JACOBUS, CLOSE, HILFIGER, BUCKLEY, MILLS AND DAVENPORT ALL WOODHULL RACEWAY FEATURE EVENT WINNERS.
With the huge grandstand seating area at the Woodhull Raceway once again jammed full of excited spectators and the enormous pit area packed with 130 race cars, it was the biggest race night of the 2004 season at the Woodhull Raceway as the Super Late Models made their 14th Annual appearance on the high banks. The nightly event was sponsored in part by S&W Awards and Photos along with Mullen Carpets. The show got off to a rip roaring start with Shannon Smith sending chills up and down the spines of everyone in attendance with her outstanding rendition of the National Anthem. Then some thirty DIRT 358 Modifieds were called to the speedway for their qualifying heat races. With the point races starting to dwindle and with five bonus points to win each heat race, everyone was racing hard to claim the eight lap qualifiers. Lyle Sherwood picked-up heat race one with Aaron Jacobus and Billy VanPelt also nailing down heat wins. “Fast” Freddy Amann in Steve Hartman Sr.’s backup machine made his first appearance of 2004 at Woodhull and convincingly won the twelve lap B-Main event. Twenty-four of the best DIRT 358 Modifieds in the northeast then put it all on the line in their twenty-five lap feature event. Several cautions for minor spins and small melee’s slowed the pace in the early going with the only major problem coming hear the lap ten mark with a hard crash in turn one involving several cars. The red flag had to be displayed while track personnel cleared the speedway and it was back to action. Aaron Jacobus of Lindley has had a bitter/sweet season thus far with the MetLife 2j machine having won a feature event earlier in the season, led several others but unfortunately was caught up in numerous altercations many of which were not of his own doing, just bad timing. However, the past few weeks Jacobus has been on fire and tonight he was not to be denied as he wasted little time moving to the front and completely dominated the entire event. Lyle Sherwood, who has also had more than his share of problems in 2004 after winning two feature events in the early going was back in form as he was the only car to give the high flying Jacobus any competition and that came I the very late going. However when the checkers dropped ending the twenty-five lap affair it was Jacobus picking-up his second feature event of the year with Sherwood in tow. Perhaps the best side by side battle of the night was for third and fourth between the VanPelt brothers as Billy was able to wrestle the final podium spot away from his older brother Curt with Bob Davis rounding out the top five. In the late going Davis was perhaps the fastest car on the track having run down the top four cars, but the laps ran out on the Ford powered speedster. Last weeks feature winner, Steve Hartman Sr. led the charge of the next five across the Chilson/Wilcox Start/Finish Line followed by Mike Jackson, Donnie Lawson, Steve Hartman Jr. and Jamie Swarthout. Swarthout, in one of his rare appearances of the year made it into the top ten for the first time this season.
The NAPA Super Stocks were in full force once again with heat races going to Rich Marlatt and Greg Crooker. In a twenty lap feature which saw very few yellow flags, Mike Hilfiger drove to the front in a big hurry and like Jacobus before him was virtually unchallenged for the remainder of the distance. With the lack of yellows to bunch the field, current high point man, Greg Crooker had to rely on speed and driving ability to work his way through traffic as he was able to make it as far as second and ran out of time as he was able to hold off a rapidly closing Greg Galligan. Maybe the best battle throughout the entire event was for fourth and fifth as Brett Flint and Larry Knowles waged a torrid battle for the spot with neither driver giving way, but at the checkered it was Flint holding off the multi-time Woodhull Track Champ. Mark Costa once again showed why he has been labeled “Mr. Steady” as he drove a solid race to finish sixth with Rich Marlatt, Alan Crooker, Brian Knowles and Bob Clark chasing him to the finish line. A major news announcement about the NAPA Super Stocks will be made in an upcoming press release regarding the season ending, September 18 Full Fendered Frenzy program at Woodhull.
Earlier in the program the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors took to the Woodhull high banks in their ten lap feature event with ten of the young men and women once again putting on a terrific show, but as he has done so many times this season, Derek Mills once again let his experience do the talking as he methodically worked his was from the back to the front and walked away with the win. For Mills tonight made the third different car in which he has won with this year as he piloted the Chuck Leasure machine to victory lane. Brett Marlatt was able to hold on for the runner-up position followed by Michelle Kurtz, Shane Pickering and Mike Jackson. In two weeks, Tom and Ida Austin of Team 88a Racing will present plaques to all of the kids in competition.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks were next on the card with qualifying heats going to Joe Dgien, Dan Gordon and Dave Gee. Thus far in 2004, Jerry Buckley has had a fast hot rod, but with one problem after another has not been able to hit his stride. That was not the case this week as Buckley was able to wrestle the lead away from then leader, Dave Morter with just two laps to go and pick up the win. Twenty-seven cars took the initial green with once again very few yellow flags slowing the event, however the scare of the night came in the very late going as when the gaggle of cars running mid-pack entered turn three, the throttle on Brian Austin’s machine stuck wide open. Unable to slow, Austin pile drived into the rear of Dan Gordon’s machine sending both machines off the speedway with Austin’s car tumbling out of sight. The race was immediately red flagged as rescue workers fled to the scene. Upon arrival, Austin jumped from his heavily damaged machine to the delight of the fans. When the race returned to green, Chuck Pruden looked like he would win the event, however the most bizarre situation occurred with just a few laps to go. First, Pruden had a right front tire go down spoiling a great run. On the restart, Dave Morter took control, but Ron Divens was positioning himself to take the lead when he had a right rear part company with his beautiful Monte Carlo. On the final restart, Bucklkey was on the rear bumper of Morter and as the two took the parallel flags Buckley was able to get by and pick-up the win. Morter finished second with Cliff Moss finishing third, but the drive of the night was by sixteen year old rookie competitor, Jessica Pierce as she was able to nail down her first top five finish of the year by claiming fourth with Gordy Price rounding the top five. Six thru ten were Ken Thomas, who started last, Gene Galligan, Tony Foth, Jeff Smith and David Gee.
