NGK SPARK PLUG BREWERTON DIRT MODIFIED WIN TO CHUCK HEBING
SEAN LIAS, TONY BUFFA, MARK WARNER ALSO VICTORIOUS
Brewerton, NY…Chuck Hebing passed Pat Ward on the inside on lap 16 and held off a charging Alan Johnson to claim his first ever Brewerton Speedway DIRT Modified victory on NGK Spark Plugs night on Friday. Sean Lias, Tony Buffa, and Mark Warner also scored feature victories.
Jeremy Corcoran took the early lead in the DIRT Modified feature, but a fifth lap yellow flag for a turn 3 tangle between Jimmy Phelps and Ryan Baye slowed the pace early. Mike Hulsizer was second, with Chuck Hebing, Pat Ward, and Scott Prentice following at that time.
On the restart, Bob McCreadie and Scott Prentice made contact but both kept going. However, everyone behind them tapped their brakes and the ensuing chain reaction left Steve Babicek sitting on the front straightway, bringing the caution back out.
Pat Ward got the crowd on its feet at the drop of the green as he squeezed his 56 between Corcoran and Hulsizer in turn two and came out with the lead. Hebing also went by Hulsizer and moved into third, and then took over second on lap 8 as the action got hot and heavy.
Ron Holmes spun in turn two and the caution flew once again. Ward and Hebing were one and two with Billy Decker now third. Chuck Bower and Bob McCreadie filled out the top five.
Bower took third on lap 13 as a torrid battle between Hebing and Ward was raging in front of him. On lap 16, as the 47 of Prentice called it a night and went to the pits, Hebing powered under Ward and took the lead.
Alan Johnson was quietly sneaking his way into the top five, and by the time 21 went up on the lap counter he was in third and roping in the leaders like cattle. He corralled second from Ward on lap 24 and set sail after Hebing, who had opened up some ground as slower traffic began to be a factor.
Johnson gave the Mitsubishi 1 all it had but Hebing was not to be denied. He bounced the 45 off the front straightaway outside wall a couple of times late in the race trying to run the top groove, and sent a shower of sparks that had the crowd roaring.
In the end, it was Hebing celebrating in victory lane for the first time ever, as the fans cheered their approval. Johnson was second, followed by Ward, Tim McCreadie, and Chuck Bower. McCreadie had come from the back of the pack, running like a bear to get fourth at the stripe, a tremendous drive for the youngster. Billy Gill, Billy Decker, Jim Phelps, Steve Hulsizer (in a small block), and Jeremy Corcoran rounded out the top ten.
Heats went to Tim Fuller, Ward, and Bob McCreadie, and the NGK Spark Plugs halfway leader was Hebing.
The Dwarf Cars began their feature with Bob Garafolo setting the pace. Darren Forbes had his 3 car flying and held off a charging Kenny Gamlen for second. On lap 4, Mike Lasell stalled his 007 in turn 1, and on the ensuing restart Tod Simons spun his 21 in turn four.
When the field was regrouped, it was Garafolo over Forbes, with Gamlen, Buffa, and Pat Pontello following. It only took a few laps of green flag dicing before Buffa put his 2 car on top with 8 on the board.
At the race’s halfway mark it was Buffa over Gamlen, Troy Van Allen, Pontello, and Garafolo. There were no cautions in the second half of the 20-lap feature event, and Buffa went unchallenged to pick up the victory.
At the line it was Buffa over Gamlen, Van Allen, Pontello, and the 23 of Mark Weigelt, who snuck into the top five at the end. Heat winners were Gamlen, Forbes, and Buffa, with Scott Nash winning the consi. The NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader was the 2 of Buffa.
Oswego’s Kevin Battelle in the 29 took the lead when flagger Chip Burdick waved the green flag to start the IMCA feature event. 16-year old Rookie driver John Matyjasik was running very well on Friday and had his 35 in second, followed by Bill Anderson, Sr., Don Alvord, and Mike Chilson.
Bob Bradt in the 10 and Rob “Robcat” Keller in the 21 were moving quickly toward the front, and when Scott Ziprich and Ken Klinkowsky got together in turn two on lap 6, Bradt and Keller found themselves in the top five. It was Battelle over Anderson, Bradt, Keller, and Matyjasik at this point in the 20-lap event.
The restart was wild as Bradt blasted into the lead with Sean Lias leapfrogging from 6th to second. As the top ten swapped positions for the next few laps, Bradt became the NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader when he led the 10th circuit with Lias, Keller, Carmen Vona, and Matyjasik following.
The 5 of Ron House spun around in turn 3 to cause a yellow flag situation on lap 12, and one lap later Klinkowsky lost the handle again as the field had trouble sorting itself out in the race’s later stages.
