Jimmy Phelps Captured Long-Awaited Advance Auto Parts Series Win In Dramatic Fashion At Brewerton.
Wed - August 30, 2006 -- Brewerton Speedway
Brewerton, NY
Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director
It was a story-book finish, certainly the biggest upset in the DIRT NorthEast’s premier Modified Series since Vic Coffey’s miraculous win on the Syracuse Mile four years ago. Second-year touring driver Jimmy Phelps did the improbable Wednesday night. Not only did the Baldwinsville, New York racer score his first-ever big-block Modified feature win at Brewerton Speedway in the Monro Muffler/Brake & Service 100, it was his inaugural trip to victory lane after an Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series race. And he swept past the nearly unflappable Alan Johnson with just a half-dozen laps remaining after coming from the 26th starting spot to do so.
“My knees were definitely knocking the last two laps,” admitted Phelps, 31, after registering the second-ever tour win for the H&H Motorsports Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels team. With car owners John Holland and Al Heinke making a rare appearance together at the D-Shaped DIRT Demon, Phelps more than matched the drama that unfolded even when H&H teammates Bobby Varin and Chuck McKee finished 1-2 in the 2003 Eastern States Championship at Orange County Fair Speedway. “I knew we were making progress lately and getting a little closer but this is more than the top-five we hoped for after starting so far back. Randy (Kisacky, crew chief) and Billy (Colton, car designer) have been pounding it into my head to pace myself and save the tires all season. Tonight I actually listened and the guys finally got what they deserved all along,” added Phelps, whose late-race rally rivaled Coffey’s storied run chronicled during Super DIRT Week XXXI. Coffey, who had been scored 11th with ten laps left and still seventh with five laps to go, rode lady luck the final half-mile and sped past a fuel-drained Kenny Tremont to capture the 2002 Eckerd 200 that was extended three laps by caution.
Current Advance Auto Parts SDS front runner Johnson led 56 laps before reluctantly securing second at the line. Reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion Tim Fuller settled for third position while Danny Johnson and Brewerton points leader Billy Decker rounded out the top-five. Todd Burley, who debuted the first big-block entry for the Holland/Heinke duo in 2002 Series competition, finished seventh to earn an automatic starting berth in the Eckerd 200 during Super DIRT Week XXXV at the New York State Fairgrounds in October.
Fuller was the first out of the blocks and kicked off the evening by blistering the Brewerton third-miler in a record time of 14.360 sec. (83.565 mph ave.) to garner his third Integra Shocks Fast Time Award. Debuting a brand-new Troyer chassis on the lightning fast clay oval, Phelps was clocked a dismal 35th out of 38 cars that took time. While Fuller led flag-to-flag to dominate from the pole in the first of four qualifying heats, Phelps limped around to finish seventh in his own preliminary event and relegate himself to the last chance consolation round where he placed third displaying only marginal improvement. “It was tough going early on but we made enough changes to get through tonight,” began Kisacky, who also served as crew chief for recent Mr. DIRT titleholders Alan Johnson (2002-03) and Gary Tomkins (2004). “We accidentally put in the wrong gears for time trials and then a spark plug closed on us in the heat. We still had a lot of typical new car stuff to iron out by feature time. I predicted the track would start changing about lap 50, we just needed to be around to have a chance to finish near the front.”
All-time Advance Auto Parts Series race winner Brett Hearn was fifth fastest in time trials and finished behind Fuller in the first heat before selecting the pole to begin the 100-lap nightcap. Hearn out-dragged front-row partner Fuller on the initial start yet after Jack Johnson looped his mount to bring out the first yellow flag, Fuller flew past high on lap five following the restart. While Hearn gradually faded, fifth-place starter Pat Ward moved up quickly using the high line and blasted ahead of Fuller on a second restart following a caution period for Jeff Isabell’s disabled machine between turns one and two. Two more slowdowns for Tim McCreadie, who slid to a stop in his father ‘Barefoot’ Bob’s borrowed no. 9 Syracuse Frame Service ride, and Joe Isabell, who looped his own no. 6j JIR Motorsports mount in turns three and four, kept the field bunched with Fuller able to regain the point on a lap 18 restart. Low riding Ward and high rolling Fuller swapped the lead three more times before Alan Johnson put the Rudalavage/Laughing-owned no. 14j NativePoker.Com-WPC Associates,Inc.-Pine Line Auto Sales/Bicknell entry out front on lap 32 after starting ninth on the grid.
