'Super' Matt Sheppard Flies To First Tour Triumph Friday At Canandaigua Speedway.
Fri - September 15, 2006 -- Canandaigua Speedway
Canandaigua, NY
Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director
Matt Sheppard waited all summer to win his first big-block Modified feature of the season at Canandaigua Speedway. There was literally no stopping the talented 24 year-old driver from Waterloo, New York on Friday night as he collected his second straight Canandaigua trophy in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series season finale. Sheppard broke a rear pan hard bar midway through the 22nd Annual Original Pizza Logs 100 Finger Lakes Championship, then lost the brakes in the no. 44s BKS/G-U Hardware-Currier Pastics-Adam Ross Cut Stone/Bicknell entry before outlasting Brett Hearn to score the $6,000 victory.
Sheppard’s second win of the season at the historic Ontario County Fairgrounds oval was his first of the year in Super DIRT series competition, pushing his Advance Auto Parts SDS career total to three. The most recent 100-lap tour triumph was his first recorded in New York State with initial wins registered at Autodrome Drummond (Quebec, 2004) and New Egypt Speedway (New Jersey, 2005). Current overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT points leader Alan Johnson settled for the third-place while open-wheel veteran Pat Ward and second-year Series follower Jimmy Phelps rounded out the top-five. Local favorite Charlie Donk rebounded from an early race flat tire to finish ninth and earn an automatic starting spot in the Eckerd 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse during Super DIRT Week XXXV, Oct. 4-8.
“We’ve had such bad luck this year, and even had some more before we finally had some good luck at the end,” said Sheppard, following just his fourth top-five finish in the 21 Advance Auto Parts SDS events run to date. “Riding around without any brakes for so long was really a handful and it certainly got nerve-racking at the end. I didn’t really know where anybody else was once out front, fortunately the car held up and I didn’t have to find out.”
Two straight days of rain and a light mist finally ending at the speedway just after 11 am kept the track crew hustling throughout the day. Overcast skies for the remainder of Friday produced an ultra-tacky surface that was both fast and treacherous for the 40 big-block Modified teams that signed up. The added moisture failed to affect Mr. DIRT point leaders Billy Decker and Alan Johnson, with each shattering Decker’s former track single-lap standard of 17.540 seconds set on on Aug. 11, 2005. Johnson was the ninth car out turning in a time of 17.501 sec. before the 14th car of Decker circled the half-miler in 17.385 sec. for an average speed of 103.538 mph. Sheppard was 13th quickest among the 16 cars that cracked the 18-second barrier.
The customary pre-race draw took place and Johnson proceeded to grab the pole-position start alongside JIR Motorsports mainstay Jeff Isabell. But unlike eight other races ---with six resulting in trips to victory lane--- A.J. Slideways was unable to lead a lap as Isabell stormed out of the starting gate to lead the opening circuit. Runner-up Johnson was followed by Decker, yet problems began early on for the Gypsum Wholesalers-Quality Hardwoods as the no. 91 Bicknell entry suffered a shredded right-rear tire while Decker ran third. On the ensuing green flag restart, seventh-place starter Sheppard bolted past both Tim Fuller and Johnson with his sights firmly planted on the no. 7J machine of first-time pace-setter Isabell. Decker looped to the infield to require another yellow flag on lap 13 and two more caution periods kept the field in check as heavy track began to develop a steep cushion in the corners. Following Donk’s flat right-rear nearly a quarter of the way through, Sheppard sized up isabell before ducking low as the leaders exited turn four on lap 28. Isabell never flinched, stealing back the point on lap 32 before his front-end collapsed on the following circuit to give Sheppard back a lead that would never again relinquish.
A second red flag situation of the night took place with 47 laps in the books when Vince Vitale drifted high coming out of turn four and caught the front stretch wall with enough impact to send his no. 56 mount rolling over and losing the entire left-rear wheel assembly. In the third Modified qualifying heat, 23 year-old Pavilion, NY pilot Shannon Whaley jumped the turn one berm and performed 2-1/2 snap rolls before landing upside down. No injuries were reported in either mishap despite both open-wheel machines sustaining extensive damage and being forced pitside for the night.
