ALAN JOHNSON WINS FOURTH BREWERTON FEATURE
Brewerton, NY…Alan Johnson ran side-by-side with Jim Gabriel for several laps before taking the lead for good in Friday night’s Kinney Drugs/Burdick Dodge sponsored DIRT Modified Feature and held off a late charge by Tim McCreadie for the win. Dan Boyce won his first ESDCA Dwarf Car feature of the season, with Bob Bradt scoring his sixth IMCA Modified win and Darrick Van Epps making it two checkered flags this year in the 4-Cylinder class.
Steve Hulsizer grabbed the early lead in the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature event, but it was short-lived as the Fleet Pride sponsored 99j of Jimmy Phelps went underneath Hulsizer on the front straightaway on lap 2 and took control.
Billy Decker soon had second, and as the number 5 went up on the lap board Phelps suddenly slowed and brought out the first caution of the event. Lance Petzoldt also developed problems and headed for the pit area with his 29s.
The restart found the New England Financial Services car of Decker in the lead, but Jimmy Gabriel was flying with his 1j and blasted by Decker on lap 7. Meanwhile, both Tim Fuller and Bob McCreadie were entering the top ten, having to start in the back due to missing their heat races.
Gabriel and Decker were side-by-side for several laps, with Alan Johnson soon appearing in his Mitsubishi 1 challenging both of them for the lead. Chuck Hebing slowed to a crawl on lap 13, bringing out another yellow, and the ensuing restart saw Johnson make it three cars wide as the top three put on a thrilling show for the dedicated Brewerton crowd.
Jeremy Corcoran slowed the field again on lap 17 when his car developed problems in turn three, and a multi-car pileup on the restart involved several cars, with the 88 of Steve Hulsizer perhaps suffering the most damage. Gabriel was the leader, with Johnson second followed by a strong-running Scott Prentice in the Benwood Auto 47. Decker held fourth and Tim McCreadie, now comfortably ensconced in his father Bob’s backup Kinney Drugs car, ran fifth.
At the drop of the green, Johnson got down to brass tacks and worked his way past the 1j of Gabriel to become the NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader. Johnson didn’t gain much breathing room, however, as Tim McCreadie was slicing his way through the top five and took over second on lap 24.
McCreadie began to eat away at Johnson’s advantage, and by lap 32 the lead duo was entering heavy traffic. Johnson staved off an outside pass attempt by McCreadie on lap 33, and kept his car smooth and consistent to capture his fourth Brewerton win of the season. McCreadie was second, followed by Gabriel, Fuller, and Chuck Bower in the Currier Plastics 99b.
The ESDCA Dwarf Car Feature began with the 3 of Darren Forbes leading, but it didn’t take long for the 2x of Troy Van Allen to take over. Van Allen had been having handling problems all night, but was looking stout early in the 20-lap Feature event, with Dan Boyce also running well in second by lap 4.
A caution for a flat tire on the Wayne Younglove 80 slowed the field just as Tony Buffa was preparing to enter the top five. Buffa was trying for his 8th win of the year at Brewerton, but would not be around at the finish as something apparently let go on lap 13 and he came to a halt on the front straightaway.
Van Allen also feel victim to misfortune, as his car developed problems just two laps after Buffa dropped out, leaving Boyce as clearly the fastest car. Boyce had his new car hooked up, and picked up a comfortable victory. A photo finish for second involved Ed Lawton and Ken Gamlen, with the scorers giving the nod to Lawton after watching a video replay of the finish. Fourth went to Forbes, and Oly Johnson drove a smooth race to round out the top five. The NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader was the 2x of Van Allen.
The most serious incident of the Dwarf Car feature occurred on lap 9 when Pat Pontello ended up sideways and several cars piled in. The only two who went off on the hook were Joe and Bob Garafolo, as the brothers both ended up with damage and had to go pitside.
Darrick Van Epps spent much of the early part of the 4-Cylinder race looking in his rearview mirror, as he had to hold off some strong competition. Chuck Powelczyk raced with Van Epps for a couple of laps before passing him on lap 9 and taking over the lead.
