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Press Releases by Amand Sesely
May 8, 2004
Amanda
Sesely Becomes First Female to Win Modified Feature at Mahoning
Valley
Lehighton,
PA: Amanda Sesely probably isn't old enough to remember
Helen Reddy's hit record of many years ago, "I AM WOMAN."
But the first line of the song, "I am woman, hear me roar,"
could have been Amanda's mantra last Saturday at the Mahoning
Valley Speedway. Sesely became the first female wheel-twister
to record a Modified triumph in the track's long history,
steering her family-owned No. 5 to victory in the Lehighton
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury 25-lap main event.
The win made up for a heart-breaking defeat the previous week,
when the steering rack broke while the Matawan, NJ, driver
was leading the feature race with just a few laps to go. "I
was so disappointed when that happened," explained
the jubilant victor. "I just couldn't believe I was so close
to winning, and I really felt that I was going to win that
one, and then the rack broke."
There was no such problem this past week, though, as Sesely
blasted from her outside-pole starting spot to grab the lead
as the field rumbled into turn one. As the first 14 circuits
stayed clean and green, Amanda fought off the strong challenges
of Modified rookie Ryan Russo. The high school student from
Lanoka Harbor, NJ, actually stuck his nose in front of Sesely's
car a few times, but Amanda came roaring back to reclaim the
lead on each occasion.
Jim Wismer stole second from Russo after a restart on lap
19, and the wily veteran began to stalk the leader, waiting
for the opportunity to pounce. Three caution periods in the
final five laps gave Wismer hope, while the yellow flags played
mind games with Sesely. "All those late yellows were getting
to me. My nerves were totally shot by the end of the race."
There was no need to panic; Sesely's mount rocketed away from
the Bill Swartz No. 97 each time the green was displayed,
and Amanda flew under Dick Brown's checkered flag with room
to spare over Wismer and Matt Wentz.
"Last week, I really believed that I had the car to beat,"
noted Sesely as she celebrated with family and her crew afterwards.
"But tonight, well, I was surprised. All night long, each
time I would come into the pits, I told them the car wasn't
well, it was not good. It just wouldn't cooperate tonight.
But I guess it was just our night to win."
Amanda also dedicated the victory to long-time crew member
John Archibald, who passed away over the winter months. "John
was so supportive of me, and he was a big part of our team.
It was very tough to come back here this season, knowing that
he would not be with us. That's why I had to grab the checkered
and do an extra victory lap in his honor." The attractive
blonde was quick to point out that the win was historical
for another reason. "This makes Anthony and me the first brother/sister
duo to win Modified features in the northeast, and maybe even
in the whole country!" she proudly exclaimed.
A high-quality field of 19 Modifieds competed at Mahoning
last Saturday, with Sesely, Wismer, and Kevin Graver, Jr.,
winning the heat races.
MODIFIED FINISH (25 laps): 1.Amanda Sesely 2.Jim Wismer 3.Matt
Wentz 4.Rick Kirkendall 5.Glenn Correll 6.Don Wagner 7.Matt
Hirschman 8.Bobby Jones 9.Troy Bollinger 10.C.J. Jones 11.Kevin
Graver, Jr. 12.Rick Reichenbach 13.Tom Shupp 14.Jarred Nace
15.Ryan Russo 16.Scott Lesher 17.Jim Hauser 18.Joe Mooney
19.Tom Flanagan
MAHONING VALLEY SPEEDWAY
Lehighton, PA
Track Phone: 570-386-4900
Speedway Business Office: 570-386-1225
Fax: 570-386-1231
For additional information, please contact:
Barry Angstadt, Track Announcer/ P.R.
610-987-6678 or email: bwa39@aol.com
NEXT EVENT: Saturday, May 15 @ 6 p.m. Modifieds, Late Models,
D/A Modifieds, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, & 4-Cylinder
Stocks PLUS 4C Super Modifieds.
COMING SOON: Saturday, May 22 @ 6 p.m. Sunoco Modified Race
of Champions Tour (75-lap feature), PLUS 4-Cylinder Stocks,
Factory Stocks, & Street Stocks.
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