Back under green, Sheppard led Pennsylvanian Frank Cozze, who had started 11th and methodically worked his way to the front, New Jersey star Hearn looking for his second tour win of ‘06, recently crowned Canandaigua points champion for a seventh straight time Steve Paine, and Johnson at the midway mark. Sheppard’s Ross Motorsports ride began to show the first signs of sparking just a dozen laps later while Paine charged into second-place and wanted more. Cozze returned the favor and got around Paine on lap 70 and just three more times around Paine retired for good to the backstretch infield with rear-end problems sidelining the yellow no. 7x Tallmadge Tire-Terrell’s Potato Chips-Geneva Homes-J&M Roofers/TEO entry.
Second-generation superstar Tim McCreadie, on short leave from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, stopped in turn four to bring out yet another caution period yet as he limped down the front straightaway soonafter in his father Bob’s no. 9 Kinney Drugs mount he was suddenly rammed by Gary Tomkins entering turn one. Tomkins, who had claimed the Advance Auto Parts 100-lapper in August and had worked his way into 14th after starting last, was done for the night with hopes of repeating his recent performance covered in mud.
Canandaigua weekly campaigner Eldon Payne Jr. coasted to a stop in turn three to force out the 10th and final yellow flag and when action returned for the 10-lap dash to the checkers it was all Sheppard. Hearn, Johnson, Ward and Phelps secured front-five positions while the once promising finish for Cozze was reduced to 13th-place due to a power steering problem; one that surfaced on lap 75 with a small fluid leak before spraying Frank over the final dozen circuits to send him reeling backwards.
“I was fortunate to get those cautions at the end, it would’ve been really tough to get through traffic without brakes,” said Sheppard, following his seventh DIRT Modified win of the year to improve his career output to 20 since winning DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Rookie of the Year in 2003. “Mother Nature took its toll on the track tonight, it was rough all night and the car took a real beating out there. This one goes out to the crew, they gave me a car strong enough to make it through until the end. I owe it all to them tonight.”
Despite owning a pair of wins at Canandaigua, second-place finisher Hearn has enjoyed just about every other track on the DIRT NorthEast circuit more than the fabled ‘Land of Legends’ half-miler. “I used to dread coming here but the track’s been better lately and I’m getting used to it and liking it better now,” divulged Hearn, who copped the first-ever 200-lapper at Canandaigua in 1991 and won the last Finger Lakes Fall Championship in 2004. He finished fifth aboard the potent blue no. 20 Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-BPG Racing-Kruger-WLR/TEO machine in the August SDS race held at the fairgrounds. For me, second is just awesome here, it feels great. We were good on the restarts all night and we couldn’t be happier with the results. I really wouldn’t mind running here weekly if I lived close by, it used be rough out here but the conditions have improved greatly and I don’t mind coming back a couple times every year.”
Although a Fulton Speedway regular since the new millennium arrived, third-place runner Alan Johnson continues to contend at Canandaigua every chance he gets, remaining the track’s all-time win leader with 113 big-block feature wins collected since 1975. “I don’t know why but I thought the track would get a slicker, at least I hoped so,” said Johnson, who faded as far back as sixth in the Rudalavage/Laughing-owned no. 14J NativePoker.Com-Pine Line Auto Sales-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas/Bicknell ride. “The car was real tight in the corners. Early on I waited to let things thin out but I just couldn’t get the car to turn. It was just a real chore making it to the end tonight.”
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #21 – Canandaigua Speedway, September 15, 2006 22nd Original Pizza Logs 100 Finger Lakes Championship Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 7 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY ($6,000)
2 9 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
3 1 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
4 19 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
5 15 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
6 5 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
7 17 62 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
8 29 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
9 18 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
10 4 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
11 13 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
12 12 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
13 11 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
14 6 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
15 21 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
16 27 28p Eldon Payne Jr./Hopewell,NY
17 *16 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
18 10 9 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
19 8 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
20 14 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
21 30 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
22 26 83 Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
23 2 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
24 24 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
25 3 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
26 25 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
27 23 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
28 28 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
29 20 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
30 22 22g Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
*Started last in back-up #1 car.
LAP LEADERS: Je.Isabell (1-27), Sheppard (28-31), Je.Isabell (32), Sheppard (33-100).
CAUTIONS: 10 for 22 laps; 1 RED FLAG (lap 47).
ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Charlie Donk.
