Jimmy Phelps Flies To 2nd Career Advance Auto Parts Series Triumph Sunday At Williams Grove

Sun - October 15, 2006 -- Williams Grove Speedway
Mechanicsburg, PA

Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director

A month and a half earlier Jimmy Phelps was an up-and-coming driver in the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series, chasing that elusive victory in his first full season following DIRT MotorSports NorthEast’s premier Modified tour and loaded with potential. With just one race now remaining in the season-long trail, Phelps has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight and regarded among the favorites to win as soon as he buckles into the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer after scoring his second Advance Auto Parts SDS victory Sunday afternoon in the Palmer Candy/Heffner Printing Central Penn 100 held at Williams Grove Speedway.

“Our team is really starting to gel right now and we’re building up more confidence with every race,” said Phelps, 31, who picked up his first career Series win in dramatic fashion at Brewerton Speedway on Aug. 30, charging from 26th starting position to overtake Alan Johnson with just 6 laps left in the century grind. Starting from the pole at The Grove, this time the Baldwinsville, N.Y. driver ducked under Johnson on lap 25 and held steady the rest of the way to score the convincing $6,000 win by a comfortable eight car-lengths. Johnson followed Phelps across the stripe to clinch his fifth overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Modified Championship as he holds an insurmountable lead of 159 points heading into the big Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway next weekend. Second-generation pilots Pat Ward and Ronnie Johnson and Bert Hard Charger Frank Cozze filled out the final front-five under the checkered flag. “This ’07 Troyer car almost drove itself out there day. After the track locked down I just put it on cruise control out there. The good starting spot certainly helped out the cause today,” Phelps said.

Alan Johnson won the first of four heat races that included 37 open-wheel entries while Phelps chased winner Billy Decker in the second qualifier. Yet when it came time for the customary pre-race draw among the top dozen heat finishers, the pair grabbed front row starting positions and never gave them up once the feature race began. And it took three tries to get the 3rd Annual Central Penn 100 underway as Tom Sears Jr. stopped in turn two on the final pace lap while sixth-place starter Matt Sheppard looped his Ross Motorsports mount between turns one and two on the second attempt. The third time was a charm for Johnson in the familiar Rudalavage/Laughing-owned no. 14J NativePoker.Com-Pine Line Auto Sales-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas/Bicknell machine as he out-dragged pole-sitter Phelps to take an early lead.

It took only 11 laps for the third yellow flag to unfurl as Jeff Isabell looped his JIR Motorsports Modified rounding turn one, with Johnson, Phelps, Decker, Steve Paine and Ward showing at the front of the class as the 30-car field began to spread out around the historic half-mile Mechanicsburg oval. Driving his son’s re-numbered 65 King Bros.Building Supplies/Bicknell entry, Ohio invader Rex King had his front end go down to require another slowdown and keep the lead pack in line. Just as Rick Laubach fell off the pace to bring a fifth caution period, Johnson drifted high in turn four and Phelps pulled under to force what would be the only lead change during the afternoon special on lap 25.

With yellow flag laps counting a quarter of the way through, the ensuing lap 29 restart began clean although just one circuit later a front straighatway mishap involving Kevin Bolland, Jim Witko Jr. and King forced the field to slow once more. Phelps continued to fend off Johnson and Decker while Ward and Tim Fuller battled for top-five slots. Del Rougeux Jr. and Witko added further to the caution-infested affair as their Bicknell rides tangled down the homestretch on lap 40 putting Pennsylvanian Rougeux behind pit wall for the rest of the event. At the halfway mark 20 cars remained trackside with Fuller’s move to third the only shake up in the top-five running order as Phelps increased his lead to 15 cars during the continuous green flag conditions.

In quest of his fourth straight major victory on the DIRT NE circuit, Danny Johnson had worked his way into sixth after starting 13th on the grid aboard the recently revived no. 27J Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer ride. Brett Hearn had his sights on the same spot and on lap 61 contact between the two rivals low in turn two forced both to the pits; Johnson for good with a broken rear radius rod and Hearn for three laps to replace a flat right rear tire before returning to competition. Just two laps later Paine pulled pitside with a flat tire --- and that became the focal point during the last 15 miles as tire wear became an issue of concern for every frontrunner.

