Danny Johnson Put JIR Motorports In Cayuga County Victory Lane Sunday With 3rd Advance Auto Parts Hall Of Fame Classic Triumph.
Sun - May 28, 2006 -- Cayuga Co. Fair Speedway
Weedsport, NY
Author: Tom Skibinski, DIRT NorthEast PR Director
Danny Johnson became the first three-time winner of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Bill McNabb Hall of Fame Classic 100 on Sunday night at Cayuga County Fair Speedway, holding off a late race rally by Gary Tomkins to garner the first tour triumph for JIR Motorsports. Johnson’s initial Advance Auto Parts SDS victory of the season was the seventh of his career at the Weedsport oval and netted him the $6,000 top prize and valuable points towards the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship.
“I like to call Jeff (Isabell, owner) the Jack Roush of DIRT racing,” quipped Johnson, referring to the five-car squadron that carries the colors of JIR Motorsports around the DIRT MotorSports NorthEast circuit. Johnson was the best in this Memorial Day showdown with teammates Tom Sears Jr., Joe Isabell (18th) and Dan Williams (20th) finishing further back while Jeff himself failed to qualify for round three of the Advance Auto Parts Modified trail. “We’ve been dreaming and hoping a lot with this team and everybody has worked hard together to find success. I’m glad they’ve welcomed me in the shop, we’re really one big happy family right now.”
Outside pole-sitter Vic Coffey out-dragged front row partner Frank Cozze to open the century grind with Integra Shocks Fast Timer Steve Paine following through the hole. Johnson began eighth on the starting grid and waited for the field to spread out before cracking the top-five with 20 laps in the books. Steve Hulsizer spun to the front stretch infield to bring out the first of four yellow flags; caution laps would not count until the halfway mark.
With the field jockeying for position in three-wide battles around the speedway, defending HoF Classic champion Tim Fuller ducked under Coffey on a lap 25 restart and Johnson mirrored the move the following circuit. DIRT big-block rookie Kevin Bates slowed between turns one and two and missed the infield pit entrance to force head flagman Dave Farney to wave a second yellow while weekly Weedsport regular Vince Vitale stopped high in the first corner to necessitate another slowdown on lap 33. The ‘Doctor’ shadowed Fuller for the next half-dozen circuits before again finding the needed traction low out of turn four, this time to forge the final lead change on lap 40.
After rattling the Ross Motorsports no. 44s BKS-GU Hardware mount off the wall on more than one occasion, Matt Sheppard slowed on lap 47 to cause the final caution period, losing one lap in the process. Back under green Johnson held a comfortable lead at the midway mark with Coffey, Fuller, Pat Ward and Paine mantaining front-five slots. Tomkins started 13th in the 30-car field and ran seventh with 50 laps scored before making his move to the front using the low side most of the way around. Five laps later he made his first break into the top-five and finally overtook Fuller for the runner-up spot when the 71st lap clicked on the scoreboard.
Tomkins cut into Johnson’s once seemingly insurmountable advantage as the laps dwindled yet traffic kept him at bay when it counted most, with thee car-lengths separating the front-runners as the checkered flag waved. Fuller, Coffey and Ward followed in order with Paine, Jimmy Phelps, Advance Auto Parts SDS points leader Billy Decker, Tom Sears Jr. and Dale Planck filling out the top-10.
“Jeff’s been putting a lot of work into the program and we just had a great car tonight,” added Johnson, following his 60th career Advance Auto Parts SDS triumph which keeps him second behind all-time tour winner Brett Hearn (88). D.J.’s last AAP Series victory came in the Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway 2005 finale with the Rochester, N.Y. native steering track owner Jay James’ no. 27 J&J Shop-Planned Poultry Renovations/TEO entry to victory lane in the Atlantic Coast 200. “I had to mix some patience with being aggressive and with a good car it’s a lot easier to do. It really worked great everywhere I put it and was really a lot of fun rolling through the corners.”
Fresh off a big 50-lap win the previous night at nearby Canandaigua (NY) Speedway, Tomkins had a chance to reel in Johnson during the closing circuits but was just as content with a runner-up tally in a race that he had finished one spot better in 2004. “We were the same speed at the end but the only way I could catch (Danny) is if he got bottled up in traffic, and I‘ve watched him long enough to know he’s one of the best getting through it,” said Tomkins, who vaulted from sixth to 2nd in the Advance Auto Parts point standings after posting his third straight top-three finish in the potent no. 1 Honeoye Auto Parts-Pillsbury/Bicknell machine. “The situation was the same for everybody, we had the same deal getting through traffic as all the leaders. We’re still pretty satisfied after struggling in time trials and then in the heat. A top-three finish is good anytime no matter what the circumstances.”
