Phil DiMario Wins ARDC Feature in Virginia
Hampton, Va., June 28 – Phil DiMario was the fastest Midget in the ARDC CARQUEST Midget field on Saturday night at the Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia. DiMario of Piermont, New York finished second last week in the ARDC/NEMA Mini-Indy race at Flemington Speedway and improved on that position to win the first race in the ARDC southern tour schedule.
Bill Ertel of Tom's River, New Jersey took the lead at the start of the 25 lap feature and led for 12 circuits until the 1996 ARDC Champion, Phil DiMario, became the new leader on lap 13. DiMario held off the reining ARDC champion, Ed Stimely, Jr., for the victory.
The win was DiMario's first feature win of 1998. DiMario became the seventh different feature winner in ARDC CARQUEST Midget racing in the 1998 season.
Following DiMario and Stimely across the finish line were Robert Boetticher, Bryan Kobylarz and Mark Freeland to complete the top five.
Donnie Trent of Honeybrook, Pa. and Ertel were heat race winners. Dan Shelbo of Bethlehem, Pa. won the Pennzoil product award.
The ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series has Oswego Speedway next on their schedule July 4. That race is also a North Eastern Midget Association (NEMA) vent. Some of the ARDC members will go to Oswego and support the race on the 4th of July. The next trip down south for ARDC will be July 17 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina at the Dixieland Speedway. On July 25th ARDC returns to Flemington Speedway in Flemington, New Jersey. The rained out race at Evergreen Raceway in St. John's, Pa. has been rescheduled for August 1.
Race Summary:
Mason Racing Ignition First Heat: 1. Don Trent 2. Mark Wakefoose 3. Mark Freeland 4. Robert Boetticher 5. Ed Stimely, Jr. 6. Bill Courtwright 7. Shawn Burke 8. Mark Lawshe
Hank's Performance Second Heat: 1. Bill Ertel 2. Bryan Kobylarz 3. Phil DiMario 4. Gary Mondschein 5. Gary Halteman 6. Fred Schell 7. Monnie Wonder III 8. Craig Rochelle 9. Dan Shelbo 10. Art Lawshe (DNS)
ARDC CARQUEST Feature (25 Laps): 1. Phil DiMario 2. Ed Stimely, Jr. 3. Robert Boetticher 4. Bryan Kobylarz 5. Mark Freeland 6. Bill Courtwright 7. Bill Ertel 8. Mark Wakefoose 9. Gary Mondschein 10. Fred Schell 11. Craig Rochelle 12. Art Lawshe 13. Dan Shelbo 14. Monnie Wonder III 15. Shawn Burke 16. Gary Halteman 17. Mark Lawshe 18. Don Trent
Lap Leaders: Lap 1 thru Lap 12 – Bill Ertel, Lap 13 thru Lap 25- Phil DiMario