Pullen Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20’s To Decker & Hearn
Syracuse, NY – October 10, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Modified qualifying races for the 150-lap ‘Salute to the Troops’ 358-Modified Championship got underway amidst sun-drenched skies Friday with Big-Block stars Billy Decker and Brett Hearn taking checkered flags in the Pullen’s Truck Center Twin 20s at the New York State Fairgrounds.
Decker led every lap of the opening heat race while Hearn took advantage of a lap seven restart to overtake Mario Clair and both open-wheel veterans went on to collect $1,000 top prizes for their 20-mile victories.
“I have to thank Vic (Coffey) for giving me enough room getting into turn that first lap, without that deal its gonna be a big mess,” said Decker, who will start third on the grid Saturday in quest of a third Super DIRT Week 358-Modified Championship on the Syracuse Mile steering the LJL Racing Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium International/Bicknell mount. “I really appreciate his sportsmanship.”
“Been working more on the Big-Block, its been off the pace a little bit so far. We took this car out for the first time yesterday in time trials and today its no different. The track has been a little different from what we expected so I guess its no surprise that it changed a little today,” Decker said.
Coffey chased Decker for the first half of the race before the two frontrunners reached traffic. Coffey suddenly dropped off the pace with mechanical problems and headed pitside with 14 lap complete, handing second-place to Andy Bachetti. Decker from Unadilla, New York opened nearly a half-track lead in the caution-free 20-lap affair, with Tim Fuller, Frenchman Martin Roy and area favorite Pat Ward filling out the final front-five.
Reigning overall Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points king Mario Clair jumped ahead early in the 20-lap closer yet following a caution for a turn three-four wall-banging incident involving Shawn Donath and Brad Shova gave up the point to Hearn on the ensuing lap seven restart.
“We had a really good restart and that was the difference in the race today,” said Hearn, the defending SDW 358 title event title-holder who has reached victory lane four times in Saturday’s Small-Block main. Tomorrow he’ll start sixth aboard Vinny Salerno’s no. 4 Four Star Transmissions-Kruger-Kosakowski Plumbing/TEO entry sporting a potent Pat Morrison-prepared powerplant. “Its only a heat race so I can’t get overly excited but it’s a good start to the week.”
“Early on I could’ve taken it a little deeper in turn one, just didn’t want to cause any problems so I backed away to let those guys get out there. I could reel in the #22 car (Clair) but the car started pushing when I stuck my nose in so I would drop back a three or four car-lengths until I could build up a head of steam again,” Hearn noted, who resides in Sussex, New Jersey.
Canadian Larry Lampman Jr., yesterday’s 358-Modified ‘Futures’ winner, settled for the runner-up position 2-seconds behind while Jimmy Phelps, current Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points leader Bicknell and Clair rounded out the top-five under the checkers.
The Pullen Truck Center Twin 20s qualifiers set the stage for the 29th edition of the ‘Salute To The Troops’ 150, the featured race for Small-Block Modifieds on Saturday of Super DIRT Week XXXVII. Following the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series event Friday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, a strong 40-plus car starting field will fill out the grid for the headline event that pays $20,000 to the winner and gets underway at 2 p.m.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVII 358-MODIFIED TWIN 20s @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 10
RACE RESULTS
Pullen's Truck Center Heat #1
FIN CAR# DRIVER
1 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
2 4 Andy Bachetti/Great Barrington,MA
3 19F Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
4 90 Martin Roy/Napierville,QUE
5 42P Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
6 14 Rick Laubach/Hellertown,PA
7 3B Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
8 55J Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
9 99 Mike Adderley/Charlotte,NC
10 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
11 1X Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
12 19 Joe Williams/Scotia,NY
13 72 Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT
14 3 Kim LaVoy/Nassau,NY
15 22 Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
16 4B Dan Burl/East Nassau,NY
17 1NY Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
18 14M Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY
19 44 Casey Swamp/Akwesasne,NY
20 7A Al Blanchard/Fenwick,ONT
21 32C Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
22 76A Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
23 41B Brian Gagliardo/Bethel,PA
24 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
DNS 21 Yan Bussiere/Drummondville,QUE
DNS 19K Paul Kinney/Vernon,NY
DNS 19Z Jessica Zemken/Sprakers,NY
DNS 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
Pullen's Truck Center Heat #2
1 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
2 22L Larry Lampman Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
3 98H Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
5 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
6 83 Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
7 22J Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY
8 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
9 66X Carey Terrance/Hogansburg,NY
10 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
11 220 John Ferrier/Middletown,NY
12 24D Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
13 7star Tim Jones/Sanborn,NY
14 16 Lance Willix/Theresa,NY
15 26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
16 51 Jim VanAnden/Stormville,NY
17 34 Steve Hough/East Greenbush,NY
18 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
19 8 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
20 87 Shawn Donath/S.Onondaga,NY
21 4S Brad Shova/North Bangor,NY
DNS 19L John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
DNS 28P Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY
DNS 17D Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
DNS 73 Alain Boisvert/Pointe-Claire,QUE
DNS 5R Rob Hile/Syracuse,NY
DNS 007 Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
-end-
Coffey & Clair Share ‘Salute To the Troops’ 358 SDW Championship Front Row
The top-six in time trials for the 358 modified feature. L-to-R: Brett Hearn,Larry Lampman Jr., Mario Clair Vic Coffey,Billy Decker, Andy Bachetti. Photo © Jay Fish
Syracuse, NY – October 9, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
The 2008 edition of the ‘Salute To the Troops’ 358-Modified Championship will feature an internationally acclaimed front row as Western New Yorker Vic Coffey and Frenchman Mario Clair will share the top two positions when Saturday’s Super DIRT Week Small-Block finale at the New York State Fairgrounds gets the first green flag.
Coffey, the defending Rite Aid 200 Big-Block Modified Champion on the Syracuse Mile, pocketed $1,000 for winning the Troyer Race Cars Pole Award (32.000 sec.) while reigning overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified titlist Clair collected $500 for grabbing the Troyer Race Cars Outside Pole Award (32.097). Coffey and Clair set fast times in 358-Modified qualifying on Thursday afternoon from a pool of 56 drivers registered to run under the clocks on Qualifying Day.
“You gotta get everything you can in time trials and luckily we had a good day,” remarked Coffey, who sat on the pole in the Super DIRT Week Small-Block finale in 2001 when the top-10 qualifiers redrew for starting spots. Thursday marked the first year he set fast time. “I’m not usually in the front for time trials so I went over to the trailer and forgot about coming here for this deal. I just went over quick to talk about some adjustments on the Big-Block car.”
“You don’t want to drift the car too much out there, keep it going in a straight line. It’s a little dusty getting off turn four and if you get up in it, it just kills your time. I just tried to stay down in the better part of the groove and fortunately it worked out,” added Coffey, who ended Super DIRT Week ’07 on a high note with a Rite Aid 200 victory and opened SDW ’08 with pole position in the 150-Mile 358-Modified main.
Clair was in the third of four groups to take time and quietly posted second-best time, briefly holding the fastest speed until Coffey followed the St-Edmond, Quebec pilot four cars later. “The car is perfect and the Morrison motor is very fast,” said Clair in broken English after becoming the fastest Frenchman in the Small-Block ranks on the Syracuse Mile.
Billy Decker (32.188 sec.) was third quick, Larry Lampman Jr. (32.220) was fourth fastest, while three-time Lebanon valley Speedway Small-Block points king Andy Bachetti (32.268) and defending race winner Brett Hearn (32.281) filled out the top-six.
“That’s all we had , just went out there gave it our all,” said Decker, the Syracuse Small-Block champion in 1991 and 2002, setting fast time once in 2002. “Third isn’t all too bad, still got a pretty decent view when the race starts on Saturday so we’re looking forward to that.”
Canadian invader Lampman was making his first appearance in a 358-Modified ride and capitalized on the union of Miller Motorsports. “We were here in a Sportsman car about 10 years ago so just to be in these guy’s company is pretty humbling. This is the best of the best, I’m looking forward to Saturday. This whole deal is pretty awesome.”
