Advance Auto Parts SDS Points Leader Alan Johnson Cashes In Sunday At Cayuga County In 33rd Northeast 100.
Sun - September 03, 2006 -- Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway
Weedsport, NY
Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director
Alan Johnson put an exclamation mark on another perfect night Sunday at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, extending his tour points lead with his fifth Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series victory of the season. DIRT MotorSports NorthEast’s all-time big-block Modified winner began the evening setting a new track record in Integra Shocks Time Trials, returned to win the first qualifying heat, then brought the curtain down by leading the final 55 laps to capture the 33rd Northeast 100 Championship worth $6,000. Matt Sheppard finished in a 2006 tour best second position to earn a guaranteed starting spot in the Eckerd 200 Championship during Super DIRT Week XXXV at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Past Mr. DIRT champions Billy Decker, Steve Paine and Gary Tomkins filled out the front-five in the ‘Rush Hour on DIRT’ television production carried “live” by Time Warner Cable Sports.
“This is just a great race car, our newest and freshest piece of equipment and its been good everywhere we’ve run it,” said Johnson, following his third big-block Modified victory of the season at Cayuga County which was also his third career triumph in the Northeast 100 title race that originated in 1972. The 14th win of 2006 for ‘A.J. Slideways’ also clinched a track-record seventh points championship at the homebase of DIRT MotorSports NorthEast. “My team does all the work and they really deserve this, I’m just the lucky guy that gets to drive.”
With race fans throughout the Empire State still experiencing the effects from tropical storm Ernesto, a late afternoon shower over the Cayuga County Fairgrounds forced track officials to push back the show despite the televised time slot standing firm at 8 p.m. Big-block warm-ups ended after 7 o’clock although the Integra Shocks Time Trials were originally slated for 6:30. The minor delay had no fallout with Johnson as he was the 29th car to run under the clocks, blistering the 3/8-miler in a time of 15.647 sec. (86.279 mph) which bested the previous track mark of 15.668 sec. held by Billy Decker since September 2002. Johnson copped his heat and was among the top-10 drivers participating in the customary pre-race draw which ultimately put him third on the 30-car starting grid.
Front row partners Jeff Isabell and Jeff Brownell Jr. led the pack to the initial green flag which unfurled just after 9 p.m. in the tight run program. A fast two-lane race track produced non-stop action from front to back, yet nearly a dozen caution periods kept the field close throughout the main event. Making his first tour appearance of ’06, Eastern New York invader Jeff Trombley looped in turn four steering the same no. 14R Chet’s Floor Covering/TEO mount driven only once before this year by both Ronnie and Jack Johnson. Brownell had out-dragged pole-sitter Isabell before the first yellow flag flew on lap three and he showcased his high-line superiority on six more restarts prior to the halfway mark.
The rash of yellow flag fever continued with reigning Mr. DIRT Champion and current third-place points chaser Tim Fuller pulling pitside with a right-rear flat on lap eight and 10 laps later tour follower Tom Sears Jr. fell of the pace on the back straightaway. Tomkins was the second top-five points earner to force the field to slow on lap 24 with Brownell still holding the point, although Danny Johnson moved to second ahead of older brother Alan, Sheppard and Decker. Alan Johnson and Sheppard swapped the third position before Chad Brachmann slammed the turn one wall to incur another caution period and Isabell’s best tour effort of the season came to an end as his JIR Motorsports Special crawled to the pits with rear-end problems soonafter. In his own bid to duplicate the stunning victory lane performance last Wednesday at Brewerton Speedway, 13th-place runner Jimmy Phelps avoided another car crossing over his front end only to careen into the backstretch wall with the ’07 Troyer machine and rolling over upon impact. “No major damage, but nothing we needed right now,” said crew chief Randy Kisacky.
The seventh slowdown for Phelps on lap 43 raised the question of whether or not fuel consumption would play a factor in the second half of the race. Johnson was anxious to find out as he took advantage of Brownell briefly slipping high to ride the outside wall exiting turn one to forge the only lead change. After leading the initial 45 circuits, Brownell’s gallant effort suddenly came to an abrupt halt on lap 56 with his Advanced Lubrication Specialties/Bicknell entry suffering a pair of broken radius rods along with bent axel and shock. The high-low driving display exhibited by Brownell and Johnson had demanded much of the attention and when the green flag reappeared on lap 62 the all-star line-up behind the leader included Sheppard, ninth-starting Pat Ward, Decker and recently crowned Canandaigua (NY) Speedway points champion Steve Paine, who last won at Cayuga County came in 2002.
