Dunn-Olivieri Racing

Looking to improve on their fouth place finish from the previous week, it was back to Sharon Speedway for Dunn-Olivieri fora chance to see if the changes they made to the Larry Shaw Chassis would help propel them to the front of the field.

A total of twenty two cars were signed into the pits and three eight lap heat races with the top four advancing to the pill redraw. Starting second in the second heat race Dunn took the lead at the green flag and lead all eight laps in route to the his first Sharon heat race victory.The redraw would give Dunn a fifth place start for the (15) lap feature.The caution flag would fly early and often with Dunn advancing to up a second by lap two. On three occasions Dunn would pass the leader but a caution would come out putting him back into the second position. The final caution came on lap 1, and Russ gave it his all but fell short finishing second.

Hartford , OH…..sunny skies and warm weather greeted the Dunn-Olivieri Racing team as the headed across the Ohio border for their first visit of the year to Sharon Speedway.The race would be the third for the teams new Larry Shaw Chassis and a learning curve at that as they would finish fouth in their initial visit of 2009 to the Hartford power plant.

A field of (19) E-Mods were signed into the pits with two heat races of (8) laps to be used to determine the line up for the (15) lap feature, The top (6) from each each would determine the pill redraw, and it seems almost of the norm Dunn would be start no better than 8th. At the drop of the green flag Dunn was able to advance to fourth when the caution flag flew three different times on lap four. When racing continued the next eleven laps would be run non stop green and when the checkers flew the # 47 Dunn Trucking, Randig Towing, Vecenie Distributing, Frankland Racing, Oyler Action Photos, Lias Tire, Domhoff Racing Engines, Racing for Kids Larry Shaw Race Car would finish a respectable 4th.

The evenings finish was not what the team was looking for but gained valuable information on what set up changes need to be made before the next race Saturday June 13th when they head back to Sharon Speedway to see how the changes they made will work.

Imperial, PA ….. May 23rd marked the 2009 maiden voyage for Dunn-Olivieri Racing as they traveled to Dirt’s Monster Half Mile, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (PPMS) for the first race of a Memorial Day Weekend doubleheader for the Kinzua Water Service United E Mod Series (UEMS). After the dust settled the season debut for the new Larry Shaw Race Chassis saw Russ Dunn bring the colorful # 47 home to a sixth place finish.

The fourth race in the Kinzua Water Service (UEMS) E Mod Series had thirty four (34) cars signed into the pits with drivers from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia for the 20 lap special. Four heat races and one B-main would make up the 24 car starting field. Dunn would start third in the third 8 lap heat race and that is where he would finish, as the top three cars from each heat races would be eligible for the pill redraw. Lady luck would not be kind as Dunn pulled the 12th starting position.The feature would start off with two cautions on the initial start with Dunn just getting a flipping car on the second restart improving five positions to 7th.. The third restart proved to the lucky one as the next 16 laps saw green flag racing when caution came out for a car hitting the wall. Just like the initial start, it would take two tries to restart the field and it was on those final four laps Dunn was able to power his was on the top side of a very rough race track to finish in 6th place.
Middlebourne, WV….May 24th the team headed south to Tyler County Speedway for the second day of the Kinzua Water Services (UEMS) doubleheader for the Battle of the Bullring $3000 to win show in a battle of the stars from the Tri-State Modified Association and the United E Mod Series. with bragging rights on the line. At the end of very long evening in Tyler County with dust hovering over the track and in the stands, Dunn came home 11th.

A star studded field of 50 drivers from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia had one thing in mind the $3000 dollar payout to the winner. Dunn-Olivieri Racing would be making their first visit to the 1/4 mile banked bullring with all 50 cars taking time trials to determine the starting positions for the six 10 lap heat races. Timing in the middle of the pack,and due to the invert system gave Dunn the pole for the third of six ten lap heat races with on two cars from each heat advancing to the feature. Dunn would never get a chance to run the heat, as he entered the track a bolt in the right rear trailing arm broke sending him back to the pits on the end of tow truck. After this misfortune repairs were made and Dunn made it out for his B-Main with two cars from each of the B-Mains advancing to the feature.They say sometime you have to have luck on your side as Dunn would have a high point man provisional from the series to use to start the if he did not advance through the heat or B-Mains . Knowing he had the provisional Dunn wanted to shake down the car from the repairs and get the car ready for the feature. A check of the car for the feature found a broken left rear shock, but with the clock literally ticking (2:30 am ) due to a two hour ran delay as the was not enough time to change it before the feature. Using the provisional Dunn would start 20th in the 40 lap feature. Tyler County Speedway has a set a two common rules : (1) If you have a problem you can not come back onto the track (2) after the initial start a restarts are single file (3) on a caution only the cat causing the caution goes to the rear of the field not all that were involved. Long green flag runs would see the field of cars stretch out around the track. The track was lighting fast, but passing was almost impossible and as cars were having problems Dunn stayed out of trouble and finished a respectable 11th .

Russ will be in the 222 Friday at Raceway 7 Saturday at Stateline and Sunday at Eriez.