Mother Nature Tried to Stop Mirabito Energy Night
By Dawn Maynard
This past Saturday night while many tracks were cancelled. Afton Motorsports Park did an amazing job of completing their entire race program. A shower and thunderstorm rolled in, but the track personnel worked the track back in with help from the race teams. They also ran features only in two divisions due to low car counts getting the entire program completed.
The first feature on the track was the Carquest of Unadilla FWD 4-cylinder division. This was one of the divisions having a feature only. Rich Wagner and Randy Lane brought the field to the green. Rich grabbed the early lead. He has been struggling early in the season with mechanical issues. He led the entire feature with a big lead. The only caution of the event was for John Mason who touched the front stretch wall. John's car suffered sheet metal damage and he was able to continue. In the final laps, Rich and Collin battled for the win. Unfortunately Mills was not able to catch the Wagner machine having to settle for second. Rich Wagner did capture the feature event. It was his first win here at Afton for him in 2023.
The IMCA Modifieds, who are a bi-weekly division, were only running a feature. Michael Owen and JT Roe made up the front row. When the feature began Michael grabbed the lead before making contact with the wall ending his night. On the restart Brad Sites took control of the twenty lap event. Looking to dethrone Brad was his brother Eddie Sites. Brad opened a big lead of Eddie, until a caution late in the race tightened up the top two. With seven laps left Brad and Eddie battled for the lead. Eddie tried the inside on the remaining laps. He was not able to make the pass by Brad. Brad went on to win his second feature, with Eddie in second, third was Jake Maynard, fourth went to Tyler Stoddard and fifth to Bobby Maynard.
The Pit Stop Auto Crate Sportsman made their way onto the track. This division had twenty-one teams all hoping to take home the win. Craig Pope and Eric Winsor saw the green flag . Craig grabbed the lead only to be caught up in the first caution. Coming from starting spot four was Gary Smith. Gary and Craig raced hard for the top spot. They came together allowing Todd Titus to grab the lead. Behind Todd the action was heating up with three wide racing throughout the field. Jim Cummings who started eighth now had his sights set on the top position. Jim and Gary Smith battled for the second and third spots. It was Todd Titus recording his first win of the 2023 season. Coming in second was Jim Cummings, Gary Smith third, fourth was Matt Brewer and rounding out the top five was Eric Winsor.
Limited Sportsman sponsored by Big E'S Shed Sleddin' was up next with fifteen laps. Derrick Shaffer and Devon Green made up the front row. When the race started it was Devon Green in the number fifty-six leading. The initial start was called off and the field regrouped. On the restart Devon Green took control, with Derrick Shaffer on his rear bumper. The battle behind the front two was getting tough. Matthew Backus and Tom Davey were racing hard. Backus got around the Davey machine moving into third. Many time feature winner Dylan Nichols was making his way to the front. All the drivers were working hard to obtain the spots they wanted. When the checkered flag flew it was a first time winner in victory lane, Devon Green. Derrick Shaffer was second, third was MatthBackus, fourth was Tom Davey and in fifth was Dylan Nichols.
Modifieds were the second to last feature for the evening. Twenty-seven teams made their way onto the track. Mike Ward and Brian Puckett brought the field to the green. Puckett grabbed an early lead. First caution came out when Dennis Clapperton hit the inside berm, sending him spinning. On the restart Puckett again took the lead. Behind him drivers were making their way to the front. Newcomer Alan Barker who started in the twelve position was moving to the front. Justin Holland who has struggled during the early part of the season was making his move. Past feature winner Brett Tonkin was also looking to the front. Danny Creeden who started in position eleven was making his moves. All these drivers were using the inside and outside of the track. The track was fast after the rains and you could run just about anywhere. Brett Tonkin and Alan Barker were now in positions one and two. They battled hard with each other until a caution came out in turn three. This caution involved the leaders, but they were able to get their spots back. The caution had already been out when they came upon a car involved. Both drivers stopped to avoid hitting the car. It was half way in the event, with the restart being single file. Brett and Alan once again battled hard to the top spot. Brett did everything he could to hold off Alan for the win. Alan Barker made a move on the top side to take the lead. Brett finished in second not far behind him. Third was Justin Holland, fourth was Danny Creeden and in fifth was Brandon Loucks.
The final event of the evening was the popular 600cc Modifieds. Ryan Jordan and Darwin Greene Jr. started the race in the front row. Jordan took the lead, with outsiders Justin LaDue and Tom Donahue looking to dethrone him. Justin LaDue who captured one of the qualifying races was working the high side. He and Donahue were racing hard for second. Justin did move into second, but the time was running out as Ryan Jordan has a sizable lead. Ryan went on to record his seventh feature win, with Justin LaDue in second. Rounding out the top five were Tom Donahue, Ryan David-Kadaronak, Talan Oliver.
The management team would like to thank all the drivers who helped prepare the track after the storm. Hats off to the track team who did everything the could to get the track back to great racing condition.
Coming up next week the sponsor will be ZMK Construction. The evening events will include a meet and greet for the Modifieds and Factory Stock. A special event will include the Open Challenge Racing Series. For more information check out the Facebook page Afton Motorsports Park Fans.
June 24 - Mirabito Energy Products Night Results
ZMK Construction Modifieds:
ALAN BARKER, Brett Tonkin, Justin Holland, Danny Creeden, Brandon Loucks, Shaun Walker, Brian Puckett, JR Hurlburt, Darwin R. Greene, Dennis Clapperton, Nick Mady, Geoff Quackenbush, Doug Polhaumus, Ken Titus, Tyler Yeagle, Chris Ostrowsky, Alissa Cody, Leonard Miller, Dan Burman, Bobby Puckett, Jim Introne Jr, Brad Alger, Billy Fishe, Mike Ward, Brandon Walters, Jeremy Hamilton, Seth Zacharias
Heat Winners: Shaun Walker, Brian Puckett, Nick Mady
Pit Stop Auto & Towing 602 CrateSportsman:
TODD TITUS, Jim Cummings, Gary Smith, Matt Brewer, Eric Winsor, Tyler Ward, Travis Green, Bill Davey Jr, Dale Welty, Dustin Harris, Scott Torbitt, Brian Durbin, Darell Quackenbush, Kyle Smith, Brad Burman, Craig Pope, Jared Green, Brett Wooster, Kadon Hohensheldt, Kamdin Maby, Dane Hedlund.
Heat Winners: Gary Smith, Travis Smith, Craig Pope
Big E's Shed Sleddin' & Sales Limited Sportsman:
DEVON GREEN, Derrick Shaffer, Matthew Backus, Tom Davey, Dylan Nichols, Johnny Williams, Avery Decker, Buck Brown, Derrick Roe, Lance Hill, Jason Shedd.
Heat Winners: Matthew Backus, Derrick Shaffer
Rincker Insurance Agency 600 Modifieds:
RYAN JORDAN, Justin LaDue, Tom Donahue, Ryan David-Kadaronak, Talan Oliver, Darwin R. Greene Jr., John Hoover, Aubrey Davis, Sam Usborne, Chris Carman, Aiden Miller
Heat Winners: Justin LaDue, Tom Donahue
Carquest of Unadilla FWD 4 Cylinders:
RICH WAGNER, Collin Mills, Andy Bolles, Randy Lane, John Maynard, John Mason, Bryant Beach, Dave Nixon
Garys-U-Pull It IMCA Modified:
BRAD SITES, Eddie Sites, Jake Maynard, Tyler Stoddard, Bob Maynard, Matt Benjamin, JT Roe, Matt Roberts, Michael Owen