With a clear track ahead, it took Johnson less than 10 laps to pull out to nearly a straightaway lead over Sheppard with the best battle of the night waged between Ward, Decker and Paine for the show position. For three consecutive laps the talented trio ran side-by-side-by-side across the line with Ward navigating the high road, Paine searching for needed bite down low and Decker sandwiched in between --- and all the while a tire was losing air on the Ward car to keep officials glued.
While the front-runners were dicing so was Tomkins, who had suffered a left-front flat after glancing off the turn one inside wall to bring out an early caution a quarter of the way through. Yellow lights flashed again around the speedway when Butch Tittle pulled up with just a dozen laps remaining and the no. 1 Honeoye Auto Parts-Pillsbury/Bicknell had cracked the top-10 as 13 cars were scored on the lead lap. On the ensuing restart Tomkins charged low moving from eighth to sixth and he improved one more spot when defending flag-to-flag race winner Ward finally turned pitside to replace the soft right-front tread.
Johnson was bullet-proof in the final four-lap shootout as the Jeff Rudalavage/Tony Laughing-owned no. 14J NativePoker.Com-WPC Associates,Inc.-Pine Line Auto Sales/Bicknell ride carried the four-time Mr. DIRT kingpin to DIRT big-block Modified career win number 343, his third of the season at Weedsport broadcast live on Time Warner Cable. “I really liked the track better a couple weeks back when it was slower, when its wet like this anybody with a heavy foot can get around,” said Johnson, after recording his ninth top-three finish in the last 11 Advance Auto Parts SDS stops. Another top-five finish accompanies four 100-lap wins posted during the same time. “I figured something might happen to (Brownell) up there, he was getting higher and higher and that’s a tough place to run lap after lap. I usually like it down low but the brown there got pushed up making the middle pretty good and I was comfortable there. This car is consistent and certainly capable of winning whatever the track conditions. I’m confident with the set-up and it’s always fast, now its only a matter of staying out of trouble. But anything can happen in the longer races coming up.”
While Johnson has come to expect top finishes this season on DIRT NorthEast’s premier big-block circuit, Sheppard was just as content coming home in second. “It really feels good to finally finish a race for once,” said Sheppard, 24, after scoring just his second top-five finish in 18 starts aboard Randy Ross’ no. 44S BKS/G-U Hardware-Currier Pastics-Adam Ross Cut Stone/Bicknell entry. The Waterloo, N.Y. driver finished fourth at Susquehanna in June before setting a track record in July at Cornwall with a one-lap speed of 69.865 mph (12.882 sec.) on the Canadian quarter-miler. Six wins have been logged this summer in regular weekend trips to Brewerton, Canandaigua and Cayuga County. “The car has actually been running good all year but we’ve had bad luck too many times to count. Tonight everything went according to plan. The car worked real good up high, we just needed the track to go away a little more to have any chance to catch Alan. Getting by him is a whole other story.”
Third-place finisher Decker has matched Johnson nearly race for race throughout the entire 2006 campaign, with both netting 13 top-five finishes in the 18 extra-distance races. Decker actually has one more top-10 (15) tally, the biggest difference being a tour-best five first-place trophies for A.J. and three for Decker. “We weren’t close enough (to Alan) but still pretty good tonight,” figured Decker, after completing the top-three sweep for Bicknell chassis in owner John Wight’s no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods ride. The Unadilla, NY veteran ranks second in points, 56 behind Johnson entering the Labor Day special at Rolling Wheels Raceway. “But it was still a lot fun racing out there with professionals like Pat (Ward) and Steve (Paine) for so many laps. I’m sure it was a great show for the fans, too, hopefully we can catch Alan and give him a run for the money coming down the stretch. Right now we’re making changes on the car daily, we just have to adjust better to the track conditions we’re given. We know we have to improve to have a chance and so far we’ve been chasing our tails trying to make up the difference.”
