Lucky Number Seven for Smith
by: Mike Mallett - 09/03/05
Afton, NY - Jeremy Smith picked up win number seven at The New Afton Speedway on Friday night in the 30 lap Admar Supply Company Incorporated Modified feature event.
John Siedlecky, of Windsor, N.Y., vaulted into the top spot at the drop of the green. Meanwhile, Smith fell in line behind Siedlecky and second running Matt Smith waiting for the right time to make his move for the lead.
J. Smith waited until a lap three restart to make his move. Siedlecky and M. Smith raced hard into turns one and two with M. Smith going high giving up the second position J. Smith. As Siedlecky raced low into turn three, J. Smith took his Bicknell mount to the high side of the speedway and took the top spot away as the pair exited turn four.
With Smith now the race leader, he pulled away by over a half straightaway on the rest of the field, but that lead was taken away on lap 15. Steve Walsh and Ricky Yetter came together and found themselves against the outside wall in turn three. This started a rash of cautions which worked to the benefit of Smith as no one was able to mount a charge.
With ten laps remaining in the main event, Craig Terrell, last week’s feature winner, had moved into the second spot and attempted to run down Smith who continued to use the bottom of the speedway.
“I was a little concerned late in the race,” said Smith. “I was working the bottom of the speedway and it was getting really slow. I couldn’t hear those guys back there but I knew the top was faster earlier in the night and I didn’t know if anyone was up there.”
Smith continued to work the bottom as he got into lapped traffic on lap 26. The traffic slowed Smith enough for Terrell to move right up to his back bumper. But Terrell ran out of time.
“I was happy there were only two laps left when I get into traffic,” said Smith. “You never know what’s going to happen and I like to spend as little time as possible racing back there.”
Terrell, of Windsor, N.Y., held on for second, Tony Pepicelli, of Princetown, N.Y., came home third, Otego, N.Y.’s, J.R. Hurlburt was fourth, and Bob Hamm Jr. rounded out the top five.
Rodney Hart, of Bainbridge, N.Y., capture another 20 lap Sportsman Modified feature on Friday night. Hart started seventh in the main event but had to go to the rear on the original start after being involved in a spin on the first lap, but he came back through the field to claim the win.
Skip Pickwick took the lead from his front row starting position at the initial green flag. That lead was shot lived as Butch Klinger took the lead from Pickwick on the lap five; Klinger used the high side of turn one. Klinger held onto the top spot until Hart moved his way back through the field. Hart dove to the bottom of turn one to make the pass of Klinger on lap 15. Once in front, Hart held on the rest of the distance to claim the win.
Wade Decker, of Afton, N.Y. continued his dominance in the Pro Stock division as he picked up win number four on the season and padded his point lead of Chris Stull. Paul Harrington took the lead at the drop of the green flag but it was quickly snatched up by Stull who used the low side of turn four to grab the top spot. Stull pulled away from the field until a lap 8 caution for Dick Koch bunched the field up placing Decker on Stull’s rear bumper. On the ensuing restart, Stull again raced out in front but Decker took his no. 1w to the high side of the speedway. On lap 10, Decker drove past Stull in turn four to make the pass for the lead. He then held off Stull in the closing laps to take home the top honors.
Kirkwood, N.Y. driver Jamie Batzel won his first career Afton Speedway feature event as he took the checkers in the 15 lap feature event for the Pure Stocks. Tom Harrington took the lead on lap one from his outside pole starting position and led the first three circuits before the caution flag flew for Sean Witt. Witt made hard contact with the outside retaining wall on the front straightaway. On the restart, Batzel used his outside pole starting spot to his advantage as he used the highline in turn two to make the pass of Harrington for the lead. Now the leader, Batzel held all of all challengers en route to his first career win at the season.
In 4 Cylinder Super Stock action, George Crippen captured his third win of 2005 as he led all 15 laps for the win. Crippen started alongside Terry Onyan on the front row but Onyan proved to be no match for the Cooperstown, N.Y. driver as he jumped out to the early lead and the win.
