VANPELT MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW AT WOODHULL. CROOKER, MOSS MILLS AND KNOWLES ALSO FIND VICTORY LANE

For Billy VanPelt and the crew it was a whirlwind past four days as the Ted White Racing operation hit the road for a series of events which started on Wednesday at Afton with a good showing in the Turning Stone 100 lap Super Dirt Series race and ended last night with a victory at Woodhull. For the Harrison Valley, Pa. speedster it was his third consecutive trip to victory lane and when interviewed an exhausted VanPelt praised his car owner and hard working crew for making it possible for him to be victorious as the crew had to change motors during the day on Saturday. However, as it always seems to be at Woodhull, feature wins are not easy and tonight’s drive by VanPelt was no different with the turning point of the 25 lap feature event coming on lap five when a track blocking melee in turn four collected no less than eight of the top running cars. VanPelt, who had positioned himself at the top of the raceway entering turn three, was just barely able to squeeze by and it was that heads up move, coupled with one in the mid portion of the event which may well have earned VanPelt the win. Donnie Lawson, fresh off of his first ever 358 Modified feature event win the night prior at the Red Line Raceway jumped out into the early lead and was challenged by his father, Don for the first few laps. With the lengthy red flag on lap five to clear the track, the father/son Lawson duo was able to once again lead the charge as VanPelt was now in the top five and closing on the leaders. Dylan Dewert, who was running third at the time could not slow VanPelt as the multi-time Woodhull Raceway Track Champion was going to the front as his older brother, Curt had also cleared Dewert and was now into the top five. A couple of quick yellows for spinning cars kept the Lawson’s along with the VanPelts all nose to tail, but it wasn’t until the three quarter mark that “The Kid” took the lead and never looked back. By lap eighteen, Curt VanPelt was in second spot was never able to mount a challenge to his brother and as the checkered flag waved, it was a car owners dream as the two Ted White Racing machines had finished one/two. Dale Welty once again very methodically used his head and saved his tires and was able to finish a rock solid third in the Larry Kennison owned machine as early race leader, Donnie Lawson had to settle for fourth with Dylan Dewert putting on a steady performance to round out the top five finishers. Steve Hartman Jr. recovered from a lap one incident to finish in the sixth position and for Hartman Jr. it was nothing short of a brilliant run from the rear as the second generation pilot made good use of timely yellow’s and a fast race car to crack the top six. Kevin Chilson continues to improve as he led the next group across the line followed by Steve Hartman Sr., Don Lawson and Tom Austin.. Hartman Sr. along with Austin were involved in early to mid race skirmished but were able to recover and finish in the top ten. Qualifying heat wins were picked up by Stacey Jackson, Steve Hartman Sr., and Curt VanPelt with Steve Swarthout winning the 12 lap B-Main.

In the NAPA Super Stock Division a strong field of seventeen cars took to the high banks of Woodhull for their 20 lap feature event with very few yellow flags slowing the affair. Current high point man, Greg Crooker had not seen victory lane at Woodhull in almost two months, however he was not to be denied on this night as he was quick to get to the lead and held off numerous challenges by both Glenn Whritenour and Rich Marlatt. Whritenour was the first to pressure Crooker as the two put on a terrific battle for the lead for the first half of the event. The second half of the feature found Rich Marlatt literally pushing Crooker around the one-third of a mile clay oval, but as the checkered flag waved it was Greg Crooker in victory lane for the third time in 2004 as Marlatt had to settle for a very close second, his best run by far this year. Glenn Whritenour was third with Kyle Lefelhoc fourth and Mike Hilfiger fifth. Ken Peoples was sixth, Mick Seeley seventh, Ed Mills eighth, Mike Whritenour ninth and Mark Costa tenth. Heat wins went to Rich Marlatt and Glenn Whritenour.

Earlier in the evening the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors ran their 10 lap feature event with nine of the youngsters in competition and with only one very quick yellow flag it was Derek Mills charging from last to first to take his seventh win of the year and stretch out his point lead. Throughout the first half of the event it appeared as though Michelle Kurtz would win her first event of the year as she drove a great race with little or no challengers. However, just past the half way point, Mills moved in to challenge and after a two lap dice with Kurtz was able to take the lead and go on for the win. Shane Pickering, who had won two weeks prior, was out in a brand new machine and came on late to finish second. Tom Austin Jr. rallied for third with early race leader, Michelle Kurtz finishing fourth. Brett Marlatt founded out the top five finishers.

