PAINE WINS CHALLENGE CUP AT ROLLING WHEELS
ELBRIDGE, NY...Waterloo's Steve Paine picked up his third Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series victory in four starts grabbing the $10,000 victory at Rolling Wheels Raceway on Sunday, April 28. Also earning a win on the day was Tim Clemons in the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature.
The 200-lapper saw Tim Fuller and Tom Sears Jr. bring the starting field of 33 cars down to take starter Dave Farney's green flag. Almost at once the nemesis of afternoon racing on the dirt became obvious as billows of dust nearly blocked out the view.
Sears Jr. used his outside starting spot to take the lead over Fuller. Fuller started to slow with a flat tire and the yellow flew as he slowed on the track. As the drivers struggled to do their best a number of yellows in the early going slowed the race. On lap 8, Chuck Hebing went off the track in the third turn. Lap 14 saw Frankie Caprara exit the track off the second turn.
Once the early laps were in the books and the field started to stretch around the .625 mile oval dust conditions seemed to get better.
On lap 34 Alan Johnson had a flat tire in the second turn. Johnson, the veteran he is was able to pit his Mitsubishi sponsored car for new rubber and not lose a lap.
A long period of green followed as the field waited for the their first opportunity to make the mandatory pit stop after lap 50. That opportunity came on lap 54 when Billy Decker abruptly slowed on the track bringing out the yellow.
Nearly the entire field pitted for fuel and a look see at new tires. Butch Tittle stayed out on the track to be recorded as the leader on lap 56. Tittle was able to remain ahead of both Sears Jr. and Steve Paine to keep the lead for the next 15 circuits. But the really hot driver on the move was Danny Johnson. On lap 72, Johnson was able to pass Tittle for the front spot. Tittle waited until lap 84 to pit under yellow. The yellow had flown for Jimmy Horton who cut down a right rear tire. This left the front of the field as Johnson, Sears Jr., Paine, Tim McCreadie and Brett Hearn.
The restart saw one of the biggest tangles of the day. Ron Smoker, Doug Hoffman and Vic Coffey all came together entering the first turn.
At the halfway marker it was Danny Johnson ahead of Sears Jr., Paine, Tim McCreadie and Hearn. Tim McCreadie's great right came to an end on lap 111 after his team battled for five laps to correct a right rear broken shock.
Paine took over second from Sears Jr. on lap 112. He then took off after Johnson.
The first yellow of the second half of the race came on lap 122 when Darryl Ruggles slowed with a flat. Bob McCreadie used this opportunity to pit for a new right rear tire. This would prove an important move as Bob had sacrificed track position for new rubber.
Butch Tittle also saw his race come to an end on lap 142 to cause a yellow. Jack Johnson pitted at that time and returned to the track but suffered brake problems and slide far off the first turn. He then pitted and exited the race due to brake problems. Tittle returned and last until lap 187.
Meanwhile Danny Johnson now found himself in a battle with Paine for the top spot. Paine made every effort to use a lapped car as a pick, but never succeeded until lap 162. Paine took over the top spot and never looked back.
Alan Johnson was now working his number 1 car. With just eight laps remaining in the race he passed his younger brother for second.
Paine took home the victory followed by Alan Johnson, Danny Johnson, Hearn and Bob McCreadie. McCreadie's choice of a new tire help to propel him through the field over the final distance.
Chad Brachmann was the early leader in the DIRT Sportsman main event. He was followed closely by Tim Clemons, Karl Comfort, Justin Haers and Jim Spano.
On lap four the yellow flew when Tony Ross and David VanHorn Jr. came together in the fourth turn. VanHorn's car was too severely damaged to continue and he exited the race on the back of a tow truck.
Mike Button had a tire go flat on lap 12. This cost Button a lap as his crew worked hard to change the tire.
The final yellow came on lap 17 when John Juhl came to a stop in the first turn. The restart saw Brachmann lose the lead to Clemons. Clemons then began to pull away. On lap 19, Brachmann slipped in the second turn costing him a number of positions. Justin Haers also made a late race move to take second on lap 19. The final lap saw Clemons claim the win followed by Justin Haers, Comfort, Spano and Gray. Brachmann would end his race in tenth position.
The next race at Rolling Wheels Raceway is scheduled for Sunday, May 20. That day there will be a 50-lapper for the DIRT Modifieds, a 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature and the first appearance of the Pro-stocks as they run their Automotive Recyclers Association of New York Pro-stock Super DIRT Series qualifier. Race time will be at 2 p.m., with gates opening at 11 a.m..
