VANPELT TO REPRESENT WOODHULL AT SUPER DIRT WEEK. OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE PEOPLES, HARTMAN BURGESS AND LEASURE

Woddhull, NY - 052702 - Billy VanPelt of Harrison Valley, Pa picked up the special 50 lap feature event this past Saturday night at the Woodhull Raceway. It was the Annual George Williams Memorial Trophy Races at the historic Steuben County oval and the large crowd in attendance was treated to a full night of race action. For VanPelt it did not come easy as it took a last lap, last corner pass for "The Kid" to find his way into victory lane for the third time in four races during the 2002 season. Twenty four of the best 358 Modified pilots within the region took Scott Colegrove's green flag and immediately Steve Hartman Sr. and VanPelt set the early tone of the 50 lap event. The two were able to able to built up a substantial lead at the half way mark and had over a half track advantage over the third place running, John Moravec. As the lead duo entered heavy lap traffic on Woodhull's tight turns contact was made and both Hartman and VanPelt were collected along with several lap cars. With that Hartman and VanPelt both had to restart from the rear with less than 20 laps remaining. This put western Pennsylvania hot shoe, Brian Swartzlander on the point and what made this so impressive is that Swartzlander had never seen Woodhull until this night as he was brought in to drive VanPelt's backup car just for this event. For the next eighteen laps Swartzlander and second place running John Moravec waged a torrid battle for the lead with both competitors glued to the bottom of the speedway. However, all eyes were on VanPelt and Hartman as both were making bold moves from the rear and with the help of a couple of more yellow flags they were able to move back into the top five with less than five laps remaining. When the leaders flashed by the start/finish line to take the white flag, Swatrzlander held a one car length edge over Moravec with VanPelt now up to third and coming hard on the outside. As the leaders entered turn three contact was made between the second place machine of Moravec and the leader, Swartzlander with both machines getting crossed up and into the infield grass.

This allowed VanPelt to motor around the top side and cruise to victory in many race fans determined to be the most bizarre finished ever witnessed at Woodhull. Hartman was able to follow VanPelt around the high side to a second place finish. Steve Kio drove a very steady race and stayed well within striking distance throughout the entire 50 lap grind and came home with a well deserved third place run. Alex Hoag continues to impress at Woodhull, drove a consistent race finishing fourth and a disappointed Swartzlander did rally from the infield to round out the top five. Six through ten included Kevin Chilson, Larry Keegan, Stacy Jackson, Dan Matthews and Larry Doolittle. In victory lane Billy VanPelt said that he knew there was no way he could pass the lead duo on the bottom with time running out and if it weren't for the fact that he went to the top of the speedway he too would have been collected in the Swartzlander/Moravec tangle. For VanPelt it makes another opportunity to go to Syracuse and represent Woodhull during Super Dirt Week in October. After the crowd had a chance to settle back down and catch their breath, the Super Stocks reported to the speedway for their 20 lap feature event and it was Kenny Peoples Sr. finding his way into victory lane for the first time in 2002. For Peoples, the 2001 Woodhull Track Champion his win did not come easy as opening night feature winner, Rich Marlatt gave Peoples everything that he could handle, but was able to hold on for a popular win and by doing so provided the fans with several doughnuts and burnouts on the front straight. Marlatt did settle for the runner up spot with Brett Flint making a late race charge to finish third ahead of early race leaders, Larry Knowles and Glenn Writenour.

Feature winner from two weeks ago and the grandson of the late George Williams, Billy Williams finished sixth, Mike Hilfiger was next across the line in seventy. Rounding out the top ten were Scott Brown, Jim Buck and Jay Deming. For Peoples it made the fourth different feature winner in four nights of competition for the Super Stock Division. The IMCA Modifieds had a strong turn out of cars and put on a tremendous show for the fans and when it was all said and done, Steve Hartman Jr. of Woodhull, New York picked up his second win of 2002, but like the other two proceeding features it was a real barn burner right down to the checkered flag. Greg Galligan, the 2001 Woodhull 4 Cylinder Mini Stock Track Champion made the move into the IMCA Modified class during the winter months and almost pulled off a major upset as he just would not let Hartman get away. Galligan tried everything short of actual contact with the race leader to try and gain an advantage, but Hartman used his years of experience in racing to hold off the determined rookie. For the Hartman family it was a big night as father , Steve Sr. finished second in the 358 Modified feature and son, Steve Jr. did find victory lane on a day when his mother and father celebrated 29 years of marriage.