While Tomkins took top honors at Canandaigua, Fuller was at the opposite end of the payoff Saturday night at Fulton (NY) Speedway. The two-time defending Fulton big-block champion crashed his primary florescent trimmed no. 19 JL Motorsports-Chiefs Tobacco & Gas/TEO mount while qualifying before blowing a motor in the back-up green and yellow Enders-powered machine come feature time. “Its probably a good thing things happened like that last night, doing well on the tour is what its really all about when you look at the big picture,” said Fuller the reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion. “Just about everything went wrong at Fulton. We drove 2-1/2-hours back home, worked through the morning and now we’re here like nothing ever happened. Its really hard to complain about third after all that happened.”
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Race #4 – Cayuga County Fair Speedway, May 28, 2006 15th Bill McNabb Hall of Fame Classic Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 8 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY ($6,000)
2 13 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
3 3 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
4 2 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
5 10 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
6 4 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
7 12 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
8 11 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
9 19 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
10 16 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
11 14 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
12 23 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
13 17 10 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
14 28 11 Kyle Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
15 1 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
16 7 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
17 25 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
18 26 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
19 24 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
20 27 12j Dan Williams/Pennellville,NY
21 30 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
22 6 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
23 9 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
24 15 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
25 22 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
26 5 39 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
27 20 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
28 18 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
29 29 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
30 *21 9 Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
LAP LEADERS: Coffey (1-24), Fuller (25-39), D.Johnson (40-100).
CAUTIONS: 4 (lap 16, lap 25, lap 33, lap 47).
DID NOT QUALIFY(14)
zero3-Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY
6n-Drew Ricco/Bellmawr,NJ
9x-Mike Ketcham/Otisville,NY
14r-Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
15-Matt Fink/Brewerton,NY
17t-Todd Town/Jordan,NY
21-Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
27x-Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
27z-Ray Bliss/Warsaw,NY
73-Ryan Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
85-Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
86-Justin Mason/Chaumont,NY
90-Scott Parliament/LaFargeville,NY
91h-Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 15.868 85.077 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 15.925 84.772 85 Dan Vauter/Forest City,PA
3 15.973 84.518 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
4 16.089 83.908 14r Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
5 16.091 83.898 10 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
6 16.155 83.565 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
7 16.200 83.333 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
8 16.218 83.241 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
9 16.250 83.077 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
10 16.274 82.954 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
11 16.293 82.858 60 Kenny Stafford/Homer,NY
12 16.294 82.853 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
13 16.298 82.832 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
14 16.314 82.751 12j Dan Williams/Pennellville,NY
15 16.349 82.574 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
16 16.413 82.252 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
17 16.482 81.908 9 Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
18 16.501 81.813 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
19 16.505 81.793 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
16.505 81.793 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
21 16.511 81.764 90 Scott Parliament/LaFargeville,NY
22 16.512 81.759 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
23 16.529 81.675 8j Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
24 16.615 81.252 73 Ryan Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
25 16.622 81.218 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
26 16.626 81.198 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
27 16.689 80.892 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
28 16.699 80.843 39 Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
29 16.701 80.833 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
30 16.712 80.780 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
31 16.716 80.761 6j Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
32 16.731 80.689 11 Kyle Jacobs/Hogansburg,NY
33 16.763 80.535 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
34 16.772 80.491 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
35 16.791 80.400 27x Jeff Isabell/Pennellville,NY
36 16.824 80.243 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
37 16.938 79.702 9x Mike Ketcham/Otisville,NY
38 16.970 79.552 27z Ray Bliss/Warsaw,NY
39 17.053 79.165 zero3 Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY
40 17.324 77.927 6n Drew Ricco/Bellmawr,NJ
41 17.390 77.631 17t Todd Town/Jordan,NY
42 17.402 77.577 15 Matt Fink/Brewerton,NY
43 17.501 77.138 86 Justin Mason/Chaumont,NY
44 -NT- ----- 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: Paine, Coffey, D.Johnson, Tomkins, Friesen, B.McCreadie, Bates, Podsiadlo, Parliament, Town, Ketcham.
#2: J.Phelps, Decker, Hearn, A.Johnson, Vitale, Haers, Dunn, Williams, Bliss, Fink, Vauter (DNS).
