BILLY VANPELT, KYLE LEFELHOC, RON DIVENS, BILL SHEA AND BRYCE DAVIS ALL FIND VICTORY LANE AT WOODHULL.
With the Season Championship Double Point races on the line and the Track Championships hanging in the balance for all of the full fendered classes that race at Woodhull on a weekly basis, it was down to crunch time this past Saturday. The week prior, Billy VanPelt had clinched the point battle in the 358 Modified Division, but there was still unfinished business to take care of as the Mod Squad had to run the final leg of the L.J. Kennedy Trucking Company three race mini series where the overall winner would receive $1,000 of the $5,000 overall point fund. Donnie Lawson led the twenty-five car field to the opening green and after a month of near perfect 358 Modified feature action, it was the direct opposite on this night as yellow after yellow slowed the pace with the three yellow flag rule being put into place after lap three where the cars were all started in single file on restarts. Even that didn’t make any difference as yellow fever was the theme of the 40 lap affair with numerous spins, flat tires, broken parts, etc. continued to slow the pace and keep the field bunched. Billy VanPelt, who started deep in the field, used all the yellows to his advantage keeping the leaders well within sight and by the midway point was in control bringing his brother Curt with him. C. VanPelt was the winner of the B-Main and looked poised to win the event having taken the lead from Billy just past half way. The two brothers opened a gap over the third place machine of Steve Hartman Sr. as Lawson dropped to fourth. A momentary bobble by Curt allowed Billy to retake the lead near the three-quarter mark and it was only a lap or two after that a suspension failure on the C. VanPelt machine sent him pit side. With less than a handful of laps remaining, B. VanPelt was clearly in control with Hartman Sr. in second, but the real battle was shaping up for positions three through seven as Donnie Lawson had company in the form of Mike Jackson, Frank Dunning and Dylan Dewert. Running two and sometimes three wide the last ten laps, the quartet of drivers fought hard to gain positions and as the checkered flag waved it was Donnie Lawson sandwiched in a three wide, photo finish claming third over Dewert with Dunning fourth. Other than VanPelt, Dewert passed the most cars having started mid-pack and in a very methodical drive stayed out of trouble and with the narrow margin at the finish over Dunning, claimed the runner-up position in the three race L.J. Kennedy Trucking series. Dale Welty, who was caught in an early race incident started last and finished sixth followed by Bryan Terwilliger, Tom Austin, Kevin Chilson and Steve Hartman Jr. With the exception of Lawson and Austin, the rest of the top ten finishers in the feature event finished within the top ten in the Kennedy Trucking series and will split $5,000. The official top ten finishing order will be announced at a later date. Qualifying heat races went to Larry Doolittle, Dale Welty and Hartman Jr. with C. VanPelt claiming the 12 lap B-main.
The S&W Awards and Photos Warriors Division was the first of the full fendered classes to decide their track champion as it was a three horse race going into the ten lap affair. Casey Pavilik had a mathematical chance of claiming the title; however a flat tire in the early going squashed any chance that he had. Brett Marlatt was just a point out of the chase for the championship and like Pavilik before him; he too succumbed to a flat tire after the half mark. From that point on it was clear sailing for third generation pilot, Bryce Davis as he overcame his own early race spin to claim the feature along with the 2005 Woodhull Raceway Track Title. With six wins along the way it was a great way for Davis to end the season. Chasing him across the line it was Shane Pickering, Tom Austin Jr., Dave Lubberts, Chris Young, Michelle Kurtz, Brett Marlatt and Casey Pavilik.
The NAPA Super Stock track title was virtually a lock for Greg Galligan as after his heat race bonus points all he had to do was start the 20 lap feature and he was a lock on the championship. With the drop of the green and the championship decided all eyes were on the front of the field as Mike Hilfiger tool the early lead and looked to be on his way to his first win of the season. However, Scott Brown had other ideas and jumped into the lead near half way and looked poised to finally hit pay dirt after so many runner-up finishes in 2005. For Brown, it was an emotional night as his father, Bob had passed away a day prior after a long and courageous battle with cancer. It was Bob’s wish for his son to compete and with a heavy heart Scott was definitely on a mission. Like Hilfiger and Brown, Kyle Lefelhoc comes out of the Keystone State each week to compete at Woodhull. Having paid his dues the past three seasons he hit the set-up perfectly for the slippery track conditions and moved past Hilfiger into second and had his sights set on Brown. With the laps winding down and Brown still in control, Lefelhoc’s machine was hooked better on the bottom and with two to go he passed Brown and went on to claim his first ever Woodhull feature event. A disappointed Scott Brown had to settle for second followed by Mike Hilfiger, Rich Marlatt and Greg Galligan. Galligan never really showed any muscle until the closing laps, but with the championship already in the bag he saved his equipment and came home fifth. Glenn Whritenour capped off a great season finishing sixth followed by Greg Young, Mark Costa, Mick Seeley and Dan Guild. Heat races went to Galligan and Lefelhoc.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock feature was next on the line and the point battle was far from over as there were no less than half a dozen drivers still having a shot at the title. After a qualifying heat race incident which sent current high point man, Dan Gordon to the pits on the hook, he was mired deep in the field for the 20 lap feature event. Ron Divens was just a few points out of first heading into the feature and by the luck of the re-draw started near the front and jumped into the lead which he would never relinquish. After a spirited battle with Brian Knowles which saw the two side by side for most of the closing laps, Divens was able to hold on and not only win the battle but also the war as Gordon never got on track and finished tenth. Tony Foth was third across the line followed by Dave Gee and Cliff Moss. Dave Davis led the charge of the next group of five chased there by Jessica Pierce, Rod Mullen, Jeff Smith and Dan Gordon.
