Busti, NY
August 4, 2012

Thirty-two Crate Late Models were on-hand for Sunoco Race Fuels Crate Late Model Special at Stateline Speedway. A 4-wide tribute was made by the Crate Late Models to honor the passing of Bill Law owner of the number 14 Crate Late and the man most responsible for bringing the division to Stateline. It took three heats and a consolation race to set the field for the Special. Jason Genco won the consolation and along with Garret Stephen who finished second and Eric Andrus who finished third were added to the field. Point leader Damien Bidwell was involved in an accident in the heats and received a promoter’s provisional along with Mark Thrasher the next in points who failed to qualify.

Max Blair came from 6th to win the Crate Special passing early leaders Justin Tatlow and Chad Ruhlman for the win.

Justin Tatlow and Chad Ruhlman made up the front row of the Sunoco Crate Late Model Special. Tatlow tookm the lead at the drop of the green when a multicar incident stopped the race before the first lap was complete. Bob Dorman was tagged for the yellow and the rest were aligned as they started.

Tatlow had Ruhlman by a bumper at the end of lap one with Max Blair coming from sixth to third, and Ryan Scott fourth. Paul Himes, Brad Mesler caused the second yellow with four laps complete. Tatlow lost the lead to Ruhlman on the restart. A spin by Wade Mohawk caused caution three with nine laps compete.

On the restart, Max Blair passed Tatlow and closed on Ruhlman with Tatlow eight car lengths back in third. As Blair and Ruhlman fought for the lead, Mark Thrasher pulled out on the front straight from the infield stopping on the track for yellow four.

Ruhlman choose the outside for the restart and led lap sixteen with Blair alongside. Blair led lap eighteen by a nose and then was able to slide up in front of Ruhlman to cement the lead. Bobby Rohrer stopped in the pit exit for caution five.

Twenty-two of the twenty-six starters remained on the track with Blair, Ruhlman, John Lacki, Tatlow and Scott leading thte field. The race ended with Blair running the final two laps unchallenged as Ruhlman nipped Lacki at the line for second.

Crate Late Models
Heat #1: Justin Tatlow Franklinville NY, Ryan Scott Garland PA, Jamie Brown Jamestown NY, Matthew Harvey Jamestown NY, Chad Silleman South Dayton NY

Heat #2: Chad Ruhlman Sinclairville NY, John Lacki Sinclairville NY, Bruce Hordusky Jr. Erie PA, Justin Smith Smethport PA, Doug Ricotta Warsaw NY

Heat #3: Bob Dorman Stockton NY, Max Blair Centerville PA, Ward Schell Warren PA, Ed Carley Freedom NY, Cody Mason Eldred PA

Consolation: Jason Genco Jamestown NY, Garret Stephen Williamsville NY, Eric Andrus, A J MacQuarrie, Damien Bidwell Eldred PA, Mark Thrasher Jamestown NY, Skip Jackson Jamestown NY, Ed Coast Duke Center PA, Sean Frey Colombia NY, John Haggerty Olean NY

Feature: Max Blair Centerville PA, Chad Ruhlman Sinclairville NY, John Lacki Sinclairville NY, Justin Tatlow Franklinville NY, Ryan Scott Garland PA, Doug Ricotta Warsaw NY, Ed Carley Freedom NY, Ward Schell Warren PA, Matt Cobb Bradford PA, Bruce Hordusky Jr. Erie PA, Zack Carley Freedom NY, Matthew Harvey Jamestown NY, Damien Bidwell Eldred PA, Cody Mason Eldred PA, Justin Smith Smethport PA, Bob Dorman Stockton NY, Jason Genco Jamestown NY, Garret Stephen Williamsville NY, Paul Himes Lakewood NY, Eric Andrus, Wade Mohawk Gowanda NY, Bobby Rohrer Waterford PA, Bradley Mesler Wellsville NY, Mark Thrasher Jamestown NY, Chad Silleman South Dayton NY, Jamie Brown Jamestown NY