WOODHULL RACEWAY ONCE AGAIN DOMINATED BY THE BROTHERS VANPELT. ALAN CROOKER TAKES SUPER STOCKS, MIKE WILLIAMS IN THE STREET STOCKS, RYAN DAVENPORT IN THE MINI’S AND MILLS WINS WARRIORS.
Second verse, same as the first would be a proper way of summing up the DIRT 358 Modified feature event this past Saturday at the Woodhull Raceway as the VanPelt brothers completely dominated the action once again. At the drop of the green for the twenty-five lap affair, Dylan Dewert led the twenty-four car pack from his front row starting position. During the early going it appeared as though the veteran competitor and noted chassis builder would cruise to his first ever feature event. As numerous yellow flags slowed the event Dewert was able to open up a comfortable lead after every restart and was certainly the man to beat throughout the first half of the event. With yellow fever happening once again near the lap twelve mark it once again bunched the field and by this point the VanPelt’s were running in positions second and third. Dewert was not able to hold back the high flying duo of Billy and Curt VanPelt as they both flew by and into the top two positions. Another restart on lap sixteen saw Curt wrestle the lead away from Billy, however it was short lived as Billy was able to retake the lead two laps later. One final caution on lap twenty set up a five lap dash for the checkered flag and on the cooler tires Curt was able to once again show Billy the right front of his potent Bicknell Chassis, but Billy was able to hold his older brother at bay to claim his sixth victory of 2004 and lock up the track championship. For the fourth time this year the Ted White Racing team mates had completely dominated the action as the two begin to wrap-up their careers at Woodhull. Dewert had to settle for a rock solid third position as the best racing of the night was from fourth on back. Steve Hartman Jr. has struggled throughout most of the second half of the season at Woodhull after leading the point chase throughout most of the first half of 2004. An engine freshen was just what the second generation pilot needed to rejuvenate their program as Hartman was back in form. A steady ride throughout the twenty-five lap grind found Hartman Jr. finishing in the fourth spot with Brian Swarthout rounding out the top five. Positions six thru ten were hotly contested as all eyes were on the start/finish line and when the checkered flag dropped it was Donnie Lawson finishing sixth, Tom Austin just barely nipped Mike Jackson at the line for seventh and eight positions. Steve Hartman Sr. recovered from an early race flat tire to finish ninth while Lyle Sherwood, in a borrowed car finished tenth. Early evening qualifying heat races were claimed by Billy VanPelt, Dylan Dewert and Steve Hartman Sr.
After the Modified Marathon the NAPA Super Stocks were next on the speedway with virtually the same results as the Modifieds before them as numerous yellow flags slowed the twenty-lap feature event. Several cautions involved the top point cars including current high point contenders, Greg Crooker, Greg Galligan and Glenn Whritenour. All three were involved in numerous altercations and had to restart at the back of the field. However, up front the battle for the top spot was a real classic between two savvy veteran competitors as Mike Hilfiger and Alan Crooker diced for the top spot throughout the entire event. After swapping the lead back and forth several times, Alan Crooker was able to take command of the event for good before the half way mark and cruise home for his first feature event of the 2004 season. In victory lane a jubilant Alan Crooker was thankful to even be back in racing as numerous health problems had sidelined his career and he made mention that he within a week or two he would be requiring more surgery which would cut his season short. Mike Hilfiger, who had won two feature events previously in 2004, had to settle for the runner-up position as Mike Whritenour, Rich Marlatt and Greg Crooker rounded the top five. For Greg Crooker it was a nice recovery after early race problems as he continues to lead in the points going into the final point show of the year. Brett Flint led the charge of the next five across the line including Mark Costa, Dan Guild, Bob Clark and Jason Knowles. For Knowles, it was his first time at Woodhull this year as earlier in the day Black Rock had canceled due to rain and Knowles found himself in his father, Larry’s back-up machine. Qualifying heat races were won by Glenn Whritenour, Rich Marlatt and Greg Galligan The nightly event sponsor, Klopp’s Transmissions posted a $150 quick six Dash for Cash and claiming the $100 first place money was Greg Crooker after a last lap pass of Larry Knowles to pick-up the win.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks were next on the line as the point battle in this class is far from over. With every point paying position being critical, the five bonus points for winning qualifying heat races may well decide the final outcome of the 2004 chase to the point championship. It must have had something to do with the full August moon as yellow fever plagued the twenty lap feature and like the Modified and Super Stock Classes before them, the Street Stocks just could never get into a rhythm, however when all was said and done the 2003 Track Champion, Mike Williams had posted his first win of the 2004 season and coupled with his heat race bonus points, Williams and eighth place feature finisher, Ken Thomas are virtually deadlocked at the top of the heap heading into next weeks final point show. Cliff Moss was able to clear traffic and chase down Williams in the late going but had to settle for second as Nate Dunning finished third, Dave Davis fourth and Gordy price fifth. Josh Nobriga was sixth, Ron Divens seventy, Ken Thomas eighth, Jerry Buckley ninth and Dan Gordan tenth.
