VANPELT DOUBLES UP AT WOODHULL. MILLS, FLINT, DUNNING AND MILLS ALSO HIT PAY DIRT.
For the second consecutive week, Billy VanPelt showed why he has been one of the top guns at the Woodhull Raceway for well over a decade. For the second time in as many weeks, the Harrison Valley, Pa, speedster had to start from the rear after an early race altercation which saw his Ted White Racing Bicknell swept up in a turn three melee. VanPelt then put on one of his patented driving clinics as he charged from dead last to take the lead at the three-quarter mark of the twenty-five lap feature event and never look back. For VanPelt it capped off a great weekend as he finished second the night before at Afton and in victory lane a jubilant Billy VanPelt praised his hard working pit crew for putting in the necessary time to prepare the car for Saturday nights action at Woodhull. Like VanPelt, it was a mirror performance for Steve Hartman Jr. who once again had to settle for the runner-up position after taking the lead away from Mike Jackson in the early going and looked like the man to beat. However, VanPelt was not to be denied as he took full advantage of some very timely yellow flags to keep Hartman and the rest of the leaders in his sights. At the checkered flag, the top two finishers had distanced themselves from the rest of the field as “Stunning” Frank Dunning led the charge of third on back. Mike Jackson did have to settle for fourth after a great run in the early going as the veteran competitor of many years at Woodhull, Don Lawson put in his best performance of 2004 by rounding out the top five. Roger Williams once again put on a steady drive to lead the second group of five across the line as he was followed by Stacey Jackson, Curt VanPelt, Kevin Chilson, and Donnie Lawson. Qualifying heats were picked-up by Steve Hartman Sr., Aaron Jacobus and Lyle Sherwood.
There was definitely a full moon over Woodhull as the NAPA Super Stock twenty lap feature event was plagued with numerous cautions. Brett Flint of Addison had suffered through one of his most frustrating seasons this year at Woodhull as the veteran competitor just could not get the handle on his Kevin Chilson owned Super Stock, however Flint was not going to be denied the win as he jumped out into the lead from his front row starting position and throughout the barrage of yellow flags was able to keep the rest of the field at bay. Kenny Peoples Sr., starting seventh on the grid and was very methodical in working his way through heavy traffic all race long to claim the runner-up finish as Mike Whritenour finished third, Greg Galligan fourth and current high point man, Greg Crooker fifth. Last weeks feature event winner, Mike Hilfiger was sixth, Mark Costa seventy, Rich Marlatt eighth, Kyle Lefelhoc ninth and Ed Mills tenth. Qualifying heats were won by Rich Marlatt and Alan Crooker.
Earlier in the evening the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors took to the high banks of Woodhull for their ten lap feature event as ten of the youngsters took the opening green flag and for the sixth time in eight starts, Derek Mills found victory lane as he coasted to an easy win. His step-brother, Tom Austin Jr. had to settle for second, Mike Jackson was third, last weeks winner, Shane Pickering was fourth and Joe Dgien rounded out the top five.
For years the Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks have been the talk of the race community in the Twin Tiers. The rules structure keeps the competition ultra competitive with no one driver dominating the action. Well, no one must have told Rookie driver, Nate Dunning that as for the third time in 2004 he found victory lane. Jeff Smith led in the early going and looked like he would win his first of the year, however one small bobble by Smith allowed Chris Friends to take over the lead which he never relinquished until lap twelve when Dunning sailed by and cruised to the win and leaving everyone else scratching their heads. Dunning, who had a very brief stint in the Mini Stock Division took purchase of a former Lyle Smith Street Stock during the off season and the car has been on a rail ever since Dunning climbed in for the first time and cinched the belts. Friends had his best finish of the year by claiming the second spot at the checkered flag followed by Gordy Price. From third on back it was once again at patented Street Stock blanket finish as Jeff Smith led the charge by finishing fourth and Gary Archer did round out the top five. Dan Gordan was sixth, current high point man, Mike Williams seventh, Ken Thomas eighth, Dave Gee ninth and Rod Mullen tenth. Earlier evening qualifying heat races were won by Phil Hall, Rod Mullen and Jeff Smith.
Last but certainly not least the Signs Plus Mini Stocks were on the speedway for their thirty lap feature. For the Mini’s it was their “Sizzlin” Summer Heats night as the four cylinder brigade was running for heat race money of $50 with wins going to Brooks Leach, Scott Madison and Don Knowles. It was the final extra distance feature event of 2004 for the Signs Plus Mini Stocks and the drivers put on one of the best shows of the night. Josh Mills of Campbell, who will be leaving Woodhull after next weeks action to begin his military obligations once again showed why he won the 2004 Woodhull Raceway Track Championship as he just plain put a good old fashioned butt kicking on the rest of the competition. Mills, who started fifteenth in the twenty five car starting line-up drove through the field like a hot knife through butter and was leading well before the mid way portion. Ryan Davenport was able to move from his twelfth starting spot to take the early lead, however Davenport nor anyone else was going to deny Mills the popular win. Davenport was once again rock solid in his runner-up finish as was Ray Hyer who finished third. Don Knowles had one of his best runs of the year to finish fourth and Bill Shea rallied from an early race altercation to finish fifth. Dennis Erdman led the next group of five across the stripe as he was followed by Brooks Leach, Jason Ketrow who started in twenty-fifth starting position, A.J. Costley and Lynn Burrell.
The Elmira Bottling Group was on had to sponsor the program as they were promoting their Sierra Mist drink beverage and during intermission the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors tossed Mt. Dew Frisbees into the crowd.
Over one hundred cars jammed into the Woodhull pit area, still a good number considering that several Woodhull regulars were vacationing on this Independence Day weekend. Next week Harding Harley Davidson of Corning will sponsor the “Sizzlin” Summer Heats for the Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks as they will run for heat race money of $100 per event and an extra distance feature of thirty laps.
DIRT 358 Modifieds
25 lap Feature Billy VanPelt, Steve Hartman Jr., Frank Dunning, Mike Jackson, Don Lawson, Roger Williams, Stacey Jackson, Curt VanPelt, Kevin Chilson, and Donnie Lawson
Heats Steve Hartman Sr., Aaron Jacobus, Lyle Sherwood
NAPA Super Stocks
20 lap feature Brett Flint, Ken Peoples Sr., Mike Whritenour, Greg Galligan, Greg Crooker, Mike Hilfiger, Mark Costa, Rich Marlatt, Kyle Lefelhoc, Ed Mills
Heats Rich Marlatt, Alan Crooker
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
20 lap feature Nate Dunning, Chris Friends, Gordy Price, Jeff Smith, Gary Archer, Dan Gordan, Mike Williams, Ken Thomas, Dave Gee, Rod Mullen
Heats Phil Hall, Rod Mullen, Jeff Smith
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
30 lap feature Josh Mills, Ryan Davenport, Ray Hyer, Don Knowles, Bill Shea, Dennis Erdman, Brooks Leach, Jason Ketrow, A.J. Costley, Lynn Burrell
Heats Brooks Leach, Scott Madison, Don Knowles
S &W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature Derek Mills, Tom Austin Jr. Mike Jackson, Shane Pickering, Joe Dgien