one.
Whiteside shot into the lead on lap two and was joined up front by Brad Shepard on lap nine. For the remainder of the 20 lap feature, Shepard tried both high and low to unseat Whiteside from the point but Whiteside was up to the challenge and the Mumford ace took down his first Mini Stock victory of the year to the tune of $400. Shepard, Duane Powers, Holden Heineman and Chris Leone completed the top five.
Results- Mesler Trucking Night, July 27, 2018
PRIME TIME ENERGY SERVICES OUTLAW MODIFIEDS FEATURE- (25 Laps) – Phil Vigneri III, Billy Van Pelt, Dillon Groover, Patrick Emerling, Shannon Whaley, Tom Flannigan, Tony Pangrazio, Phil Vigneri Jr, Jimmy Holden, John Venuto, Adam Hilton, James Sweeting, Steve Schumacher, Randy Shantel, Wally Wade, Andy Jankowiak
CRATE LATE MODELS (30 Laps)- Jeremy Wonderling, Damian Bidwell, Jason Knowles, Kyle Murray, Sam Pennachio, JJ Mazur, Andy Michael, Curt Stebbins, Joe Chamberlain, Billy Dubois, Bill Mesler, Zach Weich, Nick Snayczuk, Joe Layfield.
DANNY HEINEMAN & SONS MINI STOCKS (20 Laps) – Don Whiteside, Brad Shepard, Duane Powers, Holden Heineman, Chris Leone, Dante Mancuso, Joshua Oles, Matt Mowery, Brian Grant Jr, Tony Hermanson, David Warrior, Tyler Oakes, John Parthemer, Bradley Steffenhagen, Brendan Schweigart, Dylan Strade, Rich Conte, Cara Pitts, Kane Stebbins, Tyler Pastorius, Bill Weller