The next event, just ten later, May 30, Wednesday, will be the running of the World of Outlaws plus a special 25-lapper for the DIRT Modifieds. Pre-sale tickets for this event are on sale through DIRT Headquarters by calling (315)834-6606. For more information on this event you can also go the DIRT web page at www.dirtmotorsports.com.
AUTO TRADER presents the DIRT CHALLENGE CUP
an ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRT SERIES RACE DAY SUMMARY
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1: T. Clemons, P. Carey, J. Bowman, D. VanHorn Jr., J. Juhl, R. Chrysler.
HEAT 2: C. Brachmann, C. Terrell, John Plumb, B. Trexler, M. Button, T. Ross.
HEAT 3: J. Spano, K. Comfort, J. Haers, W. Decker, E. Payne Jr., S. Gray.
CONSI: J. LaRock, C. Phelps, R. Hefti, B. Henry Jr., T. Juhl, G. Doust.
FEATURE (20-laps): TIM CLEMONS, Justin Haers, Karl Comfort, James Spano, Steve Gray, Jim Bowman, Randy Chrysler, Greg Doust, Paul Carey, Chad Brachmann, Tom Juhl, Craig Terrell, Bill Trexler, Jim LaRock, Bob Henry Jr., Chad Phelps, Tony Ross, Russ Hefti, Eldon Payne Jr., Mike Button, John Juhl, John Plumb, David VanHorn Jr.
MODIFIED
TIME TRIALS: Bob McCreadie 20.460 (87.977 mph), Ron Smoker 20.686, Brett Hearn 20.793, Billy Decker 20.848, Tim Fuller 20.896, Tom Sears Jr. 20.911, Jack Johnson 20.943, Chuck Bower 20.990, Gary Tomkins 21.096, A.J. Romano 21.120, Rick Laubach 21.21.167, Steve Paine 21.187, Jimmy Horton 21.283, Alan Johnson 21.308, Doug Hoffman 21.323, Tim McCreadie 21.339, Danny Johnson 21.376, Scott Prentice 21.399, Steve Poirier 21.459, Frank Cozze 21.491, Butch Tittle 21.500, Kenny Tremont 21.505, Mike Perrotte 21.506, Bobby Varin 21.508, Vic Coffey 21.527, Chuck Hebing 21.555, Darryl Ruggles 21.582, Jerry Higbie 21.661, Jimmy Phelps 21.666, Mike Colsten 21.764, Frankie Caprara 21.784, Jason Barney 21.795, Jim Gabriel Jr. 21.800, Pat Ward 21.885, Dave Axton 21.968, Vince Vitale 21.978, Rich Swarthout 22.003, Jerry Pennock 22.170, Tim Vincent 23.322, Jeremy Markle 24.134, Bentley Meade NT, Pierre Dagenais DQ (weight).
HEAT 1: J. Johnson, R. Laubach, D. Hoffman, S. Poirier, F. Caprara.
HEAT 2: S. Paine, T. McCreadie, F. Cozze, J. Higbie, B. Varin.
HEAT 3: G. Tomkins, D. Johnson, J. Horton, V. Coffey, B. Tittle.
HEAT 4: A.J. Romano, A. Johnson, S. Prentice, K. Tremont, M. Colsten.
EXISS DASH: B. McCreadie, R. Smoker, B. Hearn, B. Decker, T. Fuller, T. Sears Jr.
CONSI: D. Ruggles, V. Vitale, J. Gabriel Jr., C. Hebing, P. Ward, J. Phelps, C. Bower.
FEATURE (200-laps): STEVE PAINE, Alan Johnson, Danny Johnson, Brett Hearn, Bob McCreadie, Tom Sears Jr., A.J. Romano, Bobby Varin, Pat Ward, Doug Hoffman, Steve Poirier, Ron Smoker, Tim Fuller, Kenny Tremont, Butch Tittle, Frank Cozze, Gary Tomkins, Jack Johnson, Mike Colsten, Scott Prentice, Darryl Ruggles, Tim McCreadie, Jimmy Horton, Vic Coffey, Rich Laubach, Vince Vitale, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Jerry Higbie, Chuck Hebing, Frankie Caprara, Chuck Bower, Jim Gabriel Jr.