On this night picking up a ride in the no. 32c Sweeteners Plus-CME,Inc./Bicknell machine from owner/driver Vic Coffey, 10th-place starter Burley began his march toward the front with 40 laps complete. Using the outside groove to its fullest, last year’s Eckerd 200 rookie of the race picked off a car every lap until nosing ahead of Johnson for the first time on lap 47. At the midway mark Burley and Johnson continued to pace the field with Fuller, Danny Johnson and Decker filling out the front-five. Ward dropped to sixth ahead of a charging Dale Planck with Phelps making his presence known in eighth ahead of Hearn and Matt Sheppard. Just as McCreadie brought out the yellow lights for a second time on lap 54, ‘A.J. Slideways’ moved back out front eyeing his fifth win of the ’06 Series. When Bobby Varin lost a left-rear wheel exiting turn two, still 35 laps remained and Phelps cracked the top-five with just a regular Friday night feature distance to cover.
Back under green flag conditions, Johnson opened up a sizable advantage on his nearest challengers with Fuller, Burley, younger brother Danny Johnson and Phelps trading paint as they searched for the needed traction both high and low. Phelps never flinched after contact with Danny vaulted him into fourth on lap 71 and two circuits later he ducked under Burley for third. It took Phelps longer to reel in runner-up Fuller, yet in a three-wide maneuver he dove under the lapped car of Dan Vauter in turn three. With Fuller pushed up high he exited the last corner holding down the number two slot. And just as he pulled underneath Johnson in a bid for the top spot, the 10th and final caution period arrived as Planck came to a halt on the frontstretch due to a right-rear flat. That also seemed to deflate the hopes of the partisan capacity crowd as less than 10 laps remained and Johnson was already a 41-time winner at Brewerton and hungry for more. “I really didn’t mind that last caution, it kinda cleared the track and gave more room to run at the end,” Phelps said afterwards. “Still you never want to show Alan your wheels, when he knows you’re there he usually comes up with some kind of magic to get the job done. He’s got a way of coming out ahead and he’s been on top of his game all year.”
The green lights flashed once more on the ensuing lap 92 restart and Johnson surprised no one by pulling away for the final stretch run. Even more expectedly Phelps fell in line from the outset but uncharacteristically suddenly found some needed bite down low. The born-and-bred Brewerton regular dug down even deeper as the lead duo rounded the second corner on lap 95 and two turns later crossed the line first to bring the rising grandstand throng to its feet. A rousing ovation waited five laps later as Phelps out-distanced Johnson by eight car-lengths as the checkered flag waved.
“I’ve really dreaded this place for the last few years, I just couldn’t hit on anything and its just been one frustration after another,” confessed Phelps, who began his racing career at Brewerton as a 4-Cylinder Super Stock campaigner in 1991. He now owns eight DIRT big-block Modified feature wins with an asterisk highlighting the biggest victory of his career at the Route 11 speedplant. “I won in every class I ran here but never had any luck with a Modified. I’ve always tried to win the race on the first lap no matter where I started. When the race was half over tonight I knew the car was good, just needed to keep it clean in traffic, that was really the biggest concern from lap one. Near the end I figured there was a good shot for top-five, no way did I think first. Guys like Alan, Tim, Billy and Danny were there, that’s a lot to handle with a new car and they don’t get passed too much when they’re running up front.”
In the end it came down to one-on-one match-up between an experimental ’07 Troyer chassis and a proven ’07 Bicknell car that Johnson had already put in the winner’s circle. “I was just too good too early,” figured runner-up Johnson, who extended his lead by two points through 17 races in the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series. DIRT NorthEast’s all-time big-block winner (341) entered the event leading Decker by 35 points and left for his Phelps, N.Y. home with a 37-point advantage over Fuller. “The car was just all over the place at the end. I would’ve had a lot more fun if I won, there’s a big dip in money from first to second. We’re still good in points but you always want to win when you’re this close at the end.”
