HARTMAN SR., WHRITENOUR, GORDON, DAVENPORT AND JACKSON ALL VICTORIOUS AT WOODHULL. SPARKS WINS CNYMS THRILLER
On a cool and overcast Saturday night and for the second time in 2004, Steve Hartman Sr. parked the Swartwood Custom Trailers Z8 in Woodhull’s victory lane. However, for the defending Woodhull DIRT 358 Modified Track Champion it certainly did not come easy as the veteran had to use his many years of Modified experience to pick-up the popular win. At the drop of the green for the 25 lap affair, Aaron Jacobus shot out into the lead and looked to be well on his way to his second feature win of the season. For Jacobus, the past two months have been anything but fun as his bad luck had found him in one melee after another. With a number of yellows slowing the event throughout the first half, the field was kept tightly bunched; however Jacobus was able to pull away on each restart. For the past four weeks of racing at Woodhull, Billy VanPelt has been the man to beat and in qualifying heat action it looked as though he would once again be the dominant car. But, two separate incidents within the first half of the feature event found VanPelt going to the rear of the field for being swept up in multi car tangles. Maybe that is the secret of the Ted White Racing operation as once again “The Kid” put on a driving clinic from the back of the pack. Past the midway portion, Jacobus was still comfortably at the point as Steve Hartman Sr. was methodically working his way to the front from his twelfth starting spot. On lap twenty, Hartman had caught Jacobus and the race was on to the checkered flag. With a patented outside move with less than five to go, Hartman was able to take the lead away, however the yellow was displayed one final time on lap twenty-three. That put Dale Welty and Billy VanPelt back into the mix for a two lap dash to the checkered, however Hartman was able to hold off all challengers for his second win of 2004. In victory lane an elated Hartman credited the track preparation crew for providing an absolutely immaculate track for competition. “Inside, outside, in the middle, it didn’t matter as my car worked great anyplace on the track, said a jubilant Steve Hartman Sr”. Jacobus was able to hold on for the runner-up spot, however the high flying Billy VanPelt was able to nip Welty at the line for third as Dale had to settle for fourth with Lyle Sherwood rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Mike Jackson, Brian Swarthout, Stacy Jackson, Dylan Dewert and Roger Williams. Qualifying heats were won by Hartman Sr. VanPelt and Mike Jackson with Dave Dubois winning the consi.
The NAPA Super Stocks twenty lap feature was next on the line and like Steve Hartman St. before him; Glenn Whritenour was also able to hit pay dirt for the second time in the 2004 season. Dubbed, “Mr. Inside” because that is where he usually likes to run, Whritenour was anything but that as he masterfully worked the outside of the high banks to pass Greg Crooker mid-way through the event and never look back. With the racing surface wide open, two, three and even four abreast racing was the norm throughout the event as both Crooker and Whritenour swapped the lead back and forth several times as Brett Flint and Mike Hilfiger joined the front two making it a four car run to the finish. Once Whritenour found a line on the top that was quicker, he was able to hold everyone else at bay to claim the win. Current high point man, Greg Crooker was once again a solid second at the finish followed by Mike Hilfiger, Brett Flint and Rich Marlatt. Greg Galligan led the next group of five across the line followed by Ken Peoples Sr. Mark Costa, Brian Knowles and Alan Crooker. Heats were won by Greg Crooker and Peoples Sr.
Earlier in the night the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors took to the high banked one-third of a mile clay oval for their ten lap feature with yet another new face finding victory lane as Canisteo native, Mike Jackson picked-up his first feature of the season. With a good start, Jackson was able to get into the lead in a hurry and with only one quick yellow to slow the event was able to find victory lane. Driving a very consistent race, an excited Jackson thanked car owner, Brian Grant along with his whole family for making this moment so special. The younger Jackson’s father and grandfather have both been involved in the technical and rescue aspects at Woodhull for many years. Finishing second was Tom Austin Jr. with Bruce Davis third, Joe Dgien fourth and current high point man, Derek Mills fifth.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks here next on the line and once again they did not disappoint the capacity crowd. Twenty-nine cars saw qualifying heat race action with Dan Gordon, Gary Archer and Josh Nobriga all claiming wins. Gordy Price was the winner of the Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race. It was during the 2003 season at Woodhull that Dan Gordon found victory lane on two different occasions, however it had been a different story in 2004 as Gordon has struggled, but on this night the Whitesville, N.Y. speedster was not to be denied as he jumped out into the early lead and never looked back for his first win of the year. Cliff Moss, who had picked-up a feature win a few weeks ago was on the hammer and closing in on Gordon in the late going, but the laps ran out and Moss had to settle for second with Ron Divens third, Gene Galligan fourth and Tony Foth fifth. Dave Gee crossed the line in sixth with current high point man Mike Williams seventh. Ken Thomas. Gordy Price and Rod Mullen rounded out the top ten. The drive of the night had to be by Price who started nineteenth and with only one yellow with just two laps to go moved to ninth at the finish.
