Hagerstown's Octoberfest completes Andy's 2006 season

For the second straight year, Andy made the tow to compete at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland for their season-ending Octoberfest 350 on Saturday and Sunday, October 28 & 29. While Andy qualified for both the Sprint & Big-Block features last year, he'd only be in action in his #21N Sprint Car.

Heavy rains fell at the speedway from late Friday through early Saturday morning leaving the infield a lake and parts of the speedway underwater. After pumping out the water and getting the track run in, racing was delayed more than two hours.

Andy drew a 45 pill, which placed him 8th in the second of three 10-lap heat races. Just 26 Sprint Cars were on hand with the threatening weather and all would qualify for Sunday's feature.

The Sprints were up first and the tracks was obviously heavy, which was a disadvantage to Andy especially starting last in a stacked heat race. Andy finished in the 9th position in a race won by Alan Cole.

Hagerstown's line-ups are straight-up throughout the entire field. Andy would start 26th in the 50-lap $10,000 to-win feature on Sunday. Sunday dawned sunny and warmer. The Sprint Cars were last and after 100 laps of 358 Mods, Late Models, and Big-Block Mods there was nothing left of the track.

Andy was able to pass a few cars in the early stages of the race including Eric Keck, Joey Hershey, Richie Fitz, and Jessica Zemken. A couple timely cautions kept Andy on the lead lap. Andy was hoping to get to the 25-lap fuel stop on the lead lap, but that didn't happen after a long green flag run that saw Andy and Bobby Howard get lapped a few laps shy of the fuel stop.

Andy chased Howard over the second-half of the event and maintained his position, which was 6th in the running order holding off many of the central Pa's top runners for a long period of time. It wasn't until he popped a wheelie coming off turn four did he lose ground.

Though the finishing order showed Andy in 16th one lap down at the finish, he felt much better than last year's 14th place effort. Andy looked much faster and confident following this year's event.

Octoberfest brought down the curtain on Andy's 2006 season. Andy is hoping to compete in some of the early 2007 central Pa. Sprint Car races before the start of racing here at home.

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Another strong run ends sour in 358 Mod debut at Lernerville 9/16/06

The 358 Modifieds made their first ever visit to Lernerville Speedway for their season finale on Saturday, September 16. A big field of 35 cars turned out and were joined by the Stocks, Mod Lites, & School Bus. Andy was on hand in the Emig #1.

A 13-pill lined Andy up 3rd in the 3rd and final heat, which boasted 12 cars. Andy passed pole-sitter Brian May at the start and chased Jimmy Holden, while holing off Brad Rapp to finish second, which solidly put Andy in the top 12 redraw.

Lernerville does their own redraw, which resulted in an 8 for the 25-lap $800 to-win feature. Problems for Rodney Beltz moved Andy up and he was able to pass Bill Krause for 6th. Andy worked his way past Brian Fink to crack the top 5 and then inherited 4th when Brad Rapp slowed late in the race. Andy began to challenge Dave Murdick for 3rd when the engine let go with about 5 to go and ended the night and the season for the 358 car. Jeremiah Shingledecker went on to win over Frank Guidace and Murdick.

It was a sour end to a disappointing season as once again engine woes kept Andy from victory lane all season long.

A pair of 11ths at Mercer on 9/10/06

Mercer Raceway Park's 18th annual "Western PA Sprint Championship" went from a one-day show into a two-day show. Rain showers late in the afternoon on Saturday delayed the start nearly two hours and after the completion of the heat races, the fog set in just when Andy was on the track for the B main postponing the show until Sunday at 6 PM.

For just the second time of this season, Andy was doing double-duty at Mercer as he had his #21N Sprint Car and the Emig #1 358 Modified. A field of 33 Sprints and 28 Mods were on hand.

A poor pill draw in the Sprints forced Andy to start 9th in the 2nd heat. Andy would need to finish in the top 4 to make the redraw and the top 6 to make the feature. Andy struggled with his car and was only able to pass Riki Likowski and Leonard Ripper, Jr., while losing a spot to Andy McKisson.

The Modified scenario wasn't any better as Andy drew the next to worst pill and was forced to start 9th in the 2nd heat just like the Sprints. Bring in a weaker heat helped as Andy worked his way into 4th spot at the finish.

Andy was one of the Sprints that was being pushed off when the fog settled in and suggested that the Sprints run laps to try to lift it. After several laps, it came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to work and the cars were sent off the remainder of the event would be finished on Sunday.

