BILLY VANPELT, GREG GALLIGAN, NATE DUNNING, BRIAN GRANT AND SHANE PICKERING ALL VICTORIOUS AT WOODHULL.
It has been an incredible four week run for Billy VanPelt as once again the Harrison Valley, Pa. speedster was victorious at the Woodhull Raceway. The Cantina Restaurant along with the Pembrooke Pines Media Group were on board as the nightly event sponsors with literally hundreds of give-a-way prizes for the fans and beautifully engraved plaques and custom made trophies were handed out to the feature winners. Not only was it his fourth straight feature win at the historic one-third of a mile clay oval, but this one was the biggie as it guarantees the Ted White Racing Team a return engagement to Syracuse as once again VanPelt will represent the Woodhull Raceway during Super DIRT Week in October on the Moody Mile. By virtue of the draw/redraw, Donnie Lawson and Curt VanPelt led the twenty-four car field to the green for the start of the forth lap affair. Billy VanPelt, who started mid pack was moving very steadily through the field as nearly one-third of the race was run before the first yellow of the night was displayed. At the half way mark, Curt VanPelt was the leader and being chased by his younger brother as the two veterans masterfully worked lap traffic, but after making a well timed pass of his older brother and former Mr. DIRT Champion Curt, Billy was on his way and never really challenged throughout the closing laps. Only three yellow flags slowed the event with terrific competition throughout the entire field. By the time that the checkered waved ending the forth lap grind, most of the heavy hitters had worked their way into the top ten including last years Woodhull Track Champion, Steve Hartman who finished third, Dale Welty in another steady drive finished fourth with Steve Hartman Jr. rounding out the top five . Pole sitter, Donnie Lawson held on for sixth, but the drive of the race was by Ford competitor, Bob Davis. It had been a very frustrating year for Davis who was still trying to shake the bugs out of a new Teo Pro Car. Having to qualify through the B-Main, Davis and crew made the necessary changes in the car and after starting twentieth on the field he very methodically worked his way into a solid seventh place finish. Lyle Sherwood, after running within the top five all race long faded to eighth as Dylan Dewert and Stacy Jackson rounded the top ten. Earlier evening qualifying heat races along with the five hundred dollars that went along with them were won by Hartman Sr., Aaron Jacobus and Billy VanPelt. For Ted White Racing it was another big night as his team car were once again one/two
The NAPA Super Stocks were out in full force on this night as nineteen of the classy looking machines took to the high banks in their twenty lap feature. For most of the race it looked as though Rich Marlatt was going to pick-up his first feature of the year having kept all challengers at bay. Unfortunately for Rich and the Charlie McGregor led team the bad luck which has plagued the team all season happened again as while in front a drive line problem forced Marlatt our of competition and virtually handed the lead and the win to last years Rookie of the Year, Greg Galligan. For Galligan it has been an up and down season as on some nights the car has been dominate and then on other nights it has been anything but. However, in victory lane a very excited Greg Galligan commented on how the hard work in car maintenance and preparation was beginning to pay big dividends. For Galligan, it was his third trip to victory lane in 2004 and will move him up the ladder in the point standings. Kyle Lefelhoc was second as the checkered flag was waved, by far his best finish ever and for the Mansfield, Pa. speedster it is just a matter of time before he finds victory lane. A steady drive by Mike Hilfiger netted him a fine third place finish as Mark Costa and pole sitter, Mick Seeley finished fourth and fifth respectfully. Current high point man, Greg Crooker led the charge of the next group of five finishers as he was followed across the line by Glenn Whritenour, Ken Peoples Sr., Brian Knowles and Bob Lubberts. Qualifiers were picked-up by Glenn Whritenour and Kyle Lefelhoc.
Earlier in the evening the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors were on the track for their ten lap feature event and for the second time in 2004, Shane Pickering came home victorious; however it did not come without a challenge. Last weeks feature winner, Michelle Kurtz took the lead in the early going and was poised to win her second feature of the year, however as the laps wound down, Pickering was able to close in on the race leader and after a spirited battle he took the lead and went on to the win. After having possibly become the first ever female to win a feature event during Woodhull’s 40year history, Michelle Kurtz capped off last weeks popular victory with a great second place run as Bryce Davis, Brett Marlatt and Tom Austin Jr. rounded out the top five. In all, ten Warriors were in action with current high point man, Derek Mills falling out early with a flat tire.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks were next on the speedway wit something very strange going on in this class in 2004. Rookie driver, Nate Dunning was supposed to use this as a learning year. History will tell you that this class is perhaps the toughest of all that Woodhull has to offer with numerous different winners, very seldom a repeat winner or track champion, and rarely a dominating car or driver. Well no one must have told Nate Dunning that as for the fourth time in 2004 he used poise and savvy to methodically work his way towards the front and using a well timed yellow flag to his advantage was able to move into the lead after the half way point and never look back. Early race leader, Dave Gee lead throughout most of the event but could not hold off the challenge of the high flying Dunning and had to settle for a well deserved second place finish as current high point man and last years Track Champion, Mike Williams was third. Ron Divens who continues to impress after his return to Woodhull this year in a Street Stock was a solid fourth with his Hornby, N.Y. neighbor, Jerry Buckley finishing fifth. Sixth through tenth were Gordy Price, Dave Davis, Jessica Pierce, Tony Foth and Phil Hall. For female competitor, Pierce it was by far her best run of her rookie season as the sixteen year old started outside the front row, ran within the top three most of the race and faded near the end. For Pierce and her father, Todd Burgess it was the first time at Woodhull that a father and daughter had ever competed against each other in the same division with daughter winning round one. Heat races were won by Ken Thomas, Tony Foth and Dave Gee with Brian Austin claiming the Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race.
