Tonkin Tallies Top Spot on Night Two at Afton Motorsports Park
By Leon Andrus
Upcoming events:
Friday May 28 Weekly divisions with Slingshots
Friday June 4 Rentals To Go Night Weekly Divisions
No Slingshots and a GRIT Factory Stock Event
ZMK Construction Modified Division: The second week of the season it is still a draw and redraw formula for heat and feature line-ups. Here on out it is all done from a handicapping system. So, with that said after the redraw for the feature the front row consisted of the Stafursky Paving (9) Brent Tonkin and the Butler Auto Sales (6H) J.R. Hurlburt. Tonkin jumped right out to the top spot at the drop of the green followed by his Father-in-Law Mitch Gibbs aboard the Chambers & O'Hara Sales, Service and Rentals (2g) from his third starting spot. Hurlburt drifted up high going into turn one and dropped many spots. The race stayed green the entire thirty-lap distance with fifth starter Nick Nye aboard his potent American Taxi (6nn) week one feature winner was able to slide under Tonkin on lap fifteen when Tonkin bobbled slightly. Tonkin remained glued to Nye's bumper and was able to put the same move back on Nye four-laps later. Lapped traffic was hard to negotiate on this night and it allowed Gibbs and now fast-moving Alan Barker (77) in his Upstate Spray Foam ride to close in on the top two. The top four stayed in that order for the finish with Jeremy Smith in his Smith Site Development (46) rounding out the top five. Tonkin when I asked about losing the lead to Nye, he said it felt like daja-vu as he made the mistake last week and didn’t want the owners mad to do it twice in as many weeks. He said I got lucky as Nye made the same bobble to give me the opportunity to get back by. The three heat race winners were Darren Smith (12) Smith Site Development, Gibbs and Hurlburt.
Ted's Body Shop Crate 602 Sportsman: Mike Roth (1) Sullivan County Engines and Steve Andersen (73a) behind the wheel of his S&S Cafe machine came to Scott Stevens green flag with Roth grabbing the top spot. It was short lived as on the backstretch coming to finish lap two sixth starting Dave Rosa (61) overtook the leader and would never look back. Blaine Klinger (9) Klinger Power Sports car took over position two on lap seven. A few laps later another young gun entered the fray as Brandon Loucks in the Jensen's Speed sponsored (23) grabs third. Following the top three across the line for fourth and fifth were Andersen, and eighth starting A.J. Digsby in his Ted's Body Shop (10a) Three yellow flags stopped the action all for minor incidents. Heat race winners for the three events were Andersen, Klinger and Digsby. Talking to Rosa in the Gotta Go Mirabito victory lane Rosa said after the heat he knew he had a good piece under him tonight. The crew had the car on rails and all I had to do was steer it. No sponsors to thank but he would love to thank some, so if you would like to climb on the side of his potent machine go down and see him pit-side any race night.
Rinker Insurance Agency Open Sportsman: Bill Decklemen (90) in his Sullivan County Engine car raced to the front of the field from his pole starting spot and never lost the lead, but was seriously challenged the entire feature. Three caution flags slowed the pace for minor incidents and Decklemen held off Dave Rosa last week’s feature winner as he was on his back bar the entire distance. Every race on this night the leaders were having trouble getting around lap cars and this one probably had the most. Finishing behind these two at the stripe were, Jim Rothwell (4) Ted’s Body Shop ride, followed by Blaine Klinger (9) Klinger Power Sports and fifth going to the Gould’s Pool’s James Gould number (28) machine. Decklemen talked about the lap traffic in victory lane and mentioned he knew the they all were behind him and sooner or later you need to help the traffic move a little. Thanked his crew and sponsors in victory lane also. Heat races were captured by Jim Rothwell and Jim Cummings.
Chamber’s & O’Hara Sales, Service and Rentals Street Stocks: Lanson Albanese (14a) Pop’s Automotive grabbed the lead right off the Scott Stevens green flag but Doug Polhamus (KP1) Kaboom Fireworks followed right behind from his third starting spot and took the lead from Albanese on lap two. The Father and Son team of Kurt and Damon Decker both were able to get by Albanese to try and run down the fast Polhamus ride but to no avail. Polhamus worked the lapped traffic to perfection to grab his first feature win here at Afton for the season. Kurt was driving a car a car (89) that was re-numbered (3k) but carried the normal sponsor Hank Decker & Son Logging on the side. Damon was running another (89) with Beardsley Sawmill sponsorship. The (12 of Jon Carpenter rounded out the top five on this night. No heats as there were not twelve competitors and that is the rule for this season. The Street Stocks did get an extra hot lap session though. Polhamus mentioned when he saw the track come up slick, he knew it would be a good night for him as he has that down. Thanked his crew and sponsors and gave a huge shoutout to the fans for attending. He also talked about the Broome County Humane Society and is willing to take any donations anyone has and give to them to help the animals.
A.M.P. After thoughts: First off let me say that from this point on the Factory Stock division has been dropped from the card with the exception of a special race like in two weeks when a visit from the GRIT Series comes in.
The entire race program was in the books at 9:58 pm this past week and that was with the twenty-five minutes taken for the Fan Appreciation Meet-n-Greet down on the horse track. I want to thank all the Modified and Street Stock teams for taking time out of the set-up time for the feature to be a part of it. Thank you for the things you brought for the kids and older people alike. I also want to thank our great marketing partner Texas Roadhouse for the toys and Kid’s Meal coupons to hand out.
The four divisions in action this past Friday night saw new competitors in every division and that is always good to see as your driver roster continues to grow.
I also want to remind you folks if you would like to spend a night in the VIP tower with around twenty of your friends or maybe a child’s birthday party with food and drink with air conditioning plus use of the deck, give Ron a call at 607.624.3772 or drop a line to aftonmp2017@gmail.com or come see me in the tower on race night for details.
Afton Motorsports Park May 21, 2021 Racing Results
ZMK Construction Modifieds:
20 cars - Brett Tonkin, Nick Nye, Mitch Gibbs, Alan Barker, Jeremy Smith, Dan Vauter, Justin Holland, Bobby Flood, Dennis Clapperton, Darren Smith, Paul Jensen, Ken Titus, Todd Titus, Richie Price, Nicholas Mady Jr., J.R. Hurlburt, Leah Decker, Rusty Smith, Jimmy Becker, Matt Sobiech
Ted’s Body Shop 602 Crate Sportsman:
21 cars - Dave Rosa, Blaine Klinger, Brandon Loucks, Steve Andersen, A.J. Digsby, Eric Jensen, Tyler Ward, Dustin Harris, Brad Alger, Brett Tonkin, Gary Smith, Mike Grover, Jason Feinberg, Allan Hodge, Fred Smith, David Dickey, Dylan Nichols, Mike Roth, Blake Sarpriacone, Kamdin Maby, Scott Torbitt
Rinker Insurance Agency Open Sportsman:
15 cars - Bill Decklemen, Dave Rosa, Jim Rothwell, Blaine Klinger, James Gould, Jim Cummings, Danielle Smith, Craig Pope, Shawn Davis, Joshua Akshar, Ava Coons, Michael Roach, Duane Knapp, Zach Falciani, Trey Palmer
Chambers O'Hara Sales Service & Rentals Street Stocks:
9 cars - Doug Polhamus, Kurt Decker, Damon Decker, Lanson Albanese, John Carpenter, Travis Brockner, Bob Crandall, Brad Hurlburt, Dusty Decker