GIBBS REPEATS, CLARK WIN FIRST ON BANJO RADIO NIGHT

AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY — It was another strong run for Mitch Gibbs of North Norwich as the Nice-N-Easy
Grocery Shoppes #2G returned to victory lane for the second straight week at The New Afton
Speedway by winning the DIRT 358 Modified feature on BANJO Radio Group Night.
Other winners on the 4/10-mile track were West Edmeston’s Steve Anderson in the DIRT
Sportsman; Jeremy Clark of Cortland won his first-ever DIRT Pro Stock main event at Afton; Dick
Stark from Lansing posted his second win of the season in the Pure Stocks and Jim Palmer of
Downsville took the 4-Cylinder Enduro checkered flag.
Jamie Christian, the defending DIRT Sportsman track champion, brought the field to Sam Rogers’
green flag and set the pace for the first six laps of the DIRT 358 Modified 30-lap feature as J.R. Crouse,
J.R. Hurlburt, Bob Hamm, Jr. and Steve Walsh gave chase. Jeff Rudalavage replaced Walsh as the fifth-
place runner on lap two.
On the lap seven restart, Christian chose to start on the inside, which allowed Crouse to use the
quicker outside groove to grab the lead, but he lead for just one lap as the caution flew when Hamm
came to a halt with mechanical problems.
On the restart, Crouse chose the inside groove and Christian retook the lead on the outside with
Rudalavage, Gibbs and Willy Decker charging in to the top five. Gibbs started the main event in ninth
place and Decker started tenth.
The race slowed again on lap 13 when Pete Lyon stopped in turn two. On the restart, Christian
maintained the lead, but Gibbs looked like he was shot from a cannon as he blasted into second place and
was inches short of having his bumper in front of Christian when caution flew on lap 14 for Hurlburt’s
flat tire on the backstretch and Dustin Purdy stopping in turn two.
At the drop of the green, Gibbs bolted into the lead with hard-charging Rudalavage moving into the
runner-up spot. Christian held on to third with Crouse and Decker close behind. Gibbs was able to hold
off Rudalavage and posted a five car-length margin of victory at the checkered flag. Decker overtook
Christian for third place on a lap 22 restart with Crouse holding on for fifth place.
Outside polesitter Brad Alger grabbed the lead at the drop of green flag for the DIRT Sportsman 30-
lap feature as pole sitter Craig Pope faded back through the field. Anderson worked his way into second
place from his sixth starting spot on lap two with Adam Smith, Jessica Zemken and two-time feature
winner Butch Klinger rounding out the top five.
On the lap eight restart, Anderson moved into the top spot with Klinger overtaking Alger one lap
later for second. Tim French moved into fourth place with Smith clinging to fifth despite pressure from
Zemken. Alger’s great run came to an end on lap 14 when his engine let go.
Anderson was in control as the white flag flew and it appeared that Klinger would have no chance to
catch Anderson until the leader bobbled in turn four with the checkered flag in the air. Klinger pulled even
on the inside, but Anderson won the drag-race down the front stretch for a one-half car-length win.
French was third, Smith completed a career best run in fourth and Zemken was fifth at the finish line.
Clark started fourth in the 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock main event, but he quickly grabbed the lead
before the end of lap one with “Birthday Boy” Denny Smith in second before Pete Gulick took that spot
on lap three. This trio slowly pulled away from the rest of the field as Bob Mills ran fourth and Dustin
Harris sat fifth. Bret Belden overtook Harris on lap seven.
Gulick was right on the back bumper of Clark and even pulled to the inside a couple of times, but
Clark remained calm and held off all challenges. As the two worked some lapped traffic, Clark used a
slower car as a blocker and Gulick dropped several car-lengths back with less than eight laps to go.
Clark remained steady for the remainder of the caution-free event and took the checkered flag for
his first ever win at The New Afton Speedway. Gulick finished strong and was three car-lengths back at
the end of the race. Smith, Mills and Belden completed the top five.
Chris White took the lead from his pole position on lap one of the 15-lap Pure Stock main event. He
gave up the top spot to Mike Wilbur on a lap two restart with Buck Mills charging into second place,
followed by White, Stark and Frank Mills.
The caution flag flew on lap five for debris in turn three and White proceeded to pull into the pits.
Stark roared into the lead on the restart with Wilbur hanging tough until he retired to the pits on lap 13.
Stark pulled away and took the checkered flag with runner-up Buck Mills in the middle of the
backstretch. Mills dropped a cylinder on lap four and never threatened the leaders, but he still had enough
power to hold off brother Frank for second place. Joe Buchek came home in fourth place with Jeremy
Shaw completing the top five.
This Friday will be Gary’s U Pull-It Night with another great card of DIRT 358 Modified, DIRT
Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stock, Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock Enduro action, plus the only 2004
appearance of the Patriot Sprint Group. The gates will open a 5 p.m. with the first green flag to fly at 7:
30.
Rick Wilson won last year‘s appearance of the 360 cubic inch, winged sprinters to the lightning-
quick 4/10-mile track wile Kyle Drum had one of the most dominant machine, only to have mechanical
problems while leading in the main event.
If you have any questions on any upcoming events, you may call the speedway office at 607-657-
8018; the track office at 607-639-1966 or you may log on to The New Afton Speedway website at www.
thenewaftonspeedway.com. The New Afton Speedway, Friday’s Best Family Entertainment Value, is
located on the Afton Fairgrounds off of Interstate 88, Exit 7, on Route 41.

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