Justin Haers ran 14th and was the last car scored on the lead lap when he retired for good on lap 70 with a flat right-rear. Seventh-place runner Dale Planck also suffered a flat right-rear tire and stopped on lap 81 to incur the eighth caution period of the race, one which quickly erased a 2.2-second advantage built by leader Phelps. Gary Tomkins (10th) followed suit as a right-rear shoe went soft on lap 88 before Decker (4th) and Vic Coffey (10th) went into the pits to replace flats on lap 92. Recent Eckerd 200 runner-up Jimmy Horton (5th) joined the pair just one circuit later as he steered his owner Rick Grosso’s no. R24 entry following a dead battery in his primary no. 42 Bicknell ride. Fuller suffered the same fate to incur the final yellow flag with just two laps to go, yet with the race extended to 101 laps Phelps remained air-tight with Johnson settling for runner-up laurels as the checkered flags waved.

“The car has been right on the money lately and the biggest difference is we’ve been good right off the bat,” added Phelps, who followed up the Brewerton win by leading the initial 100 laps of the Lebanon Valley 200 on his way to second, placed fifth at Canandaigua and third in the rain-shortened Rolling Wheels 200 before capturing a Triple 20 during Super DIRT Week and pacing the field for 19 laps in the Eckerd 200 on the Syracuse Mile. “We had a good idea that the track would rubber up today and I think Alan was a little tight when we got under him. I knew our car was pretty square all race but I was definitely nervous the last few laps when there was rubber flying all over the track with a lot of guys getting flats. Fortunately, we had enough until the end and it’s just a credit to this team. All the preparation put in is finally paying off.”

Although DIRT NorthEast’s all-time big-block Modified winner was unable to increase his count, Johnson was ultimately content with his runner-up tally that bolstered his top-five tally to 19 in the 24 point races run to date in the ’06 Advance Auto Parts Series. “You always race to win but second’s the next best and next week will certainly be a little easier not having to worry about points,” said Johnson, 49, who remains the DIRT big-block feature win leader with 15 scored this season to improve his career total to 344. His first four Mr. DIRT titles were claimed in 1981, ’83, 2002 and ’03. “We had an excellent car but I was still concerned about the set up and more afraid of getting a flat tire before the end. I misread the communication with my spotter and ran a little too conservative when I got out front. Once Jimmy passed me I knew it was all over, after that I just tried to save tires the rest of the way. With the points out of the way now we can put a more aggressive set-up in the car for Orange County, ending the season with a big win is a good way to go out.”

Fifth-place starter Ward held that spot much of the race and moved up to third as attrition took its toll on the frontrunners during the closing stages. “We had a pretty good car all day and I wanted to clear Billy (Decker) as I think I could’ve given the leaders a run,” said Ward, following his second top-three finish of the ’06 tour campaign. “At the end I don’t think we had much more than another couple laps on the tires. The leaders were able to save theirs as they could pretty much run their own line and not use them up.”

Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #24 – Williams Grove Speedway, October 15, 2006 Palmer Candy/Heffner Printing Central Penn 100 Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY ($6,000)
2 2 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
3 5 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
4 16 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
5 29 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
6 18 1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
7 6 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
8 3 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
9 23 r24 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
10 8 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
11 21 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
12 12 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
13 30 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
14 11 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
15 7 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
16 14 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
17 13 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
18 4 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
19 9 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
20 17 12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
21 27 20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA
22 15 777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA
23 25 83 Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
24 22 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
25 24 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
26 20 65 Rex King/Bristolville,OH
27 19 126 Jeff Strunk/Bethel,PA
28 26 77 Dave Stonebraker/Coopersburg,PA
29 #10 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
30 *28 19b Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
#Started last row in Russell King’s no. 56 after final practice session accident;
*Started last row in Scott Irwin’s no. 92 car after post consolation race crash.
LAP LEADERS: A.Johnson (1-24), J.Phelps (25-101).
CAUTIONS: 10 for 20 laps.
DID NOT QUALIFY(7)
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
8j-Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
42b-Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
43-Tommy Hager/West Easton,PA
56-Russell King/Bristolville,OH
85-Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
92-Scott Irwin/Sinking Spring,PA

QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
*1 20.877 86.219 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 20.962 85.870 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3 21.205 84.886 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
4 21.258 84.674 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
5 21.267 84.638 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
6 21.316 84.444 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
7 21.374 84.214 777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA
8 21.382 84.183 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
9 21.418 84.041 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
10 21.420 84.034 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
11 21.424 84.018 126 Jeff Strunk/Bethel,PA
12 21.467 83.850 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
13 21.531 83.600 12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
14 21.563 83.476 r24 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
15 21.599 83.337 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
16 21.610 83.295 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
17 21.672 83.056 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
18 21.675 83.045 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
19 21.795 82.588 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
20 21.802 82.561 19b Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
21 21.812 82.523 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
22 21.820 82.493 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
23 21.925 82.098 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
24 21.935 82.061 165 Rex King/Bristolville,OH
25 21.956 81.982 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
26 22.011 81.777 83 Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
27 22.019 81.748 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
28 22.099 81.452 8j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
29 22.117 81.385 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
30 22.138 81.308 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
31 22.183 81.143 77 Dave Stonebraker/Coopersburg,PA
32 22.279 80.794 56 Russell King/Bristolville,OH
33 22.374 80.451 20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA
34 22.593 79.671 1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
35 22.686 79.344 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
36 22.802 78.940 92 Scott Irwin/Sinking Spring,PA
37 23.172 77.680 43 Tommy Hager/West Easton,PA

Heat Races (10 laps, top-5 finishers transferred to feature, top-3 went to re-draw)
#1: Ward, Fuller, Tomkins, D.Johnson, J.Johnson, Coffey, Rougeux, Je.Isabell, Scagliotta, Hager.
#2: B.Decker, Phelps, Witko, Haers, W.Decker, Horton, Sears, Vauter, Cozze.
#3: A.Johnson, Paine, Stafford, Bolland, Strunk, Laubach, Stonebraker, Tonkin, Bates.
#4: Sheppard, Planck, Hearn, R.Johnson, Re.King, Jo.Isabell, Brightbill, Irwin, Ru.King.
Consolation Round (10 laps, top-4 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Coffey, Horton, Sears, Rougeux, Je.Isabell, Cozze, Vauter, Hager, Scagliotta (DNS).
#2: Laubach, Tonkin, Stonebraker, Brightbill, Jo.Isabell, Irwin, Bates (DNS), Ru.King (DNS).
Provisionals: Frank Cozze, Jeff Isabell.

Overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship Point Standings
(through Williams Grove – October 15, 2006)
Rank No. Driver Points Home Track Bonus Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 14J Alan Johnson 2,378 Fulton 300 6 19 20 24
2 91 Billy Decker 2,219 Brewerton 284 3 17 20 24
3 19 Tim Fuller 2,183 Fulton 300 3 14 19 24
4 20 Brett Hearn 1,986 Orange County 300 3 11 15 24
5 84 Gary Tomkins 1,935 Canandaigua 300 1 11 16 24
6 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,895 Fulton 272 2 8 18 24
7 42p Pat Ward 1,890 Cayuga County 278 0 5 16 24
8 44s Matt Sheppard 1,879 Cayuga County 292 1 4 15 24
9 27J Danny Johnson 1,850 Cayuga County 272 2 3 14 24
10 7x Steve Paine 1,668 Canandaigua 296 0 2 9 24
11 77x Dale Planck 1,658 Cayuga County 260 1 2 12 23
12 44c Frank Cozze 1,472 Rolling Wheels 103 0 4 9 24
13 8J Tom Sears Jr. 1,186 Fulton 238 0 1 2 20
14 3 Justin Haers 1,125 Can Am 264 0 1 3 16
15 32c Vic Coffey 1,123 Canandaigua 284 0 2 7 15
16 60 Kenny Stafford [R] 930 Can Am 244 0 0 0 14
17 Z Butch Tittle 719 Canandaigua 206 0 0 0 12
18 99 Ryan Phelps 708 Cayuga County 240 0 0 2 10
19 42B Kevin Bates [R] 702 Fulton 240 0 0 0 9
20 62 Todd Burley 700 Canandaigua 276 0 0 3 7
21 6J Joe Isabell [R] 684 Brewerton 214 0 0 0 8
22 11 Kyle Jacobs [R] 675 Can Am 230 0 1 1 9
23 99b Chuck Bower 649 Canandaigua 248 0 0 0 7
24 3b Chad Brachmann 615 Canandaigua 232 0 1 1 8
25 39 Tim McCreadie 598 Brewerton 203 0 3 4 7
26 66 Jeff Heotzler 589 Orange County 266 0 1 2 7
27 18 Sean Beardsley 570 Canandaigua 218 0 0 0 8
28 6 Pat O’Brien 527 Can Am 292 0 2 2 3
29 88 Steve Hulsizer 507 Brewerton 250 0 0 0 7
30 2 Ronnie Johnson 497 Cayuga County 55 0 1 1 9
31 29B Jeff Brownell Jr. 484 Canandaigua 266 0 0 1 4
32 49 Billy Dunn 477 Thunder Alley 276 0 0 0 4
33 42 Jimmy Horton 476 Orange County 20 1 2 3 7
34 115 Kenny Tremont. 473 Lebanon Valley 288 0 1 1 3
35 73h J.R. Heffner 464 Lebanon Valley 274 1 2 2 2
36 7J Jeff Isabell 452 Brewerton 169 0 0 0 5
37 56 Vince Vitale 419 Cayuga County 232 0 0 0 4
38 14 Rick Laubach 413 Orange County 62 0 0 0 8
39 777 Kevin Bolland 400 Lernerville 300 0 0 0 2
40 47 Jerry Higbie 398 Orange County 260 0 0 1 2
41 FX1 Frankie Caprara 395 Thunder Alley 300 0 0 0 3
42 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 391 Lernerville 254 0 0 0 3
43 33.3 Tommy Meier 380 Orange County 260 0 0 0 2
44 4 Andy Bachetti 376 Lebanon Valley 288 0 0 0 2
45 45 Wayne Jelley 367 Lebanon Valley 266 0 0 0 2
46 99 Charlie Donk 367 Canandaigua 262 0 0 1 2
47 73 Ryan Jacobs 366 Can Am 159 0 0 0 3
48 15 Brett Tonkin 357 Fulton 140 0 0 0 6
49 X Chad Phelps 347 Fulton 226 0 0 0 4
50 48T Dave Rauscher 346 Canandaigua 204 0 0 0 2

Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Entries – October 15 (37)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY Westmoreland Golf Club-Steel Sales/TEO/Enders
2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,N 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
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
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Bicknell/Enders
8j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports-Commercial Roofing & Sheet Metal,Inc./TEO/Morrison
12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Witz Roofing-JRP Construction/TEO/Enders
14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales-Werner’s Auto Body/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY NativePoker.Com-Pine Line Auto Sales-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas/Bicknell/Morrison
15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/Bicknell/Main
19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY JL Motorsports(Native Poker)-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas-G&R Auto Parts/TEO/Enders
19b Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA Heavy Business/Bicknell/HG Associates
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Mtrsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-BPG Racing-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA Vinyl Graphics Unlimited-Prime Time Limousine-K&N Perf.Filters/Bicknell/Precision
24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA Brenzel Construction-Bruce’s Speed Shop/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
r24 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Grosso Trucking-Millennium Car Wash-Metal Fab Race Pro Shop/Bicknell/Feil
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar
32c 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
43 Tommy Hager/West Easton,PA Fatzinger’s Used Auto Parts-Valley Wall Stucco Systems/Hager/Burnett
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/Enders-FingerLakes
56 Russell King/Bristolville,OH Gustavus Hardwoods-Cedar Steel/Bicknell/The Engine Shop
60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY HS Edinger Trucking-Amsoil-Fast Line Performance/TEO/Chevy
65 Rex King/Bristolville,OH King Bros.Bldg Supplies-Rainbow Sand&Gravel-Cintas/Bicknell/The Engine Shop
77 Dave Stonebraker/Coopersburg,PA Lovestone Builders-Frederick(Pa.) Dutch Meats/TEOMark Benston
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders
83 Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY Commercial Roofing-Total Site Development/Bicknell/S&B
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell/Mastin
85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA Community Bank & Trust-Panorama Golf Course/Bicknell/Enders
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
92 Scott Irwin/Sinking Spring,PA Irwin & Son Food Distributors/TEO/HG Associates
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau-JanCen
126 Jeff Strunk/Bethel,PA Gold Rush Trailers-Touch of Green Landscaping/TEO/VanHorn
777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA Northland Ford-Cintas-Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe/Bicknell/Bolland

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.

Central Penn Premiers: It was the second to last event on the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series and making their initial tour appearances this season at Williams Grove were veteran Tommy Hager, Pennsylvanian Scott Irwin and the father-son duo of Rex and Russell King out of Ohio. Only Rex King qualified for the main and finished 26th after completing just 22 laps.

Double DIRT Duty: A number of DIRT big-block drivers also competed the night before in a special 25-lap big-block Modified event at Williams Grove with contracted drivers Matt Sheppard (4th), Brett Hearn (5th), Frank Cozze (9th), Jimmy Phelps (17th) and $2,000 race winner Tim Fuller headlining the all-star field. All but Rex King Jr. (gave car to his dad Rex Sr. whose own car suffered a broken rear ring & pinion Saturday), Keith Brightbill (blown motor), Randy Chronister, Jeff & Rob Reigel, and Sportsman driver John Stengle returned on Sunday and were joined by nearly a dozen making their first appearance.