The Signs Plus of Kanona Mini Stocks were next on the high banks as it is basically a two horse race for the track title between Ryan Davenport and Bill Shea, however Brian Grant continues to make a lot of noise during the latter part of the season as he jumped into the early lead and looked poised to win his second event of 2004. As Grant was leading, Davenport and Shea were methodically working their way to the front from their sixteenth and eighteenth starting spots and by the mid way point had caught Grant and now the cream was totally at the top. As the top three see sawed back and forth for the lead, Davenport was able to take over the top spot after the half was mark and cruise home to his second feature event of the year and solidify his point lead over Bill Shea as he had to settle for the runner up spot at the checkered. Brian Grant was third across the line with Art Goodier in a borrowed car fourth while Bobby Tompkins rounded the top five. A.J. Costley was next across the line followed by Brooks Leach, Travis Keim, Dennis Erdmann and Lynn Burrell. Heat races went to Grant, Davenport and Keim with Ray Spiker taking the win in the consi.
Earlier in the evening the S&W Awards and Photos Warriors ran their ten lap feature event and the adult classes could learn something from the kids as only one yellow flag of the ten lap event slowed the pace as Derek Mills once again hit pay dirt for his tenth win of the year, however the point battle is still up for grabs as second place feature finisher, Tom Austin Jr. is still hanging tough in the points. Third went to Shane Pickering with Black Rock regular, Nicholas Robinson finishing fourth while Michelle Kurtz rounded out the top five.
Klopp’s Transmissions and Auto Repair of Corning was on board as the nightly event sponsor as they added additional money into the 50/50 drawing while also sponsoring the Super Stock Dash for Cash. One-hundred thirteen cars once again jammed the Woodhull pit area. The point battles will come to an end on Labor Day Weekend as it will be double points for all heat and feature positions. Also on the card will be the NAPA Super Stock Race of Champions as seven different feature winners in 2004 will put it all on the line in this ten lap, $1000 purse event. The September 4 show is sponsored by the participating NAPA Stores from across the Twin Tiers including Addison, Bath, Corning and Lawrenceville.
Race Results
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS
Heats Billy VanPelt Dylan Dewert Steve Hartman Sr.
25 lap feature 1) Billy VanPelt, 2) Curt VanPelt, 3) Dylan Dewert, 4) Steve Hartman Jr., 50 Brian Swarthout, 6) Donnie Lawson, 7) Tom Austin Sr., 8) Mike Jackson, 9) Steve Hartman Sr., 10) Lyle Sherwood
NAPA Super Stocks
Heats Glen Whritenour Rich Marlatt Greg Galligan
Klopp’s Transmissions Dash Greg Crooker, Larry Knowles, Mike Hilfiger
20 lap feature 1) Alan Crooker, 2) Mike Hilfiger, 3) Mike Whritenour, 4) Rich Marlatt, 5) Greg Crooker, 6) Brett Flint, 7) Mark Costa, 8) Dan Guild, 9) Bob Clark, 10) Jason Knowles
S&W Awards and Photos Warriors
10 lap feature 1) Derek Mills, 2) Tom Austin Jr., 3) Shane Pickering, 4) Nicholas Robinson, 5) Michelle Kurtz
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks
Heats Mike Williams Joe Dgien Jerry Buckley
20 lap feature 1) Mike Williams, 2) Cliff Moss, 3) Nate Dunning, 4) Dave Davis, 5) Gordy Price, 6) Josh Nobriga, 7) Ron Divens, 8) Ken Thomas, 9) Jerry Buckley, 10) Dan Gordan
Signs Plus Mini Stocks
Heats Brian Grant Ryan Davenport Travis Keim
Consi, Ray Spiker
20 lap feature 1) Ryan Davenport, 2) Bill Shea, 3) Brian Grant, 4) Art Goodier, 5) Bobby Tompkins, 6) A.J. Costley, 7) Brooks Leach, 8) Travis Keim, 9) Dennis Erdmann, 10) Lynn Burrell