Leo McGurrin Records First Modified Win on Dave Kneisel Tribute Night
Story by Dawn Maynard
Kirkwood, NY…The National ¼ Mile Dirt Track Championship got off to a grand start. Twenty two modified were on hand for the Dave Kneisel Tribute Race. The 50 lap event was the highlight of Saturday’s event. The front row was decided by a redraw with Leo McGurrin and Byron Worthing bringing the field to the green. Worthing jumped into the lead with the 2019 Track Champion Brian Malcolm in second. Worthing opened a sizeable lead until lap 12 when the first caution came out.
On the restart Worthing grabbed the lead. Malcolm was looking for the right move. On lap nineteen he made his move into the lead. The field shuffled moving Justin Holland into second. Holland tried many times to take away the lead. The lap traffic was now entering the picture. On lap 36 Holland made his move around the 119 of Malcolm.
Two laps later the leaders were involved in caution along with a lap car. On the restart Leo McGurrin gained the lead. Once in the lead, Leo, who has only raced his modified five times this season opened up his lead. Byron Worthing was second and Nick Rochinski was now third. Rochinski tried his hardest to work his way into the top spot. One more caution tightened up the field with McGurrin and Worthing keeping their sights set on the top prize. On the restart it was McGurrin staying steady keeping the lead. Worthing and Rochinski battled for second. As the checkers flew Leo McGurrin recorded his very first modified feature win. Rounding out the top five were Byron Worthing, Nick Rochinski, Nick Nye, and Barry White. It was a very emotional win for this young driver and his family. His first win on a night that was a tribute race to a former Five Mile Point racer.
The only visit of the 2019 season for the IMCA Style Modified was up next. The Little Mike’s To win race honoring Mike Stolarcyk III which was a twenty lap feature event. The redraw had Brad Sites and Matt Roberts bringing the field to the green. event. Matt held off a hard charging Brad Sites. The battle for the top five heated up as Gary Roberts, Matt’s dad moved into fourth. He and Keith Jack Lamphere battled for the remainder of the race. When the checkered flag flew it was Matt Roberts taking home the victory of a special race for a fellow racer gone too soon.
The NY6A 600 Micro Sprints made their way on the track. Mike Kaiser Jr. and Mikey Smith made up the front row. When the green flag fell it was Smith grabbing the lead. Early cautions kept the field tight. On the restart Mikey regained the lead and never looked back. When the checkered flag fell Smith had over a straightaway lead on the field grabbing the win. The top five were Johnny Smith, Mike Kaiser Jr., Danny Knoll and DJ Shuman.
The Belgray Oil 4 cylinders were up next with seventeen cars taking the green. Bob Schultz of Pennsylvania grabbed the early lead. A major caution on lap nine took out the leader. The 2019 Track Champion Nick Kennedy inherited the lead. In his racing fashion Kennedy opened up a sizeable lead. Coming from the 4th starting spot was Jeff Sterling who was piloting the Jeremy Warren car. Andy Brigham was behind the wheel of the Mathers number 57 who had worked his way into third. As Kennedy continued to lead the battle behind him was fierce. When the checkered flag fell it was Captain Quick, Nick Kennedy recording another feature win. The top five were Jeff Sterling, Andy Brigham, Caleb Lacey Josh Amatutio.
Factory Stocks had a caution filled race. Buck Mills Jr., and Nathan Hill brought the field to the green. Jr. grabbed the early lead with his dad Buck Mills Sr. in close pursuit. Buck Mills Sr. stole the lead away after the first caution and never looked back. It was another victory for the 7v team of Mills Sr. with Buck Mills Jr., in second, third to Tom Groover, fourth to Alan Komar and fifth to RJ O’Hara.
The management team announced another race being added. The Dick Longstreet Memorial race will be held Thursday, October 10th. It will be a special event for Modifieds. Also on the card that night will be the GRIT Series Sportsman, and Front wheel drive 4 Cylinders. More information will be available soon on the tracks Facebook page.
Day two of the National ¼ Mile Dirt Track Championship included a Grit Series race for the Crate sportsman. Mike Nagel Jr. and Frank Payne brought the field to the green. Mike grabbed the early lead, but it was Tommy Collins who took command of the feature on lap seven. Collins opened up a sizeable lead over second place driver Randy Browkaw. The battle for the top five was heating up as Brokaw, Mike Nagel Jr., Corey Cormier, and Dale Welty battling for position. With two laps to go a major accident found some of the top runners involved. A flat tire sent Dale Welty to the pit area for a change. On the restart Collins once again opened a big lead. When the checkers fell. Collins recorded the win, with Randy Brokaw in second, Corey Cormier in third, Mike Nagel Jr. in fourth and fifth was Frank Payne.
The 600cc Modified open made their way onto the track next. The front row was made up of Jared Green and Nick Chase. When the green flag fell it was Jared Green opening a good lead. The twenty lap event almost went green to checker except for one caution.
The battle for the positions behind the leader was fierce with Nick Chase holding off Justin LaDue. When the checkered flag fell it was Jared Green recording his second feature win of the season. Rounding out the top five were Nick Chase, Jumstin LaDue, Chris Jordan and James Randall.
The Wingless Sprint Alliance made their final appearance of the season. Charlie
Weslowski and Kyle Pierce made up the front row. Kyle is a newcomer to the sprint division, but not to Five Mile Point. Kyle used to compete in the Crate Sportsman division. He battled hard on every restart, keeping in the right groove. There was only one caution in their event. Eventual winner Eric Jennings worked his way through the field. He was followed across the line by Thomas Radivoy, Kyle Pierce, John Smith and Charlie Weslowski.
The Belgray Oil 4 Cylinder division brought their twenty lao feature to the track. Bob Schultz and Nick Kennedy made up the front row. When the green flag fell the battle between the two drivers was strong. For several of the opening laps they raced side by side. Eventually Schultz made the pass for the lead. It was then Bob’s race as he lead all but on lap. When the checkered flag fell Bob Schultz picked up the win. Finishing in second was Nick Kennedy, third was Bill Price, fourth was Dave Simms and fifth Josh Amaticio.
Factory Stocks were up with Buck Mills Sr. and Justin Slezak making up the front row. On the green flag lap last nights feature winner Buck Mills Sr., grabbed the lead. He opened up a good lead over the Slezak machine. The race had several cautions during the event. That did not affect the Mills Sr machine as he continued to lead. When the dust settled and the checker flag flew it was Buck Mills Sr. who had the clean sweep of the weekend in the Factory Stocks. Rounding out the top five were Dusty Decker, Doug Polhamus, Justin Slezak and Alan Komar.
Once again, the 2019 season will have one more event. The Dick Longstreet Memorial race will return to the Five Mile Point Speedway on Thursday October 10th. The first edition of the race was held last season at the speedway and was a huge success. The Modifieds will headline the card that night and will be joined by the GRIT Series for Crate Sportsman, and the Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders. Continue to monitor the Facebook page for more information in the days and weeks to follow.