A multi-time qualifier in the Super DIRT Week Small-Block Championship, Bachetti willl start outside row four in Saturday’s 150-lap 358-Modified finale. “I’d probably put the right gears in the car if I could go out again, but it happened to work in our favor today so I guess I can’t bitch too loud,” blared Bachetti, a three-time Lebanon Valley Small-Block points king.
Himself a five-time 358-Mod fast timer on the Moody mile, four-time race winner Hearn was sixth quickest with 56 entries slated to run under the clocks. “It was a good run, last year we timed 10th and still won. So we’re a little better this time. The car’s a little bit loose, track’s a little bit different but I’m happy right now being locked in for Saturday,” Hearn said.
Super DIRT Week XXXVII action continues on Friday afternoon with the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and Pullen’s Truck Center 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval followed immediately by P & M Fabrication/Motorsports Safety Systems Sportsman Time Trials. But that’s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while Cayuga County hosts round no. 4 of the Mr. DIRTcar Street Stock Championship Series.
SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVII 358-MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 9
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 32.000 112.500 32C Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
*$1,000-Troyer Race Cars Pole Award
2 32.097 112.160 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
*$500-Troyer Race cars Outside Pole Award
3 32.188 111.843 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
4 32.220 111.732 22L Larry Lampman Jr./Port Colborne,ONT-f
5 32.268 111.566 4 Andy Bachetti/Great Barrington,MA
6 32.281 111.521 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 32.326 111.365 90 Martin Roy/Napierville,QUE
8 32.396 111.125 98H Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
9 32.506 110.749 19F Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
10 32.538 110.640 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
11 32.580 110.497 14 Rick Laubach/Hellertown,PA
12 32.597 110.440 83 Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
13 32.612 110.389 42P Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
14 32.623 110.352 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
15 32.747 109.934 3B Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
16 32.749 109.927 22J Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY(2)-f
17 32.794 109.776 55J Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
18 32.806 109.736 24D Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
19 32.833 109.646 72 Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT
20 32.839 109.626 220 John Ferrier/Middletown,NY
21 32.857 109.566 21 Yan Bussiere/Drummondville,QUE
22 32.860 109.556 45 Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
23 32.868 109.529 76A Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
24 32.903 109.413 19L John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
25 33.004 109.078 99 Mike Adderley/Charlotte,NC
26 33.114 108.715 8 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
27 33.119 108.699 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
28 33.144 108.617 34 Steve Hough/East Greenbush,NY
29 33.245 108.287 19 Joe Williams/Scotia,NY-f
30 33.274 108.193 66X Carey Terrance/Hogansburg,NY
31 33.336 107.991 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
32 33.371 107.878 51 Jim VanAnden/Stormville,NY-f
33 33.445 107.639 4B Dan Burl/East Nassau,NY-f
34 33.618 107.085 7star Tim Jones/Sanborn,NY
35 33.637 107.025 3 Kim LaVoy/Nassau,NY
36 33.692 106.850 26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
37 33.702 106.819 7A Al Blanchard/Fenwick,ONT
38 33.706 106.806 28P Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY-f
39 33.735 106.714 22 Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
40 33.804 106.496 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
41 33.845 106.367 19K Paul Kinney/Vernon,NY
42 33.881 106.254 17D Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
43 33.907 106.173 19Z Jessica Zemken/Sprakers,NY
44 34.049 105.730 73 Alain Boisvert/Pointe-Claire,QUE
45 34.222 105.195 44 Casey Swamp/Akwesasne,NY-f
46 34.224 105.189 5R Rob Hile/Syracuse,NY-f
47 34.298 104.962 41B Brian Gagliardo/Bethel,PA-f
48 34.306 104.938 4S Brad Shova/North Bangor,NY
49 34.631 103.953 1NY Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY-f
50 34.834 103.347 007 Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
51 -NT- ----- 1X Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
52 -NT- ----- FX1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
53 -NT- ----- 5 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
54 -NT- ----- 14M Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY
55 -NT- ----- 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
56 -NT- ----- 87 Shawn Donath/S.Onondaga,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows; 56 cars entered.
-end-
Tomkins Surprizes Coffey For 1st Career Mr. DIRTcar 358-Mod Win
Gary Tomkins in victory lane following his first career Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Championship Series victory Thursday night at Brewerton Speedway. Photo © G.T. Smith
Brewerton, NY – October 9, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
A pair of late race yellow flags extended the Leaf Racewear 75 an extra nine laps and that was just what Gary Tomkins needed as he grabbed the lead from Vic Coffey with two to go and cruised home for his first career Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Championship Series victory Thursday night at Brewerton Speedway.
Tomkins collected the $3,000 top prize for his first-ever checkered flag during a Super DIRT Week satellite event, with his only other win earned in a Big Block Triple 20 heat race qualifier on the Syracuse Mile in 2004.
“This really pumps up the boys the for the rest of the weekend, its always good to win no matter what happens,” beamed Tomkins, who had already won eight DIRTcar Big Block Modified features at Brewerton where he captured the 2004 track points championship. “I just have to thank Mike Payne, this is his car and his motor and the guys put in a lot overtime to let me come out here and have some fun.”
Tomkins finished second to Coffey in the sixth and final qualifying heat to help sort out the 57-car Small-Block field. With just five laps to go in the scheduled 75-lap main event, Coffey blasted by in his no. 32c Sweeteners Plus/Troyer ride and seemed on his way to a fifth career tour win at the D-Shaped DIRT Demon. But a yellow flag for a stray uke tire on lap 71 followed by another caution for the stalled mount of early leader Brett Hearn on lap 76 forced a lap 83 restart which opened the door for Tomkins’ late race heroics aboard the potent Honeoye Auto Parts no. 84 Bicknell machine.
Pete Bicknell extended his Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified points lead with a third-place finish while Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big Block campaigners Dale Planck and Jimmy Phelps rounded out the front-five. Tomkins mid-week victory also earned him a guaranteed starting position in the 358 Modified Championship scheduled for October 11 of Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds.
Pole-sitter Planck paced the 31-car grid before ninth-place starter Hearn caught the leader on the low side to make the first exchange up front on lap 17. Tomkins was in position to inherit the lead when Holley Hard Luck Award recipient Hearn suffered a flat right-front tire on lap 60 while Planck, Bicknell and Coffey stayed close in pursuit. Coffey rallied past Tomkins on lap 70 yet the final restart proved to be the difference as only a half car-length separated the top two runners at the line.
“I didn’t know if I had enough to get back by Vic. But for some reason, in the beginning of the race it wasn’t very good on restarts yet at the end it really was. My hat’s off to Vic, he drove a heckuva race. I tried giving him room, if I did (pass) I wanted to make sure it was clean. With Brett having a flat tire, that definitely helped because he was a rocket. Don’t know if I would’ve got back by him. I just had to hit the bottom right and I couldn’t do it for a while. This place isn’t easy to drive, towards the end I got enough laps where I could figure out what to do. Then Vic drove by me like I was parked, but restarts won us another race,” Tomkins added.
With the first-place check seemingly tucked away in his back pocket, a disgruntled Coffey watched an almost sure second victory of the season slip out of his grasp as the late race yellows curtailed his best effort.
“Guys have been coming here for a long time, I don’t really know why they gotta come out here and bring 2-3 yellows out the last couple laps,” remarked Coffey, whose lone DIRTcar victory this season came in the Big-Block ranks at Canandaigua (NY) Speedway in June. “I mean you break, go in the pits and stay there. They came back out here and there’s no money in the back. A guy that’s won 6-700 races gotta stop on the race track and bring out another yellow, I don’t understand it but that’s racing I guess. We got jumbled around early in the race and fought our way back, had to go all over the place to do it. But second pretty much sucks right now.”
While a runner-up tally for Coffey was far from acceptable for the Leicester, New York driver, veteran Canadian chauffeur Bicknell from St. Catharines, Ontario was far more content with the show position.
