By GLENN SLOCUM
BUSTI, N.Y. - The 4th of July celebration at Stateline Speedway starts early this Saturday with the 30-lap Super Late Model Fritz Seamens Memorial.
The race will pay $5,000 to the winner and $300 to start. The celebration will include fireworks and racing in all of the other divisions.
Franklinville, N.Y.'s Greg Oakes made his first-ever appearance in Super Late Model victory lane last weekend and closed in on points leader Rich Gardner of Waterford. Oakes jumped from third in the standings to second and is just 44 points behind Gardner, which translates to just five finishing positions on the speedway. Chad Valone moved from fifth to third, and Corry's Doug Eck fell from second to fourth while Ashville, N.Y.'s Dick Barton broke into the top five.
Eldred's Damian Bidwell remained the Crate Late Model leader with Stockton, N.Y.'s Bob Dorman second and Jamestown, N.Y.'s Jason Genco third.
Limited Late Model driver Sherman, N.Y.'s Chris Ottaway leads the Limited Late division with a slim 13-point advantage over Waterford's second generation driver Steve Kania. Garland's Ryan Scott is third.
Warren's Butch Southwell leads the E-Mod division along with Sherman, N.Y.'s Justin Carlson and Ashville, N.Y.'s Chuck Frye. There have been six different E-Mod winners in the seven races held and none of the top three have won.
Ashville, N.Y.'s Wade Watson won last Saturday's Super Sportsman feature and is seventh in the standings led by Jamestown, N.Y.'s Dan Nocero Jr. Ben Burgess Jr., Sherman, N.Y., is second followed by Erie's Jake Eller.
Waterford's Chris Withers continued his amazing winning streak in the Street Stock division with his seventh consecutive win last Saturday. Stockton N.Y.'s Brian Crandall is second.
Grand Valley's Bill Baker Jr. broke into Super Challenger victory lane last weekend and Stockton, N.Y.'s Chad Bender became the new points leader.
In other news at the speedway, reshaping of the track has begun in preparation for the inaugural visit of the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models on July 24.
The pits will open at 4 p.m., gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts promptly at 7 p.m. For information, visit www.stateline-speedway.com.