DID NOT QUALIFY(10)
3b-Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY
7-D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
17m-Skip Moore/Jackson Center,PA
21k-Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
44w-Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
50-Don Slover/Bath,NY
79-John Pfeffer/Hilton,NY
91h-Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
99b-Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
*1 17.385 103.538 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
*NEW TRACK RECORD *$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 17.501 102.851 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
3 17.607 102.232 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
4 17.695 101.724 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
5 17.705 101.666 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
6 17.713 101.620 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
7 17.777 101.254 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
8 17.802 101.112 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
9 17.880 100.671 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
10 17.883 100.654 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
11 17.892 100.604 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
12 17.913 100.486 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
17.913 100.486 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
14 17.915 100.474 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
15 17.929 100.396 9 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
16 17.961 100.217 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
17 18.135 99.256 62 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY
18 18.164 99.097 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
19 18.168 99.075 22g Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
20 18.175 99.037 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
21 18.198 98.912 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
22 18.204 98.879 3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY
23 18.214 98.825 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
24 18.215 98.820 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
25 18.220 98.793 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
26 18.291 98.409 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
27 18.298 98.371 44w Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
28 18.328 98.210 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
29 18.347 98.109 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
30 18.384 97.911 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
31 18.405 97.800 83 Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
32 18.456 97.529 7 D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
33 18.540 97.087 28p Eldon Payne Jr./Hopewell,NY
34 18.675 96.386 17m Skip Moore/Jackson Center,PA
35 18.787 95.811 79 John Pfeffer/Hilton,NY
36 18.899 95.243 t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
37 19.004 94.717 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
38 19.044 94.518 21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
39 19.273 93.395 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
40 22.104 81.433 50 Don Slover/Bath,NY
Heat Races (8 laps, top-5 finishers transferred to feature, top-3 went to re-draw)
#1: Decker, Cozze, Sheppard, R.Phelps, Burley, Beardsley, Vitale, Payne, Homan, Jo.Isabell.
#2: A.Johnson, Planck, Paine, To.Sears, Donk, Brachmann, Bates, Rauscher, Ra.Chrysler, Moore.
#3: Je.Isabell, Fuller, McCreadie, J.Phelps, Ward, Gibbs, Ti.Sears, Pfeffer, Whaley, Bower (DNS).
#4: Coffey, Haers, Hearn, Tomkins, Stafford, Podsiadlo, Ro.Chrysler, D.Johnson, Forbes, Slover.
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Beardsley, Jo.Isabell, Bates, Payne, Vitale, Homan, Ra.Chrysler, Moore, Brachmann, Rauscher.
#2: Gibbs, Podsiadlo, Ti.Sears, Ro.Chrysler, Forbes, Pfeffer, Slover, D.Johnson, Whaley (DNS), Bower (DNS).
Provisionals: D.Johnson, Vitale.
Overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship Point Standings (through Canandaigua – September 15, 2006)