Fast-timer Fuller was moderately content with the show position, his third straight top-three tally including a second tour win this season at New Egypt (NJ) Speedway on Aug. 16. “We ran good for awhile out there, the car just wasn’t tight enough to get the job done. Hats off to Jimmy’s team, they finally got it all together after struggling a lot this season. And Alan, there’s just no stopping him when he’s on his game. Third was all we could do tonight. We’ll take the points and go on to the next race, that’s all you can do.”
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #17 – Brewerton Speedway, August 30, 2006 Monro Muffler/Brake & Service 100 Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 26 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY ($6,000)
2 9 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
3 2 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
4 6 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
5 12 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
6 5 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7 10 32c Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
8 18 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
9 1 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
10 16 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
11 4 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
12 23 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
13 25 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
14 14 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
15 22 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
16 21 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
17 19 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
18 15 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
19 30 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
20 27 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
21 7 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
22 13 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
23 29 47 Scott Prentice/Central Square,NY
24 17 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
25 11 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
26 20 93 Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
27 28 9 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
28 24 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
29 31 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
30 3 39 Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
31 8 14r Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
LAP LEADERS: Hearn (1-4), Fuller (5-13), Ward (14-17), Fuller (18), Ward (19-21), Fuller (22-26), Ward (27-31), A.Johnson (32-46), Burley (47-53), A.Johnson (54-94), J.Phelps (95-100).
CAUTIONS: 10 for 12 laps.
ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Todd Burley.
DID NOT QUALIFY(8)
07-Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT
1*-Tony Buffa/Clay,NY
7-D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
15-Matt Fink/Baldwinsville,NY
18-Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
27a-Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY
48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
91h-Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 14.360 sec. 83.565 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
*NEW TRACK RECORD *$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 14.450 83.045 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
3 14.454 83.022 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
4 14.472 82.919 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
5 14.549 82.480 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
6 14.576 82.327 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7 14.585 82.276 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
8 14.655 81.883 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
9 14.769 81.251 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
10 14.781 81.185 14r Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
11 14.795 81.108 32c Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
12 14.799 81.087 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
13 14.829 80.923 39 Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
14 14.831 80.912 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
15 14.841 80.857 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
16 14.845 80.835 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
17 14.866 80.721 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
18 14.918 80.440 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
19 14.923 80.413 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
20 14.924 80.407 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
21 14.930 80.375 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
22 14.937 80.337 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
23 14.941 80.316 9 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
24 14.959 80.219 93 Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
25 14.968 80.171 47 Scott Prentice/Central Square,NY
26 14.969 80.166 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
27 14.970 80.160 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
28 14.981 80.101 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
29 14.983 80.091 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
30 15.032 79.830 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
31 15.070 79.628 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
32 15.166 79.124 1* Tony Buffa/Clay,NY
33 15.187 79.015 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
34 15.194 78.979 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
35 15.240 78.740 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
36 15.306 78.401 15 Matt Fink/Baldwinsville,NY
37 15.536 77.240 7 D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
38 16.654 72.055 07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT
39 -NT- ----- 27a Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top-5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: Fuller, Hearn, Coffey, Haers, Hulsizer, Jo.Isabell, Prentice, Beardsley, Homan, Forbes.
#2: D.Johnson, Ward, J.Johnson, R.Phelps, Cozze, Stafford, Paine, Witko, Rauscher, Kerr.
#3: Decker, Burley, A.Johnson, Je.Isabell, Vauter, Bower, J.Phelps, McCreadie, Sears, Axton (DNS).
#4: Sheppard, Planck, R.Johnson, Tomkins, Varin, Bates, Tittle, Buffa, Fink.
Consolation Round (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Paine, Stafford, Witko, Jo.Isabell, Prentice, Beardsley, Homan, Forbes, Rauscher.
#2: Bower, Bates, J.Phelps, McCreadie, Tittle, Buffa, Fink, Kerr, Sears, Axton (DNS).
Provisional: Tom Sears Jr.
