Mitch Gibbs Takes Third Feature Win at Afton Raceway

Afton, NY

Mitch Gibbs of Norwich NY, became the first Modified driver to win more than two features at the Afton Raceway in 97, when he scored the win in the 30 Lap Pepsi night Modified feature. Gibbs took the lead on lap 9 and was never headed as he scored his third win of the campaign. Aaron Excell of Hubbardsville NY, has scored only two career Sportsman features and both have come this season at Afton. Excell scored his second this week on in the 20 lap Sportsman feature. Herm Slack of Whitney Point NY, used his outside pole starting position to score his sixth win of 97 in the 20 lap Street Stock feature. Rich Rought of Afton NY shook off the bad luck that has been plaguing him the past few weeks and scored his sixth 15 Lap 4 Cylinder feature, and Bill Cook of Harpursville NY, scored his fourth 15 Lap Pure Stock win of the season.

Mark Gray took the early lead in the 30 lap Modified feature, as he jumped from the outside pole to the lead. The early portion of the race was plagued by numerous cautions, but Gray was able to hold the lead until lap 7, when pole sitter John Kollar got by in turn two to take the lead. Kollar's lead would only last for two laps as Mitch Gibbs grabbed the lead on a lap 9 restart. Once Gibbs got the lead he was able to open up six to eight car lengths over the field. At the 10 lap mark the top five were, Gibbs, Kollar, Mike Clapperton, Jeremy Smith, and Jerry Northrup. Smith moved past Clapperton in turn three on lap 11 as the field settled in for some great green flag racing, after the early rash of cautions. The top five stayed steady over the next 11 laps with Gibbs leading by six car lengths over Kollar, with Smith third Clapperton fourth and Northrup fifth. Rob Green moved around Northrup for fifth on lap 23, as the field raced to the checkers. At the finish it was Gibbs with his third win of the season, by six car lengths over Kollar. Rounding out the top five were Smith third, Clapperton fourth, and Green fifth.

Wink Hinkley grabbed the lead on lap 1 of the 20 lap Sportsman feature, but that would be the only lap he would lead, as Bill Walters brought out the yellow on that lap, and on the restart Tim Ross grabbed the lead. Ross would have the same fate as Hinkley as the yellow would fly again on lap 2, and Aaron Excell would take the lead on the restart. Excell prove to have his car working to perfection as he would hold the lead for the remainder of the event as the field sorted out behind him. Ross would hold on to second until giving way to Steve Anderson on lap 10. At the half way mark it was Excell first, Anderson second, Ross third, Craig Pritchard fourth, and Dan Yankowski fifth. Yankowski would move around Pritchard for fourth on lap 11 and then hook up in a duel with Ross for third. Meanwhile Excell and Anderson opened up a small margin as they continued one and two. Yankowski would get by Ross on lap 17 and on the same lap Jim Gabriel Jr would get by Pritchard to move into the top five. Gabriel would then get by Ross for fourth on lap 18 and he and Yankowski would battle for third over the final laps. When the checker flew it was Excell scoring his second Afton win followed by Anderson in second. Rounding out the top five were Yankowski third, Gabriel fourth, and Ross fifth.

Herm Slack jumped from his outside pole starting position, into the lead in the 20 lap Street Stock feature, and would never look back as he scored his sixth win of the 97 season. Bill Harris held onto second until lap 5, when he broke causing a yellow. This put Skip French on Slack's rear bumper, but Slack would have the better working car on hang onto the lead. At the halfway mark the top five were Slack, French, Barry Stephens, Jim Becker, and John Walker. French and Stephens swapped second back and forth until lap 13 when French got high in turn four and Stephens took over the spot for good. With Slack holding a six car length lead over the field, and Stephens in second, the battle was for third between French and Becker. Becker took over third on lap 14, but French kept up the pressure. Butch Klinger moved into the top five on lap 16 when Walker spun in turn two. Slack held on for the his sixth win of the season, with Stephens finishing in second. The last lap saw a shuffle for positions three through six as Becker lost a tire and slid to sixth, moving French to third, Klinger to fourth, and Arnie Slade to fifth.