“It was a good run for us, we don’t come here very often so its always a change for me when we do,” said Bicknell, after the two-time overall champion extending his lead in the Mr. DIRTcar title chase to 35 markers over eighth-place finisher Danny O’Brien, who is still in search of his first 358-Modified points crown. “It’s a fun track to race at, sometimes 2-3 wide at times so it was making things pretty interesting.”
“I had to hope I got a good finish for the points, that was the main thing. Vic found a good top and I saw him out there and wondered if I should try it. But Dale (Planck) wasn’t as fast on the restarts and my car was able to get a good jump on those restarts. I found a nice line running low so I just stayed there the rest of the way and here we are,” Bicknell noted.
Racing in the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Championship Series speeds on in round three of the four-race stint scheduled in four days during the annual Super DIRT Week extravaganza in the Salt City. Rolling Wheels Raceway Park continues the rare quadrupleheader Friday, October 10 on the eve of the headline 150-lap Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Championship race slated for Saturday on the Syracuse Mile.
Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Points (thru October 9)
1. Pete Bicknell 836
2. Danny O'Brien 801
3. Chad Brachmann 740
4. Todd Burley 713
5. Larry Wight® 694
6. Carey Terrance 682
7. Mark Smoke 599
8. Lance Willix II 586
9. John Lazore 578
10. Jessica Zemken® 557
2008 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 26 100 Merrittville Speedway Dale Planck
Fri-Aug 1 68 Ransomville Speedway Todd Burley
Thr-Aug 21 100 Mohawk Int’l Raceway Mario Clair
Sun-Aug 31 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway Danny O’Brien
Sat-Sep 12 75 Brockville Ont Speedway Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 13 152 Autodrome Drummond Danny O’Brien
Fri-Sep 19 75 Canandaigua Speedway Jimmy Phelps
Fri-Sep 26 75 Rolling Wheels Raceway Rain-Cancelled
Wed-Oct 8 75 Can-Am Motorsports Park Rain
Thr-Oct 9 84 Brewerton Speedway Gary Tomkins
Fri-Oct 10 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge, NY
Sat-Oct 11 150 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($20,000 to win)
Sat-Oct 18 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY ($7,500 to win)
2008 358-MODIFIED SYRACUSE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
(+)-denotes Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series event.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/QUALIFIER
Sat-Apr 19 Orange County Fair Speedway Brett Hearn
Sat-Apr 26+ Merrittville Speedway Dale Planck
Sat-May 10 Airborne Speedway Patrick Dupree
Fri-May 16 Autodrome Edelweiss Pierre Dagenais
Sat-May 17 Brockville Ontario Speedway Jessica Zemken
Mon-May 19 Merrittville Speedway Larry Lampman Jr.
Fri-May 23 Ransomville Speedway Pete Bicknell
Sat-May 24 Lebanon Valley Speedway Tom Faxon
Sat-May 24 Mohawk Int'l Raceway Tim Fuller
Fri-May 30 Autodrome Granby Kayle Robidoux
Sat-Jun 7 Autodrome Drummond David Hebert
Sat-Jun 21 Lebanon Valley Speedway Kenny Tremont
Sun-Jun 22 Cornwall Motor Speedway Carey Terrance
Sun-Jun 22 Humberstone Speedway Chad Brachmann
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Robbie Krull
Fr-Jul 4 Autodrome Edelweiss Mitchell Jock
Sat-Jul 5 Can-Am Motorsports Park Billy Decker/Larry Wight(9th)
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ontario Speedway B.Decker/Danny O'Brien(9th)
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby B.Hearn/Alain Boisvert(12th)
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond D.Planck/Dany Bilodeau(13th)
Sat-Jul 12 Canandaigua Speedway Todd Burley/Rich Vinson(8th)
Sat-Jul 12 Lebanon Valley Speedway J.R. Heffner
Sat-Jul 19 Autodrome Drummond D.Hebert/Clement Therrien(2nd)
Fri-Jul 18 Ransomville Speedway Todd Burley
Sat-Jul 19 Orange County Fair Speedway Craig Mitchell
Thr-Jul 31 Mohawk Int'l Speedway D.Hebert/Joel Doiron(4th)
Fri-Aug 1+ Ransomville Speedway T.Burley/Scott Kerwin(2nd)
Fri-Aug 1 Autodrome Edelweiss Mario Clair
Sun-Aug 3 Cornwall Motor Speedway D.Planck/Yan Bussiere(5th)
Mon-Aug 4 Merrittville Speedway Jimmy Phelps/Scott Wood(10th)
Wed-Aug 6 Airborne Speedway Martin Roy
Fri-Aug 8 Ohsweken Speedway P.Bicknell/Bill Bleich(2nd)
Sat-Aug 9 Lebanon Valley Speedway Matt Quinn
Sat-Aug 9 Autodrome Drummond K.Robidoux/Francois Bernier(2nd)
Sat-Aug 16 Can-Am Motorsports Park Gary Tomkins/Lance Willix II(14th)
Sat-Aug 16 Orange County Fair Speedway Jerry Higbie
Sun-Aug 17 Cornwall Motor Speedway G.Tomkins/Kyle Dingwall(6th)
Sun-Aug 17 Humberstone Speedway C.Brachmann/Brian Stevens(3rd)
Thr-Aug 21+ Mohawk Int'l Raceway M.Clair/Danny Johnson(2nd)
Sat-Aug 23 Lebanon Valley Speedway Andy Bachetti
Fri-Aug 29 Ransomville Speedway T.Burley/Jeff McGinnis(5th)
Sat-Aug 30 Orange County Fair Speedway Tommy Meier
Sat-Aug 30 Merrittville Speedway L.Lampman,Jr./Tim Jones(6th)
Sat-Aug 30 Mohawk Int'l Raceway John Lazore
Sat-Aug 30 Airborne Speedway P.Dupree/Mark Lamberton(2nd)
Sun-Aug 31+ Cornwall Motor Speedway D.O'Brien/Laurent Ladouceur(3rd)
Mon-Sep 1 Northern Region Champion Kayle Robidoux
Mon-Sep 1 Eastern Region Champion Jerry Higbie
Mon-Sep 1 Western Region Champion Pete Bicknell
Fri-Sep 5 Autodrome Granby M.Clair/Frederic Gamache(6th)
Sat-Sep 7 Lebanon Valley Speedway(2) Corey Sandstedt, Ray Hoard(11th)
Sat-Sep 7 Lebanon Valley Speedway(2) Art Collins, Kale Groff(9th)
Sat-Sep 13+ Autodrome Drummond(2) D.O’Brien/Pat O’Brien(2nd), Sebastien Gougeon(3rd)
Fri-Sep 19+ Canandaigua Speedway Jimmy Phelps
Sun-Sep 21 Airborne Speedway K.Tremont/Mike Bruno(2nd)
Sat-Oct 4 Fulton Speedway D.Johnson/Pat Ward(3rd)
Thr-Oct 9+ Brewerton Speedway Gary Tomkins
Fri-Oct 10+ Rolling Wheels Raceway Park Elbridge,NY
Sat-Oct 11+ New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Mr. DIRTcar 358 Modified Championship Series
Race #7
Brewerton Speedway
October 9, 2008
Event Summary
Feature
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 3 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY($3,000)
2 6 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
3 5 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
4 1 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
5 10 99j Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville, NY
6 7 66x Carey Terrance/Akwesasne,NY
7 15 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
8 19 17d Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
9 14 b2 Bob Henry Jr./Clay,NY
10 30 74 Frederic Gamache/Granby,QUE
11 28 3b Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
12 21 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
13 17 124 Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE
14 26 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
15 12 39 Clement Therrien/Victoriaville,QUE
16 13 72t Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT®
17 16 13 Greg Monica/North Bangor,NY
18 24 19z Jessica Zemken/Sprakers,NY
19 31 88k Randy Chrysler/Tuscarora,NY
20 18 23 Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
21 9 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
22 25 19L John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
23 2 38 Scott Wood/Thorold,ONT
24 8 15j Tim Jones/Sanborn,NY
25 20 16 Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
26 23 22 Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
27 27 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
28 4 5 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
29 11 124m Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
30 22 1j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
31 29 66w Wallace Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Planck (1-16), Hearn (17-59), Tomkins (60-69), Coffey (70-82), Tomkins (83-84).
