VANPELT MAKES IT WIN NUMBER FIVE AT WOODHULL. GALLIGAN, MILLS THOMAS AND MADISON ALSO FIND VICTORY LANE
Before the DIRT 358 Modifieds even turned a lap at the Woodhull Raceway to start the 2004 race season, Billy VanPelt had told everyone within shouting distance that this would be his last year of active competition. He even brought his older brother and former MR.DIRT Champion, Curt back to full time competition in an effort to send Ted White Racing out with a real bang. Well, the one/two punch by the brothers VanPelt certainly has gotten the attention of the other drivers and fans as for the third time in 2004 they finished one/two in regular weekly feature action and for the third time it was Billy besting Curt in a real classic battle. At the drop of the green to start the event, Dylan Dewert and Lyle Sherwood led the twenty –four car field to the opening green. By the luck of the redraw, both VanPelt’s started near the front end of the starting grid and quickly were moving to the front. Steve Hartman Sr. was able to take the lead in the early going and looked poised to win his third of 2004, however the two Ted White cars were closing in on Hartman in a hurry. A lap eight yellow bunched the field and on the restart, Billy quickly went by Hartman to take over the point with Curt in tow. Several cautions then slowed the event for the mid portion of the show and near the midpoint of the twenty five lap affair, Curt VanPelt showed why he was a multi time track champion at both Black Rock and Woodhull as he put a nifty inside move on Billy to take the lead and had everyone on their feet. Curt was able to hold onto the lead with Billy making several challenges on the outside and a yellow with only four laps remaining put Dewert back into the game as he and Lyle Sherwood were waging a torrid battle for third and fourth. On the restart, Dewert put a wheel under Billy keeping the Harrison Valley speedster to the high side which may have been advantageous for Billy as on the very next lap coming out of turn four, Curt’s car slipped just a bit in the middle groove and Billy was able to make the pass and go on to his fifth win in 2004. A disappointed Curt VanPelt once again had to play brides maid to his younger brother Billy who in victory lane stated that if it weren’t for that one bobble it would have been his brother in victory lane and not himself. For Billy VanPelt, it lengthened his point lead over Steve Hartman Sr. who finished third and with only two point shows remaining including the Labor Day Weekend double point finale, it appears that VanPelt only keep his nose clean to nail down the 2004 title. At the finish, Lyle Sherwood crossed the line in fourth after a steady run with Mike Jackson rounding out the top five. Dale Welty, in a back-up machine was sixth, Steve Hartman Jr. seventh with Fred Amann, Dylan Dewert and Aaron Jacobus rounding out the top ten. For Dewert it was a real heart breaker as the popular Corning speedster looked poised for a solid top three run only to have the car develop a severe handling problem on the final two laps. Earlier evening qualifying heat race wins went to Hartman Sr., Dewert and Billy VanPelt.
The NAPA Super Stocks were next on the speedway for their regular 20 lap feature event and with a tight point battle all eyes were on the top three point cars throughout the distance. Greg Galligan, who was last years Rookie of the Year recipient and by only loosing the track title by just two points to Larry Knowles felt like he was owed something in 2004. Although it has been somewhat of a rollie coaster ride for Galligan at times, his program has stepped up as of late and he is not a constant threat to win. Galligan did not disappoint the crowd in attendance on this cold August evening as he put his self constructed chassis with MOPAR power between the rails out in front by lap ten and never looked back. For Galligan it was win number four of 2004 and solidifies him solidly into the top three in the championship run. Larry Knowles, after returning to Woodhull only a few weeks ago put on a rock solid performance to take the runner up position followed by current high point man, Greg Crooker, Alan Crooker and Rich Marlatt. Six thru ten were Mike Hilfiger, Glenn Whritenour, Bob Lubberts, Kenny Peoples Sr. and Mark Costa. Heats went to Marlatt and Greg Crooker.
Earlier in the evening the S&W Awards and Warriors were on the track for their ten lap feature event and for the ninth time in 2004 Derek Mills was the man standing in Woodhull’s victory lane as once again he started last and finished first as eight cars took the opening green. In an event which once again saw only one quick caution Mills methodically worked his way through traffic and passed then leader, Joe Dgien on lap six and never looked back. Mike Jackson was able to take over the runner up spot when the checkered flag dropped with Joe Dgien claiming third. Michelle Kurtz finished fourth and Tom Austin Jr. rounded the top five. With the exception of Dgien all of the top five had won feature events entering the night of action.