Rick Lashway took the lead at the start of the 15 lap 4 Cylinder feature, but his lead would be short lived as Rich Rought took over on a lap 2 restart. Dave Burnett would grab second with Gene Brainard third. Rought would open up a full straight away lead, as Burnett and Brainard fought for second. Brainard would take over the spot on lap 4, and then he and Burnett hooked up to try and chase down Rought. At the half way mark it was Rought first, Brainard second, Burnett third, Ralph Jennings Jr fourth, and Randy Mertz fifth. Rought would hold the lead, but would lose some ground to Brainard and Burnett in traffic. While these two closed they could never get close enough to mount a serious challenge, and Rought went on to score his sixth win of the season. Brainard would hang on to second, with Burnett third, Jennings fourth and Mertz fifth.

Shawn MacCumber would grab the lead in the 15 lap Pure Stock feature and hold it until lap 3, when Dave Dickey went by in turn two. MacCumber would hang onto second until lap 6 when, Bill Cook took over the position. Point leader Dan Howe would bring out the caution on lap 7, when his machine broke. On the restart Cook took over the lead from Dickey, followed by MacCumber, Jim Howard, and Neil Palladino. Howard would bring out the caution on lap 8, and in the ensuing shuffle the top five would change, Rob Carey to third, Todd Hurlburt to fourth and Howe to fifth, now driving MacCumber' s car. Hurlburt would get third on lap 11, and Howe would move to fourth on lap 13. At the Checker it was Cook scoring his fourth win of the season, with Dickey second, and Hurlburt third. MacCumber would be credited with fourth, with Howe driving and Carey would finish in fifth.

This Friday there will be a Five Star card of racing featuring, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders and Pure Stocks, plus the return of the popular Ladies Races. Gates will open at 5:00 PM and racing will start at 7:30 PM. The Afton Raceway is located on the Afton Fairground, exit 7 off route 88 Afton NY. For more information call 607-722-6751 during the week, or 607-639-1966 on raceday.

Official Finish:

Modifieds: Mitch Gibbs, John Kollar, Jeremy Smith, Mike Clapperton, Rob Green, Jerry Northrup, JR Crouse, Joel Batzel, Earl Walrath, Rich Tiffany, Mark Gray, Barry Matthews, Tim French, Ed Richer, George Lewis, Ron Ford, Paul Jensen, Pete Nowicki Jr, Mike Janicelli, Mark Schoonover, John Guernsey, JR Hurlburt

Sportsman: Aaron Excell, Steve Anderson, Dan Yankowski, Jim Gabriel Jr, Tim Ross, Craig Pritchard, Tony Ross, Tim Mayne, Cookie Morris, Aaron Jacobs, Jamie Christian, Cris Koren, Billy Walters, Rich Ives, Don Hart Jr, Dan Ballard, Jason Becker, Wink Hinkley, DNS-Rick Ross

Street Stocks: Herm Slack, Barry Stephens, Skip French, Butch Klinger, Arnie Slade, Jim Becker, John Sedlecky, Denny Smith, Joe Scofield, Larry Mills, Paul Miller, Bill Knapp, Brian Belden, John Walker, Bill Harris

4 Cylinders: Rich Rought, Gene Brainard, Dave Burnett, Ralph Jennings Jr, Randy Mertz, Jamie Hurlburt, Rick Lashway, Brian Stiegerwald, Bob Dedrick, Pete Christiansen, Jamie Banta, Ralph Cuozzo, Dennis Vroman, Jay Johnson, Ken Hotaling, Harold Humphrey

Pure Stocks: Bill Cook, David Dickey, Todd Hurlburt, Shawn MacCumber, Rob Carey, Joe Bona, Neil Palladino, Jim Howard, Scott Chapman, Dan Howe, Bill Willsey