East Smethport, PA (April 19, 2014)

On a bitterly cold night following one of the harshest winters in memory, hardy fans turned out for the annual memorial event honoring Jim Duffy, who, in 1982 carved out the 3/8 mile oval we now know as McKean County Raceway. Utilizing the front straight of the old 1/2 mile configuration, an ultra-fast medium-banked oval was constructed and racing was commenced. Duffy drove a Late Model at the track until he passed away on opening night of 1989. Every year we honor his memory with this special race. Rob Blair started the event from the outside front row, immediately sped away to the lead, and never looked back. Finishing second was Blair's son, Max, driving his first full year in a Super Late Model. 

The younger Blair, using a car normally driven by Cody Dawson, led every lap to win the RUSH Crate Late model feature. John Woodward, Franklinville, NY, ran an exceptional race, coming from third to the lead on a late restart to win the Close Racing Supply Modified feature. Kurt Stebbins picked up his first-ever McKean County Raceway triumph in the Highway Auto Stock Car feature. The only repeat winner of the evening was Joe Layfield in the Pure Stock feature. The evening finished with Matt Wyant winning the Mini-Stock feature in his first appearance at the track. 

Rick Tripodi and reigning champion Robbie Blair started the Jim Duffy Memorial on the front row but Devin Lewis got against the front straight wall at the start, immediately slowing the field. At the restart Blair took the lead but green only lasted one lap as Michael Oakes and Devin Lewis spun, coming to a halt in turn three. When green again flew Blair again led with 2013 RUSH Crate champion Max Blair right behind. Lewis spun again at lap seven again bringing caution over the track. For the restart it was Rob Blair, Max Blair, Dave Scott, Brent Rhebergen, and Dick Barton. The Blair duo led the field, pulling away from Scott and Barton, who took over fourth at the green. At halfway Rob Blair had a ten car length lead over Max, his son, with Scott another seven car-lengths back in third. Week one winner Mike Knight came to fifth at lap twenty but up front it was all Blair with Robbie taking his first win of the season, Max Blair getting second, David Scott third, with Barton and Knight filling out the top five. 

Max Blair and Dusty Waters led the 24-car field to Curtis Peters' green for the twenty lap RUSH Main event. TJ Downs and Jamie Brown got together and wound up sideways right at the flag stand to set up the first restart. A twelve car pile-up in turn one slowed the race again at the restart before the field could all get by the green. Blair brought the field back to green with Jeremy Wonderling and Damian Bidwell right behind. By the end of the first lap under green 2013 RUSH Futures Champion Eric Wilson, towing all the way from Cortland, OH, came to third and then to second by the end of four laps. At halfway Blair entered lapped traffic with nearly a quarter-lap lead over Wilson. The yellow again flew for two cars slow on the track, Mike Robinson and Brad Mesler. One lap after green Scott Fitch spun in turn four. Blair, driving one of Cody Dawson's cars, again led the field back to green with Eric Wilson and last week's winner Chad Ruhlman right behind. Ruhlman took over second at the end of the first lap under green but Blair was opening a lead. Fourth-running Wonderling went up in smoke at lap 17 but got safely off the racing surface to the infield. Blair went on to his first win of the season over Ruhlman, Wilson, Bobby Rohrer, and Mike Knight. 


Results:
Super Late Models:
Heat 1: David Scott, Max Blair, Dick Barton, Mike Knight, Chris Hackett, Greg Oakes, Scott Gurdak, Beau Lockwood

Heat 2: Rob Blair, Brent Rhebergen, Rick Triodi, Denny Fenton, Bob Dorman, Doug Eck, Michael Oakes, Devin Lewis

Feature: Robbie Blair, Max Blair, Dave Scott, Dick Barton, Mike Knight, Brent Rhebergen, Greg Oakes, Chris Hackett, Denny Fenton, Doug Eck, Bob Dorman, Rick Tripodi, Devin Lewis, Michael Oakes, Beau Lockwood, Scott Gurdak (DNS)

RUSH Crate Late Models:
Heat 1: Jeremy Wonderling, Damien Bidwell, Bobby Rohrer, Mike Knight, Mike Robinson, Brad Mesler, Steve Watson, Scott Waters, Wyatt Scott, John Waters

Heat 2: Max Blair, Eric Wilson, Dusty Waters, Chad Wright, T J Downes, Bob Kish, Jamie Brown, Brady Raynor, Bill Mesler. 

Heat 3: Chad Ruhlman, Dave Shagla, Cody Dawson, Adam Sixt, Scott Fitch, Ward Schell, Justin Smith, Garrett Mott, Sherman Gage, Ed Coast

Feature: Max Blair, Chad Ruhlman, Eric Wilson, Bobby Rohrer, Mike Knight, Damian Bidwell, Justin Smith, Dave Shagla, Steve Watson, Adam Sixt, Bob Kish, Ward Schell, Scott Waters, Scott Fitch, Jeremy Wonderling, Cody Dawson, Brad Mesler, Mike Robinson, Wyatt Scott, Matt Harvey, Dusty Waters, Adam Sixt, TJ Downes, Jamie Brown