The 12 lap Enduro feature event went to David Smith, of Unadilla, N.Y. Smith took the lead early but relinquished it for one lap as newcomer Cody Nielsen took the spot on the second lap. But Smith used the high side of turn three to take the lead back for good on lap three as he picked up his third win of the year.
Next week marks the final regular season show at The New Afton Speedway. Point battles continue to remain close with next week’s racing action determining who will be the 2005 point champions in several divisions. The night will feature a regular show of Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks, 4 Cylinder Super Stocks, and 4 Cylinder Enduros. It also marks the first annual Kids Poster Contest. Kids are asked to create a poster of their favorite driver with prizes being handout throughout the evening along with the possibility that if their favorite driver wins, they get to go down into victory lane to have their picture taken after the feature event.
September 30 brings the final Modified show of 2005 as they compete in a 50 lap Big Block / Small Block challenge event paying $3,000 to the winner. Joining the Modifieds in a Spooktacular tune-up are the Pro Stocks in a $600 to win feature and the Pure Stocks have been added as they will compete for $500 to win prize.
The New Afton Speedway hosts racing every Friday night at 7:30pm from April through September with a weekly six division show that is highlighted by the mighty Big/Small Block Modifieds featuring sail panels. The Speedway is located just off Interstate 88 at exit 7. For more information about the upcoming events at The New Afton Speedway, call the speedway office at (607) 657-8018 or checkout our website at http://www.thenewaftonspeedway.net.
MODIFIED FEATURE (30 LAPS)
Jeremy Smith, Craig Terrell, Tony Pepicelli, J.R. Hurlburt, Bob Hamm Jr., Rich Price, Matt Smith, Jimmy Reppert, Rick Amo, John Siedlecky, Jeff Sheely, Jim Corcoran, Dave Rosa, Duane Hiller, J.R. Crouse, Ricky Yetter, Brian Corcoran, Dan Morden, Ed Harris, Michael McCullom, Steve Walsh
HEAT WINNERS: Price, M. Smith, Yetter
SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 LAPS)
Rodney Hart, Bob Mills, Butch Klinger, Ryan Olsommer, Skip Pickwick, Joshua Pursell, Craig Pope, Dan Frack, Jeff Leslie, Dustin Winn, Duane Knapp, Harold Humphrey, Olin Renwick, Alan Barker, Robert Krajcovic, Matthew Latwinski DNS – Matt Smith
HEAT WINNERS: Pickwick
PRO STOCK FEATURE (20 LAPS)
Wade Decker, Chris Stull, Joe Reeves, Pat Nolan, Paul Harrington, Dick Koch, Fred Christ, Josh Humphrey
HEAT WINNER: Stull
PURE STOCK FEATURE (15 LAPS)
Jamie Batzel, Tom Harrington, Rob Loucks, Darl Ellis Sr., Joe Bucheck Sr., Rich Talada, Mike Codington, Brandon Clapperton, Steve Polhamus, Chuck Culbertson, Jeremy Shaw, Ron McMullen, Shepard Blodgett, Jeff Witt, Tim Clapper, Sean Witt
HEAT WINNERS: Codington, Batzel
4 CYLINDER SUPER STOCK FEATURE (15 LAPS)
George Crippen, Harold Humphrey, Mike Stringer, Gary Card Jr., Ralph Cuozzo Jr., Terry Onyan, Jim Money, Kevin Fassett, Jamie Hurlburt
HEAT WINNER: Crippen
4 CYLINDER ENDURO FEATURE (12 LAPS)
David Smith, Gordie Finch, Aaron Shelton, Cody Nielsen, Brian Backus, Gary Kinne, Nate Youngs, Rick Engelhardt, James Lee, Dave Finch, Dustin Wilber, John Squires, Rob Oakley, Tracy Williams
HEAT WINNERS: Smith, Nielsen