RPW Column: Jeseo Wins Pro Stocks & Bussino Takes Boomer’s Classic As Rain Washes Out Rest At Lebanon Valley

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – It’s hard to believe that Chad Jeseo had just one DIRTcar Pro Stock feature win on the 2023 season at Lebanon Valley Speedway entering Saturday night.
What’s even harder to believe is that Jeseo would make an error behind the wheel, especially once he has the lead.
Well, both of those scenarios were reality by the halfway point of the feature event on Saturday at the Valley, but the defending champion was determined to change the course of history.
He did just that.
Jeseo took the lead from Fred Lee on the sixth circuit of the 20-lap main event and looked like the race was going to be for second the rest of the way. However, on a lap 9 restart, the #25 slipped high and slapped off the wall exiting turn two, handing the lead to Nick Hilt.
Frank Twing followed Hilt and Jeseo had to regroup from third.
A caution would come out after another lap clicked off the scoreboard for the 315 of Mike Dianda who spun in turn two. That’s when Jeseo got to work as he would get by the veteran Twing on the ensuing restart with his sights set squarely on his friend Hilt.
Then, Jeseo received a gift as he stalked Hilt up into the west end of the speedway on lap 12. As he took a peek to the outside of the leader, the 17 of Hilt slowed and pulled to the pit road.
From that point on, Jeseo wasn’t making another mistake. Even with Frank Twing, Zach Sorrentino and Tommy Dean on his heels, nobody was wrestling the lead away from “Big Bad Chad” the rest of the way and Jeseo scored win number two on 2023.
“I just made a mistake in turn one on the restart and put it in the fence,” Jeseo said. “I saw Nicky (Hilt) had some tough luck and that benefited us but to come back and win with everything that’s been going on this week, I’m happy to finally get another win here.”
After his title-winning season of 2022 which saw him visit victory lane nine times, in no way has Jeseo underestimated the level of competition in the Pro Stocks this year.
“Last year to almost have double-digit wins and now to just get my second, you have to have everything go your way,” he said. “The field is tough here this year and you have to have a good car and a little bit of luck.”
Twing came home in the runner-up spot with the winningest driver in the class this season, Zach Sorrentino, finishing third. Tommy Dean and Rick Duzlak completed the top five.
Thanks to Mother Nature, the only other feature event to run on Saturday was the 20th annual Boomer’s Classic for Street Stocks, paying $2,000-to-win.
There was a little magic to the race on Saturday as the winner, the Magic Man, Mike Bussino, led every lap to score the high-dollar payday.
“This was a lot of fun tonight,” Bussino said. “The track was in excellent shape. I started to get a little tight towards the end but we got it done.”
Bussino had to hold off two of the best in the division, Jeff Meltz Sr. and Chris Stalker, near the end but he was able to do so to capture the checkered flag and was quick to give credit to his son for the winning effort.
“I want to thank my boy (Josh Bussino) for this,” he said. “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. He’s everything to me and this car belongs to him.”
The younger Bussino was also in the field, driving one of Stalker’s Hillsdale Repairs machines, and came home with a sixth place finish.
“This has been a big battle for us,” Josh Bussino said. “My dad had cancer a few years ago. We almost lost him. I decided to put him in my back-up car now we’re having a hell of a year.”
Meltz Sr. would hold off Stalker at the line to grab second. Jesse Murphy, in another Stalker-owned ride, came home in the fourth spot and Dave Striebel Jr. completed the top five.
Just over $6,000 in total purse money was raised by the Bedell family for this event honoring the late Robert “Boomer” Bedell. Such a great job done by Margaret & Brian as well as Brian’s fiance, Michelle, for the hard work and dedication for this event honoring their brother who started Boomer’s Performance in the mid-80’s.
Sponsorship came from the Bedell Family, Sheldon Oil, Meltz Lumber, Ghent Wood Products, Hillsdale Repairs, Godfroy’s Service Center, The O’Brien 57 Racing Team, Jamie Scott’s Auto Center, S&S Asphalt Paving, Pro Tech Tire & Auto, The Bottle & Can Company, Emerick Associates, Bedell Racing Engines, Gillespie Automotive and Grand Premier Tire & Custom.
As stated, the rest of the night was washed away. Instead of double features next week for the Modifieds, track officials have decided to make the Big Block Modified main event 50 laps, paying double the purse and double points.
The two heat races for the Modifieds were won by Timothy Davis and Matt Pupello.
At press time, it is unclear what officials will do with the features for the Sportsman and Limited Sportsman who got their heat races in.
Finally, all of us at Race Pro Weekly pass along our deepest condolences to the family of Steven LaRochelle, who lost his life due to an off-track incident.
LaRochelle was a fierce competitor in the track’s Pro Stock division and will be missed by so many who knew him.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Taylor, his father, Paul, his mother, Colleen, the rest of his family, his friends and the crew of his #178 DIRTcar Pro Stock during this difficult time.
Official race finish results will be posted in this story as soon as they are received from the speedway.