Jerry Sehn Scratches 7 Year Itch
at Whip City Speedway

BY MARK McKEON

WESTFIELD, MA – Jerry Sehn raced Mini Sprints for seven years without a win until his decisive 1200cc victory at Whip City Speedway on Saturday. Sehn, who last visited victory lane in 1991 as Utica-Rome Speedway Pure Stock track champ, led every lap and withstood a restart on lap 14, to win by 10 car lengths over Charlie Pease.
“The competition here is so close and the drivers are so good, that I put it in my mind that I had to get a good start,” said a smiling Sehn, who makes a seven hour roundtrip tow to race at the Whip. “After I did, I just kept on trying to hit my marks. The car got a little upset once in turn 1, but I tried to keep my focus on running my line. I really didn’t want a caution, so when the yellow flag came out I said ‘oh, no’, but I was able to get a good restart. Just before the race, we made a last minute change to the wing and I think that was a big factor.”
Scott Viets won the Quad 4 Midget feature in a car owned by Ray Miller, a top chauffer during the Golden Era of Modified Stock Car racing. The Miller family has raced Midgets, Modifieds and Pro Stocks since the 1940’s and Viets’ victory marked the eighth consecutive decade in which a car from the Miller shops has scored a win.
Making his first feature start of the season, Brandon Igo showed that he hasn’t lost his edge by winning the 600cc feature. With just a few laps remaining, Igo used a lapped car to get by Jim DeCambra and won by half a straightaway in the non-stop event.
Wayne Ibitz swept the night in 270cc action, winning his heat and then picking up his firs feature of the year. “The car was perfect, I couldn’t have asked for more,” Ibitz said.
Veteran Phil Bessette won his second 750cc feature this season, taking advantage of a midrace caution to get past rookie Nikki Oullette.
Shelby Klekotka won both the heat and the feature in her second 750 Sportsman start of the year.
John Durst had to survive 8 restarts to win his first Modified Lite victory this year, in an extremely physical event. Ryan Nicewicz had to race from the tail end on three separate occasions to finish second.
1200cc: JERRY SEHN, Charlie Pease, Peter Dance, Jon Moore, John Virgilio, Jamie Beaudry, Bill Adamsky, Kristen Phillips, Mark Taylor, Bethany Viets.
Quad 4 Midget: SCOTT VIETS, Scott Krawiec, Josh Woollam, Tim Gallant, Jim Mossman, Denny Zimmerman, Jamie Spalding.
600cc: BRANDON IGO, Jim DeCambra, Richard Crooker, Anthony Nocella, Ricci Hirth, Jay Coppo, Greg Smith, Susan Lescynski.
270cc: WAYNE IBITZ, Grant Sabo, Seth Carlson, Kurt Conklin, Frank Russo, Brian Boudreau, Tara Galko, Kendall Segar, Jeremy Sorel, Ben Martelle, Bryan Russo.
750cc: PHILL BESSETTE, Nikki Oullette, Richard Stone, Tony Montesi, Mark Taylor, Tyler Jackson, John Casazza, David Williamson, Jack Fogarty.
750 Sportsman: SHELBY KLEKOTKA, Timothy Stick, Makayla Lucia, Kyle Smith, Cori Tufano.
Modified Lite: JOHN DURST, Ryan Nicewicz, Brett Crowther, Rick Ashlaw, Dale Shallow, Casey Ouellette, Roger Angers Jr., Robert Poloski.
Novice: TANNER CORREIA, Darren Taylor, Keriann Adamsky.
Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, Dylan Irish, Spencer Brockman, Matthew McCuin, Timothy Shallow.
Junior: JEFF CHAMPAGNE, Ryan Irish, Nora Lemelin, Travis Snow, Ryan Fujimoto, Connor Leighton.
Lite: KATE LAFRENIERE, Steven Banach, Mike Hauser, Josh Rutola.
Heavy: GARY SOKLOSKI JR, Jake Sapowsky, Bill Tack, Tim Gallant, David Comeau.
250cc Youth: DEREK ROBBIE, Cullen Pike, Alex Adamsky.
2 Stroke: BRUCE DODGE, Steve Rockwood, Roger Angers Jr., Ernie Whidden, Jason Wood.
4 Cyl: MICHAEL PIERCE, Wade LaFogg, Stephanie Banach, Darren Sallee, Steven Banach, Keith Holtman, Brien Hohenstein.