No. Driver Points Home Track Bonus Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts
1 14J Alan Johnson 2,103 Fulton 300 6 16 17 21
2 19 Tim Fuller 1,968 Fulton 300 3 14 17 21
3 91 Billy Decker 1,960 Brewerton 284 3 15 17 21
4 20 Brett Hearn 1,790 Orange County 300 2 10 14 21
5 1 Gary Tomkins 1,757 Canandaigua 300 1 10 15 21
6 42p Pat Ward 1,682 Cayuga County 278 0 4 14 21
7 44s Matt Sheppard 1,672 Cayuga County 292 1 4 12 21
8 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,628 Fulton 272 1 6 15 21
9 27J Danny Johnson 1,618 Cayuga County 272 1 2 12 21
10 7x Steve Paine 1,520 Canandaigua 296 0 2 9 21
11 77x Dale Planck 1,497 Cayuga County 260 1 2 11 20
12 44c Frank Cozze 1,286 Rolling Wheels 103 0 3 7 21
13 8J Tom Sears Jr. 1,057 Fulton 238 0 1 2 17
14 3 Justin Haers 956 Can Am 264 0 1 3 13
15 32c Vic Coffey 950 Canandaigua 284 0 2 6 12
16 60 Kenny Stafford[R]804 Can Am 244 0 0 0 11
17 Z Butch Tittle 719 Canandaigua 206 0 0 0 12
18 11 Kyle Jacobs [R] 675 Can Am 230 0 1 1 9
19 99 Ryan Phelps 664 Cayuga County 240 0 0 2 9
20 62 Todd Burley 660 Canandaigua 276 0 0 3 6
21 6J Joe Isabell [R] 654 Brewerton 214 0 0 0 8
22 42B Kevin Bates [R] 642 Fulton 240 0 0 0 8
23 39 Tim McCreadie 598 Brewerton 203 0 3 4 7
24 99b Chuck Bower 591 Canandaigua 248 0 0 0 6
25 3b Chad Brachmann575 Canandaigua 232 0 1 1 7
26 66 Jeff Heotzler 549 Orange County 266 0 1 2 6
27 18 Sean Beardsley 524 Canandaigua 218 0 0 0 7
28 6 Pat O’Brien 487 Can Am 292 0 2 2 2
29 88 Steve Hulsizer 467 Brewerton 250 0 0 0 6
30 29B Jeff Brownell Jr. 444 Canandaigua 266 0 0 1 3
31 115 Kenny Tremont. 417 Lebanon Valley 288 0 1 1 2
32 47 Jerry Higbie 398 Orange County 260 0 0 1 2
33 FX1 Frankie Caprara395 Thunder Alley 300 0 0 0 3
34 7J Jeff Isabell 386 Brewerton 169 0 0 0 4
35 49 Billy Dunn 385 Thunder Alley 276 0 0 0 2
36 73h J.R. Heffner 384 Lebanon Valley 274 1 1 1 1
37 33.3 Tommy Meier 380 Orange County 260 0 0 0 2
38 56 Vince Vitale 373 Cayuga County 232 0 0 0 3
39 2 Ronnie Johnson371 Cayuga County 55 0 0 0 7
40 99 Charlie Donk 367 Canandaigua 262 0 0 1 2
41 73 Ryan Jacobs 366 Can Am 159 0 0 0 3
42 777 Kevin Bolland 358 Lernerville 300 0 0 0 1
43 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 348 Lernerville 254 0 0 0 2
44 71 David VanHorn. 344 Orange County 220 0 0 1 2
45 4 Andy Bachetti 336 Lebanon Valley 288 0 0 0 1
46 21p Derrick Podsiadlo335 Canandaigua 210 0 0 0 2
47 14 Rick Laubach 333 Orange County 62 0 0 0 6
48 93x Craig Mitchell 333 Orange County 258 0 0 1 1
49 44w Shannon Whaley330 Canandaigua 208 0 0 0 2
50 83 Brian Swartzlander328 Lernerville 288 0 0 0 1
51 10 Richie Eurich 325 Orange County 270 0 0 0 1
52 37md J.Shingledecker 318 Tri-City 278 0 0 0 1
53 42 Jimmy Horton 316 Orange County 20 1 1 1 5
54 21 Gary Edwards 315 Orange County 234 0 0 1 1
55 31 Jim Weller 310 Lernerville 270 0 0 0 1
56 45 Wayne Jelley 309 Lebanon Valley 266 0 0 0 1
57 X Chad Phelps 307 Fulton 226 0 0 0 3
58 OBs Ric Hill 304 Orange County 246 0 0 0 1
59 8 Tim O’Brien 298 Thunder Alley 288 0 0 0 0
60 47 Scott Prentice 297 Fulton 256 0 0 0 1
61 65 Rex King 296 Tri-City 296 0 0 0 0
62 48T Dave Rauscher 292 Canandaigua 204 0 0 0 1
63 06 Bob Bennett 292 Can Am 252 0 0 0 1
64 93 Ryan Bartlett 292 Thunder Alley 272 0 0 0 0
65 19 Chuck McKee 288 Orange County 248 0 0 0 1
66 2 Mark Flick 286 Lernerville 246 0 0 0 1
67 73 Rick Mill 283 Orange County 238 0 0 0 1
68 53 Dave Franek 281 Orange County 238 0 0 0 1
69 24 Jim Witko Jr. 280 Fulton 224 0 0 0 1
70 28 Tom Winkle 280 Lernerville 280 0 0 0 0
71 118 Mike DePalma 278 Orange County 234 0 0 0 1
72 24 Chris Shultz 276 Orange County 208 0 0 0 1
73 25 Mike Kolka 276 Orange County 246 0 0 0 0
74 1J Bobby Varin 273 Canandaigua 38 0 0 2 4
75 15 Brett Tonkin 273 Fulton 140 0 0 0 4
76 43 Keith Flach [R] 270 Lebanon Valley 230 0 0 0 1
77 61 Dave Murdick 270 Lernerville 270 0 0 0 0
78 99 Mike Adderley 269 Can Am 210 0 0 0 1
79 98 Eddie Marshall 264 Lebanon Valley 264 0 0 0 0
80 88 Steve Dodd 262 Orange County 252 0 0 0 0
81 21 Donnie Corellis 262 Lebanon Valley 262 0 0 0 0
82 8g Ke.Swartzlander260 Lernerville 208 0 0 0 1
83 03 Zach Aubertine 260 Thunder Alley 220 0 0 0 0
84 21k Randy Chrysler 258 Canandaigua 195 0 0 0 1
85 25 Joe Crawford 258 Tri-City 258 0 0 0 0