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #18 – Cayuga County Fair Speedway, September 3, 2006 33rd Northeast 100 Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 3 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY ($6,000)
2 8 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
3 10 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
4 13 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
5 22 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
6 4 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 6 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
8 11 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
9 15 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
10 7 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
11 16 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
12 12 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
13 9 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
14 18 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
15 25 44w Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
16 27 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
17 19 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
18 20 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
19 24 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
20 14 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
21 5 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
22 2 29b Jeff Brownell,Jr./Waterloo,NY
23 29 14r Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY
24 23 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
25 17 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
26 30 06 Bob Bennett/Pennellville,NY
27 1 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
28 28 66 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
29 21 3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY
30 26 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
LAP LEADERS: Brownell (1-45), A.Johnson (46-100).
CAUTIONS: 11 for 18 laps.
ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Matt Sheppard.
DID NOT QUALIFY(14)
zero3-Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY
6j-Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
6n-Drew Ricco/Bellmawr,NJ
7-D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
15-Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
17jr.-Jeff Heotzler,Jr./Wallkill,NY
25-Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
45m-Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
49-Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
60-Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
66j-Jared Petruska/Wayne,NJ
82s-Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
91h-Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
734-Jim Secor,Jr./East Fishkill,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
*1 14.647 92.169 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
*NEW TRACK RECORD *$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 15.659 86.212 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3 15.767 85.622 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 15.830 85.281 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
5 15.841 85.222 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
6 15.927 84.762 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7 15.930 84.746 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
8 16.021 84.264 29b Jeff Brownell,Jr./Waterloo,NY
9 16.035 84.191 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
10 16.085 83.929 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
11 16.126 83.716 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
12 16.130 83.695 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
13 16.133 83.679 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
14 16.140 83.643 7j Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
15 16.184 83.416 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
16 16.190 83.385 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
17 16.191 83.380 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
18 16.201 83.328 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
19 16.211 83.277 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
20 16.257 83.041 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
21 16.279 82.929 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
22 16.289 82.878 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
23 16.342 82.609 3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY
24 16.366 82.488 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
25 16.396 82.337 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
26 16.455 82.042 44w Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
27 16.459 82.022 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
28 16.465 81.992 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
29 16.599 81.330 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
30 16.658 81.042 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
31 16.764 80.530 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
32 16.840 80.166 7 D.J. Forbes/Syracuse,NY
33 16.859 80.076 25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
34 16.931 79.735 6n Drew Ricco/Bellmawr,NJ
35 16.953 79.632 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
36 16.970 79.552 66 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
37 17.025 79.295 45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
38 17.152 78.708 14r Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY
39 17.204 78.470 06 Bob Bennett/Pennellville,NY
40 17.335 77.877 zero3 Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY
41 17.394 77.613 82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
42 17.829 75.719 66J Jared Petruska/Wayne,NJ
43 18.160 74.339 17jr. Jeff Heotzler,Jr./Wallkill,NY
44 -NT- ----- 734 Jim Secor,Jr./East Fishkill,NY
Heat Races (8 laps, top-4 finishers transferred to feature, top 2 went to re-draw)
#1: A.Johnson, P.Ward, Fuller, Bower, Whaley, Heotzler Sr., Homan, Shields, Dunn.
#2: Decker, D.Johnson, R.Johnson, J.Phelps, Tomkins, Forbes, M.Ward, Petruska, Jo.Isabell.
#3: Brownell, Hearn, Paine, Haers, Brachmann, Sears, Trombley, Kolka, Heotler Jr.
#4: Je.Isabell, Planck, Bates, Vitale, Podsiadlo, Tittle, Bennett, Ricco, Secor.
#5: Sheppard, Cozze, R.Phelps, Coffey, Beardsley, Tonkin, Stafford, Aubertine (DNS).
Consolation Round (8 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Brachmann, Beardsley, Whaley, Tittle, Trombley, Stafford, Homan, Petruska, Forbes, Heotzler Jr., Ricco, Dunn (DNS).
