Gregg Satterlee Captures ULMS Jim Duffy Memorial At McKean County
Twenty-four year old, Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pennsylvania shocked and surprised Bob Close and the McKean County Raceway fan faithful with a last lap pass on Close to capture the season opening Northern Tier Inc. United Late Model Series event to kick of the 25th anniversary of McKean County Raceway. Satterlee would go home $2000 richer and knowing he is also a guaranteed starter for the MCR Priority Care RaceFAN 50, during the Fall Classic weekend in September, which pays $12,000 to win.
The Northern Tier Inc. first heat qualifier for the ULMS Late Models saw Cooperstown, PA, veteran, Wally Fox on the point with 2001 MACS Champion, Mike Blose alongside him. Blose rocketed into the lead at the start with Gatineau, Quebec driver, Peter Mantha slipping into second. Blose would open at five car length lead on Mantha as Gregg Satterlee quickly found himself in third on lap two from his seventh place starting spot. Mantha started to real in Blose in his Hino Toyota, Chub Frank Racing #CFR1 machine and on lap six would make a power move on Blose to take over the top spot in front of the excited crowd. A very excited Mantha would come home victorious over Blose, with Satterlee edging Greg Oakes for third. Chris Farrell, Doug Ricotta and Fox rounded out the field.
The Close Racing Supply – GRT Race Cars and American Race Tire heat number two rolled on to the 3/8 mile surface to see the Bear Lake Banzai, Boom Briggs on the point with 2008 ULMS point runner up, Brent Rhebergen starting next to him. Briggs and Rhebergan roared down the front stretch after taking John Powell green flag. Al Brewer quickly moved into third behind the duo. Former MCR champion, Jeff Hoffman moved Brewer back to fourth while Briggs led Rhebergen by a few car lengths. Milton, Pennsylvania driver, Bobby Stokes rolled into fourth as Brewer bobbled in turn three. At the finish it was Briggs picking up where he left off last year at MCR, winning the second qualifier over Rhebergen, Stokes, Hoffman Brewer, Nick Loffredo and Paul Grigsby.
The Hoosier Tire – Mid Atlantic heat number three saw veteran, Dave Norton Sr. back in the seat with Waterford lead foot, Dave Hess Jr starting off pole. It was Hess immediately shooting to the lead over Norton as Jason Dupont and Ron Davies duked it out for second. Dupont and Davies went door to door for the runner up spot till Dupont spun his #No7 on lap five. Hess would lead Davies on the restart as “The Razor” Bob Close shot forward to grab third from Mike Knight who was suffering from a flat left front tire. Close would get the “Rimrider” on the final lap to grab second but it was too little to late to catch Hess. Davies finished third behind Close, Knight was fourth, Dupont was fifth and Dave Norton was sixth.
The thirty lap, Jim Duffy Memorial for the Northern Tier Inc. ULMS Late Models was the highlight of the evening. Satterlee and Jeff Hoffman would be your front row starters for the Fall Classic Qualifier. The opening lap saw the first yellow as third place starter, Peter Mantha spun, with fifth place starting, Mike Knight also spinning to avoid the Canadian #CFR1. Hoffman shot to the lead to lead the opening lap over Satterlee but the #22G machine of Satterlee came storming back to grab the top spot on lap 2. Bob Close would move into second on lap three as he set his eyes on Satterlee. A pair of yellows on lap three and four kept the field close to Satterlee. On the restart, Close would make a power move to the outside of Satterlee to take over the top spot and immediately open up a little distance between him and Satterlee. By this time, Dave Hess Jr and Ron Davies found themselves in the top five. With ten in the books it was still Close over Satterlee. Hess was holding onto third over ninth place starting Boom Briggs and Davies. Mike Blose entered the picture on lap twelve as he got around Davies for fifth. The yellow would come out on lap twelve for veteran, Al Brewer who came to a stop in turn four. Close took off again only to see the cars of Chris Farrell and Bobby Stokes sitting in turn four, with Stokes night ending with a broken axle. Again Close took off with Satterlee in tow. Both cars running the extreme low line. Brent Rhebergan rolled into sixth at the halfway point as it was still Close, Satterlee, Hess, Briggs and Blose rounding out the top five.