86 41 Andy Priest 258 Tri-City 258 0 0 0 0
87 85 Dan Vauter 252 Fulton 194 0 0 0 1
88 77 Jimmy Johnson 252 Orange County 242 0 0 0 0
89 83 Tim Sears 248 Fulton 206 0 0 0 1
90 6n Drew Ricco 248 Orange County 208 0 0 0 0
91 8 F.Jashembowski247 Orange County 194 0 0 0 1
92 91h Chad Homan 246 Canandaigua 186 0 0 0 0
93 8 Chanda Reitz 246 Tri-City 236 0 0 0 0
94 14 Lorne Browe [R] 246 Lebanon Valley 246 0 0 0 0
95 66 J.R. McGinley 244 Lernerville 234 0 0 0 0
96 87x Paul Gilardi 242 Lebanon Valley 202 0 0 0 1
97 7 Chris Schiffer 240 Tri-City 240 0 0 0 0
98 87 Hector Stratton 240 Lebanon Valley 240 0 0 0 0
99 7k Kirk Horton 238 Orange County 228 0 0 0 0
100 6P Dave Schrader 236 Tri-City 236 0 0 0 0
101 24 John Hewitt 236 Lebanon Valley 236 0 0 0 0
Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Entries – September 15 (40)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY Original Pizza Logs/Bicknell/JanCen
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/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY NativePoker.Com-Pine Line Auto Sales-Chiefs Tobacco&Gas/Bicknell/Morrison
17m Skip Moore/Jackson Center,PA Dave Millard Trucking-Grossman’s Garage-Moore’s Auto Body/Bicknell/CJ Rombold
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
21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY Penn Yan Mini Storage-Dailey Plumbing, Heating & Electric/TEO/Finger Lakes
21k Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Randy’s Smoke Shop-Arrow’s Express-Seneca Brand/Bicknell/Pogo
t21 Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY Iroquois Water-Randy’s Smoke Shop-Joey’s Sneaks/Bicknell/Campbell
22g Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY Cossitt Concrete-Kenyon Press-Kenyon Racing/Bicknell/Enders
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar
28p Eldon Payne Jr./Hopewell,NY Original Pizza Logs-Proctor Roofing-Payne’s Tiltbed Service/TEO/Mastin
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
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
44w Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY Davis Trailer World-D&M Precision/Bicknell/Mastin
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
50 Don Slover/Bath,NY Keenan Group Realtors (Mike Keenan)-Advance Auto (Bath)/Bicknell/Slover
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY Vitale Father & Son Racing/Troyer/Morrison
60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY HS Edinger Trucking-Amsoil-Fast Line Performance/TEO/Chevy
62 Todd Burley/Spencerport,NY Mullen Industrial Handling Corp.-Trackman Replacement Rubber/Bicknell/JanCen
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders
79 John Pfeffer/Hilton,NY Pfeffer Racing/Troyer/Pfeffer
83 Tim Sears/Central Square,NY Total Site Development-G&I Homes-Commercial Roofing/Bicknell/Bleskoski
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell/Mastin
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
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
99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY Original Pizza Logs-Turner Automotive-Ron Donk Excavating/TEO/Mastin
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.
DIRT Series Debuts: Only Pennsylvania traveler Skip Moore and Canandaigua regular Don Slover were new to the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series roster after Friday’s final event of the season and neither qualified. Ironically, the initial tour stop for Moore came after a five-hour haul from his Jackson Center, Pa. home, despite living closer to Lernerville Speedway. “We missed Lernerville’s show because we broke a motor right before,” said Moore, a top-15 runner at both Lernerville (Fri.) and Tri-City (Sun.) speedways as well as the BRP Modified Tour comprised of Western PA/OH all-stars. “We’re here just to check out our motor, see how it runs and start planning for next season. There’s really not much left on the schedule for us in ’06, maybe Sharon next week and Hagerstown (Md.) in October. We only have about 20 races on this car and next year we’re getting another car plus an additional motor. Coming here (Canandaigua) is just to get some track time before we get to work over the winter months.”
