Lyle Sherwood, Bill Williams, Mike Smith, Bob Clark and Joe Povoski Capture Wins At Woodhull Raceway
By – Kim Herrington
Woodhull, NY - May 11, 2002 – Who do I see more than anyone else enjoying the races? Kids! Saturday night was a night some little boy and girl will never forget. Wal-Mart Super Center donated 2 bicycles that were given away free to two lucky Children. The "Big" kids got to see some awesome racing. The night was off to a great start with the national anthem sung by Becky Scouton, daughter of the number 01 modified of Dave Scouton. What a beautiful voice! The mighty Modifieds were first out of the shoot followed by the fast Super Stocks, I.M.C.A. Modifieds, Street Stocks and the Mini Stocks.
In the Modifieds, heat wins went to Dan Mathews, Lyle Sherwood and Stacy Jackson. In the front row of the Modifieds were a father and son duo, Don Lawson Sr. and Rookie Don Lawson Jr. Soon after the green flag fell the yellow followed on Lap 1 with Larry Doolittle ending up in the infield. Then as the restart came out the leader Lawson Sr. headed out for a considerable lead for 10 more laps. Then as Lawson Jr. had some trouble on lap 11 in the fourth turn the caution flag came out. This then bunched the boys’ back up. This brought Steve Hartman, Freddie Amann, John Moravec and Stacy Jackson closer to the front. With the lapped car of Dave Yehl starting beside Lawson Sr., the racing resumed to full speed. A crash on turn three involving Dave Scouton, Steve Mandell, Dan Mathews and Kevin Erskine brought out another caution. Lawson Sr. was looking kind of nervous as Steve Hartman was putting a little pressure on him for the lead on lap 13 taking over the lead position on lap 15. All the while the battle for second was heating up for Jackson, Moravec and Lawson Sr. as Lawson kept it low. As always the high side was working for Lyle Sherwood. Then it was a big battle for third as Sherwood took that from Jackson. Lap 22 was the final caution for the Modifieds as that put Hartman in the lead with Sherwood for second, followed by Moravec, Jackson and Alex Hoag. The most exciting action came around on Lap 25 as Sherwood took his car high trying to get around Hartman on the backstretch and finally got around him in turn four. It was Lyle Sherwood for the win followed by Hartman, Moravec, Jackson and Hoag rounding out the top five. Point’s leader Billy VanPelt was towed to the pits before the green flag was flown with mechanical problems. He did not get to take the green. A very disappointing night for the Ted White's Team. Also the 10 car of Corey Smith was seen going back into the pits to never take the green.
In the Super Stocks, heat wins went to Larry Knowles and Brett Flint. In the Super Stock feature front row sitters, Bill Williams and Mick Seeley took the green and it was Williams for the lead. All was running well and smooth for the racers till Lap 13. The caution was brought out for the number 4 car of Larry Knowles and the number 15 of Glenn Whritenour. The two tangled in the first turn as the tire came off the Whritenour car and it went flying past spectators in the pits. Luckily no one was injured. The last 7 laps were the best of all. In the mix of the group of close racing were Kenny Peoples Sr., Brett Flint, Scott Brown and Larry Knowles. Peoples and Flint challenged Williams for the lead several times. For the last 4 laps it was Williams and Peoples riding side by side only to have Williams taking the win over Peoples followed by Flint, Brown and Knowles.
In the I.M.C.A. Modifieds, heat wins went to Willy Rice and Mike Smith. In the feature the front row runners were Clayton McClean and Steve Williams. The green flag flew and not a lap in the book, because of a tangle involving Williams, Willy Rice and Greg Galligan. With McClean in the lead he was challenged by Earl Harp and Steve Hartman Jr. Harp took the lead on lap 3 leaving McClean to battle with Hartman and Mike Smith for third. Three wide racing for several laps came to a halt on lap 8 with the Galligan machine turning around, bringing out the caution. It was Harp in front followed by Hartman, Smith, McClean and Bob Davis. Lap 9 turned sour for the number 411 car of Andy Rhoads as smoke was seen coming out of the front of his car. Running fast and coming up to the top five was Rice. Hartman took the lead from Harp on lap 12. Leaving Harp to fight for second with Smith. Smith prevailed as the red flag came out for Brett Bacon as his car caught fire on the backstretch. Racing resumed and Davis charged for third and tried hard for second. Hartman leading and Smith hot on his tail. Side by Side racing was untouchable as the two battled for the lead. Mike Smith winning over Davis, Hartman, Harp and Rice rounding out the top five.
In the Street Stocks, heat wins went to Bob Clark, Lyle Smith and Gary Archer. In the Feature the front row racers were Bob Clark and Butch Dibble. Oh what a start! Trouble began on lap one for Mike Williams as he came around turn three, the car driven by Dave Davis drove up and over the side of his car. Taking with him was the entire side of Williams’ car. This class of cars can show you how cars can fit and run clean four wide most of the time. Amazing! Caution came out again as Clark was settling in for a comfortable lead. The car of Gene Galligan was spun and hit by points leader Cliff Moss and Hank Miracle. Clark continued to take his lead and left the rest of the pack to fight for the runner up spot. Running second until lap 9 was the Archer car. A third place battle was going on with Ken Thomas and Dan Gordon. Thomas took over the second place spot and tried hard to get the lead from Clark. On lap 12 I saw the 23 car of Cliff Moss racing hard to get back to the front. The racers were trying to hurry and get to the checkered as a few raindrops started to fall mid race. Steve Cady, head starter kept the ball rolling to fit in the last race of the night, the Mini Stocks. This was great action by Moss as he was to third by lap 15. Fourteenth place starter Jerry Buckley was smooth to move into fourth on lap 17. The finish was spectacular, as Bob Clark wins and Thomas finishes a very close second. Following in third was Moss then Buckley and David Gee rounding out the top five.