Advance Auto Parts Super Series Point Standings (through August 30, 2006)
No. Driver Points Diff Money Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 14J Alan Johnson 1,412 0 $52,125 4 12 13 17
2 19 Tim Fuller 1,375 (37) $40,700 3 13 14 17
3 91 Billy Decker 1,366 (46) $42,425 3 12 14 17
4 20 Brett Hearn 1,226 (186) $30,650 2 9 12 17
5 1 Gary Tomkins 1,172 (240) $28,050 1 8 12 17
6 42p Pat Ward 1,135 (277) $16,250 0 3 12 17
7 27J Danny Johnson 1,091 (321) $19,250 1 2 10 17
8 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,073 (339) $20,500 1 4 12 17
9 77x Dale Planck 1,019 (393) $18,375 1 2 10 16
10 44s Matt Sheppard 1,007 (405) $12,425 0 1 8 17
11 44c Frank Cozze 986 (426) $11,650 0 3 7 17
12 7x Steve Paine 961 (451) $11,450 0 1 7 17
13 8J Tom Sears Jr. 683 (729) $6,125 0 1 2 14
14 10 Stewart Friesen 519 (893) $3,713 0 0 2 10
15 32c Vic Coffey 512 (900) $6,375 0 2 5 9
16 3 Justin Haers 492 (920) $4,000 0 0 2 10
17 Z Butch Tittle 453 (959) $3,250 0 0 0 11
18 60 Kenny Stafford 453 (959) $3,100 0 0 0 9
19 11 Kyle Jacobs 445 (967) $3,825 0 1 1 9
20 6J Joe Isabell 350 (1,062)$2,175 0 0 0 6
21 39 Tim McCreadie 348 (1,064)$7,250 0 3 4 6
22 62 Todd Burley 312 (1,100)$3,400 0 0 2 5
23 42B Kevin Bates 307 (1,105)$1,850 0 0 0 6
24 42 Jimmy Horton 296 (1,116)$7,400 1 1 1 5
25 3b Chad Brachmann 242 (1,170)$2,925 0 1 1 5
26 99 Ryan Phelps 227 (1,185)$1,525 0 0 0 6
27 99b Chuck Bower 226 (1,186)$1,400 0 0 0 4
28 14r Ronnie Johnson 217 (1,195)$1,500 0 0 0 5
29 14 Rick Laubach 212 (1,200)$1,200 0 0 0 5
30 73 Ryan Jacobs 207 (1,205) $900 0 0 0 3
31 22g Mitch Gibbs 196 (1,216)$1,263 0 0 0 5
32 6 Pat O’Brien 195 (1,217)$6,500 0 2 2 2
33 88 Steve Hulsizer 169 (1,243)$1,200 0 0 0 5
34 18 Sean Beardsley 169 (1,243)$1,125 0 0 0 4
35 357 Billy Pauch 162 (1,250)$2,000 0 0 1 3
36 R2 Rusty Smith 156 (1,256)$1,100 0 0 0 3
37 90r Martin Roy 156 (1,256)$1,050 0 0 0 3
38 42 Pete Bicknell 152 (1,260)$4,350 0 1 1 2
39 26 Ryan Godown 143 (1,269)$1,000 0 0 0 3
40 66 Jeff Heotzler 128 (1,284)$2,300 0 1 1 3
41 71 David VanHorn Jr. 124 (1,288)$1,000 0 0 1 2
42 33.3 Tommy Meier 120 (1,292) $500 0 0 0 2
43 66 Kyle Dingwall 115 (1,297) $800 0 0 0 2
44 21 Yan Bussiere 111 (1,301) $625 0 0 0 2
45 11 Chris Jones 106 (1,306)$1,100 0 0 1 2
46 86 Billy Pauch Jr. 105 (1,307)$1,100 0 0 1 2
47 30 Jamie Mills 105 (1,307) $900 0 0 1 2
48 81 Rich Rutski 103 (1,309) $800 0 0 0 2
49 1J Bobby Varin 102 (1,310) $900 0 0 1 2
50 19B Kenny Brightbill 102 (1,310) $600 0 0 0 2
51 14w Ryan Watt 101 (1,311) $650 0 0 0 2
52 88 Jeff Strunk 99 (1,313) $650 0 0 0 2
53 91d Kevin Hirthler 96 (1,316) $650 0 0 0 2
54 FX1 Frankie Caprara 95 (1,317) $625 0 0 0 3
55 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 94 (1,318) $800 0 0 0 2
56 8 Rich Scagliotta 93 (1,319) $600 0 0 0 2
57 00 Doug Manmiller 93 (1,319) $600 0 0 0 2
58 9 Ken Cosgrove 90 (1,322)$2,500 0 1 1 1
59 9 Bob McCreadie 90 (1,322) $600 0 0 0 3
60 151 Brian McDonald 89 (1,323) $600 0 0 0 2
61 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 88 (1,324)$2,000 0 1 1 1
62 7J Jeff Isabell 86 (1,326) $300 0 0 0 1
63 15 Brett Tonkin 83 (1,329) $600 0 0 0 3
64 09 Alex Fortier 83 (1,329) $600 0 0 0 2
65 21 Gary Edwards Jr. 81 (1,331)$1,000 0 0 1 1
66 95 Mark Hitchcock 81 (1,331) $600 0 0 0 2
67 12a Jack Johnson 81 (1,331) $600 0 0 0 2
68 XXX Todd Gordon 80 (1,332) $600 0 0 0 2
69 22 Mario Clair 80 (1,332) $600 0 0 0 2
70 47 Jerry Higbie 79 (1,333)$1,400 0 0 1 1
71 17d Danny O’Brien 77 (1,335)$1,200 0 0 1 1
72 29B Jeff Brownell Jr. 76 (1,336)$1,400 0 0 1 1