In the Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock Division, twenty eight cars required three qualifiers with Chuck Pruden, Ken Thomas and Mike Williams all picking up wins and the five bonus points that go with it. Tom Space got the win in the Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race. In their twenty lap feature it was classic street Stock action with three and four abreast competition throughout the entire field all race long with numerous drivers showing muscle at the head of the class, however when all was said an done, current high point man and Hornby resident, Ken Thomas has put his Monte Carlo into Woodhull’s Victory lane and with the bonus points for his heat win is now solidly at the top of the heap with only two point shows remaining. A jubilant Thomas is victory lane gave all the credit to his family and crew for the win as it was his second trip to victory circle this year. Dave Davis drove a brilliant race, showing the right front to Thomas several times but had to settle for second with Dan Gordan, Brian Austin and Gordy Price capping the top five. For Austin it was unbelievable that he was even in competition as the car was tore-up badly in a violent multi time flip just one week ago. Jeff Smith led the charge of the next five across the line followed by Cliff Moss, Ron Divens, Jerry Buckley and Rod Mullen.
Last but certainly not least the Signs Plus Mini Stocks were on the high banks of Woodhull for their twenty lap feature as earlier in the evening three heat races were run to determine the starting lineup with wins going to Don Knowles, Brian Grant and Tom Stewart. Don Knowles had visited victory lane at Woodhull earlier in the season and was poised to make a return engagement as he jumped into the early lead and was able to keep everyone at bay. Numerous cautions slowed the event all race long keeping the field tightly bunched and allowing the top three point contenders to keep the leaders within striking distance as Ryan Davenport, Bill Shea and Corky Grant were slowly moving to the front. One final caution with only a couple of laps to go put then second place runner, Scott Madison on the rear deck lid of Knowles and as the white flag was displayed Knowles bobbled a bit coming off of turn two allowing Madison to gain momentum. As the leaders were working the final set of corners and with the checkered flag waving, once again Knowles bobbled just enough to allow Madison a run as the Westfield, Pa. driver charged past Knowles winning the event by just a matter of feet. In victory lane, Knowles was greeted by an applauding Knowles for a job well done as he had to settle for a disappointing second place finish. Bill Shea and Ryan Davenport, the top two point contenders entering the night waged a torrid battle for third with Shea getting the nod with Davenport fourth and Brian Grant fifth. And with that there as little change in the current point battle. A.J. Costley put on a solid drive to claim sixth with Chuck Leasure, Bill VanEttan, Dennis Erdmann and Rick McDaniels rounding out the top ten.
The night of action was sponsored by the Corning Building Company with locations in Corning and Bath. Great prizes went out to the fans compliments of CBC with each feature winner receiving a beautifully screen printed t-shirt commerating their win at Woodhull. Also, Gater Racing News gift packages went out to all the feature winners’ compliments of S&W Awards and Photos.
Next Saturday it will once again be a regular “Fan”-tastic Five Card of events as Klopp’s Transmissions and Auto Service of South Corning will be the event sponsor. Saturday night September 4 will be the Annual Labor Day Trophy Races and it will be the final point show of the year. Also, it will be the NAPA Super Stock Race of Champions event Hope to see you all there.
Results 8/21/04
DIRT 358 Modifieds
Heats Steve Hartman Sr. Dylan Dewert Billy VanPelt
25 lap feature 1) Billy VanPelt, 2) Curt VanPelt, 3) Steve Hartman Sr., 4) Lyle Sherwood, 5) Mike Jackson, 6) Dale Welty, 7) Steve Hartman Jr., 8) Fred Amann, 9) Dylan Dewert, 10) Aaron Jacobus
NAPA Super Stocks
Heats Rich Marlatt Greg Crooker
20 lap feature 1) Greg Galligan, 2) Larry Knowles, 3) Greg Crooker, 4) Alan Crooker, 5) Rich Marlatt, 6) Mike Hilfiger, 7) Glenn Whritenur, 8) Bob Lubberts, 9) Kenny Peoples Sr., Mark Costa
S&W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature 1) Derek Mills, 2) Mike Jackson, 3) Joe Dgien, 4) Michelle Kurtz, 5) Tom Austin Jr.
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
Heats Chuck Pruden Ken Thomas Mike Williams
Morgan’s Auto Repair Second Chance Race Tom Space
20 lap feature 1) Ken Thomas, 2) Dave Davis, 3) Dan Gordan, 4) Brian Austin, 5) Gordy Price, 6) Jeff Smith, 7Cliff Moss, 8) Ron Divens, 9) Jerry Buckley, 10) Rod Mullen
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
Heats Don Knowles Brian Grant Tom Stewart
20 lap feature 1) Scott Madison, 2) Don Knowles, 3) Bill Shea, 4) Ryan Davenport, 5) Brian Grant, 6_ A.J. Costley, 7) Chuck Leasure, 8) Bill VanEtteen, 9) Dennis Erdmann, 10) Rick McDaniels