The Signs Plus Mini Stocks were next on the track and with twenty-four cars in action it was rush hour traffic throughout the entire twenty lap affair. Last weeks feature winner and current high point man, Ryan Davenport showed why he has been so tough in 2004 as he wasted no time in moving from deep in the field and after taking the lead cruised home for the win. Coupled with an earlier evening heat race win which awards five bonus points, Davenport was able to stretch out his point lead with only three point races remaining including the double point Labor Day Trophy Races. In typical four and sometimes five abreast racing, finishing second was Brian Grant followed by Chuck Leasure, Adam Austin and Bill VanEtten . Brooks Leach led the charge of the next five across the line followed by Scott Madison, Bill Shea, Dennis Erdmann and Todd Burgess. The distance from second thru tenth was less than two seconds. Qualifying heats were won by Mike Smith, Davenport and Leasure.
The Super Late Models made their annual trek to the Woodhull Raceway and the ground pounding, alcohol burners did not disappoint the thousands in attendance as defending champion; Bob Close brought out a new GRT car and dominated the entire night as he won both his heat race and the thirty lap feature event. Jeff Hoffman, who followed Close across the line to finish second in the feature also, was credited with winning heat race number two. Fresh off a big win at McKean last week, Rick Isadore was third in the feature event followed by Chad Rhulman and John Haggerty. Sixth thru tenth were Brent Rheybergen, Kenny Trevits, Mike Wonderling, Travis Asal and John Ritter. Al Brewer was victorious in the four laps, six car Race of Champions event with Steve Hartman Sr. giving the DIRT 358 Modifieds the bragging rights for another year by winning the six cars; ten lap Wades Building Supply Super Late Model/Dirt 358 Modified Dash for Cash.
It was another big night at Woodhull and with the Nextel Cup Race weekend at nearby Watkins Glenn numerous high profile NASCAR media, officials and team members were in attendance with everyone commenting on the superb, dust free racing conditions as well as the overall professionalism of the swiftly run program.
Next week its back to normal with a Regular “Fan”-tastic Five Card of events as the Corning Building Company will be back as the nightly event sponsor. Don’t miss the Greatest Show on Dirt at the Best Track in the Country, The Woodhull Raceway!
DIRT 358 Modifieds
Heats Lyle Sherwood Aaron Jacobus Billy VanPelt
B Main Freddy Amann
25 lap feature 1) Aaron Jacobus, 2) Lyle Sherwood, 3) Billy VanPelt, 4) Curt VanPelt, 5) Bob Davis, 6) Steve Hartman Sr., 7) Mike Jackson, 8) Donnie Lawson, 9) Steve Hartman Jr., 10) Jamie Swarthout
Super Late Model
Heats Bob Close Jeff Hoffman
Race of Champions Al Brewer
30 lap feature 1) Bob Close, 2) Jeff Hoffman, 3) Rick Isadore, 4) Chad Rhuleman, 5) John Haggerty, 6) Brent Rhybergen, 7) Kenny Trevits, 8) Mike Wonderling, 9) Travis Asal, 10) John Ritter
NAPA Super Stocks
Heats Rich Marlatt Greg Crooker
20 lap feature 1) Mike Hilfiger, 2) Greg Crooker, 3) Greg Galligan, 4) Brett Flint, 5) Larry Knowles, 6) Mark Costa, 7) Rich Marlatt, 8) Alan Crooker, 9) Brian Knowles, 10) Bob Clark
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
Heats Joe Dgien Dan Gordon David Gee
20 lap feature 1) Jerry Buckley, 2) David Morter, 3) Cliff Moss, 4) Jessica Pierce, 5) Gordy Price, 6) Ken Thomas, 7) Gene Galligan, 8) Tony Foth, 9) Jeff Smith, 10) David Gee
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
Heats Mike Smith Ryan Davenport Chuck Leasure
20 lap feature 1) Ryan Davenport, 2) Brian Grant, 3) Chuck Leasure, 4) Adam Austin, 5) Bill Van Etten, 6) Brooks Leach, 7) Scott Madison, 8) Bill Shea, 9) Dennis Erdmann, 10) Todd Burgess
S&W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature 1) Derek Mills, 2) Brett Marlatt, 3) Michelle Kurtz, 4) Shane Pickering, 5) Mike Jackson