Gary Griffin Wins Afton Inaugural
By DEAN REYNOLDS AFTON,NY - It started as an idea back in April, to reopen the Afton Fairgrounds to stock car racing, a sport that hasn't been touring the fairgrounds oval in nearly 30 yrs. Jim Randall, former promoter of Five Mile Point in Binghamton, along with family, friends and volunteers put forth countless hours of work with thousands of dollars spent. On Friday, July 27, the idea and dream became reality as the Afton Raceway Park opened it's gates to a double header of small block modifieds and street stocks. It marked the first of what is hoped to be many racing events held on the quarter-mile oval for years to come.
Gary Griffin for Archibald, Pa. will go down in history as the first ever winner at the Afton Fairgrounds in the small block division. Griffin took the lead on lap 15 when then leader, Tom McGurrin, got hung up with a lap car in turn 3. Griffin then held off a late race, 2 lap dash with McGurrin to bring his Tobias chassied #52 to the $500 victory. "It was just luck, lots of luck that we're here in victory lane." said a modest Griffin, "We were running good but so was Tommy, he had the misfortune and we just took advantage." Griffin, who runs Moc-A-Tec and Penn-Can regularly, compares the quarter- miler, "These turns are tight, probably the tightest around, so you have to get your car to handle. But, then you need a good motor also, these straits are a bit long. You need the motor to get off the corners, it's a different track but it we survive Moc-A- Tek, we'll be back."
Promoter Jim Randall was very pleased with the outcome of the opening day, "This is great, the night went beyond my expectations, we had a ton of cars and the grandstand, there wasn't a seat left in the house. I want to just thank everyone in making this night possible." Jim was also looking ahead to the future, "We I still have alot of work to do, started late and the show lasted way to long. We've got a meeting with the town on Monday to go over what happened here tonight. We had the fair board on hand as well as the Mayor of Afton and they had a great time. I want this to go on for a long time, we're not here just to run a few races, but it was a great opening day!"
By virtue of their heat wins, McGurrin with his Kneisel, #29 and Doug Tyler Jr. piloting the King Auto Salvage #97 we're in the front row for the start of the 25 lapper. The start must of had a jinx as it took three tries before lap 1 could get in the record books. When racing did get going, McGurrin would lead Griffin and Tyler Jr. to the start/finish line up to a lap 7 caution. Jim Janus and Brian Davis, also running in the top 5 would come together in turn 4. On the restart, hometown, Afton native, Ron Ford would spin his #87.
The action would go the next 8 laps under the green lights with the top three in the same order as Doug Tyler Sr., and Brent Cross would round out the top five. The yellow on lap 15 would change the outcome of the feature 'till the end. McGurrin was hold a two to three car length lead in lap traffic when Lash Camenga would get sideways collecting McGur- rin. Griffin would go to the out- side of the speedway and would gain the number 1 position, McGurrin would restart in the rear. Just two laps later, another caution for Ford, Pat Shultis, and Mike Ward with all cars returning to the action.
On the next lap following the restart, lap car, Brian Davis would spin collecting Tyler Jr., Tyler Sr., and McGurring who we're running in positions 2-4. This put the running order following leader Griffin at Cross, Mark Madungo, Camenga, and Tom Kelleher with his beautiful Tobias mount. A caution again on lap 20 for Janus' #22J as Madungo moved into the second slot. The following restart found a great charge by the twice spun McGurrin coming through the field to gain second place on lap 22.
The final caution on lap 24 I would add to the drama, Afton rules we're similar to DIRT as the last two laps must be run under green. This made for a great, green, white, checkered dash to the finish. Griffin would hold the low line while McGurrin would try the thin cushion. The charge of McGurrin would just fall short in an exciting ending to a long feature. Finishing behind the front two was Lash Camenga who had a great run from the rear also with his L&G Construction sponsored Birosh chassis, Cross would bring his ageless Champ Car home to fourth, Kelleher hung on for fifth. Roun- ding out the top ten were Joe Sellars, Tyler Jr., the last car on the lead lap, North country invader, Tim Falter, Bobby Vedder with his DIRT legal sportsman, and fan favorite, Joe Buchek. Heats went to McGurrin, Tyler Jr., and Tyler Sr. as Brian Davis won the consi.
In the companion street stock 20 lapper, veteran and many time feature winner, Randy Decker, brought his Quality Hardwoods #9R Malibu ahead of Mike Clapperton and Don Newell for the $200 first place prize.
PIT NOTES: 38 small blocks jammed the pit area with regulars from Penn-Can, Moc-A- Tek, Five Mile, Can-Am, Brewerton, Orange County, Utica-Rome, Fonda, Dundee and Evans Mills making the tow to the Afton oval... The small block rules are basically open with drag rubber as the tire of choice... Good to see veteran Chuck Kennison on hand and he put his famous #9X in the feature as did Bud Carey with his #D2... Fonda regulars, Mike Ciravino, Wink Hinkley and Alton Palmer had one tough night as all three were involved in a pileup during heat 1, problems kept them out of the starting field..