Canandaigua, NY – April 6, 2013 – Tom Skibinski, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR (585-350-8997)

The 50^thAnniversary Season of auto racing at Canandaigua Motorsports Park began the same way it did eight times in the past, with open-wheel veteran Alan Johnson kicking off the 2013 campaign on Saturday evening with a dramatic victory in the 3^rdAnnual Jan Corcoran Memorial presented by Empire/Seneca Recycling.

With young racer Larry Wight leading 47 of the 64-lap distance and looking to become the 96^thModified winner since the inaugural event in 1953, it was Johnson instead taking over for the final nine circuits to extend his all-time track mark to 117 Big-Block victories after a late race rally netted the Middlesex driver and car owner Kenny Saya the $6,400 top prize.

The night was just as memorable for two-time defending division points champion Mike Welch as he scored a landmark 50^thwin in the Parts Plus Street Stock feature while former Sportsman driver Rick Miller (BRP/Crate Late Model) claimed his first CMP checkered flag to close out the Corcoran Memorial card honoring the mother of track promoter Jeremie Corcoran for a third straight season.

“Its always special to win a memorial race, especially when its Jeremie's mom,” remarked Johnson, whose own father Milt passed away in December and son in-law Ryan Baye lost his life in a fatal snowmobile accident in February making the win even more meaningful. “Its a little more emotional winning this one, have to thank everybody that's helped out.”

Along with Milt Johnson, Canandaigua's Modified-Sportsman points champion in 1961, the Corcoran Memorial event also recognized the recent passing of long-time speedway supporter Bill Turner, owner of Corvettes by Turner in nearby Victor. The turn four tower will be dedicated to Turner in a special ceremony held May 25.

On the track, Johnson's stirring run to the front brought back more memories for the fairgrounds faithful, patiently working his way forward from his 15^thstarting position before wrestling away the lead from Wight in a thrilling three-wide maneuver exiting turn four. The potent black no. 10J Commercial Roofing & Sheetmetal/Bicknell ride was untouchable the rest of the way, opening up a three-quarter straightaway victory margin between Wight and Jimmy Phelps, while reigning track points king Matt Sheppard and Billy Dunn filled out the final front-five.

“It was an awesome car tonight. But when I got toward the middle of the race and was riding around I didn't think I had anything for the guys up front,” noted Johnson, now 55, who captured his initial season-opener in 1976 and followed up in '78, '80, '81, '82, '87, '91 and '02. He debuted in the winner's circle in 1975, and including victories every year until 1997 (high of 12 in '82), 2013 is his 27^thseason logging at least one Modified win at the Ontario County oval.

Canandaigua, NY – April 5, 2013 – Tom Skibinski, Canandaigua Motorsports Park PR (585-350-8997)

Capturing his first two Sportsman feature wins last summer, Dave Marcuccilli ushered in Canandaigua Motorsports Park’s 50th Anniversary Season of auto racing on Friday night, outlasting open-wheel invader Sammy Reakes IV to officially kick off the expanded Jan Corcoran Memorial Weekend.

Former track regular Charlie Donk (Castner Performance 305 Sprint Car), full-fender frontrunner Eric Chapman (Pure Stock) and second-generation Community Car Care of Waterloo New Legends Sportsman chauffeur Jordan Siri also collected opening day checkered flags while Vic Coffey and Peter Britten topped a strong field of Team Tiremasters Big-Block Modified entries in a special pair of timed practice runs around the ultra-smooth half-miler.

The fairgrounds’ earliest season-opener was arguably the most frigid ever as unseasonably cold temperatures combined with a pesky wind chill factor dropped the barometer into the low 30s by race time. “We made sure there was plenty of coffee and hot chocolate to go around tonight,” remarked CMP Promoter Jeremie Corcoran during the traditional tribute to his mother who passed away in October of 2010. “It was just as tough a night for our employees as the fans and racers, at the same time providing a great example of the kind of loyalty and support there is every week here at the speedway.”

Despite the frosty night in wine country, Marcuccilli still had to sweat out his victory in the 35-lap Safety Awareness Solutions Sportsman finale after dicing with Reakes much of the distance to claim his third career CMP win and mark him as a bonifide contender in the chase for the coveted ‘Land of Legends’ points crown. The Cayuga, N.Y. driver forged the sixth and final change with five laps to go before holding on for a five car-length victory over Reakes, with Canandaigua’s own Rob Bussey, returning veteran Karl Comfort and Central New York traveler Mike Prentice filling out the final front-five.

“I’m plumb exhausted,” exclaimed Marcuccilli, who cracked the top-five after just five tours around the ultra-smooth half-miler after starting 11th on the 25-car grid. “I was really falling out of the seat, leaning my head up against the head-rest, just in there hanging on.”

“I just can’t believe how good the car was. We weren’t that good in the heat race, I was so tight getting in (corners). We didn’t change that much, Mike Payne made a couple changes and worked his magic on it. We used his set-up, pretty much what Danny Johnson runs and it seems to work pretty good for me as well,” Marcuccilli said.

By Mike Mallett

Duane Howard has always been a strong contender whenever the Modified compete at that Selinsgrove Speedway. The Pennsylvania Small-Block Modified standout won made it two years in a row with a win on Friday night as part of Icebreaker weekend.

During the off-season, the Chad Sinon owned team went through major changes which included a chassis change from Troyer Race Cars to a Bicknell. On Friday night Howard didn’t skip a beat as he went out and passed Ryan Godown on a lap 16 restart for the lead and eventually the win.

“It was more of a head game,” said Howard about the change. “It plays games with you all winter. As a driver it gets in your head and you wonder if it going to work like the other one. My crew chief (Alan Finch) did a heck of a job getting it together. He always gets it right.”

Howard hopes to carry the momentum into 2013. He’s been successful at Grandview Speedway and wants to see that success translate to the racing action on the road. Friday night was a start.

“We were really good at our home track last year,” said Howard. “When we ventured out to travel we weren’t as good as I would have liked. This is neutral ground and we can build on that. We need to have more success away from home.”