CAUTIONS: 10 for 30 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: Wood, Hearn, Bicknell, D.Planck, Jones, Coffey.
CONSI WINNERS: D.O'Brien, Willix.
SYRACUSE 150 QUALIFIER: Gary Tomkins.
HALFWAY LEADER: Brett Hearn.
CARS ENTERED: 57.
NEXT EVENT: Rolling Wheels Raceway Park - October 10, 2008.
DID NOT QUALIFY(26)
007-Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
1-Rick Rogala/Syracuse,NY
5h-Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
8-Tim O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
8jr.-J.R. Crouse/Nazareth,PA
9jr.-Travis Braun/Jordan Station,ONT
11-Bob Broomfield/Youngstown,NY
12-Brian Sage/Brockport,NY
14-Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY®
16x-Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
17-Ryan Grim/Laurys Station,PA
17c-Pete Cosco/St.Catharines,ONT
19f-Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
55j-Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
Sixty-Bill Gill/Plessis,NY
66d-Dexter Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE
72-Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
73-Alain Boisvert/Pointe-Claire,QUE
77-Steve Planck/Cortland,NY
82s-Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
90-Martin Roy/Napierville,QUE
94-Ray Hoard/Granville,NY
m96-Brian McDonald/Cornwall,ONT
97-Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile de Milton,QUE
112b-Dave Baranowski Jr./Valley Falls,NY
117-Alex Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
Heat Races (10 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature, top 2 went to re-draw)
#1: Wood, Terrance, Flannigan, S.Planck, Chrysler, McDonald, Grim, Hoard, Fuller.
#2: Hearn, Burley, Henry, D.O’Brien, Zemken, Wight, Smoke, Bates, Tonkin, Hile.
#3: Bicknell, Phelps, Vauter, Clair, Cosco, Rogala, Lamb, Brachmann, Braun.
#4: D.Planck, Therrien, Monica, Shields, W.Stacey, Jock, Crouse, T.O’Brien, Boisvert.
#5: Jones, McCreadie, Dagenais, Tarbell, Chicoine, Broomfield, Roy, D.Stacey, Lazore.
#6: Coffey, Tomkins, Lampman, A.Johnson, Willix, Creeden, Gamache, Gill, Baranowski, Sage.
Consolation Round (10 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: S.Planck (DSQ), D.O’Brien, Bates, Clair, Chrysler, Zemken, Fuller, D.Johnson, McDonald, Grim, Wight, Hoard, Braun, Tonkin, Smoke, Rogala, Brachmann, Cosco, Lamb (DNS).
#2: Willix, A.Johnson, W.Stacey, Gamache, Shields, Creeden, T.O’Brien, Boisvert, Tarbell, Lazore, Sage, Broomfield, Gill, Chicoine, Crouse, Baranowski, Jock, Roy (DNS), D.Stacey (DNS).
Guarantees: Clair, Zemken, Lazore, Wight, Smoke, Brachmann.
Provisionals: W.Stacey, Gamache, Chrysler.
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Mother Nature Hampers Racing Activity at Can-Am
LaFargeville NY… Mother Nature has once again reeked havoc on North Country Racing. Caprara’s Can-Am Motorsports Park was forced to cancel their Super DIRT Week event show on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. The nights racing action was to feature the Mr. DIRT 358 Modifieds, Mr. DIRT Sportsman, and the IMCA Empire State Series. Just as racing action was set to begin rain started to sprinkle lightly on the racing surface creating slick conditions; the rain then fell harder prompting speedway officials to cancel the nights racing event.
“We did everything possible to get this race in,” stated Chip Burdick. “We had drivers out packing the speedway along with our packer trucks. We kept trying to work in the track hoping that the rain would let up. It’s really unfortunate because Super DIRT Week is so important and we are so honored to be apart of it. Luckily we were able to have a rain date so we will get this show in.”
The rain date for this event is Saturday, September 25, 2008. The event will have a 4pm start time. Pit gates will open at 1pm with the grandstands set to open at 2pm. Rain checks will be honored for the event. The DIRT 358 Modified and DIRT Sportsman’s will be back in action to compete in their 75 lap and 30 lap feature events.
A complete recap on the 2008 season along with any information on the upcoming 2009 racing season at Caprara’s Can-Am can be found at www.canammotorsports.com or by contacting Chip Burdick at (315) 778- 3407.
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AWARDS BANQUET SET TO CLOSE OUT 2008 UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY ON NOVEMBER 8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VERNON, NY- On Saturday November 8, the Utica-Rome Speedway will host its final event of the 2008 season, and instead of being held at the familiar Vernon oval, this event will take place just minutes down the road at the beautiful Turning Stone Casino and Resort. Festivities are set to begin at 6 p.m.
The top ten in the 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Pure Stocks will be recognized for their efforts throughout the season along with special awards in each division after the Appalachian Buffet which begins at 7 p.m.
In the 358-Modifieds, Pat Ward will collect his $8,000 check20for his fantastic season at the Utica-Rome Speedway. Ward had eight wins en route to his first career championship at the “Action Track of the East.” Other 358-Modified drivers getting honored will be two-time champion Willy Decker, 2008 New Yorker 200 champion Bobby Varin, defending champion Stewart Friesen, former champion Mitch Gibbs, Paul Kinney, Jamie Christian, Jim Davis, Ted Lamb, and Paul Jensen.
Four time winner Brad Alger will be honored for his first ever Sportsman championship at the Vernon oval, as he held off the late season efforts of runner up Matt Janczuk for the title. Along with Alger and Janczuk, the rest of the top ten to be recognized include Jeremy Vunk, Jason Rood, Steve Way, Jeff Leslie, Tim Nye, Jim Rothwell, Mike Button, and Jack Miller.
The Pro Stocks saw Jim Normoyle net his first ever Utica-Rome title on the streng th of three wins and frequent top five finishes. Other Pro Stock drivers to put in the spotlight on this evening for their efforts include Rob Seavy, Tom Denton, Bret Belden, Bill Knapp, Shawn Frost, Mark Effner, Ed Ostrander, AJ Digsby, and Dave Moyer.
Despite having only two wins to Russ Marsden’s seven, Chris Carr was able to garner enough points to break Marsden’s four year streak as Pure Stock champion, his first ever championship. Following Carr and Marsden in the standings and getting a chance to walk across the stage to collect their trophy and point money include Ron Hawker, Phil Norman, Tim Janczuk, Frank Hyatt, Chris Cunningham, Waylan Wilczek, Cale Hoffman, and Bill Mason.
Tire money will also be distributed during the evening, and anyone who is due money from tire purchases must be be present at the banquet to collect it.
This event is open to anyone who wishes to attend and tickets must be purchased by October 31. Tickets are priced at $30 each and are available by contacting Connie Plows at (315) 822-6347 or (315) 404-0977, Barb Clark at (315) 725-5709 or (315) 829-4557, or Brenda Belden (315) 855 -7688.
Hotel accommodations at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort are available by calling 1-800-771-7711 and please mention that you are with Utica-Rome Speedway LLC.
Formal attire is requested for all attendees.
The official website for the Utica-Rome Speedway is www.uticaromespeedway.com, and it is where you can keep up to date on all the latest news from the “Action Track of the East”. For more information, please call the speedway office at (315) 829-4557.
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WOODHULL RACEWAY EXTENDS RACE SEASON TO OCTOBER 18, 2008.
Woodhull, NY-- After successfully completing the regular 2008 season as well as the originally scheduled post season specials events format, Woodhull Raceway owner, Vern Wasson has decided to extend the season one additional week.
“I told the drivers and fans a couple of weeks ago that if the attendance figures and car counts stayed healthy that I would extend the season one more week to October 18. I wanted to see how things went on Oct. 4 before making my decision and I was satisfied enough to keep the gates open one extra week.” That according to Wasson.
