By Glenn Slocum
Saturday July 31st, 2010 Busti, NY: Applebee Motorsports sponsored the UEMS E-Mod Invasion at Stateline Speedway. Sixty-one E-Mods tried to qualify for one of the 26 starting spots in the main event through 6 heat races and 2 consolation races. A light rain started at 9:00 pm during the 2nd E-Mod Consolation race then stopped shortly after the race was complete. Dave Hess Jr. won the front row starting spot and held Rich Michael Jr. at bay for the entire 40 lap main event pocketing the $5,000 winner’s check.
Nathan Hill led from lap two of the E-Mod Non-Qualifiers Feature for his first win a Stateline.
By the luck of the draw Dave Hess Jr. and Ron Davies were on the front row of for the 40 lap $5,000 to win Applebee Motorsports E-Mod Invasion main event. Hess led the first circuit then Rich Michaels Jr. moved up alongside on lap two. Hess was up against the cushion and Michael was in the low groove. The first yellow appeared with five laps complete for Ron Seeley and Tim Peterson. The lap six restart saw the first four in single file with the remainder doubled up. Hess and Michael resumed their battle for the lead and Hall dropped into third. The yellow flew for the second time with nine down as Peterson had problems in turn one. The restart was just like the last with Hess high and in the lead followed by Michael, Hall, Kevin Morehouse and Chad Ruhlman. Ruhlman beat Morehouse out of turn two on lap fifteen for the top spot and two laps later was alongside Hess for third. Hess and Michael were nearly a quarter lap ahead. Just as the leaders entered lap traffic the third yellow happened, Justin Carlson had stopped in turn one. Carlson left the speedway as the track crew lined up the cars for the restart. Scott Gurdak retired during the lap 21 yellow. Ruhlman was solidly in third on the restart sending Hall back to fourth as Hess continued to dominate the race. Ron Davies moved into fifth with 14 laps remaining just before the fourth yellow as Kyle Bedell spun. Hess had a harder time staying in the lead after this restart as Michael stayed alongside for several laps. Peterson and Chris Couchenour tangled with 31 laps complete for yellow number five. Davies lost fifth to David Scott right after the restart. As the laps wound down Hess stayed up on top and Michael continued to press from the bottom. Bedell spun coming out of two immediately after the leaders took the two to go signal for yellow six setting the stage for a two lap dash for the win. Hess, Michael, Ruhlman, Scott and Hall were the leaders. Scott beat Ruhlman to the line finishing third as Hess won with Michael second.
Mike Eschrich led the first lap of E-Mod Non-Qualifiers feature then lost the handle on lap two causing the first yellow. A seven car pile up occurred on lap two for the second caution, Dustin Eckman was the leader with Nathan Hill second and Brian Douglas third. Hill led lap as Eckman settled into second with Douglas third and Butch Southwell third from his 14th starting spot. Debris caused the third yellow with six laps complete. Lap seven was completed then the yellow return as Kevin Buff slowed to a stop on the back stretch. The leaders slowed during the restart and three cars tangled trying to break for yellow five. Hill stayed in control and at the half way point led by half a straight away. Southwell passed Eckman for second then the sixth yellow occurred, Tony Marotto had spun in turn four. Southwell was able to close with Hill for the restart and eight laps remained. Southwell could not keep up with Hill on the restart allowing Hill to quickly rebuild his lead and John Boyd took third from Eckman. Hill made it look easy over the final laps winning by several car lengths over Southwell.
E-Mod
Heat 1: Joe Webber Erie PA, David Shagla Sugar Grove PA, Alex Froman Ashville NY, Nathan Hill East Otto NY, Darren Tarabori Galeton PA
Heat 2: Dave Hess Jr. Waterford PA, Kyle Bedell Little Valley NY, Brent Rhebergen Clymer NY, Justin Carlson Sherman NY, Joel Watson Conneaut OH
Heat 3: Kevin Morehouse Newark OH, Dutch Davies Warren PA, Tim Peterson Wilcox PA, Mike Eschrich Mt. Jewett PA, John Woodward Jr. Franklinville NY
Heat 4: Dan Davies Warren PA, Dave Atkinson Saegertown PA, Brian Fardink Sherman NY, Mike Kinney Ashtabula PA, Shane Crotty Corry PA
Heat 5: Richard Michael Jr. Ischua NY, Vic Vena Shinglehouse PA, Dave Scott Garland PA, Carl McKinney Mars PA, Tim Rockwell Salamanca NY
Heat 6: Randy Hall Olean NY, Jack Young Mentor OH, Scott Gurdak Bear Lake PA, Bobby Kitchen Grove City PA, Leonard Enos Russell PA
Consolation 1: Joel Watson Conneaut OH, Justin Carlson Sherman NY, Ron Seeley Youngsville PA, Mike Eschrich Mt. Jewett PA, Brian Douglas Painsville OH, Nathan Hill East Otto NY, Darren Tarabori Galeton PA, John Woodward Jr. Franklinville NY, Jordan Eck Corry PA, Mike McGee Mayville NY
Consolation 2: Mike Kinney Ashtabula PA, Bobby Kitchen Grove City PA, Chris Couchenour Ashville NY, Dustin Eckman Erie PA, Leonard Enos Russell PA, Kevin Buff Latham NY, Steve Huling Kennedy NY, Dennis Asel Kane PA, Carl McKinney Mars PA, Dave Lyons Corry PA
Feature: Dave Hess Jr. Waterford PA, Richard Michael Jr. Ischua NY, Dave Scott Garland PA, Chad Ruhlman, Ron Davies Warren PA, Randy Hall Olean NY, Kevin Morehouse Newark OH, Joel Watson Conneaut OH, Bobby Kitchen Grove City PA, Greg Johnson Busti NY
Non-Qualifier Feature: Nathan Hill East Otto NY, Butch Southwell Warren PA, John Boyd Waterford PA, Clint Keenan Delaware OH, Dustin Eckman Erie PA, Mike McGee Mayville NY, Kyle Bradigan South Dayton NY, Brian Douglas Painsville OH, Tim Engles Franklin PA, Jordan Eck Corry PA
