Smith Back Under Full Power in Win
by: Mike Mallett - 05/07/05
Afton, NY - The 2004 racing season was not very memorable for Jeremy Smith. The former champion won on opening night but could not find his way back into victory lane for the remainder of the season.
On opening night this season, Smith dominated the competition at The New Afton Speedway and then last week he suffered a very upsetting ‘did not start’ due to a fuel cell issue.
Unlike last year, Smith rebounded and returned to full power on Friday night en route to a dominating performance in the Mike Stolarcyk Chevrolet 30 lap main-event.
“It’s not as impressive when you win starting on the pole,” stated Smith from Triangle, N.Y. “But after the problems we suffered last week I’ll take.”
The only challenge Smith would face came on a lap 10 restart when Ed Strada would peak his nose next to Smith. Strada got close but couldn’t give Smith much more than a nose.
“I could hear him (Strada) behind me,” said the two-time-feature-winner. “I knew we were fast but I wasn’t really sure if we had the best car out there.”
Strada of South Canaan, Pa. would hold on for second, his best run of the season. Strada had his Wally Feihl motor working on all cylinders but he couldn’t mount a charge at Smith.
“We were better than we have been all season,” said Strada. “There was one time when I thought we had a shot but he was able to pull away from us.”
Don Hart, Jr. Bainbridge, N.Y. finally had the car handling to his satisfaction as he walked out of Friday night’s feature with a third place run.
“We got a handle on the car tonight for the first time all year,” said Hart. “We have a few little things to change but we think we got it figured out.”
Rich Price’s of Sauquoit, N.Y. finished fourth in his no. 23p and J.R. Hurlburt of Otego, N.Y. secured the fifth position at the line over Jeff Sheely.
Bob Mills of South Plymouth, N.Y. captured his first career 20 lap Sportsman feature win. Craig Pope led the first lap but Mills quickly took the lead away as he took his potent no. 94 to the high line in turn 3 and come off of turn 4 the leader. Mills would then hold off the hard charges of last week’s feature winner, Butch Klinger, to ensure the victory.
“I knew he was back there,” said Mills in lane. “But the car was great and we were able to hold on.”
Cortland, N.Y. native Chris Stull captured his second win in as many weeks. Stull worked by Paul Harrington on lap 5. Stull took his potent no. 1c to the front while his teammate Wade Decker worked into second. Decker threw everything he had at Stull but he just could not make the move for the win.
The IMCA Style Modifieds returned to the speedway with Whitney Point, N.Y. driver Mike Stolarcyk capturing the 20 lap feature. The win came with a heavy heart as midway through the feature event, Skip Pabis of St. Johnsville, N.Y., was critically injured and taken to the hospital when his no. 72 was involved in a hard crash after his throttle stuck on the front straightaway.
The 15 lap 4 Cylinder Super Stock feature went to Mike Stringer of Cooperstown, N.Y. For Stringer, it was his first career Afton Speedway win. It was a hard earned win as he held off hard charging Ralph Cuozzo, Jr.
One week after losing to his brother by a nose at the line, Rich Gardiner of Chenego Forks, N.Y. captured the 15 lap 4 Cylinder Enduro Feature.
Afterthoughts
Last week’s feature winner Tony Pepicelli had an off night due to some mechanical problems. Pepicelli struggled through small problems all evening long. He lost the power steering in the feature and also a fan belt causing the motor to overheat.
Bobby Varin made a rare Afton Speedway start only to come up four laps short of a quality run. Varin made hard contact with the backstretch wall.
Several drivers made returned to the speedway including J.R. Crouse, Matt Smith, and young modified rookie Craig Hawley. Chris Ostrowsky was back in action as well after a tough incident on opening night.
Feature Results
Modifieds (30 Laps) – Jeremy Smith, Ed Strada, Don Hart, Jr., Rich Price, J.R. Hurlburt, Jeff Sheely, Robbie Green, J.R. Crouse, Chris Ostrowsky, Bob Hamm, Jr., Matt Smith, Scott Ferrier, Steve Walsh, Bobby Varin, Bob Conklin, Tony Pepicelli, Rich Yetter, DNS-Craig Hawley
Heat Winners – Smith, Hart, Jr.
Sportsman (20 Laps) – Bob Mills, Butch Klinger, Matthew Latwinski, Craig Pope, Dustin Winn, Mike Senecal, Jeff Leslie, Olin Renwick, Roger Cook, Randy Banks, Danny Varin, Adam Smith, Skip Pickwick, Steve Ragan, Mike Decker
Heat Winners – Klinger, A. Smith
Pro Stocks (20 Laps) – Chris Stull, Wade Decker, Jerry Holmes, Brett Barrett, Dick Kock, Dennis Valentine, Paul Harrington, Pat Nolan, Bob Zimmerman, Danny Janus, DNS-Kurt Decker, Dustin Harris
Heat Winners – Stull, W. Decker
IMCA Style Modifieds (20 Laps) – Mike Stolarcyk, Danny Ody, Mike Stoddard, K.C. Cole, Dan Ballard, Skip Pabis, George Procter, III, Bob Chapman.
Heat Win – K.C. Cole
4-Cylinder Super Stocks (15 Laps) – Mike Stringer, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., George Crippen, Gary Card, Jr., Terry Onyan, Kevin Fassett, Joe Bunt, Jim Money, DNS-Ron Cumming
Heat Winner – Stringer
4-Cylinder Enduros (15 laps) – Rich Gardiner, Aaron Shelton, Dustin Wilber, Dave Finch, Gordie Finch, Dan Slosek, Ralph Hinky, David Smith, Sean Gardiner
Heat Win – R. Gardiner