WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The ability to adapt to changing track conditions was the key to success at Whip City Speedway on Saturday night and former 600cc Mini Sprint champion Jay Coppo was among the most adaptable. In his only appearance so far this season, the Troy New Hampshire resident and former track champion started ninth and worked his way through traffic to third position in 10 laps. When front runners Ricci Hirth and Matt Seymour tangled, Coppo inherited the lead and held it until the checkers flew 10 laps later.

“I wanted to be at the Whip before this, but the stars just never lined up,” Coppo said. “I’ve been busy at work, and then there were the rainouts, so we just never made it down. My dad always used to come down early with me, be he hasn’t been feeling well, so this week he came down later with my sister. I really appreciate the officials letting us bring my sister’s car in so our dad could sit in the car and stay warm and I’m really thankful that I won.”

Chris Haskell started ninth, but was in second place by the end of the first lap in the 750cc Mini Sprint feature. Haskell repeatedly opened up a wide lead, in an event which was slowed by five caution periods. It was his third victory of the season.

In 750 Sportsman action, 50 years and 26 points separate Tyler Jackson and Jack Fogarty. In their match ups this week, Fogarty won the heat, but Jackson blew by Fogarty on a re-start to take the feature.

Points leader Peter Dance picked up his fourth 1200cc win of the year, capitalizing on the misfortune of Jamie Beaudry, who is second in points. When Beaudry’s engine let go halfway through the 20 lap feature, Dance was in position to strike.

Wit h carnage and chaos behind him, Wayne Ibitz was ahead of the fray, leading from wire to wire in the 270cc main event. Scott Franqueza was second, while Zach Aszklar came from 9th to finish 3rd and Seth Carlson got himself noticed charging from 12th to 4th.

Wheeling the Seals-It Quad 4 Midget, Joe Krawiec made it look easy with yet another victory in his rookie season.

In what may be his last dirt track Modified Lite race for the foreseeable future, Eric Bacon took home the win. Points leader Ryan Nicewicz, tore through the field, starting tenth and racing to second; his best just wasn’t good enough to catch Bacon.

The 270 and 600cc Mini Sprints will be off this week, for the running of the 750 Fall Final, along with the Empire Lightning Sprints, Quad 4 Midgets and 250 Youth Sprints. The regular afternoon program of Competition karts will be run as well.

RESULTS

270cc: WAYNE IBITZ, Scott Franqueza, Zach Aszklar, Seth Carlson, Joe Scanlon, Kendall Segar, Shayne Prucker, Matt Seymour, Tyler Chartrand, Kelly McCarthy, Glen Clark, Brian Boudreau, Grant Sabo, Matt Galko, Mark Irving, Tara Galko.

600cc: JAY COPPO, Anthony Nocella, Richard Crooker, Luke Greenwood, Dylan Menditto, Ryan Bigelow, Ricci Hirth, Johnny Chestnut, Drew Eldridge, Matthew Robie, Zachary Herbert, Jim DeCambra, Chris Lennox, Paul Bigelow. DQ: Matt Seymour

750cc: CHRIS HASKELL, Michael Parolo, Mike King, Dave Morgan, Mark Taylor, Kyle Spencer, Phil Bessette, John Virgilio, Jason Wood, Kristen Phillips, John Cole, Matt Brown, Walt Feldman, Dan Schaubert, Rick Stone.
Modified Lite: ERIC BACON, Ryan Nicewicz, Brett Crowther, Joe Anselmo, Tom O’Malley, Rick Ashlaw, Rob LaForge, Casey Ouellette, Roger Angers Jr., Bill Carter.

1200cc: PETER DANCE, Doug Norrie, Justin Phillips, John Virgilio, Jon Moore, Charlie Pease, R.J. Tufano, Paul Rose, Dale Friedly, Joseph Szczapa, Jamie Beaudry, Anthony Nocella.
Quad 4: JOE KRAWIEC, Vince Jacobs, Doug Meyer, Jim Close, Steve Csiki, Darryl Dutch.

750cc Sportsman: TYLER JACKSON, Jack Fogarty, Nikki Ouellette, Makayla Lucia, John Missale, Andy Shlatz, Shelby Klekotka, Tim Stick, Brandon Hunt, David Williamson.

Novice Karts: SPENCER BROCKMAN, Jake Ellis, Kacie Heath, Matthew McCuin.

Turquoise: COREY LEMELIN, Nora Lemelin, Ryan Irish, Jeffrey Champagne, Dylan Irish, Kaitlyn Brice.

Junior: KATE LAFRENIERE, Kyle Smith, Mike Hauser, Cullen Pike.

Lite: DYLAN CAMPBELL, Josh Rutola, Anna Coons, Luke Greenwood, Kara Franqueza, Will Coons.

Heavy: BILL TACK, Gary Sokoloski Jr., Tim Gallant, Jake Sapowsky, R.J. Currey, Travis Cox,=2 0Roy Gauthier.

Modified Karts: ANNA COONS, Kelly Ferrell, Roger Fujimoto, Gary Hublard, Ryan Bigelow, Scott Kalber, Charlie Pease, Eric Jorgenson, Ryan Nicewicz.

250cc Youth: ANDREW MULLEN, Kara Franqueza.

2 Stroke: JASON WOOD, Ernie Whidden.