73 93x Craig Mitchell 75 (1,337)$1,200 0 0 1 1
74 17T Todd Town 68 (1,344) $500 0 0 0 1
75 48T Dave Rauscher 68 (1,344) $300 0 0 0 1
76 2 Frederic Gamache 65 (1,347) $800 0 0 1 1
77 46 Kayle Robidoux 62 (1,350) $600 0 0 1 1
78 07 Tim Kerr 62 (1,350) $300 0 0 0 1
79 72 Ray Swinehart 60 (1,352) $300 0 0 0 1
80 99 Mike Adderley 59 (1,353) $400 0 0 0 1
81 3 Sam Martz 59 (1,353) $325 0 0 0 1
82 26 Rich Richner 58 (1,354) $300 0 0 0 1
83 777 Kevin Bolland 58 (1,354) $300 0 0 0 1
84 85 Dan Vauter 58 (1,354) $300 0 0 0 1
85 49 Billy Dunn 58 (1,354) $300 0 0 0 1
86 24 Jim Witko Jr. 56 (1,356) $350 0 0 0 1
87 23x Danny Bilodeau 56 (1,356) $350 0 0 0 1
88 3g Gary Risch Jr. 55 (1,357) $500 0 0 0 1
89 23 Larry Lampman 55 (1,357) $300 0 0 0 1
90 4 Duane Howard 54 (1,358) $325 0 0 0 1
91 12J Danny Williams 54 (1,358) $300 0 0 0 1
92 8 Frank Jashembowski 53 (1,359) $300 0 0 0 1
93 8g Keith Swartzlander 52 (1,360) $500 0 0 0 1
94 39 Clement Therrien 52 (1,360) $300 0 0 0 1
95 44w Shannon Whaley 50 (1,362) $300 0 0 0 1
96 41 Keith Brightbill 50 (1,362) $300 0 0 0 1
97 66x Carey Terrance 50 (1,362) $300 0 0 0 1
98 RJ7 Ron Jon Koczon 49 (1,363) $300 0 0 0 1
99 44sf Sebastian Gougeon 48 (1,364) $300 0 0 0 1
100 24 Chris Shultz 48 (1,364) $300 0 0 0 1
Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Entries – August 30 (39)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA Smith Excavating & Paving-Tittle & Sons Motorsports/TEO/Fiehl
07 Tim Kerr/Picton,ONT Hubert Kerr Construction-C.F. Evans Lumber/Bicknell/Murray
1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Pillsbury/Bicknell/Mastin
1* Tony Buffa/Clay,NY The Leader Family-Jim Ford Dyno Service/Bicknell/’Fast’ Fred Haag
2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY JRP Construction-Witz Roofing-Larned & Sons Sand & Gravel/TEO/Enders
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports-A&D Structures/TEO/Morrison
7 D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY JIR Motorsports-A&D Structures/Bicknell/Morrison
7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports/TEO/Morrison
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Terrell’s Potato Chips-Geneva Homes-J&M Roofers/TEO/Finger Lakes
8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY JIR Motorsports-Commercial Roofing & Sheet Metal,Inc./TEO/Morrison
9 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame Service-F.X. Caprara Car Co./Bicknell/Finger Lakes
14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY NativePoker.Com-WPC Associates,Inc.-Pine Line Auto Sales/Bicknell/Morrison
14r Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Chet’s Floor Covering-Finish Line Welding/TEO/Dan Bedell
15 Matt Fink/Baldwinsville,NY Benwood Auto Parts-Ernie Kreis & Son Heating & AC/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Town Mechanical,Inc-American Aluminum(Fla)/Troyer/Moshier
19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY JL Motorsports(Native Poker)-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Mtrsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-BPG Racing-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA Brenzel Construction-Bruce’s Speed Shop/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
27a Dave Axton/Port Byron,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar
32c Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY Sweeteners Plus-CME,Inc./Bicknell/C.C. Performance
39 Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-CME,Inc./Bicknell/C.C. Performance