Plans for the October 18 event call for an abbreviated number of classes and an earlier than normal gate and start time to get fans and racers on the road home at a descent hour.
Classes that will compete will include the Woodhull Crate Sportsman/Open Sportsman Division, 360 Late Models, Open Street Stocks and Open Mini Stocks.
Gates for the October 18 show will open at 2:00 pm with racing at 4:00 pm.
Adult General Admission tickets will be $10 per person with Pit entry set at $25.
For rules, directions to the speedway, contact phone numbers or any other additional including the Woodhull Raceway Report weekly audio cast simply log on at www.woodhullraceway.com.
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CLOSEST POINT BATTLE IN T3 ALL STAR SERIES HISTORY WILL WRAP UP AT THE WOODHULL RACEWAY ON SATURDAY, OCT. 11, 2008.
Woodhull, NY--The T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars will wrap up the 2008 season on the high banks of the Woodhull Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008.
Heading into the season finale, 25 year old Tinoa, Pa. speedster, Jimmy Holden holds a slim 9 point advantage over the three time and defending series champion, Billy VanPelt.
Five other drivers are easily within striking distance of both Holden and VanPelt as Brad Rapp is just 13 points behind Holden, Bryan Terwilliger is 14 back, Dale Welty 15 markers behind the point leader Mark Frankhouser 23 and even Ray Bliss at 24 points in arears has a legitimate shot at the title.
Holden will have his hands full as he has never raced at the Woodhull Raceway. Rapp and Frankhouser have limited seat time on the high banked one-third of a mile clay oval; however Terwilliger, Welty and Bliss all have experience making Woodhull their weekly Saturday night race venue. Billy VanPelt is the winningest driver in the history of Woodhull and seems to have the edge in experience; however both Holden and Rapp have held their ground at virtually every track the T3 All Star Series has traveled to in 2008.
In his past three T3 Championship runs, Billy VanPelt has been in good position at the season finale basically only having to start the feature events. In 2006 he had the title sown up before even unloading for the final event of the season, but in both 2005 and 2007 he had to at least make the final feature to secure the championship. 08 is something different for Billy the Kid as he has never trailed entering the season finale and it is a sure bet that his Ted White owned #2v will be well prepared for the Oct. 11 Lyle Sherwood Memorial event at Woodhull.
Both Holden, Rapp and Frankhouser race in the central and western region of Pennsylvania as well as eastern Ohio against tough big and small block competitors. VanPelt has a million laps and over 100 feature wins under his belt at Woodhull. Terwilliger, Welty and Bliss are no slouches on the tough high banked one-third of a mile clay oval at Woodhull. Bliss is a former DIRT Big Block Modified winner, Welty has won in everything with wheels and Terwilliger is the youngest of the group at the age of twenty and fears no evil.
According to the promotional team of the T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars, “We couldn’t have scripted it any better. Unfortunately the six events that make-up the series in 2008 is the shortest schedule in our four year history. We lost one due to rain and another because of a tracks financial situation. However, this tight point battle will give the racers and the fans something to get juiced up about when we go to Woodhull on Oct. 11. Lyle Sherwood would be really proud; he loved situations like this.”
In addition to the before mentioned T3 All Star Series regulars that will be competing at Woodhull Ron White, Ray Dann, Curt VanPelt and Chris Clark are all engaged in a tight point battle themselves to get into the top ten in the final point standings. White has been in the top ten every year since 2006; however Dann, VanPelt and Clark are all vying for a point paycheck at the completion of the Woodhull event.
For more information about the T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars including the current point standings simply log on at www.t3allstarseries.com.
The T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars is a presentation of Promotions and Consulting LLC. In addition to Troyer Race Cars of Rochester, NY the following companies are also involved with the series as marketing partners.
Swarthout Recycling, Morollo Racing Engines, L.J. Kennedy Trucking, SUZUKI Motorcycles and ATV’s, Wilkins RV of Bath, VP Racing Fuels, Lias American Racer Tires, Insinger Race Fuels, Dewert Speed, Red’s Speed Shop, Genesis Shocks, Signs Plus of Kanona, ISC Racers Tape, Addison Farm Supply, S&W Awards, Photos and Printing, Leaf Racewear, Calaman’s Radiator, Gater Racing News, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Bob Hilbert Sportswear.
Host tracks in 2008 include; The Woodhull Raceway, Little Valley Speedway, Mercer Raceway Park, 5 Mile Point Speedway and Thunder Mountain Speedway.
2008 winners include, Brian Weaver (5 Mile Point), Billy Decker (Thunder Mountain), Billy VanPelt (Little Valley both events) and Frank Guidace (Mercer)
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RAIN PERSISTS ON DAY 2 AS BIG DIAMOND IS FORCED TO CANCEL DIAMOND NATIONALS....By Chris Budihas
Forestville, PA – September 28, 2008- Constant overnight and morning precipitation in the surrounding areas of Big Diamond Raceway has force BDR management to cancel Sunday's portion of the Diamond Nationals making the 2008 version a total washout.
" What can I say, we were optimistic going into this weekend and even following Saturday's cancellation but the rain just won't move out of the area. My partners and I couldn't even see where today was going to become better as the day went on, we are very disappointed as the interest was running so high for this event." commented track partner Buddy Biever.
Plans will be made for a date the weekend of March 27-29, 2009 for the Coalcracker 50 for Sportsman, Roadrunners, and Big Block or 358 Modifieds.
The next and final event on the BDR schedule is the INEX Legends Car Dirt Nationals Weekend to be held at Big Diamond Raceway October 9-11 as well as the finale of the Nutty Buddy Enduro series.
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GUIDACE'S DREAM SEASON CONTINUES WITH $2K T3 MOD WIN AT MERCER
By Mike Leone
September 27, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Mercer, PA)…Mercer Raceway Park concluded the ninth annual "Little Guy Nationals" presented by American Racer/Lias Tire on Saturday night as 134 cars filled the pit area. Despite rain in the forecast all weekend, which has been the story of 2008, rain stayed just to the east and south and didn't fall until just minutes after the final checkered flag waved.
It's been a dream season for Frank Guidace. The 2006 Modified Champion won his second title this season with two wins as well a successful Late Model debut, which included that FASTRAK championship too along with four wins. Saturday night, Guidace won his biggest race of the season capturing the 30-lap, $2,000 to-win T3 All-Star Modified Tire Express feature for his third Modified victory of 2008.
"This thing was on a rail from the beginning of the evening," acknowledged the Mercer, Pa. racer. "I really appreciate what
everyone did for me down in the pit area and Carlin Hine, Troyer Chassis, and Shadow Racing Products. Troyer sponsors this series so this is a big win for them. Troyer is a great car. I've done well with this car. I have to take my hat off to my crew. We were in line getting ready to go out and they started watering the track. I backed out of the way and had them change the gear- definitely the move of the race. I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the last practice. I had a vibration so I came down to shake it out for this race. I found a broken yoke in the drive train and we would have definitely broke that tonight."
2001 "Little Guy Nationals" winner, Mike Stine, drew the pole position and raced to the early lead with Ray Bliss, Jr. and fourth starting Guidace in tow. Following a restart with two laps completed, Lonny Riggs passed both Gary Smoker and Guidace for third. Stine continued to lead as the laps ticked off. By lap 10, Stine entered lapped traffic with a half-straightaway lead. Guidace got back into contention passing Riggs in traffic for third on lap 13 then one lap later went to the outside of Bliss in turn four in heavy traffic to take second.
Three cautions slowed action between laps 14-19. Under the second caution with 19 laps completed, Stine's left rear tire began losing air. On the ensuing restart, Guidace took over. Stine would exit the track on lap 21 as Bliss regained second. A nasty accident occurred on lap 22 when Garrett Krummert got into the rear of Bliss. The contact sent Krummert back across the track and ensued a 13-car pile-up with Ron Cartwright, Jr. taking a nasty series of flips. All of the drivers were okay, but the same couldn't be said for many of the cars.
