STEWART FRIESEN STARTS TITLE DEFENSE BY GRABBING WIN IN 358-MODIFIED OPENER AT UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY VERNON, NY- Different team, different season, same result. Stewart Friesen started his defense of his 2007 Utica-Rome Speedway 358-Modified championship by taking the 358-Modified lid lifter at the Vernon oval on Bill Cole night. By winning his heat and the heads up format on the opening night, Friesen started on the pole and beat fellow front row starter into turn one for the early advantage. Third place starter Pat Ward would quickly gain the second spot, and then set sail after Friesen. Lap after lap, Ward would pull along Friesen in turns one and two, only to have the rim riding Friesen rocket off turn two to hold onto his lead. As the halfway point of the 30 lap event was being scored, Ward’s right rear let loose which sent him pit side for a new tire. Friesen would lead the remainder of the event with fifth place starter Willy Decker coming second, eighth place starter Mitch Gibbs in third, Paul Kinney coming from 16th to fourth, and Ramsey holding on to fifth. Mike Button used consistent top five finishes to win his second consecutive Sportsman title in 2007 and now he is trying a different approach for 2008, winning consistently. 10th place starter Button grabbed the lead on lap 11 of the 20 lap main to collect his second win of the young season. Brad Alger chased Button to the checkered with Way, Tim Nye, and Jeff Leslie filling out the top five spots. Ed Ostrander led the first 19 and three quarter circuits of the 20 lap Pro Stock feature in search of his first ever win, but Shawn Frost ended up with his first career win instead. As Ostrander went into turn three, second place runner Frost dove low and with the top two where side by side, slight contact may have been made as Ostrander jumped the cushion handing the lead to Frost. Frost raced to his first win with Jim Normoyle taking advantage of the Ostrander’s miscue to grab second spot with Ostrander dropping to third. Bill Knapp and Mark Effner rounded out the top five. Pole sitter Ron Hawker led from the drop of the green flag of the 15 lap Pure Stock feature, holding off Frank Hyatt, Chris Carr, Russ Marsden, and Phil Norman. Canastota Kart Speedway will present the action this Sunday May 4 at the “Action Track of the East” with a four division show of 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m. BILL COLE RACE SUMMARY 358-MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (30 LAPS)- STEWART FRIESEN, Willy Decker, Mitch Gibbs, Paul Kinney, Jim Davis, John Ramsey, Paul Jensen, Pat Ward, Mike Ricci, Gus Schmidt, Jeff Kotary, Josh Hohenforst, Alan Barker, Ted Lamb, David Orr, Brian Murphy, Jamie Christian, Bobby Varin, Joel Thomas, Wade Decker, Jackie Brown Jr., Billy Shantel Jr., and AJ Romano. DNS- Ken McGuire and Andy Bachetti. SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- MIKE BUTTON, Brad Alger, Steve Way, Tim Nye, Jeff Leslie, Jason Rood, Michael Teachout, Matt Janczuk, Jack Miller, Jim Rothwell, Steve Yankowski, Stewart Garrison, Glenn Forward, and Casey Williams. DNS- Jeremy Vunk. PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- SHAWN FROST, Jim Normoyle, Ed Ostrander, Bill Knapp, Mark Effner, AJ Digsby, Tom Denton, Dave Moyer, Bret Belden, Ivan Joslin, Don Peo, Jim Grippin, and Rob Seavy. PURE STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS)- RON HAWKER, Frank Hyatt, Chris Carr, Russ Marsden, Phil Norman, Tim Janczuk, Chris Cunningham, Waylan Wilczek, Jim Thomas, Cale Hoffman, Andy Potter, Bill Mason, Scott Wheelock, Robert Thiemes, Keith Stevenson, John Wesolowski, and Jim Richmond.