#2: Tomkins, Podsiadlo, Sears, Heotzler Sr., Bennett, M.Ward, Tonkins, Kolka, Shields, Secore, Aubertine, Jo.Isabell (DNS).
Advance Auto Parts Super Series Point Standings (through September 3, 2006)
No. Driver Points Diff Money Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 14J Alan Johnson 1,517 0 $58,125 5 13 14 18
2 91 Billy Decker 1,461 (56) $44,925 3 13 15 18
3 19 Tim Fuller 1,444 (73) $41,700 3 13 15 18
4 20 Brett Hearn 1,305 (212) $32,050 2 9 13 18
5 1 Gary Tomkins 1,252 (265) $29,750 1 9 13 18
6 42p Pat Ward 1,194 (323) $16,600 0 3 12 18
7 27J Danny Johnson 1,166 (351) $20,450 1 2 11 18
8 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,113 (404) $20,800 1 4 12 18
9 44s Matt Sheppard 1,107 (410) $16,425 0 2 9 18
10 77x Dale Planck 1,084 (433) $18,975 1 2 11 17
11 7x Steve Paine 1,047 (470) $13,450 0 2 8 18
12 44c Frank Cozze 1,032 (485) $11,950 0 3 7 18
13 8J Tom Sears Jr. 723 (794) $6,425 0 1 2 15
14 32c Vic Coffey 558 (959) $6,675 0 2 5 10
15 3 Justin Haers 546 (971) $4,325 0 0 2 11
16 10 Stewart Friesen 519 (998) $3,713 0 0 2 10
17 Z Butch Tittle 503 (1,014)$3,550 0 0 0 12
18 60 Kenny Stafford 463 (1,054)$3,100 0 0 0 9
19 11 Kyle Jacobs 445 (1,072)$3,825 0 1 1 9
20 6J Joe Isabell 360 (1,157)$2,175 0 0 0 6
21 42B Kevin Bates 352 (1,165)$2,150 0 0 0 7
22 39 Tim McCreadie 348 (1,169)$7,250 0 3 4 6
23 62 Todd Burley 322 (1,195)$3,400 0 0 2 5
24 42 Jimmy Horton 296 (1,221)$7,400 1 1 1 5
25 99 Ryan Phelps 293 (1,224)$2,325 0 0 1 7
26 99b Chuck Bower 286 (1,231)$1,900 0 0 0 5
27 3b Chad Brachmann 282 (1,235)$3,225 0 1 1 6
28 2 Ronnie Johnson 276 (1,241)$1,900 0 0 0 6
29 14 Rick Laubach 212 (1,305)$1,200 0 0 0 5
30 18 Sean Beardsley 209 (1,308)$1,425 0 0 0 5
31 73 Ryan Jacobs 207 (1,310) $900 0 0 0 3
32 22g Mitch Gibbs 196 (1,321)$1,263 0 0 0 5
33 6 Pat O’Brien 195 (1,322)$6,500 0 2 2 2
34 88 Steve Hulsizer 169 (1,348)$1,200 0 0 0 5
35 66 Jeff Heotzler 168 (1,349)$2,600 0 1 1 4
36 357 Billy Pauch 162 (1,355)$2,000 0 0 1 3
37 R2 Rusty Smith 156 (1,361)$1,100 0 0 0 3
38 90r Martin Roy 156 (1,361)$1,050 0 0 0 3
39 42 Pete Bicknell 152 (1,365)$4,350 0 1 1 2
40 26 Ryan Godown 143 (1,374)$1,000 0 0 0 3
41 7J Jeff Isabell 131 (1,386) $600 0 0 0 2
42 71 David VanHorn Jr. 124 (1,393)$1,000 0 0 1 2
43 29B Jeff Brownell Jr. 123 (1,394)$1,700 0 0 1 2
44 33.3 Tommy Meier 120 (1,397) $500 0 0 0 2
45 66 Kyle Dingwall 115 (1,402) $800 0 0 0 2
46 21 Yan Bussiere 111 (1,406) $625 0 0 0 2
47 11 Chris Jones 106 (1,411)$1,100 0 0 1 2
48 86 Billy Pauch Jr. 105 (1,412)$1,100 0 0 1 2
49 30 Jamie Mills 105 (1,412) $900 0 0 1 2
50 81 Rich Rutski 103 (1,414) $800 0 0 0 2
Advance Auto Parts DIRT Modified Entries – September 3 (44)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA Smith Excavating & Paving-Tittle & Sons Motorsports/TEO/Fiehl
zero3 Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY The Duck Inn-TDS Telecom-Jefferson Abstract/TEO/BowTie
06 Bob Bennett/Pennellville,NY Bennett’s Car Care-Euclid Restaurant/Troyer/Bennett
1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Pillsbury/Bicknell/Mastin
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
3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY Original Pizza Logs/Bicknell/JanCen
6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY JIR Motorsports-A&D Structures/TEO/Morrison
6n Drew Ricco/Bellmawr,NJ Growers Garden Center & Greenhouse/TEO/Precision
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
14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY NativePoker.Com-WPC Associates,Inc.-Pine Line Auto Sales/Bicknell/Morrison
14r Jeff Trombley/Altamont,NY Chet’s Floor Covering-Finish Line Welding/TEO/Dan Bedell