The 9 of Van Epps was persistent, however, and finally got the top spot back on lap 14 and went on to his second victory of the season. Harvey Calkins, Jr. finished second with the 9jr, with Roger West taking third. West was driving with a broken right hand, and appeared as though he was still at or near 100 percent in terms of performance. Fourth went to Joe Briere, with Kevan Cook doing a great job to finish fifth. The NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader was Van Epps.
The IMCA Modified Feature saw Mike Chilson grab the advantage at the drop of the green, but Rob Keller was charging quickly up toward the front. On the third lap, Keller shot around the 17c of Chilson put his 21 into the lead.
Bob Bradt, a five-time winner at Brewerton in 2000, had his Josall Roofing 10 perking again, taking over fourth by the time lap 5 went into the history books. IT was Keller leading Chilson, Bill Anderson Sr., Bradt, and Bradt’s boss Jim House.
The 9 of John Hickman got crossed up in turn four and brought out a yellow on lap 7, and on the next lap Bradt grabbed second and dove under Keller to take the lead. Chilson was in third with Anderson and Ron O’Neill rounding out the top five on lap 8.
The race stayed green to the end, and as the 20th and final lap was registered on the lap counter, Bob Bradt scored his 6th feature win of the season, and the NGK Spark Plugs Halfway Leader award to go with it. Keller remained strong for second, with Chilson, O’Neill, and Anderson finishing out the top five.
The next race at Brewerton is Friday, August 18th. Coors Light and Magee Trailer Sales will share sponsorship of the event, which features DIRT Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Dwarf Cars and 4-Cylinders plus the Jetettes Women’s Racing Series. Gates open at 5:30 with race time slated for 7:30 sharp. For more information, contact the speedway office at (315) 668-6906 or see them online at www.brewertonspeedway.com.
DIRT MODIFIEDS: ALAN JOHNSON, Tim McCreadie, Tim Fuller, Jim Gabriel Jr., Chuck Bower, Scott Prentice, Bob McCreadie, Pat Ward, Ron Johnson, Chuck Hebing, Steve Hulsizer, Billy Decker, Chuck Akulis, Ryan Baye, Lansing Petzoldt, Joel Thomas, Mike Hulsizer, Randy Storms, Jeremie Corcoran, Steve Babicek, John Ramsey, and Jimmy Phelps.
4-CYLINDERS: DARRICK VAN EPPS, Harvey Calkins, Jr., Roger West, Joe Briere, Kevan Cook, Dave Myrto, Jim LaLone, Roy French, Mike Lewis, Tim Koch, Roger Olchewske, Mike Humphrey, Jason Amidon, Chuck Powelczyk, John West, Nicholas Barr, Chris Bargabos, Todd Williamson, Russ Cusson, and Brian Evenden.
ESDCA DWARF CARS: DAN BOYCE, Ed Lawton, Ken Gamlen, Darren Forbes, Oly Johnson, Scott Nash, Shawn Hort, Carl Crawford Jr., Steve Miller, David Orr, Lee Babcock, Dave Reals, Brenda Rice, Nate Phelps, Kreig Heroth, Wayne Younglove, Bob McCarthy, Tod Simons, Mike Lasell, Troy Van Allen, Barry Virts, Tony Buffa, Brandon Phelps, Eric Crawford, Pat Pontello, Rob Garafolo, Joe Garafolo.
IMCA MODIFIED: BOB BRADT, Rob Keller, Mike Chilson, Ron O’Neil, Bill Anderson, Tony Buffa, Jim House, Carmen Vona, Dane Keller, Colleen Finch, Dick Weiland, Cory Fachini, Don Alvord, Mike Adderly, Les Hubbard, Doug McKane, John Bell, Dustin Geers, Bill Anderson Jr., Jeff Cardinale, John Matyjasik, Jon Amidon, and John Hickman. DNS: Kevin Battelle.