#3: Ward, Fuller, Cozze, Stafford, Sears, Tittle, Jo.Johnson, R.Phelps, Aubertine, Mason, Je.Isabell.
#4: Bower, Sheppard, T.McCreadie, Planck, Hulsizer, R.Jacobs, Homan, Beardsley, K.Jacobs, Ricco, R.Johnson.
Consolation Round (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: B.McCreadie, Haers, Dunn, Williams, Bates, Podsiadlo, Parliament, Bliss, Ketcham, Town (DNS), Fink (DNS), Vauter(DNS).
#2: Tittle, R.Phelps, Jo.Isabell, K.Jacobs, Beardsley, Aubertine, Homan, R.Johnson, R.Jacobs, Ricco, Mason (DNS), Je.Isabell (DNS).
Advance Auto Parts Super Series Point Standings (through May 28, 2006)
No. Driver Points Diff Money Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 287 0 $8,500 1 3 4 4
2 1 Gary Tomkins 258 (29) $7,550 0 3 3 4
3 42p Pat Ward 252 (35) $4,300 0 1 4 4
4 19 Tim Fuller 249 (38) $6,800 1 3 3 4
5 7x Steve Paine 243 (44) $3,600 0 0 4 4
6 32c Vic Coffey 241 (46) $3,850 0 2 4 4
14J Alan Johnson 241 (46) $5,900 0 2 2 4
8 44c Frank Cozze 219 (68) $2,750 0 1 2 4
9 39 Tim McCreadie 212 (75) $2,950 0 2 3 4
10 27J Danny Johnson 201 (86) $6,700 1 1 1 4
11 20 Brett Hearn 197 (90) $6,600 1 1 1 4
12 98h Jimmy Phelps 196 (91) $2,200 0 0 3 4
13 10 Stewart Friesen 194 (93) $1,513 0 0 1 4
14 3H Justin Haers 188 (99) $1,475 0 0 1 4
15 6J Tom Sears Jr. 176 (111) $1,425 0 0 1 4
16 44s Matt Sheppard 162 (125) $1,600 0 0 1 4
17 77x Dale Planck 139 (148) $975 0 0 1 3
18 99 Ryan Phelps 133 (154) $900 0 0 0 4
19 Z Butch Tittle 128 (159) $900 0 0 0 4
20 99b Chuck Bower 109 (178) $600 0 0 0 2
21 22g Mitch Gibbs 105 (182) $663 0 0 0 3
22 37 Kyle Jacobs 104 (183) $625 0 0 0 3
23 3b Chad Brachmann 102 (185) $600 0 0 0 3
24 18 Sean Beardsley 95 (192) $600 0 0 0 3
25 9 Bob McCreadie 90 (197) $600 0 0 0 3
26 88 Steve Hulsizer 89 (198) $600 0 0 0 3
27 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 88 (199) $2,000 0 1 1 1
28 6J Joe Isabell 66 (221) $300 0 0 0 1
29 42 Jimmy Horton 65 (222) $500 0 0 0 1
30 42B Kevin Bates 60 (227) $300 0 0 0 1
31 60 Kenny Stafford 60 (227) $300 0 0 0 1
32 49 Billy Dunn 58 (229) $300 0 0 0 1
33 33.3 Tommy Meier 55 (232) $0 0 0 0 1
34 12J Danny Williams 54 (233) $300 0 0 0 1
35 71 David VanHorn Jr. 52 (235) $300 0 0 0 1
36 2 Ronnie Johnson 51 (236) $300 0 0 0 1
37 00 Doug Manmiller 43 (244) $300 0 0 0 1
38 30 Jamie Mills 43 (244) $300 0 0 0 1
39 15 Brett Tonkin 43 (244) $300 0 0 0 2
40 26 Ryan Godown 41 (246) $300 0 0 0 1
41 X Chad Phelps 41 (246) $300 0 0 0 2
42 56 Vince Vitale 40 (247) $300 0 0 0 1
43 14 Rick Laubach 40 (247) $0 0 0 0 1
44 91d Kevin Hirthler 40 (247) $300 0 0 0 1
45 FX1 Frankie Caprara Jr. 40 (247) $300 0 0 0 2
46 66 Jeff Heotzler 40 (247) $300 0 0 0 2
47 1H Tim Hindley 40 (247) $300 0 0 0 2
48 7J Jeff Isabell 30 (257) $0 0 0 0 0
49 21p Derrick Podsiadlo 20 (267) $0 0 0 0 0
50 03 Zach Aubertine 20 (267) $0 0 0 0 0
51 73 Ryan Jacobs 20 (267) $0 0 0 0 0
52 17T Todd Town 20 (267) $0 0 0 0 0
53 90 Scott Parliament 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
54 91h Chad Homan 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
55 27z Ray Bliss 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
56 9 Mike Ketcham 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
57 6n Drew Ricco 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
58 15 Matt Fink 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
59 86 Justin Mason 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
60 85 Dan Vauter 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
61 72 Jeff Ebersole 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
62 8 Rich Scagliotta 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
63 20D Del Rougeux Jr. 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
64 77 Doug Hoffman 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
65 19B Kenny Brightbill 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
66 73h J.R. Heffner 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
67 777 Kevin Bolland 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