The Sprint B main led things off. Four of the scheduled starters did not return and Pup Nystrom was an addition on Sunday meaning 10 cars would start the 10-lap event with the top 7 transfering to the feature as New Yorker Chris Shuttleworth, who qualified for the feature also didn't return. Andy started 5th and was able to pass Paul Kapuchuck, Paul Kish, and Joe Butera to finish 2nd about a half-lap past Andy McKisson, who left the field.

The Sprint feature would be 30 laps for $3,000 to-win. Andy had a tough road to hoe starting 18th in the strongest local field of the season. Andy wound up 11th one lap down in Mercer's final Sprint Car show of the season, which was won by Brian Ellenberger. Despite missing 9 shows, Andy still managed to finish 15th in the season's final points.

Andy pulled an 8 on Saturday meaning he'd start 8th in the 20-lap 358 Mod feature. Andy struggled with the motor laying down as it has all season long and came home a disappointing 11th in an event won by Kevin Hoffman. Andy finished the season 24th in the 358 points despite missing 11 events.

Andy will be in action next Saturday as the 358 Modifieds make their first ever appearance at Lernerville Speedway with Mercer being dark.

3rd in Wingless Sprint & 7th in 358 Mod at Mercer on 8/26/06

For the first time this season Andy did double-duty at Mercer as he brought his #21N Sprint Car to compete wingless and drove the Emig #1 358 Modified. There were 21 sprint cars and 33 mods on hand to run the 55th anniversary event.

Andy made his first Mercer sprint start since May 6th and lined up 6th in the first of two 8-lap heat races. Tonight a pill draw would be used to determine the first 12 starting spots so Andy needed to at least mainatin his starting position. Andy was able to pass Gale Ruth, Jr. and Ralph Spithaler, Jr. to finish 4th in an event won by point leader Bob Felmlee.

Andy redrew #10 so he lined up 10th in the 25-lap feature that started 20 of the 21 cars. Andy Priest came on at the end getting past wingless veteran Johnny Heydenreich for fourth on lap 21 and Charlie Holben for third down the backstretch on the final lap. Andy quickly ran down Rob Eyler, but ran out of time and settled for a strong third behind winner Mat Neely from Illinois.

Another poor pill draw relegated Andy to an 8th starting spot in the second of three heats for the mods. Andy needed to finish 6th to make the feature and 4th to make the redraw for the first 12 starting spots. Andy was able to pass Jr. Baker, Kyle Ripper, and Travis Shingledecker, but ran out of time to make the top 4 cut in a power-packed heat that also included both Jeff & Jerry Schaffer, Lonny Riggs, Brad Rapp, Matt Baker, and Steve Barr.

Tonight's modified feature was 30 laps as it was the Bill Emig Memorial. Andy paced the field while Bill Beck did a tribute to Bill. Andy started 14th and quickly worked his into the top 10, but on lap 3 Frank Guidace got sideways and ensued a 10-car melee. Andy and most of the cars would continue, but had to restart on the tail. Andy slowly picked off cars in the season's strong field of cars with the exception of the July 4th T3 race. Andy passed Gary Smoker for 6th on the next to last lap, but Smoker snuck back under on the last lap as Andy's car was still down on power and had to settle for a disappointing 7th. The $2,000 race was won by Brad Rapp for his biggest career win.

Mercer is off this weekend so Andy will be competing with his Sprint Car at Lernerville on Friday in the $3,000 to-win Sonia Bullis Memorial then if all goes right he'll make his first start at Sharon in the All Star event.

Wild night sees Andy record 2nd & 3rd at Tri-City on 8/20/06

For the first time since July 9 Andy was in action in both his Sprint Car and Modified at Tri-City on Sunday night.

A field of 22 Big-Block Modifieds were on hand and the 8-pill allowed Andy to start on the outside pole alongside Dave Murdick in the first of two 8-lap 11-car heats. Andy raced side-by-side Murdick down the frontstretch and into turn one when the car slowed and shut off coming off turn two. It was later found that the problem was in the MSD.

The crew got the car running although Andy would have to start 21st. Andy was quick from the get-go passing cars on the outside every lap. His big moves were laps six and seven when he progressed from 14th to 11th and 11th to 8th respectively. Then on lap 12 Andy advanced from 8th to crack the top 5. Andy ran down Chanda Reitz and made the pass for 4th on lap 17 then one lap later drove around Murdick for third. Andy quickly ran down Russell King, while eventual winner Jeremiah Shingledecker was long gone. Andy & Russell battled hard over the last two laps for second with Russell taking Andy's high line way. After the race the two banged each other which carried over into the pit area.