After the lengthy clean-up, the last nine laps went non-stop with Guidace backing up his 2006 victory in the event. Guidace's seventh overall win of the season, ninth in his career in the division, and 19th overall at the track came in his G&G Auto #1G. Bliss, a T3 regular, was second for his best ever Mercer finish. Eric Gabany was third over 21st starting Jimmy Holden and last year's winner, Billy VanPelt. Sixth through tenth were 18th starting Brad Rapp, 22nd starting Bryan Terwilliger, Stine, Dale Welty, and Mike Turner. Heat winners over the season-high 33-car field were Gabany, Guidace, Bliss, and Stine. The two B mains went to Holden and Terwilliger.
T3 All-Star Tire Express (358) Modifieds (30 laps, $2,000): 1. FRANK GUIDACE, 2. Ray Bliss Jr., 3. Eric Gabany, 4. Jimmy Holden, 5. Billy VanPelt, 6. Brad Rapp, 7. Bryan Terwilliger, 8. Mike Stine, 9. Dale Welty, 10. Mike Turner, 11. Mark Frankhouser, 12. Ray Dann, 13. Kevin Green, 14. Garrett Krummert, 15. Gary Smoker, 16. Lonny Riggs, 17. Ron Cartwright Jr., 18. Ron White, 19. Curt VanPelt, 20. John Buchanan, 21. Travis Shingledecker, 22. Tom Holden, 23. Rich Whitney, 24. Tim Guild, 25. Jarred Keeney, 26. Jeff Schaffer.
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Can-Am Motorsports Park to be Part of SDW 2008
La Fargeville NY… Caprara’s Can-Am Motorsports Park will complete their 2008 season on Wednesday, October 8th with the Mr. DIRT 358 Modified Super DIRT Series. The event will be part of Super DIRT Week 2008. Joining the Mr. DIRT 358 Modified Super DIRT Series which will host a 75 lap event will be the Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series and the Empire State IMCA Series Race.
“Super DIRT Week is the most prestigious year all season,” commented Chip Burdick. “Can-Am is truly honored to be part of such a great race week. We have had a great race track all season and have truly had a great season at Can-Am. It’s nice to finish the 2008 season on a high note.”
SUNY Canton, who has sponsored the SUNY Canton Street Stock Series and the SUNY Canton/M.R. Gaebel Sportsman Shootout has added an extra twist for Sportsman drivers. The first Can-Am regular to cross the start finish line will pick up $400. The Mr. DIRT Sportsman Series will race a 30 lap feature event with the winner taking home $1,000. The Empire State IMCA Series will race for $500 to win.
General Admission to the event is $20 for adults, $5 for children ages 10 to 14 and 9 and under are always free. The pit gates will open at 4:30pm with general admission gates opening at 5. Racing begins promptly at 7pm. As always, Canadian money is taken at Par. Military can also receive a half price admission in the grandstands with Military ID.
A complete recap of the 2008 season or upcoming information on the 2009 season at Can-Am can be found at www.canammotorsports.com or by contacting Chip Burdick at (315) 778- 3407. Caprara’s Can-Am is located on Route 411, at Exit 49 off Interstate 81. Questions on race day can be answered at (315) 658-4431.
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MOTHER NATURE CANCELS SATURDAY’S PORTION OF THE DIAMOND NATIONALS, COALCRACKER 50 TO RUN SUNDAY…By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA – September 27, 2008 – Rain showers moved into the area Friday and continued to haunt the confines of Big Diamond Raceway. Therefore, BDR officials were forced to cancel Saturday’s portion of the Landis C. Deck Diamond Nationals.
"The weather that is forecast for today we believe would have had it's good moments, but for teams and fans to travel and then run the program in between cloud bursts would have made it for a long damp evening." commented BDR's Buddy Biever.
The third annual Diamond Nationals will become a one-day affair (the same occurrence took place in 2006 due to Mother Nature). Please note the special starting times for Sunday September 28. Gates open at 12:30PM with hot laps slated for 3:00PM.
After suffering a pair of rain outs, the Coalcracker 50 for Sportsman ($2000 to win) will be contested on Sunday. The open comp 358 Small Block Modifieds battle in a 50-lap main event paying $5000 to the winning competitor. The Roadrunners have a huge show as they compete in a 25-lap feature, with a winning check of $750. The Roadrunner event is open competition, headers and 4 barrel carbs.
At the present time, there is no rain date for ARDC Midgets and Big Block Modifieds. If their schedule allows, a date in 2009 might be chosen.
Sunday costs are $20 to the stands and $30 for the pits each day.
For rules or questions, competitors may call the speedway office at 570-385-0744 or check the track’s official website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com . For race day info, the track hotline is 570-544-1410.
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First photo of Troyer Chassis on track in V8 Dirt Modified action in Australia. Photo © Ben Graham
WOODHULL RELEASES PLANS FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL FALL SHOOTOUT PRESENTED BY BULLY HILL VINEYARDS.
Big Block/Small Block show to high light Oct. 4 event.
Schedule change moves the season finale to October 11 featuring the T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars. The event will be known as the Lyle Sherwood Memorial co-sponsored by Dewert Speed of Corning
Both events presented by Bully Hill Vineyards of Hammondsport.
Woodhull, NY--Woodhull Raceway owner, Vern Wasson has laid out his plan of attack for the Third Annual Fall Shootout. This year’s event was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, 2008, however the prestigious event will now be held on two separate Saturday’s starting with a Big Block/Small Block event on October 4 and the season finale on Saturday, October 11 featuring the T3 All Star Series 358 Modifieds.
“Over the past two years we have tinkered with this season ending event to see what is the best package for the fans and racers. In 06 we had all of our qualifying heat events on Friday followed with consolation and feature events on Saturday. In 2007 we went to a three day format keeping each day separate with one premier class each day accompanied by several support divisions. After re-evaluating what we’ve done in the past coupled with today’s economy I’ve decided to make this year’s event two separate one day, blockbuster shows.” That according to Wasson.
Saturday, October 4 will be the date for the $2,000 to win Big Block/Small Block event. They will be accompanied by the Crate Sportsman/DIRT Sportsman, 360 Late Models, Open Street Stock and Open Mini Stock Classes.
“Last year we ran a BB/SB challenge event with a great turn out of cars. This year’s event should be no exception, stated Wasson. Our Crate Sportsman Division bolsters a huge weekly car count as does our 360 Late Model class. There is no reason not to include those two divisions as part of the Oct. 4 event. The Street and Mini Stock classes have very impressive numbers each and every week and they will round out the Five Star attraction. We will go with a more open set of rules for the Street and Mini Stock classes for those outside racers that do want to travel to Woodhull for the Oct. 4 event. The 360 Late Models will be governed by the 2008 Woodhull Raceway rules and the 2008 Woodhull Crate Sportsman as well as the 2008 DIRT Sportsman rules will apply for Sportsman event.
Ticket prices for the Oct. 4 show are set at $16 for Adult General Admission Grandstand Seating and $25 Pit Admission.
The following week on Saturday, October 11 it will be the Fall Shootout for the T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars. The 35 lap $1500 to win, $150 to take the green event will headline the night of action. Because of rain on Sept. 13 which postponed the Annual Lyle Sherwood Memorial event, the Oct. 11 T3 event will now be known as the Lyle Sherwood Memorial sponsored by Dewert Speed of Corning along with Bully Hill Vineyards. The Crate Sportsman/DIRT Sportsman will see action along with a complete show of Open Street, Open Mini Stock and Open FWD classes.
Adult ticket pricing is set at $14 with Pit Admission at $25 for the October 11 event. The current T3 All Star Series rules govern the 358 event while the 2008 Woodhull Crate Sportsman and 08 DIRT Sportsman rules will be in effect for the Sportsman event.