Lias had passed Bradt just before House spun, and Vona worked his way past the 10 also with less than three laps left to finish second. When the checkered flag flew it was Lias with his third win in a row, defeating Bradt, Vona, Keller, and Bill Anderson, Sr. to take top honors.
Heat winners in the IMCA division were Lias, Bradt, and Don Alvord. The NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader was Bradt.
The 4-Cylinder class ran a 15-lap feature, serving as the night’s finale, and Cicero-North Syracuse High School Student Dave Myrto spun his 17D around in a circle on the opening lap and got tagged by the 88J of Central Square High School Student Jason Amidon. Myrto was able to restart, but the 88J of Amidon had to be hooked into the pit area with some front-end damage.
Kevan Cook bogged down on the restart, and just as it appeared everyone would get around him the 33J of Jim LaLone found himself in contact with the crippled Cook machine and the 14 of Todd Wilkinson ended up stalled on the back straightaway as a chain reaction ensued.
Mark Warner led the race from green to checkered, with the defining moment perhaps coming on lap 7 when the 17 of Chuck Powelczyk tangled with the 28 of Rick Angle, causing Angle’s right front tire to go flat and sending him to the pit area for a replacement. Powelczyk was able to restart the event.
Jim Olin also found himself in the same piece of real estate that Powelczyk was fighting for, this happening on lap 10 and resulting in a spin by Olin. Two laps later, the 4 of John West slowed dramatically and was tagged by the 33 of Bob Whipple, with the 17 of Powelczyk being caught up in the melee and towed to the pit area as a result.
Warner was challenged for the lead throughout the last few laps by the 15 of Roger West, but was up to the challenge and picked up an impressive feature win. LaLone, Darrick Van Epps, and Russ Cusson second followed West across the line. Heat winners were Powelczyk, Warner, and LaLone. The NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader was the 19 of Warner.
This Tuesday, June 13th, the Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Tour 2000 rolls into Brewerton for a 100-lap event sponsored by Pepsi. The race is a Tour Series point race for the Big Blocks, but it also counts for Brewerton track points and has a Syracuse Qualifier for the 358 Small Block division.
The IMCA Modifieds are also on Tuesday’s card. Gates open at 5:30, time trials for the Modifieds start at 6:30, and racing begins at 7:30. Admission is $18 for adults and $7 for children 14 and under.
Then, on Friday, June 16th, Strathmore Paints will sponsor a full plate of DIRT Modified, IMCA Modified, ESDCA Dwarf Cars, and 4-Cylinder racing. The Jetettes Women’s Racing Series is also on the card that night. The scheduled rollover contest has been cancelled for the season. Gates open at 5:30, with race time set for 7:30.
For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 668-6906 or see them online at www.brewertonspeedway.com.
DIRT MODIFIEDS: CHUCK HEBING, Alan Johnson, Pat Ward, Tim McCreadie, Chuck Bower, Billy Gill, Billy Decker, Jim Phelps, Steve Hulsizer (sb), Jeremy Corcoran, Mike Hulsizer (sb), Jim Gabriel, Bob McCreadie, Ron Holmes (sb), A.J. Romano, Ryan Baye (sb), Steve Babicek, Tim Fuller, Scott Prentice, Jay Hopkins (sb).
IMCA MODIFIEDS: SEAN LIAS, Carmen Vona, Bob Bradt, Dane Keller, Bill Anderson Sr., John Matyjasik, Ron O’Neil, Bill Anderson Jr., Mike Chilson, Don Alvord, Doug McKane, Kevin Battelle, Les Hubbard, Dick Weiland, Johnny Hill, Jim House, Aaron Jacobs, John Bell, Dustin Geers, Ken Klinkowsky, Rob Keller, Jeff Cardinale, Colleen Finch, Scott Ziprich, Tony Finch, Jon Amidon.
DWARF CARS: TONY BUFFA, Ken Gamlen, Troy Van Allen, Pat Pontello, Mark Weigelt, Darren Forbes, Bob Garafolo, Scott Nash, Bob Magner, Bill Teliska, Ed Lawton, Wayne Younglove, Dave Orr, Carl Crawford Jr., Shawn Hort, Barry Virts, Joe Garafolo, Steve Miller, Tod Simons, Nate Phelps, Bob Bird, Lee Babcock, Bob McCarthy, Brenda Rice, Mike Lasell, Frankie Doll, Kreig Heroth.
4-CYLINDERS: MARK WARNER, Roger West, Jim LaLone, Darrick Van Epps, Russ Cusson, Tim Koch, Jim Olin, Walt Van Epps, Joe Bribre, John West, Brett Hubbard, Mike Lewis, Brian Evenden, Bob Whipple, Kevan Cook, Chuck Powelczyk, Rick Angle, Steve Coit, Ken Pittsley, Todd Williamson, Dave Myrto, Jason Amidon.