After selecting the wrong tire and stagger in the Sprint Car heat race, which relegated Andy to a distant sixth place finish, the 12-invert fell into Andy's hand aligning him on the outside pole of the 20-lap feature. Andy quickly dashed by pole-sitter Brent Matus on the start and was long gone. Todd Bauer moved past Matus for second on lap 2 and chased Andy for the duration of the event. At one point, Andy had a one-half lap lead over Bob Felmlee; however, Bob got the inside working passing Jody Keegan and Andy McKisson for 3rd on lap 12. Felmlee ran down Bauer and Andy who were struggling in lapped traffic. On lap 15, Felmlee passed Bauer in turns one and two for second then got under Andy and past him off turn four in traffic. Felmlee quickly pulled away and won by 4.452 seconds over Andy, who held off Bauer matching a career best second in a Sprint Car. Andy felt he would have had a shot had his engine not stumbled the second-half of the race.

Near miss win sees Andy finish 3rd in 358 Mod at Mercer 8/18/06

Mercer Raceway Park was in action on Friday night with Raceway 7 not running. Andy was behind the wheel of the Emig #1 358 Modified.

A field of 28 cars were on hand meaning three 8-lap heat races. A poor 50-pill put Andy in the back of his heat race, but he wasted little time charging to the front and winning his first heat race in the car this season.

Andy had the fourth lowest average so he started fourth in the 20-lap fetaure. Once again wasting no time, Andy shot into the lead at the completion of the first lap. Andy battled with pole-sitter Lonny Riggs on the second lap, but Andy was able to hold on. Point leader Steve Young made his way to second on lap 6 and stayed with Andy. On lap 17, Andy got in heavy lapped traffic and Young was right on Andy, but a caution slowed action.

On the restart, Frank Guidace drove past Kevin Hoffman and Young on the outside into second and the 17th lap was completed before another caution was displayed. On the ensuing restart, Andy took off and took the outside lane from Guidace in turns one and two; however, that opened up the inside and Hoffman went from 3rd into the lead. Guidace then got under Andy off turn four for 2nd. Hoffman went on for his 2nd win over Guidace, while Andy matched his season-best 358 in 3rd.

Andy will be geared up for this Saturday's big 30-lap Bill Emig Memorial paying $2,000 to-win on the 55th Anniversary night.

Andy holds on to top 5 at Tri-City on 8/13/06

Andy was in action at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night in Ted Hull's #41 Big-Block Modified. A field of 21 cars were on hand meaning two 8-lap heat races were run. For the second straight week, Andy would up with his car number for a pill draw, 41. This meant he'd line up 10th in the first heat race.

Andy needed to get to at least 6th to be eligible for the invert. Andy made some great moves passing four cars to be in 6th by the completion of the first lap. For the next three laps be battled with Chris Schiffer before getting by for 5th on lap 5 then the following lap drove by Dean Pearson for 4th. Andy closed on Del Rougeux, Jr. making the pass to finish 3rd behind winner Kevin Bolland and runner-up Rex King.

The pass would prove very important as a fan drew #6 meaning Andy would line up on the outside pole for the 20-lap feature rather than 7th had he not made the pass. For the first time this season, the Modifieds were not first or second as the E-Mods were put into the rotation running first. That combined with sunshine and low dewpoints left very little moisture for the feature despite the fact that the track was watered after the heat races.

Andy has been fast all year in heat races winning 5 of them and charging from the back of many other races. He's been fast in the features when there's been moisture in the track and top side of the track to run, but when the track has been slick Andy's struggled on the bottom and getting off the turns.

The 20-lap feature saw Andy line-up beside Modified rookie Jason Reagle. With no outside groove to get a bite, Andy struggled getting around Reagle. In the meantime, Rex King snuck under both off turn 2 for the lead. Andy did get past Reagle and followed King. Kevin Bolland got under Andy for second on lap 2 and then Joe Crawford grabbed 3rd on lap 5. Following a restart with 13 laps completed, Andy made a nice move to get under Crawford to take back 3rd, but Crawford regained the spot on lap 15 and then Del Rougeux, Jr. took 4th on lap 16.

Andy would hold off Travis Shingledecker to finish 5th for his 5th top 5 of the season. King went on to win the race. Andy now trails point leader Kevin Bolland by 146 points and runner-up King by 79 with two events remaining.

Despite missing another event, Andy still holds on to 10th in the Sprint Car points and is expected to make his return to racing for the first time since the NST show on July 16.

Andy fights for 7th against DIRT stars at Tri-City on 8/6/06

Andy was in action on Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway driving Ted Hull's #41 Big-Block Modified. It was the final event of the 8-race Lernerville/Tri-City Challenge Series. What was initially scheduled to be a25-lap feature paying $1,500 to-win was increased to 30 laps for $2,000 to-win in order to entice some of the DIRT stars coming home from Eldora to stop off before heading to Merrittville on Monday.