15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/Bicknell/Main
17jr. Jeff Heotzler,Jr./Wallkill,NY Atlas Paving-Adsit Custom Homes/Bicknell/JPM
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
25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY Distinctive Hardwood Floors-Minisink Paving/Bicknell/Precision
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/Troyer/Kevlar
29b Jeff Brownell,Jr./Waterloo,NY Advanced Lubrication Specialties/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-CME,Inc./Bicknell/C.C. Performance-Finger Lakes
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
45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY Cal-East Collision & Streetrods/Bicknell/Bud Ward
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-Fast Lube of Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
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
66 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY Atlas Paving-Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/Bicknell/JPM
66J Jared Petruska/Wayne,NJ Sparta Trucking-Atlas Paving-Prism Maintenance/TEO/Precision
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell/Enders
82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY Shields Bookkeeping-RLS Auto Repair/Bicknell/Shields
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
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Beyea Custom Headers-Ingles Performance Ski-Doo/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
734 Jim Secor,Jr./East Fishkill,NY RGH Construction-Lakeside Auto Cosmetics/TEO/Dan Bedell
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.
Late Start In Weedsport: Of the 44 drivers signed up for the D’Amico Chrysler-Dodge Jeep/Westbury Lumber/Pick-N-Pull Auto Parts Modified main, four first-time entries joined the big-block roster ---now over 250 competitors--- for the first time this season including host track regular Roy Shields, Can-Am runner Bob Bennett, Fonda mainstay Jeff Trombley and second-generation Orange County Fair Speedway pilot Jared Petruska. Trombley (23rd) and Bennett (26th) both qualified for the century grind while 2006 DIRT Modified rookie Petruska and 63 year-old open-wheel veteran Shields were DNQs.
Northeast 100 Seen Nationwide: Round #18 of the Advance Auto Parts SDS will be seen again tape-delayed as part of ‘Rush Hour On DIRT’ and aired Nov. 12, 2006 on SPEED TV at 6 p.m., EST. Internationally recognized motorsports broadcaster Rick Benjamin and Super DIRT Series talent Shane Andrews manned the announcing booth throughout Sunday’s show while Mark Kenyon was the roving reporter pitside offering viewers numerous behind-the-scenes updates. The “live” TWC feed was expected to reach more than 1.2 million homes throughout New York State and come November the production on SPEED will hit 75 million households nationwide.
Holiday Weekend Labor of Love For A.J.: What better way for Alan Johnson to spend the Labor Day holiday than in victory lane. ‘A.J. Slideways’ kicked off the extended holiday on Friday at Brewerton Speedway with a 40-lap feature win that vaulted him past Billy Decker to claim the season points title. Fulton Speedway was washed out on Saturday giving Johnson the track title without having to turn a single lap. Johnson successfully completed the trifecta on Sunday by securing his third track championship in three days with his 57th career big-block triumph in Weedsport. At age 48 the Phelps, N.Y. native may finally be reaching his prime, leading the entire DIRT NE circuit with 14 big-block Modified wins which improves his career mark to 343 that began counting when DIRT was established in 1976.