With ten laps remaining the top five still remained the same and on lap 22, the sixth place running Rhebergen left the facility with a undisclosed mechanical problem, handing sixth back to Ron Davies. Boom Briggs started to make some noise as he was now in third, when caution came out on lap 23 for Chris Farrell. On the restart Close again had to fend the stiff challenge of Satterlee as Blose hounded Hess for fourth and would grab the spot only to see the yellow come out again with five to go for the #22 machine of Greg Oakes. On the restart Close and Satterlee roared into turn one and two, both hugging the inside lane and it looked like Close was on his way to win as both drivers were committed to the inside groove. But as the duo roared into turns three and four to get the white flag, Satterlee went to the outside of Close and won the drag race down the front stretch to lead lap twenty nine. Satterlee kept the #22 Rocket Chassis pointed straight for the final 3/8 mile to capture the Jim Duffy Memorial and the guaranteed starting spot for the season ending Priority Care RaceFAN 50 during the Fall Classic. Close came home a disappointing second after leading twenty four straight laps. Boom Briggs came home a solid third with Mike Blose finally getting a little luck at MCR was fourth. Dave Hess Jr came home fifth followed by Ron Davies, Jason Dupont, Doug Ricotta, Mike Knight and Jeff Hoffman rounding out the top ten.
Gregg Satterlee became the 20th different Northern Tier Inc. ULMS feature winner. The win also was Satterlee’s first ever at McKean County Raceway, where he celebrated in victory lane with the Duffy family who have been a vital part of the construction of MCR. Ironically, it was twenty years to the day, that Jim Duffy passed away competing in a super late model event at MCR. Satterlee was only four at the time! The white and blue #22G Rocket Chassis of Gregg Satterlee is supported by, Satterlee Petroleum Distributors, East American Motorsports, BSS Creative, Daugherty Motorsports. LAZ Fab, Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, VP Racing Fuel, Port City Racing, Integra Shocks and Springs, Lias Tire – American Racer Tire and Rocket Chassis.
The Northern Tier Inc. ULMS Late Model Series gets right back into the swing next Sunday, May 3rd at Tri City Speedway in Franklin, PA. Once again, the winner will go home with another $2000 prize. The Tri City Speedway event will be co-sanctioned with DIRTCar and fans can expect to see some of the southern stars of Lernerville and Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway on hand to do battle with the ULMS stars. The Northern Tier Inc. ULMS Late Models will return to McKean County Raceway on Saturday, May 9 for the Dave Lundgren Memorial.
ULMS RACING SERIES is supported by: Northern Tier Inc., Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Lias Tire (American Racer), Close Racing Supply, GRT and BMS Race Cars, Bernheisel Race Cars, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Andrews Auto Salvage, Genesis Shocks, Cousins Designs, Allen’s Wine and Liquor, Big Shot Performance (The ShockSaver), Raceway Magazine and Oyler Action Photos
RESULTS:
NORTHERN TIER INC Heat #1:
Peter Mantha, Mike Blose, Gregg Satterlee, Greg Oakes, Chris Farrell, Doug Ricotta, Wally Fox
CLOSE RACING SUPPLY and AMERICAN RACE TIRE Heat 2:
Boom Briggs, Brent Rhebergan, Bobby Stokes, Jeff Hoffman, Al Brewer, Nick Loffredo, Paul Grigsby
HOOSIER TIRE MID ATLANTIC Heat #3:
Dave Hess Jr., Bob Close, Ron Davies, Mike Knight, Jason Dupont, Dave Norton
JIM DUFFY MEMORIAL
Fall Classic Qualifier
30 LAPS $2000 To Win
GREGG SATTERLEE, Bob Close, Rick “Boom” Briggs, Mike Blose, Dave Hess Jr. Ron Davies, Jason Dupont, Doug Ricotta, Mike Knight, Jeff Hoffman, Greg Oakes, Paul Grigsby, Chris Farrell, Peter Mantha, Dave Norton, Brent Rhebergen, Bobby Stokes, Al Brewer, Nick Loffredo, Wally Fox (DNS)
GENESIS SHOCK AWARD: Greg Satterlee
AMERICAN TIRE: Greg Satterlee
HOOSIER TIRE: Dave Hess
KEIZER ALUMINUM WHEELS: Bob Close, Rick “Boom” Briggs, Mike Blose ($50 certificate)
ANDREWS AUTO SALVAGE HARD CHARGER: Jason Dupont