68 21 Gary Edwards Jr. 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
69 8J Dean Pearson 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
70 734 Jim Secor 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
71 39w Chuck Tucker 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
72 77g Robbie Grant 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
73 45m Mike Ward 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
74 55 Perry Francis 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
75 17Jr. Jeff Heotzler Jr. 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
76 48T Dave Rauscher 10 (277) $0 0 0 0 0
SKIDMARKS
Hall of Fame ’06 Class: Round number three of the Advance Auto Parts SDS at Cayuga County followed the 15th Annual DIRT MotorSports Northeast Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies staged in the adjacent Museum during the afternoon. This year three drivers were added to the Hall of Fame Museum’s elite ’Wall of Fame’: Pennsylvania legend Kenny Brightbill, DIRT’s all-time Most Popular Driver Bob McCreadie and Central New York Sportsman standout Glenn Reiners. Both Brightbill and McCreadie remain active on the speedway today while Reiners (wife Edna accepted) passed away in 1994. Former sponsor and auto racing artist Clark Angstadt from Reading, Pa. was in attendance to present both Brightbill and McCreadie with a unique commemorative drawing highlighting some of the most famous cars driven during their illustrious careers. In special award presentations, the late Joe Pitkavish (son Jim and grandson Jimmy accepted) received the Gene DeWitt car-owner award posthumously while former Brewerton Speedway and Fulton Speedway owners Joan and Harvey Fink were recognized for their outstanding contributions to motorsports with receipt of the Lenny J. Sammons award. Deceased car builder and renowned wrench Sonny Dornberger (daughter Sherrie accepted) was honored as the ’Mechanic of the Year’ for building motors as well as many custom cars for legendary Modified drivers such as Rags Carter, Pee Wee Griffin, Jackie Hamilton, Stan Ploski, Billy Osmun, Meme DeSantis, Billy Pauch and his first, Otto Harwi. Former racer and reporter Barb Anderson, Bicknell Racing Products fixture Nancy Bicknell, and short-track competitor and photographer Kim Jennejohn were presented with the fifth annual Gater Racing Photo News "Woman In Racing" awards during the holiday extravaganza.
Modern-Day HoF Heroes: Since the DIRT MotorSports™ Hall of Fame & Classic Car Museum was christened in 1992, 14 Hall of Fame Classics have now been run at Cayuga County with the 1995 headliner rained out. The past seven 100-lappers have been part of the Advance Auto Parts SDS schedule. Danny Johnson (2006, 2000, 1997) now leads the pack with three HoF titles while Gary Tomkins, Alan Johnson and Tim McCreadie are two-time winners with inaugural winner Steve Paine, Dave Lape, Bob McCreadie, Billy Decker and Tim Fuller also adding their names to the first-place trophy. Since Cayuga County hosted its first tour event in 1980, 13 drivers have reached the winner’s circle with Bob McCreadie (7), Danny Johnson (7), Jack Johnson (4), Alan Johnson (3) and Tim McCreadie (3) accounting for all but 12 of those victories in the 36 extra-distance events run.
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 past Eckerd 200 champion Vic Coffey, four-time and defending Eckerd 200 titlist Billy Decker, third-generation big-block upstart Stewart Friesen, reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT champion Tim Fuller, ’04 Rookie of the Year Justin Hears, all-time Advance Auto Parts SDS race winner Brett Hearn, DIRT’s winningest big-block Modified driver Alan Johnson, Canandaigua (NY) Speedway record-setter Steve Paine, second-year tour mainstay Jimmy Phelps, rising star Matt Sheppard, former Mr. DIRT champion Gary Tomkins and 30-year open-wheel veteran Pat Ward.
