(Franklin, PA May 7, 2018):
By Lou Long & ULMS Series
After three postponements due to inclement weather, Tri-City Raceway Park presented the “Mudslinger,” courtesy of Titusville Dairy Products and Precision Transport, both from nearby Titusville. Taking the honors in the 25 lapper for the Zimmer Service Center United Late Model Series (ULMS) was former New Yorker Mike Maresca for the first time in his brief career in the full-fendered cars. Maresca’s prior appearances at the Venango County oval were in the Big Block Modifieds.
Maresca, who decided to go Late Model racing in November, is working with Russ King, a familiar name to fans at Tri-City Raceway Park, “We just wanted to try it and we had some early success, so we kept going with it.” Maresca is so committed to the new venture that he has moved to Ohio, so that he could get more opportunities to race. He thought that he was lucky getting some breaks when veteran drivers suffered flats while racing ahead of him. “It would have been fun to get up there and race with them,” Maresca said of Max Blair and Boom Briggs, “but it was a good night for us anyway.”
Greg Oakes and Garrett Mott brought the field to the green. Mike Pegher, Jr. and Max Blair had row two, and Mike Maresca and Dave Hess, Jr. were in row three. Oakes took the early lead, followed by Pegher and Blair, the former young lions at Tri-City Raceway Park. Maresca and Hess were fourth and fifth.
Two laps into the fray, a brief caution bunched the field back up again. Oakes continued to lead, but Blair was headed towards the front. He took command with six complete and it looked as though the region’s leading winner last season was going to chalk up his first ULMS win of 2018.
He was being chased by Boom Briggs until the Bear Lake driver got a flat tire on lap 14. Briggs had cut Blair’s straight away lead down to a half straightaway until the untimely flat. Blair blew his left rear tire with an apparent victory in sight. That gave the lead to Maresca, who would lead the final seven laps to earn his career first Super Late Model victory.
Trailing Maresca was Jared Miley, Doug Eck. Max Blair returned to get the fourth spot. Oakes crossed in fifth. Mott, John Weaver, Jason Dobson, Chad Wright, and Khole Wanzer rounded out the top ten.
Mike Maresca, Max Blair, and Greg Oakes took the heat race wins for the ULMS Late Models. Max Blair was the evening’s fastest qualifier, touring the big half mile at 18.001 seconds.
The Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Models return to action on Friday May 18 at Thunder Mountain Speedway for the final event of the Keystone State Shootout which partners Thunder Mtn,Tri City and Port Royal (the first 3 ULMS events).
ULMS is proudly supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Plyler’s Entry System, Close Racing Supply, Insinger Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, Genesis Shocks, Integra Shocks, Keizer Wheels and Advocare by Advozuvy.com. Don’t forget to get all your information from the series website at www.ulmsracing.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
(Unofficial Results)
ULMS Late Models: Mike Maresca, Jared Miley, Doug Eck, Max Blair, Greg Oakes, Garrett Mott, John Weaver, Jason Dobson, Chad Wright, Khole Wanzer, Boom Briggs, Braeden Dillinger, Mike Wonderling, Jake Gunn, Mike Pegher, Jr., Clay Ruffo, Dave Hess, Jr., Darrell Bossard, Curtis Teets, Andy Boozel. DNS: Mike Duritsky, Terry Porter.
Zimmer Service Center Heat #1: Maresca, Miley, Pegher, Eck, Dobson Ruffo, Teats (DNS), Porter (DNS)
Precise Racing /Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Heat #2: Blair, Briggs Hess, Gunn, Wonderling, Weaver, Wright Boozel (DNS)
Close Racing Supply / Lias Tire Heat #3: Oakes, Bossard, Mott, Duritsley, Wagner, Dillinger
photos by Derek Bobik and Jim Balentine