In the Mini Stocks, heat wins go to Bill Tice, Kenny Peoples Jr. and Jeff Stone. Sitting one and two were Bill Tice and Rick Loucks. Tice kept his fellow racers at bay for 6 laps. I see a lot of bumping and rubbings going on to get the position that they want. This is ok if you don’t get caught. Too much will get you Black Flagged for rough riding. Racing hard for second was Jeff Stone and Ray Brown for 7 laps. Till Kris Kester stepped into the picture to make it three cars racing for second. Back and forth the three challenged each other for positions. Then on lap 9 there was the number 1 car of Joe Povoski traveling fast and furious to get to the lead. He was third by lap 11, and then second by lap 13 he was second as the caution flag flew for the number 5k car of Kenny Peoples Jr. Don Knowles then hit him hard. Kester held the lead, holding off Joe Povoski for the last seven laps. Fighting grew harder as the pair ran into lap traffic on lap 17 they ran across the finish line four wide with two lap cars and split the two lap cars with Kester coming out on top. A last moment run on Kester by Povoski got Povoski his third win. Kester had to settle for second followed by Ray Brown, Jeff Stone and Chad Dickerson. This is an unofficial finish as the top 6 were being checked as I was leaving. As I was leaving the racetrack the skies opened up and the rain fell.
Come and Join us next week as we welcome Addison Farm Supply as the Event Sponsor.
358 Modified Feature: 17 -Lyle Sherwood, Z8 –Steve Hartman, 1 – John Moravec, 15 – Stacy Jackson, 7h – Alex Hoag, 18 – Don Lawson Jr., 3K- Larry Keegan, 13 – Kevin Chilson, 9C –Tony Harris, 2 – Frank Dunning, 61K – Don Kio, 9 -Dan Mathews, 37 –Tom Kio, 88m –Steve Mandell, 19 – Dave Yehl, 01 Dave Scouton, 21 – Kevin Erskine, 08 – Larry Heffner, 1A – Freddie Amann, 11 –Donnie Lawson Jr., 61 – Steve Kio, 7- Larry Doolittle, DNS 12 -Billy Van Pelt, 10 – Corey Smith
Super Stock Feature: 61 – Bill Williams, 5k- Kenny Peoples, 13 – Brett Flint, 87 – Scott Brown, 4 Larry Knowles, 25 – Scott Dennison, 04 – Joe Buck, 2 –Mark Costa, 77 – Bob Lubberts, 11J – Jay Deming, 11 – Mike Hilfiger, 32 –Alan Crooker, 31 – Mick Seeley, 67 –Rich Marlatt, 15 –Glenn Whritenour, 9 – Joe Duell.
I.M.C.A. Modified Feature: 96 – Mike Smith, 2 – Bob Davis, Z8 – Steve Hartman Jr., 59 – Earl Harp, 22 – Willy Rice, 3 – Clayton McClean, 74 – Tracey Rhoads, 6 – Butch Rhoads, 9 – Jay McConnell, 5 – Jeff Johnson, 11 – Greg Galligan, 13 – Ray Brol, 94 – Brett Bacon, X – Larry Robbins, 91 – Steve Williams, 411 – Andy Rhoads, 15 – Dan Gardener
Street Stock Feature: 3 –Bob Clark, 55 – Ken Thomas, 23 –Cliff Moss, 7 – Jerry Buckley, 15 –Lance Baker, 66 – Dan Gordon, 29 – Chuck Pruden, 94 – Dave Davis, 6 – Lyle Smith, 48 – Gary Archer, 30 – Dave Mortor, 1H Randy Hilfiger, 40 –Jeff Smith, 72 – Joe Nobriga, 95 – Tracey Stanford, 10 – Glenn Helfrich, 8 – Bill Shea, 59 – Geoff McNally, 13 - Gene Galligan, 17 – Chris Brockway, 53 – Butch Dibble, 52 – Todd Burgess, 99 – Tom Space, 91 – Mike Williams, 5 – Henry Miracle
Mini Stock Feature: 1 – Joe Povoski, 43 – Kris Kester, 61 – Ray Brown, 78 –Jeff Stone, 57 – Chad Dickerson, 46 – Brain Grant, 18 – Bill Tice, 5 –Jordon Dibble, 28 – Todd Stone, 8J Eddie Crawford, 11x – Jack Ayers, 80 – Ray Hyer, 47 – Dave Burdick, 21 – Nate Dunning, 19 –Bob Hauber, 67 –Rick Loucks, 5K – Kenny Peoples Jr., 62 – Elwin Davenport, 0 –Kevin Erdmann, 8 –Don Knowles, 17 –Joe Kurtz, 86 – Kevin Young, 84 – Josh Mills, 68 – Mary Vanderhoef, DNS – 11 Jason Ketrow