Bicknells Bountiful: Including Moore’s own no. 17M machine, 60% of Canandaigua’s field was composed of Bicknell chassis with teammates Pat Ward and Billy Decker, Alan Johnson, Tim McCreadie and Gary Tomkins all sporting ’07 BRP copies on Friday. Tomkins’ newest ride provided by car owner Doug Dulen from Honeoye (NY) Auto Parts was numbered 84, the same as those that Gary drove throughout much of his open-wheel career before teaming with the Beachy Motorsports no. 1 Pillsbury Team. “The number change was strictly the owner’s call,” smiled Tomkins. “From where I sit it doesn’t look any different no matter what’s on the side.”
"Finger Lakes Fall Championship" DIRT Modified Winners (1978-2006)
YEAR LAPS FIRST - SECOND - THIRD - FOURTH - FIFTH
2006 100 Matt Sheppard – Brett Hearn – Alan Johnson – Pat Ward – Jimmy Phelps
2004 100 Brett Hearn - Kenny Tremont - Billy Decker - Steve Paine - Pat Ward
2003 100 Steve Paine - Gary Tomkins - Tim McCreadie - Tim Fuller - Chuck Bower
2002 100 Alan Johnson - Bob McCreadie - Chuck Bower - Bobby Varin - Chuck Hebing
1995 100 Alan Johnson - A.J. Romano - Gary Tomkins - Pat Ward - Ted Bauer
1994 100 Bob McCreadie - Joe Plazek - John Moravec - Pat Ward - Steve Schultz
1993 200 Bob McCreadie - Doug Hoffman - Joe Plazek - Steve Paine - Kenny Tremont
1992 200 Alan Johnson - Jeff Heotzler - Danny Johnson - Kenny Tremont - Jack Johnson
1991 200 Brett Hearn - Bob McCreadie - Kevin Collins - Alan Johnson - Doug Hoffman
1990 100 Bob McCreadie - Joe Plazek - Kenny Tremont - Robbie Green - Greg Gleisner
1989 100 Danny Johnson - Doug Hoffman - Alan Johnson - Bob McCreadie - Kenny Brightbill
1988 100 Alan Johnson - Chuck Akulis - Mark Elsie - Curt VanPelt - Pat Ward
1987 100 Jack Johnson - Bob McCreadie - Alan Johnson - Jimmy Horton - Lin Hough
1986 100 Danny Johnson - Alan Johnson - Charlie Rudolph - Jack Johnson - Kenny Tremont
1985 100 Steve Paine - Bob McCreadie - Charlie Rudolph - Jack Johnson - Kenny Tremont
1984 100 Alan Johnson - Jack Johnson - Charlie Rudolph - Brett Hearn - Dave Lape
1983 100 Don McGinnis - Bob McCreadie - Merv Treichler - Charlie Castle - Kenny Tremont
1982 100 Alan Johnson - Dave Lape - Will Cagle - Bob McCreadie - Jeff Kappesser
1981 100 Will Cagle - Merv Treichler - Alan Johnson - Davey Moore - Danny Johnson
1980 100 Mike McLaughlin - Will Cagle - Jack Johnson - Chuck Akulis - Dave Lape
1979 100 Will Cagle - Davey Moore - Jack Johnson - Mike McLaughlin - Dave Lape
1978 100 Will Cagle - Davey Moore - John Podolak - Jerry Knox - Joe Cunningham
First Friday Format: A Saturday night staple on the DIRT NorthEast circuit since running its first full season as a track member in 1978, Canandaigua Speedway hosted a rare Friday night show to close out the 2006 short-track campaign. “With every weekend booked solid this year, we had a simple choice to make ….. hold the event on Friday or run nothing at all,” commented Canandaigua GM Jeff Farney prior to the event. “There’s so much tradition around here the fans and drivers deserve a big event to bring the curtain down. We’ll try to find another open Saturday next season, but if not we’ll do what we can to keep everybody coming back.” Matt Sheppard and Todd Henderson will be among the first ones in line no matter when the date falls.
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 Canandaigua 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
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: The National 200 headliner during World Series of DIRT Track Racing Weekend at Rolling Wheels Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 23 closes out the month of point chasing on the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series. *NOTE the change in starting time from 1 o’clock to 5 p.m. that same afternoon. The Victoria 200 at Fulton Speedway on Sept. 30 is a non-point race that offers 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 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 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.