’06 Series Debut: Eight more new drivers registered for round three of the 2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series. North country drivers Justin Mason and Scott Parliament, Western New Yorkers Ray Bliss and Chad Homan, Orange County Fair Speedway regulars Mike Ketcham and Drew Ricco, Central New Yorkers Vince Vitale and Matt Fink, grandson of DIRT NE HoF award winners Joan and Harvey Fink. Fink joined Kevin Bates, Dan Williams, Kenny Stafford, Joe Isabell, Ryan Jacobs, Kyle Jacobs, Homan, Parliament, Ketcham, Mason and Ricco to make up the list of a dozen drivers recognized as DIRT big-block rookies in 2006. More impressively, race ‘Hard Charger’ Kyle Jacobs (finished 14th), Isabell (18th), Williams (20th), Stafford (24th) and Bates (29th) qualified for the 100-lap finale.
“Its nice to see my grandparents get an award like that, without them its obvious I wouldn’t be where I am today, probably wouldn’t have any interest in dirt racing,” said Matt Fink, who turns 19 in July, following his first attempt to qualify for a big-block main at a track other than Brewerton and Fulton speedways, both formerly owned and operated by the Fink family. Problems started early on Hall of Fame Sunday as he clipped the turn four wall high in warm-ups to send his no. 15 Benwood Auto Parts-Ernie Kreis & Son Heating & AC/TEO limping pitside with a bent shock tower and broken radius rod. “I don’t think it really mattered much anyways, we’re putting the motor to rest, its seen its last day. We’ve got a Finger Lakes motor freshened up by Jim Bowman coming back real soon and that should make a big difference,” added Matt, who led his first laps at Fulton on May 27 before posting his first finish (16th) in the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature.
Matt began racing microds in 2001, moved into the go-kart ranks where he picked up more than 50 wins along with a half-dozen track and series championships across New York State from 2002-03. He only ran six DIRT Sportsman shows in 2004 before taking off the ’05 season and this year is geared up to get as much track time around the ultra-competitive Central New York circuit. “I always loved Alan (Johnson) and Bob (McCreadie), who wouldn’t, they’re not only the best around here but everywhere they traveled over the past 30 years,” figured Fink, who signed up for the ‘Barefoot’ Bob McCreading Driving School held at Cayuga County in 2003. Borrowing a Sweetener’s Plus driver’s suit from Tim McCreadie a couple years back, Matt wears it to this day and Bob McCreadie even mistook him for his own son on one occasion. “Right now his talent and experience have gone beyond the quality of his equipment,” said Matt’s real father, David Fink, who also partnered with his parents in the purchase and sale of Brewerton and Fulton. “I think if we can get something better under him you’ll see a big difference on the final scoresheet.”
Chad Homan was also attempting to qualify for his first AAP Series show and like Fink was forced to load up before the feature as mechanical failure hindered his initial tour tryout. “Our only goal was to qualify or the feature just to get more track time,” said Homan, 23, whose SDS debut aboard Bob Dreste’s no. 91h DigTrack.com-Bytronics,Inc.-Transitions Landscape & Design/Bicknell ride lasted through only 20 laps of qualifying rounds. Faulty transmission linkage forced him to miss time trials which relegated him to the rear for both heat and consolation round races. “I started the year working toward a top-10 finish at Canandaigua and we already have one. The next step is focusing on better short runs in the heats and let the longer features take care of themselves.”
The nephew of long-time big-block contender Charlie Donk, Homan moved up the DIRT Pro Stock ladder quickly scoring 22 full-fender feature wins at Canandaigua (1999-2005) and added a tour triumph at Rolling Wheels Raceway. “Until Bob (Dreste) came along with DigTrack.com I never had much financial backing and I didn’t want to go big-block racing without decent equipment. Looking back I’m glad I waited, I wouldn’t know nearly as much as I know today and probably would’ve wadded up a few modifieds by now.”