Tailgating Taken To The Limit: On Sunday afternoon the staff at Cayuga County Fair Speedway for the first time ever recognized those hard core tailgaters who went the limit when it came to pre-race partying. Prizes were awarded for Best Looking Site, Best Food – Taste, Best Food – Selection, Best Dressed, Most Race-Oriented Theme and an Overall Speedway Tailgating Champion was chosen from among the most extraordinary exhibits displayed on the fairgrounds. The exemplary panel of judges included Tonya Moschell from the DIRT NE office, reigning Ms. DIRT Chelsea Miller, DIRT Modified driver Butch Tittle and pit steward Michael ‘Suitcase’ Sanchelli. Labatt Blue and the Finger Lakes Radio Group sponsored this inaugural event and donated several prizes for the contest.
The Howdy Camp stole the show, claiming first-place honors in three (Best Looking Site, Best Tasting Food, Best Dressed) of five categories before being declared the overall CCFS Tailgating champion in 2006. The Osta-Decker Camp was voted best in the Food Selection category while the Old Timers-Elliot Sadler Camp was ranked highest with their site boasting the Most Race-Oriented Theme. Among the prizes offered were a pop-up tent, grilling tools, duffle bag filled with shirts & caps, and a pair of passes to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. As Cayuga County’s representative in the Can-Am Tailgate Challenge held during Super DIRT Week XXXV, Oct. 4-8, at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, the Howdy Camp ---which will go head-to-head with Merrittville Speedway’s top tailgater at the Moody Mile in October--- garnered the top prize package that included a camping pass and 2 GA Combo passes for SDW plus a new grill donated by Labatt.
Gater Racing News Modified Lap Leaders
DATE TRACK LAPS LAP LEADERS
Mar. 25 Hagerstown 100 95-Hearn, 5-Tremont
May 7 Rolling Wheels 50 50-Decker
May 7 Rolling Wheels 50 40-Fuller, 10-Coffey
May 28 Cayuga County 100 61-D.Johnson, 24-Coffey, 15-Fuller
Jun 14 Lernerville 100 50-A.Johnson, 36-Fuller, 14-Decker
Jun 15 Susquehanna 100 71-D.Planck, 29-Horton
June 21 Ransomville 100 50-A.Johnson, 50-T.McCreadie
July 4 Brockville 100 75-P.O’Brien, 13-Paine, 12-A.Johnson
July 9 Cornwall 100 83-Planck, 16-Sheppard, 1-K.Jacobs
July 10 Drummond 105 52-Hearn, 47-Tomkins, 6-Planck
July 13 Orange County 100 100-Decker
July 19 Grandview 100 72-A.Johnson, 21-Paine, 7-Strunk
Aug. 5 Eldora 100 100-Fuller
Aug. 7 Merrittville 100 99-A.Johnson, 1-Burley
Aug. 10 Canandaigua 100 17-Fuller, 83-Tomkins
Aug. 16 New Egypt 100 68-Martz, 32-Fuller
Aug. 30 Brewerton 100 56-A.Johnson, 15-Fuller, 12-Ward, 7-Burley,
6-Phelps, 4-Hearn
Sep. 3 Cayuga County 100 55-A.Johnson, 45-Brownell
TRACK HEAT WINNERS
Hagerstown B.Decker, J.Horton, B.Hearn, A.Johnson, S.Friesen, M.Sheppard.
Rolling Wheels G.Tomkins, S.Paine, T.McCreadie, B.Decker, F.Cozze.
Cayuga County S.Paine, J.Phelps, P.Ward, C.Bower
Lernerville A.Johnson, M.Sheppard, S.Friesen, S.Paine.
Susquehanna B.Decker, S.Friesen, R.Johnson, S.Paine.