A good field of 31 cars were on hand including 7 of the DIRT stars. A poor pill draw placed Andy 8th in the first heat race although it was heat race less any of the DIRT cars. Andy needed to finish in the top 6 to qualify for the feature and top 4 to be eligible for the pill draw. Andy passed the 8s of Chanda Reitz and Keith Swartzlander on the first lap for 6th, then got Jason Reagle for 5th on lap 2, and finally Mike Turner for 4th on the third lap. Andy was able to hold off Swartzlander to finish 4th and qualify for the pill draw.

Andy redraw the #8 pill meaning he'd start 8th in the 30-lap feature. Andy got a bad start resulting in him dropping back to 10th on the first lap and then dropped all the way back to 12th on lap 2. The rest of the race saw Andy slowly fight his way back into contention. He made it all the way up to 7th on lap 9 before another bad restart relegated him back to 11th on lap 15. He crept back into the top 10 picking off cars. Andy would battle with Russell King for most of the second-half of the race trading the spot back and forth before getting by on the last lap to finish 7th in a race won by Danny Johnson after Brett Hearn suffered a flat tire on lap 27.

Andy remained 3rd in points 134 behind point leader Kevin Bolland and 60 behind runner-up Rex King. Despite missing another night with his Sprint Car, Andy is still holding on in the top 10 currently 9th.

Oil fire ends Mercer 358 run on 8/4/06

Andy was back in action driving the Emig Racing #1 358 Modified for the Friday night a program. A field of 30 cars were on hand making for 3 10-lap heat races.

Andy started 6th in the first heat races as 6 cars qualified for the feature and the top 4 made the handicap system. Andy worked his way to 2nd finishing behind co-point leader Kevin Hoffman.

Andy had the 7th lowest average meaning he would start 7th in the 20-lap feature. Andy moved forward at the beginning of the race finishing himself in 3rd, but again the motor was down on power coming off the turns as he dropped out of the top 5. On lap 16, Andy's car erupted in flames due to an oil fire which ended his night. Gary Smoker went on to win his 4th feature.

Andy was credited for 17th suffering his fourth DNF in five starts.

Late spin costs Andy top 10 at Tri-City on 7/30/06

Other than a brief shower, the scattered thunderstorms missed Tri-City Speedway despite a flood watch for Venango County and the races were completed. Andy was just driving the Ted Hull #41 Big-Block Modified.

Another poor pill draw placed Andy 9th out of 9 cars in the second heat race as 19 cars were on hand. Andy was in a strong heat race and needed to get at least 6 to be eligible for the feature invert. Andy was able to pass Skip Moore, Chanda Reitz, Jeremy Paup, and eventually Del Rougeux, Jr. to finish 5th.

Hoping for an invert 10 or 12, the 4 pill was drawn meaning Andy would start 10th in the 20-lap feature. Andy passed Travis Shingledecker on the opening lap for 9th and spent the next 11 battling with with Del Rougeux, Jr., Dave Schrader, and Chris Schiffer. Finally on lap 13, Andy made a nice move to overtake both Schrader and Schiffer for 7th. Andy continued to hound Rougeux for the next 5 laps unable to find a way by as everyone was running the top of the speedway.

The event's only caution waved with 18 laps completed. On the ensuing restart, Andy went low and tried to get underneath Rougeux, but the car locked up and spun out. After restarting on the tail, Andy was only able to pass Rex King, Jr. to finish a disappointing 14th.

Andy remained in 3rd in points, but now trails Kevin Bolland by 126 points and Rex King by 50. Despite missing the last two races, Andy is still 6th in the Sprint Car points.

Andy will be in action Sunday in the special 30-lap Lernerville/Tri-City Challenge event that will feature DIRT starts for $2,000 to-win.

Another quick end to 358s at Mercer on 7/29/06

Andy was back in action in the Emig Racing #1 at Mercer Raceway Park on July 29. It was Fan Appreciation Night and a big crowd was on hand along with 28 358 Mods.

A poor pill draw lined Andy up 8th out of 9 cars in the second of three heat races. After getting blocked in the first few laps, Andy worked his way into the important top 4 and would eventually finish 3rd behind winner Brad Rapp and Ron Eperthener, Jr.

After an hour intermission for autographs on the speedway, the Stock Cars went out first followed by the Sprints and then the Mods.

The top 12 drivers from the heats were inverted and Andy had the sixth lowest average meaning he would start 6th in the 24-car 20-lap feature. It was a quick end to the night as going into turn one on the opening lap, Andy got bottled up behind Steve Barr and suffered front end damage ending his night in a hurry where he was credited with 24th.

Andy will be in action this Friday night at Mercer.