Kevin's Victory Lane Interview at Lernerville [05.25.12]
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
Thanks to the crew for working over 200+ hours to get the Boundary Systems/CREO, Bicknell Racing Products, Bolland Machine, Cintas, Budisak Boys, Bilstein #777 back in the winners circle after the crash at Eriez Speedway!
Kevin Bolland scores a heartbreaking win over Steve Feder
The fine folks from Diehl Auto Group were on hand as the program’s weekly sponsor and they were almost treated to a career first Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modified feature win for young gun Steve Feder. Feder took the lead from the pole at the drop of the green flag and held off future Hall of Famer Kevin Bolland for 24 laps with the best run of his career in a caution-free race. But as the leaders approached turn one on the final lap, Feder hesitated for a fraction of a second as a pair of lapped cars raced side-by-side ahead of them and Bolland pounced, taking the bottom and the lead. Feder could only chase Bolland to the checkered flag and wait to fulfill his dream of scoring that sacred career first feature win at the Action Track. For Bolland, it was his second win of the season and 55th of his Lernerville career. The win was made all the more impressive by the 200+ man hours of labor required to get the #777 ready for action after a nasty wreck with Dave Murdick at the BRP Modified Tour opener at Eriez Speedway last Sunday Night.
Feder had to settle for a career best finish of second ahead of All Time wins leader Brian Swartzlander in third, Dave Murdick in fourth and NY invader Brian Weaver in fifth. Mike Turner, Dean Pearson, Eric Gabany, Carl Murdick and Phil Evans Jr. rounded out the Diehl Top Ten. Bolland and Swartzlander claimed heat race victories.
For the second feature in a row, Defending Track Champion Jeremiah Shingledecker was claimed by the gremlins as he broke on lap 21 exiting turn four running third and rolled into the infield; officially scored with a DNF in 16th.
Kevin Bolland Sets New Track Record at Sharon Speedway [15.919 seconds]
Milestone 20th Win for Bolland in the Modifieds
It’s been quite a start to the 2012 season for Kevin Bolland. Bolland raced to the April 7 opening night victory then worked his way through the pack to finish second last Saturday night to Rex King. On Saturday night, Bolland was back in victory lane this time holding off King in the 20-lap DIRTcar Big-Block Modified feature for his milestone 20th career victory at the speedway. Bolland also has a victory at Lernerville Speedway this season.
“I knew he was going to be there,” stated the 52-year-old New Brighton, Pa. veteran when asked about King’s challenges. “The car was awesome up top. I have to thank God for following us and opening up those doors to tell us where to go. I’m thankful to be here. I couldn’t do it without Boundary Systems/CREO, all my sponsors and Bolland Machine for the good horsepower. We have a skeleton crew tonight, but we got it done!”
Bolland jumped into the lead past pole-sitter Jim Rasey and immediately began to pull away from the field. On lap three, it was three-wide for second with Kevin Hoffman taking the spot over Rasey and King. Following a restart, King overtook Rasey for third on lap four then one lap later drove under and past Hoffman for second in turn four.
King began eating away at Bolland’s lead until the next stoppage when Jimmy Weller III’s #31W went up in flames with 12 laps scored. Back under green flag conditions, King was all over Bolland looking for a way by. The two veterans went at it hard racing side-by-side for the lead between laps 14-16; meanwhile, as those two pulled away, the battle was on for third as Hoffman was trying to hold off seventh and 10th starting Dave Murdick and Rex King, Jr.
A caution for Bob Warren with 17 laps completed allowed King, Jr. to overtake both Murdick and Hoffman for the third spot on the restart before the final caution when rookie Jeff Monoskey spun with two laps to go. When racing resumed, Bolland was able to hold off King by 1.237 seconds for the $1,100 victory in the Bol-Tech Motorsports-owned, Boundary Systems/CREO/Bolland Machine/Cintas/Cranberry Coin & Currency-sponsored #777.
The battle over the final two laps for third was hot and heavy. Murdick passed both Hoffman and King, Jr. on lap 19, but on the final lap King, Jr. was able to nose back ahead for a season best third. Murdick edged Hoffman for fourth. Sixth through 10th were Jim Weller, Jr., Dean Pearson, Rasey, newcomer Tom Mattocks, and Carl Murdick. Heat victors over the season high 17-car field were Weller III and Dave Murdick.