Lineham Battles for First Late Model Win of 2019
LINEHAM BATTLES FOR FIRST LATE MODEL WIN OF 2019
Ryan Lineham took home the trophy for battling his way out of a late-race dogfight with Mark Jenison and Vinnie Arrenegado, but looking back to the dramatic Late Model races he’s seen, including the high-drama season’s-ender, he might have also been awarded an academy award. The 2017 Late Model Champ spent the final two-thirds of the race brawling with Mark Jenison and Vinnie Arrenegado, the other two drivers who spent any time on the front of the field. Vinnie had grabbed the lead off his outside pole position, dueling rookie Tyler Tomassi for the first five laps, but then Lineham and Jennison arrived to steal the focus. Lineham poked ahead on lap 14 and Jenison on 15 and 16 before Lineham took over on 17. He held the lead for the rest of the distance, but Jenison and Arrenegado combined to steal away any secure feelings the leader may have had. Add to that the hungry youngsters, Jake Johnson and Derek Gluchacki appearing in the top five just after Lineham seized the lead, and the crowd found themselves treated to nearly the same high-action drama they witnessed last time out between Tom-the-Bomb Adams and Gluchacki.
The field was ready to rock from the get-go and roared away from the green flag. Bobby Tripp ducked under polesitter Tomassi as Vinny broke into the lead loosening him up in turn four. Tomassi recovered as Tripp eased back. Paul Newcomb came off the outside of the second row to add more challenge and dueled with Tripp into lap five, before Jenison moved through on his way to the front.
Action was delayed by caution on lap six as Mike Mitchell and Mike Duarte got together in turn four. At the front of the restart came Arrenegado and Tripp, while Jennison and Tomassi backed them up. And Lineham held down row three with Newcomb. The show was starting early.
Vinny came away with the lead, but Tripp stayed outside to challenge. Jenison grabbed the opportunity and Arrenegado’s back bumper as well and went door-to-door with Tripp, while Lineham and Tomassi ran side-by-side behind them.
Jenison dug in underneath Arrenegado as Tripp gave way outside. He succeeded at getting by Arrenegado in turn four of lap eight, but Ryan followed through on his tail. Arrenegado dropped into third ahead of Tripp. Dan Johnson then arrived to slip under Tomassi while Nick Uhrig and Newcomb battled it out behind them.
Next to arrive was Adams but his co-star from last event, Derek Gluchacki also appeared and they picked up where they left off in underneath. Last time, with a door-to-door duel. But Tomassi and Newcomb got together out of turn two, spinning up to the wall.
Jenison and Lineham came out of the starting box with Jenison nosing ahead but unable to break away. Lineham powered up and they went wheel-to-wheel with Arrenegado behind them, seeking opportunities. Dan Johnson and Tripp were contesting fourth place with Uhrig battling Gluchacki in the next pair.
Lineham eased off and dropped under Jenison, powering up and slipping forward. They again ran neck-and-neck until three laps on, Lineham could claim the lead. Jennison was not finished, nor was Arrenegado. The trio hurtled around the arena nose-to-tail with Gluchacki and Dan Johnson shoulder-to-shoulder behind them. This continued until Tony Macrino spun out of turn four while running twelfth.
Lineham and Jenison lined up again; Arrenegado now had Gluchacki outside in row two. Lineham edged ahead, Jenison dropped into second and Gluchacki dropped in behind Arrenegado and in front of Jake Johnson. But caution suddenly waved again as Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. and Adams got together on the backstretch.
Thirteen laps remained as Lineham stormed across the stripe a half-car ahead. Jenison fired up and again they were in a dogfight with Vinny on their bumpers. Jake had leveraged past Gluchacki into fourth and Dan insinuated himself into the gap underneath. Dan and Jake were in contact but the action again paused as DeGasparre spun in turn four.
The lap 24 restart saw Lineham again grab the lead and again Arrenegado got under Jenison. Jenison nosed ahead but Vinny wouldn’t let him drop in. Into lap 25, Lineham was finally by himself at the front, with Jenison and Arrenegado in close and pursuing while Gluchacki and Jake battled behind them. Mike Mitchell had now appeared in fifth. But with eight to go, Dane Saritelli and Louie Romiza got together right in front of DeGasparre. Gerry had nowhere to go in avoidance and skidded along the turn four wall, ending his evening.
Again, the lead trio lined for the lap nine restart. Jake was outside Arrenegado with Gluchacki and Mitchell in row three. Chase Belcher had labored his way into row four with Dan, just ahead of Mark Hudson and Tony Macrino. They came out of the box, door-to-door and Chad nosed out once more. Jenison battled on the high side while Arrenegado was again exhausting his patience and awaiting the outcome. Gluchacki edged into fourth and Mitchell was bothering Jake about fifth place.
Vinny again began looking under Jenison as Lineham moved ahead. Belcher and Dan were battling behind Mitchell, with Belcher gaining the advantage, but the laps were winding down, now.