The Signs plus Mini Stocks made their way to the Woodhull high banks as qualifying heat races were won by A.J. Costley, Don Knowles, and Bill Shea with Chuck Leisure winning the consolation event. Until tonight’s event, Don Knowles had never visited Wood hull’s victory lane and the Harrison Valley, Pa. resident was not going to be denied as he took off into the early lead, survived just a few brief yellow flags and parked the “Plum Crazy” #81 in victory circle. Youngster, Brian Butler continues to impress in his rookie season as the sixteen year old Hornell native drove a strong race to finish in the runner-up position as he was followed across the line by Josh Mills, Bill Shea and Chuck Leisure. Ryan Davenport was the leader of the second group of five finishers as he was trailed by Lynn Burrell, Jason Ketrow. Brooks Leach and Dennis Erdmann. For Mills, the third place finish capped off a great career for the recent high school graduate who now has to turn in his racing helmet for a pilot’s helmet as the third generation driver will now embark on a career as a Navy pilot

Last, but certainly not least the Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks had their Sizzlin Summer Heats with Cliff Moss, Gordy Price and Jerry Buckley each picking up an extra $100 for their efforts as thirty cars were in competition. Josh Nobriga was victorious in the Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race and in their 30 lap feature event it was Canisteo native, Cliff Moss hitting pay dirt for the first time at Woodhull in several years and with the popular win his name is added to the list of 2004 feature event winners who are now qualified for the season ending Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock Race of Champions event. For Moss it was basically a Sunday drive on Saturday night as once in the lead, Moss cruised to the win. Jerry Buckley was the second car across the line with Gordy Price, Ken Thomas and Mike Williams rounding the top five finishers. Ron Divens was sixth, Dave Davis seventh, Tony Foth in his best finish of the year in eighth as Chris Friends and Phil hall rounded out the top ten

Jeff Harding and his staff of Harding Harley Davidson were onboard to sponsor the show with a huge display of 2004 Harley Davidson Motorcycles. In addition, Harding representatives dished out lots of give-a-way items for the thousands of fans in attendance. Some 112 cars representing all of Woodhull’s “Fan”tastic Five classes of competition jammed the pit area. Next Saturday, Hooker Enterprises will present the Sizzlin Summer Heats for the DIRT 358 Modifieds as the small blocks will compete for heat race money of $500 per event. Also, a 40 lap Syracuse Qualifying spot is on the line and this event will be the second in a series of three 40 lap feature events in 2004 for the Mod Squad as there is an additional point fund of $5,000 to be split up among the top ten. Make your plans now to be a part of the greatest show on dirt at the best track in the country, the Woodhull Raceway.

Woodhull Raceway Race Summary July 10, 2004

DIRT 358 Modifieds

Heats Stacey Jackson Steve Hartman Sr. Curt VanPelt

B-Main Steve Swarthout

25 lap Feature 1) Billy VanPelt, 2) Curt VanPelt, 3) Dale Welty, 4) Donnie Lawson, 5) Dylan Dewert, 6)Steve Hartman Jr., 7) Kevin Chilson, 8) Steve Hartman Sr., 9) Don Lawson, 10) Tom Austin

NAPA Super Stocks

Heats Rich Marlatt Glenn Whritenour

20 lap Feature 1) Greg Crooker, 2) Rich Marlatt, 3) Glenn Whritenour, 4) Kyle Lefelhoc, 5) Mike Hilfiger, 6) Ken Peoples Sr., 7) Mick Seeley, 8) Ed Mills, 9) Mike Whritenour, 10) Mark Costa

Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks

Heats Cliff Moss Gordy Price Jerry Buckley

Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race Josh Nobriga

30 lap Feature 1) Cliff Moss, 2) Jerry Buckley, 3) Gordy Price, 4) Ken Thomas, 5) Mike Williams, 6) Ron Divens, 7) Dave Davis, 8) Tony Foth, 9) Chris Friends, 10) Phil Hall

Signs Plus Mini Stocks

Heats A.J. Costley Don Knowles Bill Shea

Consi. Chuck Leasure

20 lap Feature 1) Don Knowles, 2) Brian Butler, 3) Josh Mills, 4) Bill Shea, 5) Chuck Leasure, 6) Ryan Davenport, 7) Lynn Burrell, 8) Jason Ketrow, 9) Brooks Leach, 10) Dennis Erdmann

S&W Awards and Photos Warriors

10 lap Feature 1) Derek Mills, 2) Shane Pickering, 3) Tom Austin Jr., 4) Michelle Kurtz, and 5) Brett Marlatt