Heat races went to Foth and Davis.
The Signs Plus of Kanona Mini Stock 20 lap feature was the last order of business on the night and like all the other classes before them the point battle would be decided in this event as there were no clear cut favorites. Bill Shea started racing in the Mini Stock Class several years ago. He had a two year stint in the Street Stock Division where he was lack luster at best and found his way back into the Mini’s where he has been a front runner each week. On this night he would have to put all of his talent to the test as Art Goodier, Ryan Davenport and Corky Grant all were within striking distance of the championship. At the drop of the green, Shea wasted little time moving to the front bringing Grant, Davenport and Goodier along with him. With only a few yellows to slow the pace, Shea was in total control throughout the event, however all eyes were on Goodier as he had to finish no worse than second to Shea to win the title. A blown engine on lap eighteen set the stage for what was to be a dramatic finish. On the restart, Shea got a tremendous jump with Grant in tow. Derek Mills had his hands full with Goodier who made the pass to take third on the last lap, but third was the best he could do handing the track title to Shea by a single point. Grant did finish second in the feature solidifying a top five point finish followed by Goodier, Mills and Davenport. For Mills it capped off a great rookie season and for Davenport it wrapped up a two year stint were he was the champion in 2004 and third in 2005. Joe Dgien was sixth followed by Scott Madison, Brian Butler, Brooks Leach and Bill VanEtten.
Schoonover Electric of Lindley and LaBarron Brothers Repair and Parts of Woodhull were on hand to sponsor the night of action where beautifully engraved plaques went to all the feature winners. All of the 2005 Woodhull Raceway Track Champions will be crowned at the Annual Awards Banquet on Nov. 12 at the National War Plane Museum at the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport in Horseheads. Tickets are available by phoning (607) 523-8865.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS 9/10/05
Schoonover Electric LaBarron Brothers Repair and Parts
2005 Track Champions
Billy VanPelt - Modifieds
Greg Galligan - Super Stocks
Ron Divens - Street Stocks
Bill Shea - Mini Stocks
Bryce Davis - Warriors
Modified Super Street Mini
Car # Driver Car # Driver Car # Driver Car # Driver
1 2V Bill VanPelt 1 22 Kyle Lefelhoc 1 28 Don Divens 1 5 Bill Shea
2 Z8 Steve Hartman Sr 2 87 Scott Brown 2 54 Brian Knowles 2 46 Brian Grant
3 93 Donnie Lawson 3 11 Mike Hilfiger 3 16 Tony Foth 3 1 Art Goodier
4 28 Dylan DeWert 4 67 Rich Marlatt 4 35 Dave Gee 4 88 Derek Mills
5 31 Frank Dunning 5 17 Greg Galligan 5 23 Cliff Moss 5 27 Ryan Davenport
6 123 Dale Welty 6 15 Glenn Whritenour 6 94 Dave Davis 6 8 Joe Dgien
7 B4 Bryan Terwilliger 7 42 Greg Young 7 52 Jessica Pierce 7 6 Scott Madison
8 88A Tom Austin 8 2 Mark Costa 8 3 Rod Mullen 8 15 Brian Butler
9 13 Kevin Chilson 9 31 Mickey Seeley 9 40 Jeff Smith 9 75 Brooks Leach
10 15 Steve Hartman Jr 10 12X Dan Guild 10 66 Dan Gordan 10 31 Bill VanEtten
11 11R Brad Rapp 11 77 Bobby Lubberts 11 48 Gary Archer 11 81 Don Knowles
12 5J Vern Wasson 12 3 Bobby Clark 12 53 Butch Dibble 12 7 Dennis Erdmass
13 9X Chuck Kennison 13 8 Dave Youse 13 81 Joe Hadley 13 11 Jason Ketrow
14 119 Brian Malcolm 14 5K Ken Peoples Sr 14 4 Glenn Helfrich 14 99 Buck Payne
15 1 Stacey Jackson 15 32 Greg Crooker 15 7 Jerry Buckley 15 17 George Kels
16 88M Herbie Wright 16 13 Gene Galligan 16 19 Mike Williams 16 5X Tim Pickering
17 7 Larry Doolittle 17 96 Ed Mills 17 84 Adam Coots 17 96 Ray Hyer
18 16 Roger Williams 18 18 99 Tom Space 18 41 Todd Dickerson
19 12 Curt VanPelt 19 19 19 24 AJ Costley
20 3K Larry Keegan 20 20 20 9 Lynn Burrell
21 9C Tony Harris 21 21 21 62 Elwin Davenport
22 75 Jr Greene 22 22 22 71 Joey Dgien
23 2B Ron Cartwright Jr 23 23 23 16 Dixie Madison
24 18 Don Lawson 24 24 24
25
Heat Race Finishes
1 123 Dale Welty 1 17 Greg Galligan 1 16 Tony Foth 1 1 Art Goodier
2 15 Steve Hartman Jr 2 22 Kyle Lefelhoc 2 94 Dave Davis 2 81 Don Knowles
3 7 Larry Doolittle 3 3 3 7 Dennis Erdmann
Warrior
Car # Driver
1 94 Bryce Davis
2 5 Shane Pickering
3 88 Tommy Austin Jr
4 O1 David Lubberts
5 3 Chris Young
6 17 Michele Kurtz
7 99 Brett Marlatt
8 8 Casey Pavlik