Smith Low Lines to Opening Day Win

by: Mike Mallett - 04/16/05

Afton, NY - If only every day could be opening day. That would be just fine for Triangle, NY’s Jeremy Smith. Smith has won the last three of four openers at The New Afton Speedway with his Express Mart no. 46.

This past Friday night it was just another day at the office for Smith who captured his first 30-lap feature since last season’s opener.

“I don’t know what it is about opening day,” commented Smith. “We just seem to run really well.

“I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that we always come in with brand new equipment.”

After a lackluster performance in the heat, Smith would be forced to start eleventh.

“We had a terrible run in the heat race,” stated the 2000 Track Champion. “I made a few mistakes and that hurt us big time.”

Even with the terrible starting position, Smith would use early cautions to move his way to the front.

Meanwhile, Mike Colsten of Binghamton, NY had the field covered during the early paces. Colsten looked nearly untouchable in his no. 51 Don’s Automotive ride.

Smith kept patiently passing cars and working his way through traffic. Then finally, on lap 12, Smith would drive by Colsten on the bottom of turn 4.

“Those guys were all setting the cars a little bit higher then I was,” stated Smith. “So I was driving it in lower where I could drive off the bottom.

“That’s what I did to Mike (Colsten), I just drove by him on the bottom.”

Once in front Smith would be unmatched by anyone else in the field. He would take the $1,250 top prize by over a full straightaway.

Finishing second to Smith was Otego, NY’s J.R. Hurlburt. Hurlburt was strong is no.6h and made a valiant effort to run down Smith but he was just too fast.

“He had a great car tonight,” said Hurburt. “I don’t think we would have been able to get him, he was fast.”

Hurlburt also started deep in the field after a less than successful heat race. But he methodically passed cars on the bottom of turn four to move his way into contention.

“Considering this is our older car I’m pretty happy,” stated the 36-year-old. “We should have our new motor for our other car ready this week and I think that will give us a little bit more horsepower then we had tonight.”

Bob Hamm, Jr. brought his no.77 car home third. Hamm finished surprisingly well considering he didn’t work on the car much during the off-season.

“I loosened up the valves over the winter but that’s all we did,” commented the Windsor, NY native. “Surprisingly, the car was fast even though we didn’t touch it.”

Robbie Green, making a return to the speedway for the first time since the late 90’s, would finish fourth and Rich Price would round out the top five.

In the Sportsman division, Russ Hefti had the field covered in the 20-lap main event. Hefti, out of Jordan, NY, was on a rail most of the evening. Hefti started sixth and by lap five he was able to get by both pole-sitter Adam Smith and Bob Mills for the lead. Hefti worked the bottom of turn four to put his no. 0 at the helm. Once in front he would never look back en route to claiming his first ever win on the 3/10th mile speedway.

Denny Decker returned the speedway after a short hiatus to capture the 20 lap main event for the Pro-Stock division. Decker, a hometown boy, led the entire distance while adding to his to his career win total.

Buck Mills picked up right we he left off in 2005, in victory lane. Thanks to a win in his heat the former track champion dominated the 15 lap Pure Stock feature event. The South Plymouth, NY driver was unmatched there was no one able to mount a charge for the win.

In the 4 cylinder race, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr. took advantage of starting third in the 15 lap affair. He wasted little time getting by the front two of George Crippen and Scott Johnson for the opening day triumph.

Dan Wilber captured the 15 lap enduro feature event.

Next week, The New Afton Speedway originally had the 600cc Modifieds scheduled. They will not be in competition this week. It will be a regular show with the Enduro division filling in the extra spot on the card. Gates will open at 5:30 with racing beginning at 7:30.

The New Afton Speedway has added a $1,000 to win Enduro race on Friday July 22nd. What was originally scheduled as an off night; now becomes one of the largest events of the 2005 racing season. More information about this will be posted later in the week.

The New Afton Speedway hosts racing every Friday night at 7:30pm from April through September with a weekly five 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.

Afterthoughts

Ed Strada, Jr. made his return to the speedway for the first time in several years. Strada was originally scheduled to compete on Friday Night’s at the Accord Speedway but changed his plans and made the trek from Northern Pennsylvania. Strada captured his first ever career-win back in 1990 at the Afton Speedway.

Strada had a tough evening as he lost power steering in the heat race and then thrashed to get the car ready for the feature. With the steering barley fixed, he had little time to set up the car. He would end with a top ten finish…

Mike Colsten’s night ended early after he led much of the early portions of the feature event. Colsten broke a right rear shock which eventually lead to a flat tire…

Mitch Gibbs had a difficult night is his no. 2g. After getting shuffled out of the groove he hit the turn three wall. He was able to continue and finish 6th…

Robbie Green looked strong late in his no.69 late in the 30-lap feature. It was the first time Green has visited the speedway in several years. He had been focusing his attention mainly on a point title at Accord Speedway. But this season the veteran looks to travel more and may make more appearances at The New Afton Speedway…

Another former champion making a return was Altamont, NY’s Tony Pepicelli. Peppicelli is looking to make another run at the title in 2005. As of now, his plans include weekly trips to The New Afton Speedway.

Full Results for 4/15/05

Modified - 30 laps

J. Smith, J. Hurlburt, B. Hamm, Jr., R. Green, R. Price, M. Gibbs, G. Suprick, M. Colsten, Ed Strada, Jr., R. Hendrickson, Jr., G. Konstelansky, R. Holgate S. Walsh, T. Peppicelli, D. Hart, Jr., B. White, J. Sheely, J. Batzel, C. Ostrowsky DNS – B. Weaver

Heats – B. Weaver, M. Colsten

Sportsman – 20 laps

R. Hefti, S. Walker, B. Decker, A. Smith, S. Pickwick, O. Renwick, M. Decker, C. Pope, J. Colsten, S. Mills, R. Banks, B. Mills, K. Titus, B. Klinger, D. Jagger, D. Winn, DNS – R. Diamond, K. Lewis

Heats – A. Smith, B. Mills

Pro Stocks – 20 laps

D. Decker, W. Decker, B. Trego, L. Gillette, P. Nolan, D. Valentine, D. Kock, K. Decker, D. Greene, B. Barrett, C. Stull, G. Roberts DNS – J. Witt, P. Harrington

Heats – D. Decker, W. Decker

Pure Stocks – 15 laps

B. Mills, S. Wolfe, R. Green, J. Shaw, C. Wood, M. Codington, R. Loucks, T. Sparks, J. Batzel, H. Cook, Jr., T. Harrington, C. Gilbert

Heats – B. Mills, R. Green

4 Cylinder Stocks – 15 laps

R. Cuozzo, Jr., G. Crippen, S. Johnson, M. Stringer, G. Card, Jr., J. Bunt, K. Fassett, K. Carson, III

Heat - G. Crippen

Enduro – 15 laps

D. Wilber, R. Gardiner, D. Slosek, J. Palmer, D. Finch, G. Finch, C. Brownell, S. Gardiner, J. Fowlston, Jr.