TOMPKINS WINS SUPER DIRT 100 ON FINAL LAP, RYAN WINS LATE MODELS
After exchanging leads with Tim Fuller 12 times, Gary Tomkins of Clifton Springs NY, made the 13th swap coming off the fourth turn on the final lap in his favor to win the 100 lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series feature at the Hagerstown Speedway Saturday night. Seventeen lead changes among four different drivers kept the fans on the edge of their seats as the Super DIRT Series kicked off its 2004 season in exciting fashion with Tomkins winning his second straight DIRT race at Hagerstown by half car length.
"First off I want to thank Tim Fuller," said Tomkins in Victory Lane. "He gave me room to race and I tried to give him room. I went a little harder on my tires and the longer I went the better they were. What a race to win."
In other action, young Kirk Ryan of Lewisberry, PA has looked strong in the first three shows of the season. On Saturday night he scored the first win of his career with a dominating performance.
"I was waiting for this for a long time and it finally came around," said Ryan. "I knew the win was coming, the car got a little tight at the end." When asked by track announcer Bill Smith if he will be back in Victory Lane, Ryan replied "You can count on it."
In the 100-lap modified feature, Danny Johnson led the first lap from the outside pole before giving way to Ricky Elliott. Elliott pulled away from the field but Johnson came right back to regain the lead on the sixth lap when Elliott slowed with mechanical problems. But Johnson was only able to hold on to the top spot for one lap before Tim Fuller, who started 6th, moved out in front with fifth starting Tomkins right behind in third. On the 11th lap, Frank Cozze made contact with another car on the backstretch that sent AJ Romano spinning. Romano straighten the car out and kept going, but not before several cars got banged up with Steve Paine, Dale Planck, Duane Howard and Kenny Brightbill all coming together on top of one another bringing out the red flag.
On the restart, Danny Johnson hit the frontstretch wall to end his night turning second over to Tomkins. Fuller set the pace when the race resumed with Tomkins, Bob McCreadie, Pat Ward and Brett Hearn in pursuit. Tomkins closed in to take the lead for a lap on the 25th circuit before Fuller regained the top spot. Hearn passed Pat Ward for third on the 30th lap and never was able to mount a serious threat the rest of the race. While Fuller led the most laps, Tomkins time in front lasted only lap a lap or two before Fuller fought his way back in front. On lap 80, Fuller was back on top after following Tomkins for two laps. This time Fuller pulled away to a 10 car length lead, the largest of the night and looked like he was ready to score his first win at Hagerstown. But Tomkins battled back and pulled within one car length of the leader on lap 98. Tomkins pulled even with Fuller down the backstretch on the final lap and came off the bottom of the fourth turn to edge Fuller at the finish line by half-car length. Hearn was third with 16th starting Billy Decker fourth and 12th starting Jerry Higgins fifth. Chad Brachmann, Ward, Steve Poirier, Matt Sheppard and A.J. Romano finished out the top ten. Heat winners for the 69 cars were Brachmann, Fuller, Hearn, Tomkins and McCreadie. Kenny Brightbill, Sheppard and Duane Howard won the B-Mains. Bucky Kell set fast time of 19.054 seconds.
In the 25-lap late model feature, Kirk Ryan started 14th as Rick Hulson took the lead from the pole. Buck Johnson, Billy Wampler and Wayne Walls kept the pressure on Hulson with Johnson edging in front of Hulson for two laps on lap seven and eight. While Hulson and Johnson were battling it out, Ryan was working his way through the field to move into the third spot on the eighth lap. On lap 10, Ryan went high to pass Johnson for second and passed Hulson for the lead on the next time around. Jeremy Miller worked his way from his 22nd starting spot to pass Hulson for second on lap 21, but was unable to track down Ryan who scored his first win by ten car lengths. Gary Stuhler came home third after starting 21st with 23rd starting Tom Myers fourth. Hulson held on for fifth, his best career finish at Hagerstown. Wayne Walls Jr. was sixth and Roy Deese, who was sent to the rear of the field on the first lap after making contact with Mike Lupfer, came back to finish seventh. Alan Sagi was next after starting 20th with Billy Wampler having his best finish in ninth. Frankie Plessinger completed the top ten. Heat winners for the 38 late models were Deese, Walls, Lupfer and Plessinger. Stuhler and Miller won the consolations.
It will be Fan Appreciation Night next Saturday, April 3rd, with adult admission only $6.00. The late models, late model sportsman and pure stocks will be in action with a special Easter Egg Hunt for the kids sponsored by Twig Cycle of Hagerstown. Race time is 5:30.