The lead trio made a hot pursuit toward the finish with Gluchacki, Mitchell, Belcher, Hudson, Adams, and Jake all brawling for a shot. Lineham got his only breathing room – about three carlengths with three laps to go. Still, Arrenegado was looking underneath Jenison in turn two but had the door slammed. They wound into the white flag lap and dashed for the checkers. Drivers held their breaths and their places over the stripe.
Final analysis: Lineham with the win and Jenison the hard-earned second with Arrenegado still all over his bumper for third. Gluchacki and Mitchell rounded out the top five, while Belcher, Hudson, Adams, Jake Johnson, and Dan Johnson completed the top ten.
AXON AXES THE COMPETITION IN SPORTSMAN FEATURE
Former champ Steve Axon left little to the imagination as he led 29 of the 35 laps in the Sportsman feature race, leaving precious few to the other leaders, Chad Baxter, Chris Gomes, and Paul Williams. Once in the lead, Axon was quick to drive away under each caution restart and was unassailable at speed. Williams had come off the pole to lead laps one and two, Gomes led three, four and five and Baxter got ahead for a solo circuit. Once Axon got to the front on lap six, it was those who chased him who were as worthy of note: Baxter put in four laps at second, before Captain Fun — Craig Pianka — held sway into lap 19. Adam Pettey had a good, long run in the penultimate slot from lap 20 until lap 33. Then Kyle Casper rushed up to close out the final pair of circuits in pursuit of Axon.
Casper held on to the second, while Tyler Lallier closed out in third. Sparky Arsenault and Ant Kohler rounded out the top five. (Baxter completed the evening in sixth, just ahead of Ant’s brother, Smokin’ Joe Kohler.)
Williams led off from the pole, nosing ahead of Dave Gargaro, Jr. and going to the front on the first pass through turn two. Gomes sneaked in under Gargaro while Baxter and Axon were shoulder-to-shoulder in row three.
Four laps in, and Baxter had supplanted Williams in the lead while Axon led Gomes in pursuit with Pianka and Williams following.
Action slowed on lap seven with Scott Bruneau around on the backstretch trying to avoid some togetherness between Williams and Gargaro that send Williams shooting toward the infield. Gargaro, Justin Travis and Bruneau headed pitside for repairs.
Baxter and Axon lined up with Gomes and Pianka at their backs. Axon grabbed the lead in turn two and Baxter settled in ahead of Gomes. Pianka and Eddy Perry dueled for fourth with Adam Pettey and Smokin’ Joe going door-to-door behind them. Gomes came loose, Pianka got under and they went wheel-to-wheel into turn three.
Lap ten saw Casper and Mike Brightman making contact with Brightman knocked loose and spinning in turn one.
The lap 11 restart saw Axon shoot back into the lead and Pianka going to second with Petty on his bumper. The field quickly strung out with Baxter following ahead of Gomes, Casper and Ant Kohler.
Casper went to work on Gomes and moved in behind Baxter while Ant and Arsenault followed him through. Pianka stuck his nose under Axon but was denied and then locked onto the latter’s bumper. With 18 laps remaining, the field was in a high-speed, single-file run. Paul Lallier, running on an intermittent schedule this season, now came up to challenge Gomes. And with 20 laps complete, Pettey edged Pianka out of second. Ant went to fourth ahead of Baxter, Sparky, Tyler Lallier and Paul Lallier. Bruneau backed them up.
Ten to go, and Axon had engineered a seven-car lead. Petty continued in second, followed by Pianka with Ant on his bumper. Baxter, Casper, and Arsenault followed. Ant took a look under Pianka and completed the pass a lap later, in turn three.
Eight circuits remained and Axon was still running in clear air, five cars up on Pettey, who now had Ant Kohler on his bumper. In fourth and threatening was Casper. But Bruneau took his second spin in turn four, bringing a lap 6 restart.
Axon nosed out on Pettey, who dropped in ahead of a side-by-side with Ant and Casper. Kohler moved into third alone and Pianka came up alongside Casper. Kyle charged forward and in a fast move was suddenly on Axon’s high side. Axon powered up and Pettey moved in under Casper. Pianka and Ant dueled behind them.
Tyler broke ahead of Arsenault into seventh leaving Paul battling Baxter. Casper began to debate Pettey for second and this allowed Axon to again build a four-car lead with just three to go. Casper was working outside Pianka. Another lap and Axon had increased his lead as Pettey and Casper continued to duel until Casper succeeded in turn four. Arsenault had to drop as Pettey flew up to the wall as the white flag waved.
Axon charged home for the win and Casper gathered in second. Tyler Lallier was able to get past Ant, Pettey, and Pianka into third with Sparky on his tail. Ant rounded out the top five. From there, it was Baxter in sixth, Joe Kohler, Paul Lallier, Pianka, Jason Steely, Donald Perry, and Gomes.
Sources: SeekonkSpeedway.com