Planck Transplanted: The last Advance Auto Parts SDS race Dale Planck competed in he was steering the no. 7J JIR Motorsports/Bicknell car of team owner Jeff Isabell at Rolling Wheels on May 7. Planck was back in tour competition Sunday at Cayuga County, only this time with his trademark no. 77X adorning the sheet metal of ’06 DIRT big-block rookie Modified Ryan Jacob’s East End Auto Parts & Construction-Jacob’s Excavation/Bicknell ride. “Even before Jeff gave me the chance to drive one of his cars I had talked with Ryan,” said Planck, who parked Isabell’s BRP mount in victory lane at Cayuga County on April 30 before qualifying for both Advance Auto Parts 50-lappers the next weekend at The Wheels. “In exchange for helping Ryan out at all the Series stops he agreed to let me drive one of his cars. It’s a good mutual arrangement, his guys have a lot of experience when it comes to mechanics but limited track time. Right now the car has a pretty good set-up and I think we’ve got a good enough team in place to post some strong finishes,” added Planck, who placed second in his debut at Thunder Alley before charging from 14th to fourth at Fulton (5/27) and settling for 10th-place in the HoF Classic. An even bigger perk for Planck is the fact that the car will be maintained in Jacobs’ Hogansburg, N.Y. shop and he only has to show up on raceday. Al Bell and ‘Nasty’ Nate Arquette are co-crew chiefs for the two-car tandem which Jacobs announced will be a weekly fixture at both Can-Am (Sat.) and Cayuga County (Sun.) throughout the remainder of the race season.
Pat Looking For Small Rewards: Open-wheel veteran Pat Ward not only entered the Sunday SDS showdown as the defending Advance Auto Parts winner in Weedsport, he was also riding high after capturing the his first DIRT big-block Modified win of the season the previous night at Fulton Speedway. Ward attributes the recent switch to a smaller motor as the main reason for his Saturday night success and was banking on similar results in Cayuga County’s century grind. “It’s the same motor we won with at Weedsport last year (Sept.) and with the tracks starting to get slick it should be a good combination,” said Ward, 48, who climbed as high as third Sunday night before fading to fifth when the checkered flag flew. “We also went back to last year’s car with just about the same set-up with our original Enders motor from 2001. I’m really comfortable running at Weedsport, if you’ve got a good car you can get around even if you’re starting further back. I’m looking forward to getting another chance and I think the Fulton win really showed were getting back on track just in time.”
Fast Field: It took less than 18 minutes for 44 open-wheel entries to conduct time trails with the track record of 15.668 sec. (86.163 mph) set by former Mr. DIRT champion Billy Decker on Sept. 1, 2002 remaining intact. Alan Johnson set fast time of 15.687 seconds (86.059 mph) for the Hall of Fame Classic on May 26, 2002. Steve Paine’s time of 15.868 sec. (84.778 mph) was good enough to give him fast time for a record fourth time during the HoF Classic.
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.
Web Lovers: Over twenty thousand registered Dirtvision.com members had the opportunity to view LIVE the Advance Auto Parts SDS action as it unfolded Sunday at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds. Including Sunday’s LIVE webcast of the Hall of Fame Classic, Dirtvision’s 2006 Cybercast schedule currently has over 50 DIRT MotorSports events (100 archived for on-demand access) shared between the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaw Late Model Series, DIRT 358 and big-block Modifieds, UMP Late Models and MARS Late Model events. Another 150 events can be enjoyed through the LIVE Dirt Radio Network audio broadcasts on Dirtvision.com. Enhanced features to the Dirt Radio Network broadcasts include online text chat, another advantage that ALL Registered users can enjoy for FREE throughout the season.
Users will need a CyberPass subscription to view the Dirtvision Cybercast broadcast, which can be purchased for as low as $9.99 on www.dirtvision.com. Windows Media Player 9 or higher is required to see the cybercast so please be sure to download and install the FREE player to get the full experience. For technical support or questions, e-mail customerservice@dirtvision.com or click on the member’s menu and select Help/FAQ for answers.
Next Events: Tour competition takes two weeks off before the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds resume activity in Pennsylvania at Lernerville Speedway for the 4th Annual Keystone Klassic 100 and the following night at Susquehanna Speedway for the Palmer Candy School’s Out 100, with both title events featuring a $6,000-to-win 100-lapper offering points towards the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship.
2006 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
DAY-DATE LAPS TRACK WINNER/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 Sarver,PA
Thr-Jun 15 100 Susquehanna Speedway Newberrytown,PA
Wed-Jun 21 100 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Wed-Jun 28 100 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Mon-Jul 3 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Tue-Jul 4 100 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Sun-Jul 9 100 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Mon-Jul 10 100 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Thr-Jul 13 100 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Wed-Jul 19 100 Grandview Speedway Bechtelsville,PA
Sat-Aug 5 100 Eldora Speedway Rossburg,OH
Mon-Aug 7 100 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Thr-Aug 10 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Wed-Aug 16 100 New Egypt Speedway New Egypt,NJ
Wed-Aug 30 100 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sun-Sep 3 100 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 4 100 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 9 200 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-Sep 15 100 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 23 200 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 30 200 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 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. 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.