The final race of the night was the twenty –four car Signs Plus Mini Stock feature event with yet another first time winner in 2004. Ryan Davenport and his dad Reg make the long haul to Woodhull each week from their Dundee, N.Y. residence because they like the competition and the challenge that Woodhull has to offer. At the drop of the green for the twenty lap feature, veteran driver, Tom Stewart shot out into the early lead and looked to be on cruise control. However, Stewart, who is a master at 4 cylinder, Mini Stock action could hot run and hide from the fast closing Davenport and with just a few laps to go, Davenport was able to set-up Stewart and make a nice inside move out of turn two and go on to claim the win. Stewart did settle for second at the finish followed by Bill Shea, Don Potter and Don Knowles. Chuck Leasure led the charge of the next five across the line with A.J. Costley in seventh, Brooks Leach eighth, Art Goodier ninth and Warren Buck tenth. Qualifying heats were won by Potter, Davenport and Leasure.
The Central New York Mini Sprints also made their annual trek to the Woodhull Raceway with twenty cars seeing action and picking-up the twenty lap feature event it was Cory Sparks with James Kiser finishing second, Brent Hockenberry was third followed by Patrick Kuerner and James Tomlinson. Heat races were won by Mike Emhof and Tomlinson.
Covered Wagon and Finger Lakes Tours along with Pollio Dairy Products were the nightly event sponsors with plenty of give-a-ways for the fans. Once again over 120 cars jammed into the Woodhull pit area for the night of race action.
Next week it’s the 14 th Annual Late Model Reunion at the Woodhull Raceway in addition to a regular “Fan”-tastic Five Card of events. S&W Awards and Photos of Painted Post along with Mullen Carpets in Almond will sponsor the show
Results, Saturday August 7, 2004
DIRT 358 Modifieds
Heats Steve Hartman Sr. Billy VanPelt Mike Jackson Consi. Dave Dubois
25 lap feature 1) Steve Hartman Sr. 2) Aaron Jacobus 3) Billy VanPelt 4) Dale Welty 5) Lyle Sherwood 6) Mike Jackson 7) Brian Swarthout 8) Stacy Jackson 9) Dylan Dewert 10) Roger Williams
NAPA Super Stocks
Heats Greg Crooker Ken Peoples Sr.
20 lap feature 1) Glenn Whritenour 2) Greg Crooker 3) Mike Hilfiger 4) Brett Flint 5) Rich Marlatt 6) Greg Galligan 7) Ken Peoples Sr. 8) Mark Costa 9) Brian Knowles 10) Alan Crooker
S&W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature 1) Mike Jackson 2) Tom Austin Jr. 3) Bryce Davis 4) Joe Dgien 5) Derek Mills
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
Heats Dan Gordon Gary Archer Josh Nobriga Consi. Gordy Price
20 lap feature 1) Dan Gordon 2) Cliff Moss 3) Ron Davies 4) Gene Galligan 5) Tony Foth 6) Dave Gee 7) Mike Williams 8) Ken Thomas 9) Gordy Price 10) Rod Mullen
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
Heats Don Potter Ryan Davenport Chuck Leasure
20 lap feature 1) Ryan Davenport 2) Tom Stewart 3) Bill Shea 4) Don Potter 5) Don Knowles 6) Chuck Leasure 7) A.J. Costley 8) Brooks Leach 9) Art Goodier 10) Warren Buck
Central New York Mini Sprints
Heats Mike Emhof James Tomlinson
20 lap feature 1) Cory Sparks 2) James Kisher 3) Brent Hockenbury 4) Patrick Kuerner 5) James Tomlinson