MODIFIED RESULTS: 100-LAPS
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER TEAM LAPS $WON$
1 5 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Elaine James Motorsports,Inc.-Honeoye Auto Parts/Bicknell/Finger Lakes 100 6000
2 6 m1 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY B&F General Machine-G&R Auto Parts-Integra Shocks/TEO/Enders 100 4000
3 9 3 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Budweiser Racing-Kruger-WLR Const-Gable Auto Stores/TEO/Enders 100 2500
4 16 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Inter'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders 100 2000
5 12 97 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY G&G Diesel Freightliner Trucks-Mr.K's Carpet Service/Bicknell/Precision 100 1700
6 8 3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY Original Pizza Logs-Excel Engine Machining/Bicknell/Excel 100 1400
7 10 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders 100 1200
8 15 28s Steve Poirier/St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil,QUE Fondations 4 Saisons-Coffrages Jacques Constant/TEO/AMB 100 1000
9 23 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Adam Ross Cut Stone-Meyer's RV Super Stores/Bicknell/Enders 100 800
10 20 16 A.J. Romano/Johnstown,NY Skip's Racing-Smith Ford-North Norwich Motors/Bicknell/Malcuit 100 600
11 14 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/Bicknell/C.C. Performance 100 500
12 30 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY Troyer Race Cars-Mohawk Northeast-Northeast Race Fuels/Troyer/Bruneau 100 400
13 27 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Currier Plastics-Mier Tool Company/TEO/Finger Lakes 100 350
14 4 85 Ricky Elliott/Seaford,DE J&M Roofing & Builders-Art Collins Trucking/TEO/Enders 99 325
15 13 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Lincoln Auto Body-Supreme Heat & Cool-Ellery's Grill/TEO/H&G Assoc. 99 300
16 29 93v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY Magsarus Ignitions-JSB Fabrication/Troyer/Waters 99 300
17 7 2 Bucky Kell/Hammonton,NJ Dirt Wheels/Dirt Wheels/Feil 98 300
18 28 16s Kyle Strickler/Sinking Spring,PA Henry Sharman Bldg Developers-Glen Miller Demo/Speed Palace/HG Assoc. 98 300
19 31 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA Tittle & Sons Motorsports/TEO/Fiehl 98
20 1 777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe-Northland Ford-Cintas/Bicknell/Bolland 98 300
21 3 9 Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame Service-F.X. Caprara/TEO/Morrison 56 300
22 24 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA Waite's General Contr.-Carquest Auto Parts-M2 Race Systems/TEO/M2 52 300
23 25 0 Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA South Jersey Overhead Door/Speed Palace/Feil 35 300
24 19 88 Jeff Strunk/Bethel,PA Chad Sinon Motorsports-BPG Racing/Bicknell/Morrison 28 300
25 17 4 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Albraeda Waste-Dutchess Overhead Door/TEO/Morrison 25 300
26 26 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY Emerick Associates-S&S Asphalt/Bicknell/Tremont 23 300
27 2 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Advance Lubrication Specialties-Seneca Auto/TEO/Finger Lakes 11 300
28 11 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY Quality Concrete-King Enterprises-Total Collision/TEO/Finger Lakes 10 300
29 18 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Terrell's Potato Chips-Geneva Homes/TEO/Finger Lakes 10 300
30 22 126 Duane Howard/Oley,PA Big Spring Car Wash & Storage-Keystone Racing/Speed Palace/Feil 10 300
31 21 19 Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA Heavy Business-Team IMI-Tabloid Graphics/TEO/HG Associates 10 300
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: D.Johnson (1), Elliott (2-5), D.Johnson (6), Fuller (7-24), Tomkins (25), Fuller (26), Tomkins (27-28), Fuller (29-38), Tomkins (39), Fuller (40-51), Tomkins (52), Fuller (53-68), Tomkins (69), Fuller (70-77), Tomkins (78-79), Fuller (80-98), Tomkins (99-100).
CAUTIONS: 5 for 10 laps; 1 RED FLAG (lap 11).
HEAT WINNERS: Brachmann, Fuller, Hearn, Tomkins, McCreadie, Ward.
CONSI WINNERS: Brightbill, Howard, Sheppard.
SYRACUSE ECKERD 200 QUALIFIER: Gary Tomkins.
HOLLEY PERFORMANCE HALFWAY BONUS: Tim Fuller.
BERT HARD CHARGER: Alan Johnson.
JE PISTONS QUICK QUALIFIER: Bucky Kell (19.054sec/94.468mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $37,375.
CARS ENTERED: 69.