Ransomville B.Decker, A.Johnson, F.Cozze, M.Sheppard
Brockville D.Planck, P.O’Brien, T.Fuller, P.Ward, D.O’Brien
Cornwall D.Planck, D.Johnson, P.O’Brien, B.McDonald, P.Ward
Drummond B.Hearn, P.Ward, A.Johnson, J.Phelps
Orange County T.Fuller, T.Meier, B.Hearn, A.Johnson, R.Eurich, D.Planck
Grandview J.Horton, B.Pauch, F.Cozze, B.Hearn
Eldora A.Johnson, G.Tomkins, F.Cozze
Merrittville T.Fuller, B.Hearn, B.Decker, A.Johnson
Canandaigua A.Johnson, B.Decker, T.Burley, C.Bower
New Egypt F.Cozze, A.Johnson, S.Martz, T.Fuller
Brewerton T.Fuller, D.Johnson, B.Decker, M.Sheppard
Cayuga County A.Johnson, B.Decker, J.Brownell, Je.Isabell, M.Sheppard
Integra Shocks Modified Time Trials
*New track record.
TRACK SIZE QUICK QUALIFIER TIME AVE.SPEED
Hagerstown 1/2-mile Billy Decker 19.391 sec. 92.827 mph
Rolling Wheels 5/8-mile Gary Tomkins 20.643 sec. 108.996 mph
Cayuga County 3/8-mile Steve Paine 15.868 sec. 85.077 mph
Lernerville 4/10-mile Alan Johnson *16.180 sec. 88.999 mph
Susquehanna 4/10-mile Billy Decker *18.060 sec. 79.734 mph
Ransomville 3/8-mile Billy Decker 16.771 sec. 80.496 mph
Brockville 1/4-mile Pierre Berthiaume 14.475 sec. 62.176 mph
Cornwall 1/4-mile Matt Sheppard *12.882 sec. 69.865 mph
Drummond 4/10-mile Dale Planck 17.278 sec. 83.343 mph
Orange County 5/8-mile Billy Decker 21.697 sec. 103.701 mph
Grandview 1/3-mile Tim Fuller 15.032 sec. 79.830 mph
Eldora 1/2-mile Alan Johnson 16.358 sec. 110.038 mph
Merrittville 1/3-mile Tim Fuller 15.909 sec. 75.429 mph
Canandaigua 1/2-mile Alan Johnson 18.278 sec. 98.479 mph
New Egypt 1/2-mile Frank Cozze 17.334 sec. 103.842 mph
Brewerton 1/3-mile Tim Fuller *14.350 sec. 83.565 mph
Cayuga County 3/8-mile Alan Johnson *15.647 sec. 86.279 mph
All-Time Advance Auto Parts SDS Win Leaders: 1980-Sept. 3, 2006
WINS DRIVER FIRST WIN LAST WIN
89 Brett Hearn Lebanon Valley, 7/15/81 Drummond, 7/10/06
60 Danny Johnson Fonda, 9/25/82 Cayuga County, 5/28/06
51 Bob McCreadie Ransomville, 9/10/82 Rolling Wheels, 9/4/00
44 Alan Johnson Ransomville, 6/27/80 Cayuga County, 9/3/06
35 Billy Decker Lebanon Valley, 9/18/88 Orange County, 7/13/06
28 Jack Johnson Cayuga County, 7/16/80 Orange County, 6/14/01
26 Doug Hoffman Orange County, 10/25/87 Lowe’s, 4/6/02
26 Steve Paine Canandaigua, 9/7/85 Canandaigua, 9/25/03
18 Tim McCreadie Rolling Wheels, 9/26/99 Drummond, 8/23/04
16 Jimmy Horton Lebanon Valley, 7/8/80 Susquehanna, 6/15/06
14 Tim Fuller Rolling Wheels, 9/21/03 New Egypt, 8/16/06
13 Kenny Tremont Lebanon Valley, 7/9/92 Lebanon Valley, 7/7/05
12 Gary Tomkins Hagerstown, 3/30/02 Canandaigua, 8/10/06
9 Kenny Brightbill Fonda, 10/18/87 Bridgeport, 6/19/97
7 Billy Pauch Flemington, 7/27/89 New Egypt, 6/22/05
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 Cayuga County 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
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 Event: Traveling teams camp out for the night as they remain in Central New York on Labor Day for the Advance Auto Parts SDS ‘Petrocci Memorial 100’ at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge on Mon., Sept. 4. The traditional holiday 100-lapper pays out $6,000 to the winner plus offers 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 A.JOHNSON/MATT SHEPPARD
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.