Last but certainly not least the mighty Signs Plus Mini Stocks were on the high banks for their twenty lap feature event and Hollywood could have not scripted a better race. Brian Grant has been racing in the Mini Stock Division since it’s inception at Woodhull well over a decade ago. Through the good times and the bad he has stayed in the class which he loves and can afford. During that time he has received every award conceivable with one exception, a Woodhull Raceway Track Championship. 2004 has not been the greatest of seasons for the popular Cameron Mills driver as mechanical problems early in the year and a couple of tough finished have found him fighting an uphill battle. However, on this night “Corky” was not to be denied as he went to the point early, held off a late race challenge by Bill Shea and picked-up a huge win... With the laps closing, it appeared as though Shea, who was in Tom Stewart’s car for the feature was poised to take the lead and the win, however it was not meant to be as Shea tried a bold inside move on Grant in the closing laps with the two making slight contact and Shea spinning into the infield grass. From there it was cruise control for Grant as Ryan Davenport couldn’t find the horses to challenge for the win. Davenport, who makes the long haul from Dundee to compete at Woodhull each week did settle for second as Chuck Leasure was third, Art Goodier fourth and Bob Thompson in his first outing was fifth and as always you could throw a blanket over the top five. Brooks Leach rallied late in the race to finish sixth with Laverne Knickerboker III in only his second outing at Woodhull this year having a great race for seventh. Don Knowles, “Mudslide” Bob Stewart was ninth and Travis Keim rounded out the top ten. Heat races went to Tom Stewart, Brain Grant and Chuck Leasure.
Once again some one-hundred ten cars jammed the Woodhull pit area with a 50/50 of over $1,800. Woodhull Raceway was proud to welcome back nationally syndicated radio personality; Dakota Leeann Summers as she was a part of the Pembrooke Pines Media Group who helped co-sponsor the event. Like last year, Dakota was a huge hit with the fans and as a special promotion during intermission she along with Mike Williams of WOKN in Elmira and Mike Sweet of the Cantina staged a three car dash with Williams, i.e. “The Radio Cowboy” coming out victorious. All in all it was another huge night at Woodhull as next week the track will wrap up the month of July with the final “Sizzlin Summer Heats” of the year with the NAPA Super Stocks running for heat race money in the form of $250 and an added purse for their 40 lap feature. It’s all sponsored by the Pollio Dairy of Campbell. Also on the card the Mid State Vintage Antique Cars will make their annual trek to Woodhull with their event sponsored by the L.J. Kennedy Trucking Company. The Woodhull Raceway, it’s the Greatest Show on Dirt at the Best Track in the Country.
Race Results
DIRT 358 Modifieds
Heats Steve Hartman Sr. Aaron Jacobus Billy VanPelt
B-Main Chuck Kennison
40 lap Syracuse qualifier. 1) Billy VanPelt 2) Curt VanPelt 3) Steve Hartman Sr. 4) Dale Welty 5) Steve Hartman Jr. 6) Donnie Lawson 7) Bob Davis 8) Lyle Sherwood 9) Dylan Dewert 10) Stacey Jackson
NAPA Super Stocks
Heats Glenn Whritenour Kyle Lefelhoc
20 lap feature 1) Greg Galligan 2) Kyle Lefelhoc 3) Mike Hilfiger 4) Mark Costa 5) Mick Seeley 6) Greg Crooker 7) Glenn Whritenour 8) Kenny Peoples 9) Brian Knowles 10) Bob Lubberts
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
Heats Ken Thomas Tony Foth David Gee
Consi Brian Austin
20 lap feature 1) Nate Dunning 2) David Gee 3) Mike Williams 4) Ron Divens 5) Jerry Buckley 6) Gordy Price 7) Dave Davis 8) Jessica Pierce 9) Tony Foth 10) Phil Hall
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
Heats Tom Stewart Brian Grant Chuck Leasure
20 lap feature 1) Brian Grant 2) Ryan Davenport 3) Chuck Leasure 4) Art Goodier 5) Bob Thompson 6) Brooks Leach 7)Laverne Knickerbox III 8) Don Knowles 9) Bob Stewart 10) Travis Keim
S&W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature 1) Shane Pickering 2) Michelle Kurtz 3) Bryce Davis 4) Brett Marlatt 5) Tom Austin Jr.