“With the economic downturn that we’ve seen in 2008 it has most certainly had an effect on local short track racing. With a two or three day deal it compounds the problem more for the paying public and race teams having to shell out even more in admission fees on a single weekend plus overnight accommodations. By going to two separate one day events we can cover all the bases and keep costs down for everyone. Perhaps when the economy does recover we can reevaluate things and go back to a multiple day format. That is yet to be seen.”
A basic set of rules for the Open Street, Mini and FWD classes are on the track web site
For more information simply log on at www.woodhullraceway.com.
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T3 358 modified points- Unofficial as of 9/21
1. Jimmy Holden 181
2. Billy VanPelt 173
3. Dale Welty 171
4. Brad Rapp 170
4. Bryan Terwilliger 170
6. Mark Frankhouser 165
7. Ron White 163
8. Ray Bliss Jr. 155
9. Chris Clark 144
10. Curt VanPelt 121
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T3 ALL STAR SERIES FOR 358 MODIFIEDS PRESENTED BY TROYER RACE CARS
Race Results
Little Valley Speedway
Event #4
Sept. 20, 2008
Cars in attendance, 38
Feature: Billy VanPelt, Greg Galligan, Chad Brachman, Ron White, Robby Krull, Frank Dunning, Todd Burley, Jimmy Holden, Ron Cartwright Jr., Travis Cunningham, Chris Steele, Kevin Chilson, Bryan Terwilliger, Travis Braun, Mark Frankhouser, Tim Jones, Ray Dann, Chris Ostrowski, Ray Bliss Jr., Bryan Doolittle, George Bosse, Brad Rapp, Scott Wood, Dale Welty, Chris Clark, Curt VanPelt.
Make-up feature from July 3: Billy VanPelt, Curt VanPelt, Jimmy Holden, Brad Rapp, Greg Galligan, Ray Bliss Jr., Chris Clark, Dale Welty, Bryan Terwilliger, Tim Jones, Ray Dann, Scott George, Mark Frankhouser, Dave Dubois, Ron White, Frank Dunning, Shane Jones, Ken Peoples Jr.
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Phelps Fends Off Fuller To Capture 1st Career Mr. DIRTcar 358-Mod Win
Canandaigua, NY – September 19, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director
Friday night’s Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified main at Canandaigua Speedway came down to a contest on neutral ground between Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified standout Jimmy Phelps and current World of Outlaws Late Model Series star Tim Fuller.
The rough and tumble affair needed all 75 laps to determine a winner as Phelps traded the point with Fuller twice over the final two circuits to emerge victorious for the first time in a DIRTcar Racing 358-Modified Championship race.
“Timmy was awfully good there at the end, fortunately the lapped cars fell my way and I was able to hold him off,” said Phelps, 33, after edging Fuller by .272-seconds in the closest finish during the opening six rounds of the 12-race series that is scheduled to conclude at Orange County Fair Speedway in October. Already a four-time Big-Block winner in ’08, Phelps’10th career DIRTcar Small-Block feature victory was his biggest ever and worth $3,000.
“The track was so narrow tonight, all those yellows (11) probably didn’t give the guys much time to get moving. We had the luck tonight, fortunately we had the car to back it up. I have to thank everybody that helped get us here and for doing a great job tonight,” remarked Phelps, after making his 2008 Small-Block DIRTcar debut aboard the J&B Installations no. 99J Town Mechanical/Troyer entry a successful one.
Chasing Phelps and Fuller across the line were 358-Modified tour opening day winner Dale Planck, home track regular Gary Tomkins and current tour points runner-up Danny O’Brien, after a late-race rally netted the second-generation traveler from Kingston, Ontario a front-five spot.
Phelps finished third in the fourth and final qualifying heat and the pole-position awaited the Baldwinsville, New York chauffeur as he was the last driver standing in the customary pre-race draw that sorted out the top-six rows. From there the B’Ville Blizzard blasted out front of the 31-car field and survived numerous slowdowns as the ultra-tacky Ontario County Fairgrounds’ half-miler took its toll on the invading teams.
The first caution on lap four included reigning Mr. DIRTcar 358 Champion Mario Clair in the five-car melee that jammed the track in turn four. Fuller’s car owner John Lazore looped at the end of the back straightaway on lap eight and on the ensuing restart another turn four pile-up involved a handful of cars resulting in Vic Coffey and Jessica Zemken locking together against the inside retaining wall.
With a dozen laps in the books, Big-Block veterans Phelps, Tomkins, Planck, recently crowned Canandaigua points champion Steve Paine and Fuller were already racing at the head of the class leaving the top 358-Modified regulars to battle among themselves. When perennial favorite Brett Hearn slowed on the back stretch for a flat tire on lap 14, caution laps began to count although the ‘Corporate Jet’ rejoined the back of the pack without going down.
While working their way through the top-10, O’Brien and Chad Brachmann made contact to incur the eighth slowdown on lap 33. Fuller took advantage to nose ahead of Phelps for a narrow lead on the lap 38 restart yet Phelps regained the momentum on the high side and returned to the point the following circuit to set the stage for a dramatic duel that continued non-stop the last half of the race.
The 11th and final yellow flag unfurled on lap 61 when Coffey looped high exiting turn one as he diced with Danny Johnson in their attempt to reach the front-five. Coffey showed his displeasure with the Johnson, ramming him repeatedly under caution with a black flag sending him to the pits for the remainder of the event.
Green lights were back on for the lap 65 restart giving Phelps and Fuller a clear track ahead to determine the final outcome. Yet that window only lasted eight laps as the leaders reached traffic on the lap 73, with Phelps caught behind Dave Rauscher as the front-runners looked for an open lane exiting turn two.
Steering the JL Motorsports no. 19 Street Wise Fight Gear/TEO machine, Fuller dove deep to cross the line ahead by a half car-length with one lap to go but Phelps never paused, riding the high side to perfection in turns one and two to regain the lead and wrap-up opening day activities of Labatt Blue Weekend in dramatic fashion.
“The top got so slippery right up to that berm, I just couldn’t carry the speed there that I did earlier in the race,” remarked Phelps, as he put his name in the ‘Land of Legends’ record book following a torrid battle with Fuller, who scored his lone win at Canandaigua in 2001 when he competed every Saturday in a Big-Block.
“I knew (Tim) was probably a little better than I was on the bottom, but like I said, the lapped cars and traffic helped me out a ton. We did what we had to do, we had a free enough car to run up high real hard most of the race. It might have been a tad too free there at the end but it all worked out. We just better have some pretty good shocks on the car tomorrow,” added Phelps, eluding to his return to the fairgrounds on Saturday for the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Labatt Blue 100 for Big-Block Modifieds.
Making his first appearance on the Mr. DIRTcar 358 Championship trail this season, native Edwards, New Yorker Fuller will also be contending in Canandaigua’s Big-Block season-finale on Saturday, once again teaming up with John Lazore for the century run.
“I run out of laps tonight, (Jimmy) was real good. If the track had been a little bit rougher maybe we would have had something for him,” remarked Fuller, 40, revealing a hint of sarcasm and momentarily shunning his roots that include a pair of overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championships (1993, 2003) which remain forever imbedded in Northeastern soil. “It was really a great race. Jimmy ran a great race and did exactly what he had to do and stayed on the top. We had a good side-by-side battle going there for awhile. He did a good job and it was pretty good to stay up front on this type of track.”
Enjoying possibly the best view in the house over the final circuits, Planck was content with his third-place showing as he sported his familiar RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO colors for the first time in Small-Block competition this season.
“This is a brand new car tonight and what you’ll see me in the rest of the year after wrecking the 66 car at Drummond,” divulged Planck, 38, who currently stands second on the points chart in the Advance Series for Big-Blocks. “It worked super right out of the box, we just have to tweak it a little bit and get a little better on those starts.”
“We were just as good as anybody out there at the end, I’m still happy to come home third. The car was good, just lacked that little bit coming off the corners and on the restarts. Don’t know if it was the gears or what. I’ll try to be back here and talk with you more about it tomorrow. The track’s a little choppy so I’ll just try to make the right choices throughout the night and end up here again,” added Planck, who like Phelps was winless at Canandaigua coming into the weekend and the popular Cortland, New York pilot hopes to break the ice on Saturday when the curtain drops on the 2008 race season at Canandaigua Speedway.
