John Vallo
Feature Win (#295), Kil-Kare Speedway 30 Lap, Aug 31, 2007
By Jerry Wahl Xenia, OH. (8/31) - The thirty lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late model feature saw Tony Brunke and Sam Heckman battled side by side swapping the lead back and forth until the caution came out on lap seven when Tim Rausch and Gary Estes tangled on the frontstretch with both being eliminated. When the action resumed Brunke continued to hold the lead but on the prowl was nine time feature winner Tim Allensworth. Allensworth showed as the leader on lap sixteen and continued to put some space on the field. With Brunke running second and Heckman third John Vallo was on the move as he stole third. When the checker waved it was Allensworth claiming his tenth win of the year. Brunke held on for second with Vallo home third, Heckman fourth and Justin Alsip fifth. Former feature winners Gary Estes and Tim Allensworth brought the field to the starting line in the late model make-up feature only to see the yellow come out on the first lap causing a complete restart. After another first lap caution action finally got underway and what a battle it was between Estes, Allensworth, and John Vallo. Estes took command but it was a battle side by side by Allensworth and Vallo with Vallo finally taking over second and then went to work on leader Estes. Estes continued to lead after a nine lap caution when Tim Rauch spun. On the restart the three car battle resumed with Vallo challenging, moving us alongside of Estes when contact was made on turn four with both cars spinning and Estes sent to the tail. Vallo continued to lead with Allensworth on his rear bumper when the caution came out on the white flag lap due to a spin. On the restart Vallo put the petal to the metal to claim his first feature win of the year and his 295th career win. Allensworth was second with Ricky Bates taking third followed by Jamie Sites and Tony Brunke. John Vallo came from his fifth place starting slot to win the first late model heat over Tony Brunke, Ricky Bates, and Tim Rauch. In the second heat Russ Bobb scored his second win of the year with Jonathon Kettlewell second trailed by Bobby Justus and Virgil Powell. Charlie Davis and Gary Estes brought the Muffler Brothers of Xenia modifieds to the green flag with Estes leading the first lap but a determined Rodney Kreusch slipped under him to take the lead with Estes second and Jason Mahaffey third. The caution came out on lap nine when Jamie Brenneaman's car went up in white smoke. Estes resumed the lead on lap eleven but on the move was three time feature winner Shawn Stroble. Stroble took command, going on to claim another win with Mahaffey advancing to claim second with Estes third. Fourth was Kreusch with Charlie Davis fifth. In the modifieds, double duty driver Gary Estes claimed the first heat with Jason Mahaffey closing in on Estes at the checker. Rodney Kreusch was third with fourth going to Shawn Sroble. Derek Weatherhead ran away with the second heat winning by a large margin over Caleb Rescher, Jack Black III, and Jason Wells. The Kil-Kare sports stocks feature was full of excitement for the fans. Dave Ledocq jumped out front and was Hangine onto the lead when Jay Lakins Jr. and Mike South Jr. had an altercation on turn four which resulted in a two week suspension for South. One lap later a four car crash occured which put Rusty Clark, Tom Williams, and Justin Miller out of action. Lecocq went on to record his sixth feature win in his Baker's Locksmith sponsored machine. Derek Louderbach ran second all the way for the runner-up money with Mike South Sr.home third followed by Heath White and Lakins Jr. Ed Lorentes scored his first sport stock heat win of the year as he held off the challenges Jay Likens Jr. who hounded his all eight laps to finish second with third going to fast timer Heath White and Tom Williams was fourth. The second heat went to Rusty Clark as Mike South Jr. was closing in on him at the checker. Second was South with Dave Lecocq third and fourth was Lawrence Batchelor. Gary Williams had little trouble in winning the fifteen lap Oakley Blacktop Compact feature as he had the advantage of starting on the pole to claim his third feature of the season in his Affordable Auto Parts sponsored machine. It was a close finish for second as Randy Walton claimed second but seven time winner Tim Rauch almost caught him at the stripe to settle for third. Aaron Harshbarger was home fourth and fifth was Bo Hoelscher