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WOODHULL RACEWAY MID-SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP RACES CLAIMED BY STEVE HARTMAN SR., GREG GALLIGAN, DEREK MILLS, NATE DUNNING AND JOSH MILLS






It was the Annual Mid-Season Championship Races sponsored by Machuga Contractors and the Knight Settlement Sand and Gravel Company as well as Fireman’s Appreciation Night sponsored by Arkport Cycles at the Woodhull Raceway. In the DIRT 358 Modified Division defending Woodhull Raceway Track Champion, Steve Hartman Sr. found victory lane for the first time, however it did not come easy for the veteran competitor. Stacy Jackson jumped out to the early lead from his pole position starting spot and looked strong throughout the first half of the twenty-five lap affair. Hartman dogged him for several laps working the bottom of the high banked one-third of a mile clay oval as Jackson was content to stay in the middle. As the two continued with their wheel to wheel battle, Dale Welty and Billy VanPelt joined the mix and it was a four car battle for the lead. Jackson finally succumbed to the relentless pressure ofHartman as Welty and VanPelt were also able to work by. With Hartman now at the point he was able to open up a commanding lead as the race was only marred by a few quick yellows one of which was in the late going for current high point man, Steve Hartman Jr. as on lap twenty a front end problem sent him sailing off the back straight and out of a sure top six finishing position. With two laps to go Welty was finding heavy pressure from VanPelt and as the duo entered turns three and four for the final time, VanPelt made one of his patented outside moves and was able to clear Welty as the two crossed the start/finish line. Jackson hung on for fourth with Bob Davis running a steady race to finish fifth. Aaron Jacobus led the next group of five across the line including former Mr. DIRT Champion, Curt VanPelt, Lyle Sherwood, Dave Dubois and Mike Jackson. Qualifying heat races were picked up by Stacy Jackson, Steve Hartman Jr. and Dale Welty with Steve Mullen winning the twelve lap B-Main. All total, twenty -eight DIRT 358 Modifieds were in action.

The NAPA Super Stocks were next to report onto the speedway and like Stacy Jackson before him, Greg Galligan by virtue of the re-draw found himself starting on the pole for the twenty-lap feature event. Galligan, the 2003 Woodhull Raceway NAPA Super Stock Rookie of the Year made it two wins at Woodhull in 2004 as he blasted from his front row starting spot and drove off to a huge victory. Galligan’s MOPOR powered machine was not to be denied as he how finds himself back into the point chase as it was double points for his Mid-Season Championship victory. Glenn Whritenour once again played brides maid as the beautiful Freeburg owned machine was a rock solid second. Current high point leader, Greg Galligan showed why he will be tough to beat during the second half of the year as he once again registered a good finish by coming home third with Mike Hilfiger fourth and Ken Peoples Sr. rounding the top five. Alan Crooker was next across the line in sixth, Ed Mills was seventh, Brett Flint was eighth, Mark Costa ninth and Mike Whritenour finished tenth. Earlier evening qualifying heat race wins were claimed by Galligan and Brett Flint

The S&W Awards and Photos Warriors ran their feature event earlier in the evening and once again it was Derek Mills standing in victory lane. For Mills this makes five wins in six starts, however it did not come easy as with one lap remaining and the leaders working turns one and two, Mills who was third at the time was able to clear some contact by the race leading machines of Bryce Davis and Tom Austin Jr. and bring the Ray Hyer machine home for the win and the double points that went along with it. Some ten cars were in attendance for the Warrior feature as the class continues to grow in numbers and popularity.

The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks were in full force as twenty-eight cars jammed the Woodhull staging area with Joe Dgien, Henry Miracle, and Dan Gordon picking-up qualifying heat race wins as Gene Galligan won the Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race. It took a few early race yellows to sort out the field, but when things did get under motion second generation pilot, Nate Dunning from Lindley charged to the front and never looked back as he found himself in victory lane for the second time in 2004. With the popular win, Dunning becomes the first repeat feature winner in the Street Stock Class at Woodhull in 2004. Cliff Moss, who was able to break clear of a heavy pack of cars tried to run Dunning down in the late going but had to settle for a well deserved runner-up finish as Dan Gordon finished third. The Williams brothers staged a torrid battle all race long with younger brother, Steve holding off his older brother, Mike to finish fourth and fifth respectively. From there on back it was a blanket finish as Dave Gee led the next group of five across the line including 2004 feature winners, Ken Thomas, Ron Divens. and Dave Davis with Joe Dgien rounding out the top ten. Last but not least the Signs Plus Mini Stocks were next to tackle the famous Woodhull Raceway high banks as thirty-one of the mighty four cylinders were on hand requiring four qualifying heat races won by Tom Stewart, Brian Butler, Dennis Erdmann, and Ray Hyer. Jeff Stone won the consi. In their twenty lap feature event it looked as though veteran competitor, Tom Stewart was on cruise control as he was comfortably driving to his first victory of the year when disaster struck. While in lap traffic, Stewart and another vehicle made contact forcing a yellow and sending both cars to the rear. Josh Mills was second at the time then inherited the lead which he never relinquished as he cruised to his second feature event win of the year. Two time feature winner, Bill Shea closed in on Mills as the laps wound down, but had to settle for second with Brian Grant, Ryan Davenport and Chad Dickerson rounding the top five. Art Goodier, back at Woodhull for the first time after several years of semi-retirement showed that he has not lost his touch by finishing sixth, Tom Stewart rallied from the rear to earn a well deserved seventh, Lynn Burrell was eighth, Adam Austin ninth and Bill VanEtten finished tenth.

One hundred twelve cars jammed the Woodhull Raceway pit area and a huge crowd was on hand to witness the action.

Next week it will be the Jim Williams Independence Day Trophy Races and Fireworks Extravaganza with Wades Building Supply providing the nightly sponsorship. It all starts at 4:30 with a Woodhull Volunteer Fire Department Chicken Bar-B-Q. A “Fan”tastic Five Card of events will make up the show with regular distance features in all classes. Then after dark Woodhull will light up the sky with the largest fireworks show in the northeast featuring a fully electronic ground effects show capped off by a one-thousand rocket grand finale. The Woodhull Raceway, the Greatest Show on Dirt at the Best Track in the Country



DIRT 358 Modifieds

Heats Stacy Jackson Steve Hartman Jr. Dale Welty

B-main Steve Mullen

25 Lap Feature Steve Hartman Sr., Billy VanPelt, Dale Welty, Stacy Jackson, Bob Davis, Aaron Jacobus, Curt VanPelt, Lyle Sherwood, Dave Dubois, Mike Jackson



NAPA Super Stocks

Heats Greg Galligan Brett Flint

20 Lap Feature Greg Galligan, Glenn Whritenour, Greg Crooker, Mike Hilfiger, Ken Peoples Sr., Alan Crooker, Ed Mills, Brett Flint, Mark Costa, Mike Whritenour



Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks

Heats Joe Dgien Henry Miracle Dan Gordon

Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race Gene Galligan

20 Lap Feature Nate Dunning, Cliff Moss, Dan Gordon, Steve Williams, Mike Williams, David Gee, Ken Thomas, Ron Divens, Dave Davis, Joe Dgien



Signs Plus Mini Stocks

Heats Tom Stewart Brian Butler Dennis Erdmann Ray Hyer

Consi Jeff Stone

20 lap feature Josh Mills, Bill Shea, Brian Grant, Ryan Davenport, Chad Dickerson, Art Goodier, Tom Stewart, Lynn Burrell, Adam Austin, Bill VanEtten



S&W Awards and Photos Warriors

10 lap feature Derek Mills