Teams chasing points towards the overall Hoosier Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series return to action next week as DIRTcar Racing NorthEast charter member Rolling Wheels Raceway Park hosts round number seven of the 2008 tour on Friday, September 26 as part of the 22nd World Series Weekend.
Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Race #6 – Canandaigua Speedway, September 19, 2008 ‘Labatt Blue Light 75’ Event Summary
Feature
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 99j Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville, NY($3,000)
2 3 19f Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
3 4 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
4 8 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
5 18 17d Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
6 12 55j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
7 5 3b Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
8 16 66x Carey Terrance/Akwesasne,NY
9 22 4* Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
10 6 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
11 24 93 Rich Vinson/Sanborn,NY
12 28 19L John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
13 23 42 Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
14 21 007 Roy Tarbell/Hogansburg,NY
15 20 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
16 26 55 Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
17 15 22w Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
18 19 22 Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
19 30 19z Jessica Zemken/Sprakers,NY
20 2 80 Chris Steele/Fenwick,ONT
21 14 19k Joe Kubiniec/Lockport,NY
22 13 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
23 7 26 Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
24 31 22c Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
25 9 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
26 11 97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile de Milton,QUE
27 10 5 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
28 17 2b Ron Cartwright Jr./Portageville,NY
29 29 72 Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT®
30 27 14 Mitchell Jock/Akwesasne,NY®
31 25 9 Mark Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
EVENT SUMMARY:
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Phelps (1-37), Fuller (38), Phelps (39-73), Fuller (74), Phelps (75).
CAUTIONS: 11 for 30 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: Planck, Burley, Richner, Coffey.
CONSI WINNERS: Tarbell, Hearn.
SYRACUSE 150 QUALIFIER: Jimmy Phelps.
Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Points (thru Sept. 19)
1. Pete Bicknell 746
2. Danny O'Brien 733
3. Chad Brachmann 680
4. Todd Burley 673
5. Larry Wight® 640
6. Carey Terrance 606
7. Mark Smoke 559
8. Lance Willix II 546
9. John Lazore 536
10. Jessica Zemken® 511
SKIDMARKS
O’Brien On The Attack: Fresh off his $15,000 Mr. DIRTcar 358 triumph last Saturday at Autodrome Drummond, Danny O’Brien nailed down another top-five in a rare Small-Block appearance at the venerable Ontario County Fairgrounds oval. He left wine country Friday cutting Series points leader Pete Bicknell’s advantage to just 13 markers with six races still to go. “We started the season the same way we’re ending it, taking every race one at a time,” said O’Brien, the only repeat winner on this year’s Small-Block tour. “Our funds are still limited so we’ll keep going as long as we can keep finishing near the front and avoid any major mishaps. So far, we’ve done better than expected with this three year-old car. There’s a few people pitching in (money) so our plans are to finish out the season at all the big DIRT shows.” While older brother Pat O’Brien is a four-time overall Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Champion, ’07 runner-up Danny has his sights set on a first title. Friday actually marked his second trip to Canandaigua this season, strapping in a Big-Block for the first visit in Spring.
Gibbs Back On Grounds: Just like Jimmy Phelps and Gary Tomkins, Canandaigua Speedway was the site of Mitch Gibbs’ first DIRTcar 358 event of the season and upcoming plans include both Big-Block and Small-Block activity during the final month of competition. “Right now we’re looking at running Rolling Wheels next weekend, then the Super DIRT Week shows at Brewerton and Rolling Wheels along with Eastern States (Orange County),” figured Gibbs, 45, a former Big-Block campaigner at Canandaigua, as he prepared to for hot laps in owner Gary Mann’s New York Truck Parts no. 55 TEO Pro Car at his favorite Western New York track. “We’ll definitely have the Big-Block at Orange County and right now Syracuse is 50-50. We’d like to run a few more races around here but its been a tough year for our business.”
Third-Generation Racers: Making his DIRTcar 358-Modified debut ---actually steering a crate engine-powered Sportsman Modified ride--- on Friday was Mike DeMallie from Clyde, New York, who was following in the tire tracks of his father, Dean, and grandfather, Dick, all of which comprised the crew for the Seneca Graphics no. 74 Kegger's Sports Bar & Grill/Bicknell team. Now 70 years-old, Dick first raced on Canandaigua Speedway in the late 1950s and made his last run in 1986. Dean, now 52, got behind the wheel of the family-owned Big-Block after capturing Canandaigua’s Expert Street Stock points title in 1983, while 2008 marked the first season for 31 year-old Mike in his Sportsman car.
POT HOLES: 2008 Small-Block rookie Travis Braun entered the no. 9 Bicknell car just purchased from Merrittville Speedway regular Kenny Cosgrove, whose pending marriage prompted an early retirement ….. Don’t be confused as four cars numbered 19 helped fill the roster on Friday, featuring the JL Motorsports entries of owner John Lazore (19L) and Tim Fuller (19F), Don Thompson’s no. 19z driven by Jessica Zemken, and Joe Kubiniec (19K) in the former Sweeteners Plus TEO mount. Lazore and Thompson also carry Street Wise Fight Gear on the side panels while Street Wise Fight Wear adorns Roy Tarbell’s no. 007 TEO ride ….. The Friday night special ended with Jimmy Phelps claiming just the seventh Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship event ever to be staged in Canandaigua. Alan Johnson won two tour events in 2005 following victories by Steve Paine and Pat Ward in ’04, Tim McCreadie in ’03 and Vic Coffey in 2002.
2008 Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 26 100 Merrittville Speedway Dale Planck
Fri-Aug 1 68 Ransomville Speedway Todd Burley
Thr-Aug 21 100 Mohawk Int’l Raceway Mario Clair
Sun-Aug 31 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway Danny O’Brien
Sat-Sep 12 75 Brockville Ont Speedway Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 13 152 Autodrome Drummond Danny O’Brien
Fri-Sep 19 75 Canandaigua Speedway Jimmy Phelps
Fri-Sep 26 75 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Wed-Oct 8 75 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville, NY
Thr-Oct 9 75 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton, NY
Fri-Oct 10 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge, NY
Sat-Oct 11 150 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($20,000 to win)
Sat-Oct 18 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY ($7,500 to win)
2008 358-MODIFIED SYRACUSE CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
(+)-denotes Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series event.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/QUALIFIER
Sat-Apr 19 Orange County Fair Speedway Brett Hearn
Sat-Apr 26+ Merrittville Speedway Dale Planck
Sat-May 10 Airborne Speedway Patrick Dupree
Fri-May 16 Autodrome Edelweiss Pierre Dagenais
Sat-May 17 Brockville Ontario Speedway Jessica Zemken
Mon-May 19 Merrittville Speedway Larry Lampman Jr.
Fri-May 23 Ransomville Speedway Pete Bicknell
Sat-May 24 Lebanon Valley Speedway Tom Faxon
Sat-May 24 Mohawk Int'l Raceway Tim Fuller
Fri-May 30 Autodrome Granby Kayle Robidoux
Sat-Jun 7 Autodrome Drummond David Hebert
Sat-Jun 21 Lebanon Valley Speedway Kenny Tremont
Sun-Jun 22 Cornwall Motor Speedway Carey Terrance
Sun-Jun 22 Humberstone Speedway Chad Brachmann
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Robbie Krull
Fr-Jul 4 Autodrome Edelweiss Mitchell Jock
Sat-Jul 5 Can-Am Motorsports Park Billy Decker/Larry Wight(9th)
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ontario Speedway B.Decker/Danny O'Brien(9th)
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby B.Hearn/Alain Boisvert(12th)
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond D.Planck/Dany Bilodeau(13th)
Sat-Jul 12 Canandaigua Speedway Todd Burley/Rich Vinson(8th)
Sat-Jul 12 Lebanon Valley Speedway J.R. Heffner
Sat-Jul 19 Autodrome Drummond &