42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA Blaise & Son Racing-The Ulster 4-Locklin’s Bottled Gas/Bicknell/Bedell & Murray
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd.-Stadium International/Bicknell/Enders
44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA Waite’s General Contr-Carquest Auto Parts-Bert Transmission/TEO/Feil-M2 Power
44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY BKS/G-U Hardware-Currier Pastics-Adam Ross Cut Stone/Bicknell/FingerLakes
47 Scott Prentice/Central Square,NY Watson’s Funeral Parlor/Bicknell/Enders
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY HS Edinger Trucking-Amsoil-Fast Line Performance/TEO/Chevy
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Community Bank & Trust-Vauter Racing/Bicknell/Enders
88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY Thompson Road Tavern-Chicken Shack/Troyer/Enders
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-Bytronics,Inc.-Transitions Landscape & Design/Bicknell/Campbell
93 Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY Magsarus Ignitions-JSB Fabrication/PMC/Garry Waters & Ed Munger
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau-JanCen
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Beyea Custom Headers-Ingles Performance Ski-Doo/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
SKIDMARKS
2006 Tour 12: For the second straight year DIRT MotorSports™ has signed up the best big-block Modified teams in the Northeast to compete in every Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series show. The list of a dozen contracted drivers (in alphabetical order) includes popular Pennsylvania pilot Frank Cozze, four-time and defending Eckerd 200 titlist Billy Decker, reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller, all-time Advance Auto Parts SDS race winner Brett Hearn, DIRT’s winningest big-block Modified driver Alan Johnson, five-time DIRT MotorSports NE Driver of the Year Danny Johnson, Canandaigua (NY) Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, second-year tour mainstay Jimmy Phelps, first-year full-time Series follower Dale Planck, rising star Matt Sheppard, former Mr. DIRT champion Gary Tomkins and 30-year open-wheel veteran Pat Ward.
Tour De Force: Entering the AAP Super DIRT Series special at Brewerton, together the 12 contracted drivers totalled 126 DIRT big-block feature wins at ‘The Demon.’ Alan Johnson (41), Billy Decker (33) and Tim Fuller (25) are the only racers reaching double figures while Steve Paine, Frank Cozze and ---until tonight--- Jimmy Phelps were the only ones still winless. Johnson and Decker also own three track point championships since Brewerton re-joined the DIRT-fold in 1994.
Beginners At Brewerton: Of the 39 drivers signed up for Brewerton’s Monro Muffler Modified main, five first-time entries joined the open-wheel roster for the first time this season including host track regulars Tony Buffa, Scott Prentice and Jim Witko Jr., plus new JIR Motorsports team member D.J. Forbes and Dave Axton. Personable Clarks Summt, Pa. pilot Witko was the highest finisher, placing a solid 13th after completing the entire distance while Prentice ended up 23rd in the 31-car starting field. Buffa and Forbes were DNQs and so was Axton, who got the least amount of track on Wednesday night. Axton was all set to qualify the second ’07 Troyer copy for Quality Concrete-King Enterprises team owner Dave Thompson but first-string wheelman Danny Johnson had motor trouble in practice and jumped into the briefly re-numbered 27a machine for time trials.