LATE MODELS RESULTS: 25-LAPS 38 Cars
(Lap Leaders: Hulson, 1-8-9-10; Johnson, 7-8; Ryan, 11-25)
1. Kirk Ryan; 2. Jeremy Miller; 3. Gary Stuhler; 4. Tom Myers; 5. Rick Hulson; 6. Wayne Walls Jr. 7. Roy Deese Jr.; 8. Alan Sagi; 9. Billy Wampler; 10. Frankie Plessinger; 11. Brent Smith; 12. Dan Stone; 13. Jeff Rine; 14. Dave Rice Jr.; 15. Scott Cross; 16. Paul Crowl; 17. Buck Johnson; 18. Tim Wilson; 19. Jeff Ferguson; 20. Mark Elksnis; 21. Devin Friese; 22. Joe Leavel; 23. D.J. Myers; 24. Mike Lupfer; 25. Donnie Farlling. DNS: Dilolman; DNQ: Barry Lear; Ray Davis Jr.; Russ Thornley; Paul Cursey; Jim Salisbury; Jeremy Stone; Terry Flaherty; Tyler Armstrong; Jason Flory; Scott Lupfer; Johnny Smith; Ryan Donley.
Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series: Time Trial Results
Hagerstown Speedway (1/2-mile) - March 27, 2004
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 19.054 94.468 2 Bucky Kell/Hammonton,NJ
2 19.119 94.147 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
3 19.148 94.005 3b Chad Brachmann/Wheatfield,NY
4 19.286 93.332 m1 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
5 19.287 93.327 3h Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
6 19.289 93.317 97 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY
7 19.307 93.230 9 Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY
8 19.325 93.144 16 A.J. Romano/Johnstown,NY
9 19.344 93.052 85 Ricky Elliott/Seaford,DE
10 19.347 93.038 19 Kenny Brightbill/Sinking Spring,PA
11 19.353 93.009 3 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
12 19.382 92.870 1 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
13 19.391 92.827 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
14 19.393 92.817 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
15 19.405 92.760 30 Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
16 19.432 92.631 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
17 19.433 92.626 4 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
18 19.439 92.597 0 Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA
19 19.487 92.369 44s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
20 19.521 92.208 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
21 19.581 91.926 28s Steve Poirier/St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil,QUE
22 19.621 91.738 777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA
23 19.664 91.538 16s Kyle Strickler/Sinking Spring,PA
24 19.665 91.533 14w Ryan Watt/Phoenixville,PA
25 19.676 91.482 88 Jeff Strunk/Bethel,PA
26 19.683 91.449 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
27 19.705 91.347 14j Alan Johnson/Phelps,NY
28 19.713 91.310 9h Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
29 19.765 91.070 44c Jimmy Chester/Newfield,NJ
30 19.790 90.955 33 Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA
31 19.793 90.941 93v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
32 19.804 90.891 20d Del Rougeux/Frenchville,PA
33 19.812 90.854 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
34 19.828 90.781 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
35 19.829 90.776 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
36 19.843 90.712 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
37 19.864 90.616 35 Mike Perrotte/Elizabethtown,NY
38 19.909 90.411 83 Brian Swartzlander/Leechburg,PA
39 19.957 90.194 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
40 20.008 89.964 62r Ron Smoker/North Boston,NY
41 20.121 89.459 114 Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
42 20.153 89.317 83t Tom Sears,Jr./Clay,NY
43 20.159 89.290 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
44 20.160 89.286 711 Mike Iles/Medford,NJ
45 20.263 88.832 cj2 Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
46 20.265 88.823 93 Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY
47 20.295 88.692 51 Sam Wescott,Jr./Grenloch,NJ
48 20.298 88.679 58s Shawn Reimert/Oley,PA
49 20.311 88.622 15r Donny Radd/Edison,NJ
50 20.334 88.522 37 Scott Flammer/West Milford,NJ
51 20.350 88.452 396 Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE
52 20.382 88.313 2b Ron Cartwright,Jr./Portageville,NY
53 20.410 88.192 79 Gary Gallerie,Jr./Pocono Summit,PA
54 20.438 88.071 29 Jeff Brownell,Jr./Waterloo,NY
55 20.525 87.698 27z Ray Bliss/Warsaw,NY
56 20.620 87.294 5x Don Hallowell/Wilmington,DE
57 20.786 86.597 12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
58 20.846 86.348 7jr. Jimmy Reppert/Hamburg,PA
59 20.863 86.277 zero3 Zach Aubertine/Chaumont,NY
60 20.933 85.989 28 Richie Pratt,Jr./Sewell,NJ
61 20.968 85.845 15 Billy Pauch,Jr./Frenchtown,NJ
62 21.020 85.633 410 Tim Millman/Milford,DE
63 21.107 85.280 3s Scott Boudinot/Dundee,NY
64 21.201 84.902 17 Scott VanGorder/Somerset,NJ
65 21.425 84.014 19j John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
66 21.496 83.737 126 Duane Howard/Oley,PA
67 42.037 42.819 19b Brian Kressley/Orefield,PA
68 -NT- ----- 2gr G.R. Smith/Folsom,NJ
69 -NT- ----- 117 Kevin Hirthler/Perkiomenville,PA