HARTMAN SR. 1ST REPEAT WINNER, LARRY KNOWLES SEES THREE, SHEA, LEISURE GET #1 OF THE YEAR
AT WOODHULL RACEWAY
by Doreen Farnum
Woodhull Raceway kept the rain gods at bay yet again as the threat of thunderstorms loomed all week. The only thunder heard in Steuben County Saturday night was high atop the hill in Woodhull. The wonderful folks of Addison Farm Supply, Inc. were on hand to usher in one repeat winner & three 2003 newbies to Storm Chiropractic Victory Lane.
When the field of 18 358 Modifieds took to the track, Lyle Sherwood watched his competition from the stands as he sat out this week waiting for a new power plant in the 17 car. Billy VanPelt was hoping for a good night to open the points spread, but a good night was not in the cards for VanPelt. Billy’s engine began smoking heavy in the heat, and car owner Ted White & his boys worked diligently to repair the damage before the main event. But as the crowd gave the Modifieds the ‘Woodhull Wave’ on the pace lap of the main event, VanPelt was still smoking. Around lap 8 VanPelt brought out the only caution as his car finally went ca-put on the entrance to the pits. That put an early end to the rough night for the points leader going into the nights action. Mike ‘Action’ Jackson blocked all night as Larry Doolittle was trying all he could to get by him. Dale Welty finally opened the door on Jackson & a few others soon followed including Doolittle. In the Storm Chiropractic victory lane however, Steve Hartman Sr. celebrated his 2nd win of the 2003 season as he came across the start/finish line sideways. The win didn’t come easy for Hartman Sr. as Bobby Davis was chasing him down the whole time. Davis would have to settle for 2nd, while Roger Williams, Dylan Dewert & Dave Welty wrapped up the top 5.
The 6 quickest Super Stocks got to have a little extra fun during intermission as heat winners Larry Knowles & Glen Writenour along with Mark Costa, Rich Marlatt, Brett Flint & Mike Hilfiger ran the ‘Quick Six Dash for Cash’. Knowles led all 6 laps and got to take home some extra cash compliments of Addison Farm Supply, Inc.
The Super Stocks Main Event was a little rough at the start as they struggled to get their feature in the books. The first caution of many came out on lap 6 as Kyle Lefelhoc was facing the wrong way on a one-way track. Lefelhoc got it straightened out but had some smoke trailing, so he took it to the pits. Lap 7 restart attempt saw Bret Flint spin in turns 3 & 4. Every time the green waved, the Super Stocks raced 3 & 4 wide right down the front straight. Mike Hilfiger went to the pits with a flat right rear tire and he wasn’t the only one experiencing tire problems. Lap 11 saw Glen Writenour, Jim Buck & Larry Knowles 3 wide under the starter and Knowles came out in front. They went green for a few more laps until lap 17 whe! n the Hilfiger boys Mike, back with a new tire, & Randy got together to bring out the caution again. On lap 18 they saw yellow again as Writenour & Bob Lubberts both got wrecker rides to the the pits. Writenour for a flat, while Lubberts actually lost the right rear which had been replaced a few laps prior in the main event. This lined the Super’s up for another dash, this one just 2 laps. Knowles came out on top again followed by Jim Buck, Rich Marlatt, last weeks feature winner Greg Crooker and Kenny Peoples.
The Street Stocks took to the track for a 30 lap event and they got the ‘Woodhull Wave’ as well to send them on their way. They struggled to get lap 1 completed as Dave Davis and Ken Thomas got together to bring out the 1st caution. Scott Colgrove got them lined up & dropped the green again, only to see David Morter with a broken ball joint collect Joe Dgien, Henry Miracle and Tom Space in turn 4. Then things got rockin’ and the Main Event got under way. Laps 4 & 5 saw guys get together, but they got righted without bringing out the yellow. By lap 11, leader Bill Shea got into lap traffic but that didn’t slow him down. Shea just kept picking them off. Lap 14 saw the last caution when Joe Dgien again got turned around in turn 2, but they went green again and went all the way to lap 30 where Shea ended up right where he started … number 1. Following Sea to the checkers was Cliff Moss, Dave Gee, Jeff Smith and Joe Nobriga.
Last weeks Mini Stock wild rider AJ Costly sat on the pole for the last event of the evening. Only 2 laps were in the books when Dennis Erdmann spun to bring out their first caution of the night. Scott Colgrove got them going again as Costly spun but kept going without incident. Lap 7 saw Don Knowles spin and gain control, again with no caution. Ray Hyer and Josh Mills had some great door to door action going on when Kevin Erdmann spun in turns 3 & 4, to bring out the yellow and bunch the field up again. Chuck Leisure was in the mix up front all night too and he took advantage of the restart to jump out in front and go on to Storm’s Chiropractic Victory Lane. Mills and Hyer had to settle! for 2nd & 3rd while Brian Grant and Chad Dickerson rounded the top five.
Next Saturday, May 17th may be the biggest night at Woodhull Raceway this year as owners Scott & Amy Drake are honoring all volunteer fire & rescue workers with free admission to the high banks. All you have to do is show your volunteer card at the gate. How do you thank the great men & women who give so much time and energy to their communities? This is one thing the Drakes are able to do to say Thank You!
Heat Results
358 Modifieds – 88m-Mike Jackson, z8-Steve Harman Sr.
Super Stocks – 4-Larry Knowles, 15-Glen Writenour
Street Stocks – 55-Ken Thomas, 23-Cliff Moss, 19-Mike Williams
Mini Stocks – 84-Josh Mills, 57-Chad Dickerson
Feature Results
358 Modifieds – z8-Steve Harman Sr., 20-Bobby Davis, 6-Roger Williams, 28-Dylan DeWert, 123-Dave Welty, 8-Steve Hartman Jr., 7-Larry Doolittle, 88m-Mike Jackson, 9x-Chuck Kennison, 13-Kevin Chilson
Super Stocks – 4-Larry Knowles, 04-Jim Buck, 67-Rich Marlatt, 32-Greg Crooker, 5k-Kenny Peoples Sr., 13-Brett Flint, 31-Mike Seeley, 3-Jason Knowles, 87-Scott Brown, 39-Mike Carpella
Street Stocks – 8-Bill Shea, 23-Cliff Moss, 35-David Gee, 40-Jeff Smith, 72-Joe Nobriga, 55-Ken Thomas, 19-Mike Williams, 5-Henry Miracle, 94-David Davis, 29-Chuck Pruden
Mini Stocks – 86-Chuck Leasure, 84-Josh Mills, 80-Ray Hyer, 46-Brian Grant, 57-Chad Dickerson, 27-Ryan Davenport, 8-Don Knowles, 11-Nate Austin, 31-Bill VanEtten, 20-Dennis French