Cozze Back At Brewerton: Tour traveler Frank Cozze began his oval-track career at the now defunct Nazareth Raceway in the end of the1973 race season. He remembers the 1975 campaign more vividly, especially his maiden voyage to Brewerton, where he captured his second career open-wheel feature win in a 100-lap 320-Modified main. “I was just a teenager and won $1,428 in that race, all cash,” recalled Cozze, now 50, who returned victory lane at Brewerton in a small-block nearly 30 years later during Super DIRT Week ’04. “Back then New Yorkers just didn’t have the experience or the equipment like the guys in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We liked to travel, most of the time it really paid off. When I won at Brewerton there was qualifying on Saturday and the race ran Sunday, both days it got real dusty. I was so thrilled with the big payday but when I showed it to my dad he just pulled out a big wad of bills from his pocket and said ‘No, this is real money, the kind you earn from a real job.’ I used $1,000 dollars from Brewerton and bought a big-block motor and have been racing ever since.” Frank bought his own auto salvage business in 1979 and today operates Deerfield Auto Parts near his Wind Gap, Pa. residence while continuing to race for fun.
Record-Setting Show: Veteran Pennsylvania pilot Butch Tittle would have been interviewed for setting fast time five years ago in the last Advance Auto Parts SDS show staged at Brewerton Speedway. His one-lap clocking of 14.924 sec. (80.407mph) on Wednesday night actually would have tied the previous series mark posted by Brett Hearn on June 12, 2001. Instead, Tittle’s most recent time was surpassed by half the field and the Keystone State pilot was forced to qualify through the consolation after a late race mishap in his heat. Tim Fuller was the first car out and toured the third-mile D-Shaped DIRT Demon in a time of 14.360 sec. (83.565 mph), not only to establish a new AAP Super DIRT Series standard at Brewerton, but to register an all-time track mark. Second-generation chauffeur Scott Prentice stopped the clocks at 14.449 sec. on Aug. 13, 2004; a mark bested in ’06 by only Fuller.
Two ’07 Troyer Mounts Unveiled: The black no. 27J lettered for Danny Johnson and white no. 98H driven to victory by Jimmy Phelps are the first Troyer copies earmarked for the 2007 race season. Troyer, inc. proprietor Billy Colton may be taking a few more orders this week after both experimental rides placed among the top-four in their initial tour outing. “We’ve taken everything we learned so far this year and put it toward the new design,” said Colton, who said he expects Dale Planck to steer the 27J car at bothe Brewerton (Fri.) and Fulton (Sat.) this coming weekend. “We’re just trying out a lot of new ideas and working with two different combinations. The 98H car has a lot of chassis changes and a few new wrinkles in the body work while there’s more attention to the body in the 27J.” The no. 98H machine was actually finished late last Friday and Phelps arrived late to Brewerton upon completion only to have rain cancel the show.
Numbers Game: For the record …. Tim McCreadie steering his father Bob’s no. 9 Bicknell, Vic Coffey in the no. 39 normally associated with second-generation driver McCreadie, Burley in Coffey’s customary no. 32c Sweeteners Plus ride, Dave Axton in a no. 27a team car to Danny Johnson, veteran Jack Johnson wheeling the no. 14r ride driven earlier in tour competition by son Ronnie and Bobby Varin trading in Jake Spraker’s no. 1j car for a chance in Ed Munger’s no. 93 Magsarus Modified …. Must be getting near the end of the season.
Promoter Pleasantly Surprised: It was a mid-week special stranded amidst a season mired by rainfall yet Brewerton Speedway Promoter T.J. Fitzgibbons packed a cold one wearing a smile from ear-to-ear. “We did good tonight, made enough money to come back for another week,” said the former Pro Stock driver turned track operator in the world of DIRT MotorSports. Fitzgibbons also promotes racing activity at sister track Fulton Speedway alongside Don and Benedetta Watros, and Rick and Tina Wolff, the new owners of both Central New York facilities. “We’ve had some tough times lately with weather. The Outlaws Sprint show at Fulton had great racing but there was rain all around that scared away the fans. Last week the forecast on Friday at Brewerton called for no rain and we got dumped on at post-time. Tonight was a good one from the drop of the first green flag. We’ll look for a date on next year’s schedule.”
Homepage Highlights: The Official DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Web site at http://www.dirtmotorsports.com/DirtNE/SDS includes Advance Auto Parts Series driver biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race statistics, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases. There are also specific links to the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Media Guide, the Official Rulebook and the 2006 DIRT MotorSports Membership form.
Get Out The Word First: With RACEceiver now recognized as the Official Driver Communicator of DIRT MotorSports™ in 2006, fans, as well as the competing drivers, were able to hear first hand everything that was happening throughout the entire Brewerton show. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans allows RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866/301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.
