Mike Smith Picks Up IMCA Special at Woodhull. Moravec, Carapella and Nobriga Get 1st Wins of the Season and it's Povoski Making it Number Four
06-08-02 - A glorious Carolina Blue Day, made for a very successful evening at the high banks of the Woodhull Raceway. The evening started off with the Annual Harding Harley Davidson Motorcycle ride to the Woodhull Raceway to benefit Cystic Fibrosis. Jeff Harding and his staff were on hand as the nightly sponsor entertaining everyone from an exhibit of many different Harley's, to a burn out contest in the infield during intermission. The seats were filled to capacity as the nightly activity got underway. The night's activities features the IMCA 40 lap feature with Mike Smith taking the win. Mike started the sixth position working his way to the winner's circle. Second across the line was #59 car of Earl Harp with Bobby Davis' #2 taking third. Fourth place went to Steve Hartman Jr., fifth to Joe Price, sixth to Ray Brol, seventh to the 6Q of Butch Rhoads, eight to the #5 car of Jeff Johnson. Taking the ninth position was Tracy Rhodes with the ten place winner being that of the number #3 car driven by Clayton McClean. For Smith, his second feature win of 2002 was a dominating performance as he led almost the entire distance with only three yellow flags slowing the event. By the time the checkers were displayed, Smith had lapped up to the fourth place machine of Hartman. The Heat race winners went to Clayton McClean, Mike Smith and Steve Hartman Jr.
Starting off the evening events were the 358 Modified Feature with John Moravec taking the win. Moravec no stranger to the winner's circle at Woodhull during his career claimed his first win of the 2002 season on the Woodhull high banks and it was surely a real crowd pleaser. The "Gasman" Moravec started in the fourth position And quickly jumped into the early lead remaining which he held for the entire race. Second place went to Billy "the Kid" VanPelt in the number #12 car. Steve Hartman Sr. taking third place, Stacy Jackson and Freddy Amann taking the forth and fifth place spots. Mike Jackson driving the 88M car owned by Herby Wright took the sixth spot with Larry Doolittle, Don Lawson Sr., Steve Kio and Dan Mathews taking the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth place wins. The heat winners for the evening were Billy VanPelt, Steve Hartman Sr and Don Lawson.
Next out on the track were the mighty Super Stocks. Coming from the fifth position to the winner's circle was the number 39 car of Mike Carpella with his first win ever at the Woodhull Raceway The 11J of Jay Deming took the second place win. Bobby Luberts remained in the top three cars throughout the race taking the third place win. Kenny Peoples in the 5K who at the start of the evening was first in points worked his way from the twentieth position to take the fourth place win. Glen Whritenour and Rich Marlatt battled it out for the for the fifth spot with Whritenour taking fifth and Marlatt settling for sixth. The #32 car of Alan Crooker was next across the line in seventh, Scott Dennison, eighth, Wild Bill Williams ninth and rounding out the top ten was the Two River's Timber car #13 driven by Brett Flint. Some real exciting racing throughout this feature. For Carapella it was a jubilant victory lane ceremony as the popular Addison, New York wheelman will see double duty on both dirt as well as asphalt for the remainder of 2002. The heat winners for the Super Stock class were Scott Dennison, Bill William and Brett Flint.
As the evening progressed the racing only got better. Next out on the track were the Street Stocks. The heat winners were Dave Davis, Joe Nobriga and Lance Baker. After winning his Heat Race, Joe Nobriga, also took the feature win. Joe driving the #72 car, had somewhat of an advantage by starting in the poll position coupled with that fact that he drives a fast car and is an excellent driver. Second place in the feature went to Dave Davis who started in the eleventh position. Third place went to the 1H driven by Randy Hilfiger and fourth to Henry Miracle. Taking fifth place was the #52 car of Todd Burgess. Lance Baker dropping back from a fourth place start to claim sixth. Seventh place went to Geoff McNally, eighth to Bobby Clark, ninth to Lyle Smith and rounding out the top ten was the #35 car of David Gee.
Last, but not least out onto the high banks came the Mighty Mini Stocks. Even with the crowd thinning at this point in the evening the Mini Stock Division leaves for some mighty good racing. Coupled with the fact they are great entertainment. A lot of bumping and banging. Sometimes it makes you feel like you might be at a rolling demolition derby. Coming from the twelfth position Joe Povoski #1 car takes the win at this historic 1/2 mile clay oval. This makes number four for Joe this season. What a car! Kris Kester in the #43 car and most certainly Joe Povoski greatest competitor this year finishing in the runner-up spot. Third place went to the #80 car driven by Ray Hyer. Fourth place win went to Ryan Davenport in the #27. Jeff Stone and Kenny Peoples Jr. took the fifth and sixth place. In seventh place Dave Kurtz crossed the start finish line. Taking the eighth place win was Tim Povoski. Chad Dickerson crossed ninth and rounding off the top ten was Chuck Leasure. Heat winners were Joe Povoski, Chad Dickerson, Ryan Davenport and Rick Loucks with Josh Mill taking the win in the consolation race.
Next week at Woodhull it will be a regular 5 Star Attraction with representatives of the Corning Building Company as the event sponsor.
358 Modifieds Feature: 1st John Moravec #1, 2nd Billy Van Pelt #12, 3rd Steve Hartman Sr. #z8, 4th Stacy Jackson #15, 5th Freddy Amann #1A, 6th Mike Jackson #88M, 7th Larry Doolittle #7, 8th Don Lawson # 18, 9th Steve Kio #61, 10th Dan Mathews #9.
Super Stock Feature: 1st Mike Carapella #39, 2nd Jay Deming #11J, 3rd Bobby Luberts #77, 4th Kenny Peoples Sr. #5K, 5thGlen Whritenour #15, 6th Rich Marlatt #67, 7th Alan Crooker #32, 8th Scott Dennison #25, 9th Bill Willams #61, 10th Brett Flint #13
I.M.C.A. Feature: 1st Mike Smith #96, 2nd Earl Harp #59, 3rd Bobby Davis #2, 4th Steve Hartman Jr.#Z8, 5th Joe Price #97, 6th Ray Brol #13, 7th Butch Rhoads #6Q, 8th Jeff Johnson #5, 9th Tracy Rhodes #74, 10th Clayton McClean #3.
Street Stock Feature: 1st Joe Nobriga #72, 2nd Dave Davis #94, 3rd Randy Hilfiger #1H, 4th Henry Miracle #5, 5th Todd Burgess #52, 6th Lance Baker #52, 7th Geoff McNally #59, 8th Bobby Clark #3 , 9th Lyle Smith #6, 10th David Gee #35
Mini Stock Feature 1st Joe Povosk #1, 2nd Kris Kester #43, 3rd Ray Hyer #80, 4th Ryan Davenport #27, 5th Jeff Stone #78, 6th Kenny Peoples Jr. #5K 7th Dave Kurtz #17, 8th Tim Povoski #2 , 9th Chad Dickerson #57, 10th Chuck Leasure #38.