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRT SERIES
Williams Grove Speedway (5 Evts)
DATE LAPS FIRST - SECOND - THIRD - FOURTH - FIFTH
10/15/06 101 Jimmy Phelps – Alan Johnson – Pat Ward – Ronnie Johnson – Frank Cozze
6/23/92 92 Brett Hearn - Alan Johnson - Danny Johnson - Billy Decker - Frank Cozze
6/25/91 91 Danny Johnson - Brett Hearn - Kenny Tremont - Billy Pauch - Steve Paine
6/19/90 90 Bob McCreadie - Jack Johnson - Doug Hoffman - Jeff Trombley - Danny Johnson
8/22/89 89 Billy Pauch - Jack Johnson - Doug Hoffman - Paul Lotier - Tommy Hager

RSCA Production: Exactly four months earlier RSCA Promotor Vince Vicari attracted the same exact number of 37 cars to his initial event staged at Susquehanna Speedway Park on June 15. That headline Palmer Candy School’s Out 100 was captured by Jimmy Horton, who finished ninth at Williams Grove while Phelps placed eighth at Susky back in June.

Qualifying Notes: All 37 cars entered made it out for big-block time trials with Tim Fuller earning his fifth Integra Shocks Fast Timer Award of the season. The night before, Fuller captured the 25-lap Modified feature at The Grove the first time he ever laid eyes on the historic Mechanicsburg, Pa. half-miler that first opened in 1939. Touring veterans Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Brett Hearn and Pat Ward were next quickest with Jim Witko Jr. a surprise 7th-fastest on the day. “The track is just like it is on Play Station,” said Witko, 37, a Clarks Summit, Pa. resident who traveled to Central New York during the regular season to compete at Brewerton (Fri.) and Fulton (Sat.) speedways steering the familiar white no. 24 Brenzel Construction-Bruce’s Speed Shop/Bicknell entry. “Getting into the draw is nice but my only goal today was just to qualify.” Advance Auto Parts SDS staples and Gypsum teammates Ward and Decker copped the initial two of the four heat races although the runs from last place starts into qualifying positions for Willy Decker and leading rookie contender Kenny Stafford brought applause from the late arriving crowd. “We had a real exciting time last week at Syracuse and we came here to get some big-block seat time,” said Decker, 32, who finished fifth in the second heat to start 18th at The Grove. Enrolled as a freshman at Alfred State, Stafford, 18, charged into third-place using the low line to get under Kevin Bolland and Jeff Strunk. “I’ve watched races at Williams Grove many times on TV and it’s a just great to be here,” added Decker, who finished eighth last Saturday in the ITT Industries/Goulds Pumps "Salute To The Troops" 150 for small-block Modifieds to garner rookie of the race honors. Qualifying for the 30-car starting grid at The Grove came to a boiling point at the end of the consolation round as contact between tour rookie Joe Isabell and short-track legend Kenny Brightbill on the final lap erupted into a full-fledge crash moments after the checkered flag waved. Brightbill shadowed Isabell for the duration of the second 10-lap consi, finally nudging underneath the 16 year-old traveler for the final qualifying spot as the pair entered turn three. The order remained unchanged as they crossed the finish line yet Isabell never slowed at the end of the front straightaway and rammed into Brightbill’s mount shoving him into the turn one wall with Isabell’s car then slamming head first into the same place before the demolished machine ended up on it side. Ironically, Joe’s father Jeff Isabell was added to the field as a provisional based on his time trial run.

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 Williams Grove Wheels 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.

Next Event: The final extra-distance event on the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series schedule arrives next weekend with the 45th Eastern States Championship at Orange County Fair Speedway bringing the curtain down on Oct. 22. Activity begins Fri., Oct. 20 with DIRT Modified practice followed by Integra Shocks Time Trials. More Modified practice and big-block heats run Saturday while the Sunday show kicks off with big-block consis to set the stage for the season-ending 125-mile Modified main.

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 A.JOHNSON/MATT SHEPPARD
Mon-Sep 4 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway A.JOHNSON/JUSTIN HAERS
Sat-Sep 9 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway J.R. HEFFNER
Fri-Sep 15 100 Canandaigua Speedway M.SHEPPARD/CHARLIE DONK
Sat-Sep 23 200 Rolling Wheels Raceway B.HEARN/VIC COFFEY
Sat-Sep 30 200-NP Fulton Speedway D.JOHNSON/MITCH GIBBS
Sun-Oct 8 200 New York State Fairgrnds DANNY JOHNSON
Sun-Oct 15 100 Williams Grove Speedway JIMMY PHELPS
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.

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