Tracks Know The Score: In DIRT MotorSports™ ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DMS has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRT MotorSports. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRT MotorSports events.
Eckerd Store Specials: Eckerd Pharmacies in New York and Pennsylvania will give away close to 1,000 free tickets for Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Races held throughout the 2006 season. The popular Eckerd program is part of the promotion for the Oct. 8 Eckerd 200 Championship race at Super DIRT Week in Syracuse, N.Y. Each Eckerd Pharmacy promotion will feature DIRT driver appearances, race cars, the Eckerd “cut-away” Modified, free autograph cards and free tickets to Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series/Eckerd 200 Qualifier Races. Fans can find more information on the Eckerd promotion by visiting Eckerd Pharmacy online at www.eckerd.com. For race information, please visit www.dirtmotorsports.com.
DATE TRACK (PHONE) DRIVER/APPEARANCE ECKERD STORE ADDRESS
Sun-Sep 3 Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway (315/834-6606) Matt Sheppard / 11:00am-1:00pm 113 Downer Street – Baldwsinville, NY
Mon-sep 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway (315/689-7809) Steve Paine / 11:00am-1:00pm 153 Grant Avenue – Auburn, NY
Sat-sep 9 Lebanon Valley Speedway (518/794-9965) Kenny Tremont / 10:00am-12noon 463 Albany-Shaker Rd – Loudonville, NY
Sat-Sep 30 Fulton Speedway (315/593-6531) Vic Coffey / 9:00am-11:00am 503 South Second St. - Fulton, NY
Mon-Oct 9 Super DIRT Week XXXV WINNER / 10:0am-12noon Eckerd, TBA
Next Events: Traveling teams come together in Central New York at the hub of DIRT MotorSports NorthEast with a big holiday doubleheader of Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series action featuring traditional end of the regular season events at Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport on Sun., Sept. 3 and Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge on Mon., Sept. 4. Both 100-lappers pay out $6,000 to the winner plus offer valuable points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship and a guaranteed starting spot in the Eckerd 200 Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXV at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/ECKERD QUAL. (LOCATION)
Wed-Feb 15 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park JIMMY HORTON
Thr-Feb 16 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park TIM FULLER
Fri-Feb 17 30-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN
Sat-Feb 18 50-NP Volusia Speedway Park BRETT HEARN
Sat-Mar 25 100 Hagerstown Speedway BRETT HEARN
Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway BILLY DECKER
Sun-May 7 50 Rolling Wheels Raceway TIM FULLER
Sun-May 28 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway DANNY JOHNSON
Wed-Jun 14 100 Lernerville Speedway B.DECKER/PAT WARD
Thr-Jun 15 100 Susquehanna Speedway JIMMY HORTON
Wed-Jun 21 100 Ransomville Speedway ALAN JOHNSON
Wed-Jun 28 100 Fulton Speedway Rain-Cancelled
Mon-Jul 3 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Rain-Cancelled
Tue-Jul 4 100 Brockville Ont Speedway A.JOHNSON/PAT O’BRIEN
Sun-Jul 9 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway DALE PLANCK
Mon-Jul 10 105 Autodrome Drummond B.HEARN/GARY TOMKINS
Thr-Jul 13 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway B.DECKER/JEFF HEOTZLER
Wed-Jul 19 100 Grandview Speedway A.JOHNSON/JIMMY PHELPS
Sat-Aug 5 100 Eldora Speedway T.FULLER/STEVE PAINE
Mon-Aug 7 100 Merrittville Speedway A.JOHNSON/PETE BICKNELL
Thr-Aug 10 100 Canandaigua Speedway G.TOMKINS/JEFF BROWNELL JR.
Wed-Aug 16 100 New Egypt Speedway T.FULLER/FRANK COZZE
Wed-Aug 30 100 Brewerton Speedway J.PHELPS/TODD BURLEY
Sun-Sep 3 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 4 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 9 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-Sep 15 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 23 200 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 30 200-NP Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Sun-Oct 8 200 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 15 100 Williams Grove Speedway Mechanicsburg,PA
Sun-Oct 22 200 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
*All events subject to change.
The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., DealMaker Auto Group and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DART Machinery, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.