STEVE HARTMAN JR. TOPS STELLAR FIELD FOR WODHULL DIRT 358 MOD WIN. CROOKER, THOMAS, MILLS AND GRANT ALL SHARE VICTORY LANE.

Steve Hartman Jr. showed why he is a force to be reckoned with in the Woodhull Raceway DIRT 358 Modified Division by topping a stellar field of small block’s to capture the Saturday, May 22 25 lap feature event win. For Hartman it was his second trip to victory lane having captured his first ever 25 lap A-Main win last season at Woodhull. What made his second trip to victory lane even more memorable was this time it was in a machine outside of the Hartman Motorsports operation. During the off season Hartman teamed up with Jasper, New York car owner, Terry Brewer in what was to have been a Friday night Modified partnership at the Redline Raceway in Troy, Pa. However, the formerly owned Chuck Graham TEO Pro Car has been so comfortable to the popular second generation Woodhull, New York pilot that he and Brewer decided to try the machine at Woodhull. The car was fast right out of the box and as they say, “The rest is history”. By the luck of the redraw, both Hartman Sr. and Jr. lined up on the front row as they led the 24 car starting field to head flagman, Scott Colegrove’s opening green flag. For the first ten laps the battle between both of the Hartman’s was intense as they swapped the top spot several times before the first yellow waved on lap ten. After a couple more quick yellows for minor incidents Hartman Jr. was able to keep his father at bay along with a host of other top Woodhull Modified pilots. For the Hartman’s it was a classic battle with Jr. running the cushion and Sr. working the bottom. Billy VanPelt joined the party and it was a terrific three car battle for the win until a late race yellow on lap 21 changed the whole complexity of the finish. Lyle Sherwood, who had nothing but trouble all night and started nineteenth on the grid was on the cushion and closing fast. It was during the final four lap green flag run that Hartman Sr. developed a front end problem dropping him from contention and from there it was clear sailing for Hartman Jr. who was able to hold off the fast closing group of Billy VanPelt, Sherwood and the team cars of Dave Dubois and Roger Williams. For the DIRT 358 Modifieds it was the first time in the 40 history of the facility that the roofs were removed allowing the fans the opportunity to see the drivers at work. Dale Welty, Tom Austin, Aaron Jacobus, Kevin Chilson and Donnie Lawson completed the top ten finishers. Also, during the evening a special Edith Wright Memorial Dash for Cash was run where Steve Hartman Sr. picked up the lions share of the $1,000 as he kept five other top DIRT 358 runners to claim the top prize. Derek Mills remained undefeated in the S&W Awards and Photos Warrior Division as for the third time he picked up the winning plaque in 2004. Michelle Kurtz was credited with the runner-up position, Bryce Davis finished third as he was followed across the line by Tom Austin Jr., Brett Marlatt and Joe Dgien. In the NAPA Super Stock Division Greg Crooker of Savona, N.Y made it two wins in three starts as he was able to hold off Ed Mills who had his best run of 2004. Glenn Whritenour, who had an early race altercation had to come from the rear of the field to claim third, “Mr. Steady” Mark Costa was fourth with Brett Flint rounding the top five. Alan Crooker, Craig Mahrt, Mick Seeley, Rich Marlatt and Andy Krall did finish in sixth through tenth. The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks were in full force and with their typical three and four abreast action; the popular full fendered division had the crowd on their feet the entire distance. Finding his way into victory lane is was Hornby native, Ken Thomas who held off a late race challenge by Mike Williams. Jerry Buckley finished third with Gordy Price having his best run of 2004 to claim the fourth position while Jeff Smith rounded out the top five. Dave Davis led the next group of five across the finish line including Chris Friends, Dan Gordon, consi winner, Chuck Pruden as Lance Baker finished in tenth. Last but not least the Signs Plus of Kanona Mini Stock Class took to the Woodhull Raceway high banks and after two consecutive weeks of engine problems, Brian Grant was able to put it all together and claim the popular win. Grant, who has been a main stay at the track for nearly the entire 40 year history of the facility held off a late race challenge by a whole slew of challengers including last years Track Champion, Josh Mills who finished second, Ray Hyer who just barely nipped Ryan Davenport for third as Bill Van Etten rounded out the top five. Kevin Erdman was credited for sixth, Don Knowles was next across the line in seventh, Jordan Dibble was eighth, Chad Dickerson ninth and Elwin Davenport rounded out the top ten. Some 109 cars jammed the Woodhull pit area as the night of action was sponsored by Stateline Camping of Lindley along with the Addison Farm Supply. The drivers in all the classes raved about the smooth, tacky race surface which allowed for side by side action all night long; a real tribute to raceway owners and promoters, Scott and Amy Drake as it has rained in the Woodhull area virtually everyday for the past two weeks, in fact some 2 inches of the wet stuff fell at the track on Friday morning. Next Saturday it will be the Annual George Williams Memorial Day Trophy Races featuring a special 40 lap Syracuse Qualifier for the DIRT 358 Modifieds as it will also be the first leg of the three race series paying an additional $5,000 point fund to the top ten finishers in the series. Steve’s Repair and Parts, Swartwood Custom Trailers and the Corning/Elmira Goodyear Tire and Service Centers will all sponsor the May 29 show.

Results:

DIRT 358 Modifieds

Heats, Steve Hartman Sr., Steve Hartman Jr., Mike Jackson Consi, Lyle Sherwood

25 lap feature, 1)Steve Hartman Jr. 2)Billy VanPelt 3)Lyle Shewood 4)Dave Dubois 5)Roger Williams 6)Dale Welty 7)Tom Austin 8)Aaron Jacobus 9)Kevin Chilson 10)Donnie Lawson

$1,000 Edith Wright Memorial Dash for Cash 1)Steve Hartman Sr. 2)Steve Hartman Jr. 3)Mike Jackson 4)Billy VanPelt 5)Dale Welty 6)Aaron Jacobus

NAPA Super Stocks

Heats, Greg Galligan, Glenn Whritenour

20 lap feature 1)Greg Crooker 2)Ed Mills 3)Glenn Whritenour 4) Mark Costa 5)Brett Flint 6)Alan Crooker 7)Craig Marht 8)Mick Seeley 9)Rich Marlatt 10)Andy Krall

S&W Awards and Photos Woodhull Warriors

1)Derek Mills 2)Michelle Kurtz 3)Bryce Davis 4)Tom Austin Jr. 5)Brett Marlatt 6)Joe Dgien

Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks

Heats, Ron Divens, Henry Miracle Consi. Chuck Pruden

20 lap feature 1) Ken Thomas 2)Mike Williams 3)Jerry Buckley 4)Gordy Price 5)Jeff Smith 6)Dave Davis 7)Chris Friends 8)Dan Gordon 9)Chuck Pruden 10)Lance Baker

Signs Plus Mini Stocks

Heats Ryan Davenport, Lynn Burrell, Brooks Leach, Brian Grant

20 lap feature 1)Brian Grant 2)Josh Mills 3)Ray Hyer 4)Ryan Davenport 5)Bill VanEtten 6)Kevin Erdman 7)Don Knowles 8)Jordan Dibble 9)Chad Dickerson 10)Elwin Davenport