All in all it was a great day for the Hartman Family. Former 2002 feature winners Mike Smith and Bob Davis drove a steady race to finish third and fourth respectively with Willy Grant rounding the top five. Then it was last years Woodhull Champion, Larry Robbins coming home sixth, Greg Reynolds in his first appearance of the year finished seventh, Dan Gardner was next across the line in eighth, Brett Bacon was ninth and Clayton McClean finished tenth. With the full moon shining brightly, the Fastest Street Stocks in the East made their way onto Woodhull's high banks. Some thirty cars tried to qualify for the nightly feature through three heats and the Morgan's Auto Repair Last Chance Race and when the checkered flag dropped at the end of their 20 lap feature it was Todd Burgess of Corning, New York finding his way into victory lane for the first time in 2002. Burgess, who is a member of the Williams family was quick to point out in his victory lane interview that if it wasn't for "Grand Pa George" building the Woodhull Raceway in the mid 1960's, that maybe none of us would have the opportunity to compete that we do today.

However, for Burgess it did not come easy at all as early leader, Bob Clark looked to be well on his way to picking up back to back wins when a late race mechanical problem forced the veteran competitor to call it a night. Geoff McNally gave Burgess everything that he could handle the remaining few laps, but had to settle for second. Dave Gee was third, Morgan's Auto Repair Second Chance winner, Lyle Smith drove from his nineteenth starting spot to finish fourth and Cliff Moss did round the top five. Kenny Thomas rallied from an earlier race altercation to come home in sixth, pole starter and Street Stock Rookie, Bill Shea drove an impressive race to finish seventh. Chuck Pruden, fighting off the effects of a recent illness was next in line with Henry Miracle and Jerry Buckley rounding out the top ten finishers. Last but not least the mighty 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks were on the speedway and the green flag no more than dropped when there was a huge altercation in turns one and two with several cars receiving damage and having to restart at the back. However, after the restart things went very smoothly and once again the fans were treated to constant three and four wide action all the way back through the field. All eyes were on the familiar red number 1 of three time and undefeated feature winner, Joe Povoski as he was looking to make it four in a row.

However, it was not Povoski's night as mid race contact found him taking a quick trip through Woodhull's grassy infield area. At this point, Chuck Leasure was in command of the event and with the laps winding down was able to stretch his advantage and when the checkers dropped for the final event of the evening it was Leasure picking up his first win of 2002. For Leasure it was a huge win as he and the team have experienced numerous mechanical problems and DNF's during the year. Former Woodhull Mini Stock Track Champion, Todd Stone was second with Joe Povoski putting on a tremendous drive to finish third, Chad Dickerson was fourth and Dave Kurtz did finish fifth. Six through ten were Kenny Peoples Jr., Brian Grant, Ed Crawford, Bill Tice and Tim Povoski. The night of activity was sponsored by Arkport Cycles and representatives were on hand with a big display of Suzuki Quads, Dirt Bikes and Harley Davidson Motorcycles. Next week it's Pepsi night at Woodhull with a regular 5 Star Show.

Gates at 4:30, racing at 7:00 PM. For more information log on at www.woodhullraceway.com.

Race Summary:

358 Modifieds. Qualifying heats. 1) Steve Hartman Sr. 2) Billy VanPelt 3) Don Lawson

Consi. Lyle Sherwood

50 Lap Feature Billy VanPelt, Steve Hartman Sr., Steve Kio, Alex Hoag, Brian Swartzlander, Kevin Chilson, Larry Keegan, Stacy Jackson, Dan Matthews, Larry Doolittle

Super Stocks Qualifying heats 1) Rich Marlatt 2) Larry Knowles 3) Brett Flint

20 lap feature Kenny Peoples Sr., Rich Marlatt, Brett Flint, Larry Knowles, Glenn Writenour, Billy Williams, Mike Hilfiger, Scott Brown, Jim Buck, Jay Deming.

IMCA Modifieds Qualifying heats 1) Dan Gardner 2) Earl Harp

20 lap feature Steve Hartman Jr., Greg Galligan, Mike Smith, Bob Davis, Willy Grant, Larry Robbins, Greg Reynolds, Dan Gardner, Brett Bacon, Clayton McClean

Street Stocks Qualifying heats 1) Geoff MacNally 2) Todd Burgess 3) Bob Clark

Morgan's Auto Repair Second Chance Race Lyle Smith

20 lap feature Todd Burgess, Geoff McNally, Dave Gee, Lyle Smith, Cliff Moss, Ken Thomas, Bill Shea, Chuck Pruden, Henry Miracle, Jerry Buckley

Mini Stocks Qualifying heats 1) Jeff Stone 20 Todd Stone 3) Kenny Peoples Jr.

Consi. Bill Tice

20 lap feature Chuck Leasure. Todd Stone, Joe Povoski, Chad Dickerson, Dave Kurtz, Kenny Peoples Jr., Brian Grant, Ed Crawford, Bill Tice, Tim Povoski