RUDALAVAGE THREE-PEAT EARNS SUNOCO/A-PLUS 358 MODIFIED QUALIFIER
AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - Dale Earnhardt’s legacy was living on at The New Afton Speedway Friday night as the number three was very popular. Jeff Rudalavage from Olyphant, PA won his third straight feature as the DIRT 358 Modifieds were running for a guaranteed starting spot in the Sunoco/A-Plus 358 Modified Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds during Super DIRT Week.
Also picking up their third wins of the season were West Edmeston’s Steve Anderson in the DIRT Sportsman; Denny Smith of Trout Creek in the DIRT Pro Stocks; Buck Mills from Willet in the Pure Stocks and Jim Palmer of Downsville in the 4-Cylinder Enduros. Only the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, who returned to the weekly racing program last week, would not have a three-time winner, but Newfield’s Bob Doolittle did repeat as the feature winner in this class. There was also a Pure Stock Ladies Race and Janet Jordan of Berkshire ran her record to 2-0 on the 4/10-mile speedway by recording the victory.
In the 30-lap Sunoco/A-Plus Qualifier for the 358s, Dan Vauter brought the field to Sam Rogers’ green flag three caution flags and one red flag occurred during the first four laps. The most serious incident was on lap two when Bob Hamm, Jr. was tapped coming down the front-stretch. Hamm’s car turned sideways, hit one of the half-tires and rolled three times before coming to a rest near Turn One. Once the car came to a halt, it was right in front of Tony Ross, who had no where to go and smashed into the passenger side of Hamm’s #77. A couple of other cars tangled trying to get the high side of the track and Dustin Purdy’s #38P was left undriveable in Turn One. The red flag flew immediately. As track safety crews hurried to the Hamm car. Ross was quickly out of his car and checking on Hamm as the crews arrived. The good news was that no one was hurt in this crash.
Vauter remained the leader while Rudalavage picked his way through the field and was running second by lap three while Rich Price, J.R. Crouse and Willy Decker in tow.
On lap eight restart was the trigger for a long stretch of green flag racing with the Iceman still in command, but Rudalavage was continuing to apply pressure. After several failed attempts to get below Vauter’s car, Rudalavage swung the DAG’S NAPA #112 to the high side and powered his way past Vauter coming out of Turn Four to complete the 12th lap. From that point on, Rudalavage pulled away for the rest of the field, except for a brief flurry before a lap 24 restart when Billy Van Pelt, who passed Vauter for the runner-up spot on lap 15, pressured the leader by getting inside Rudalavage in the turns. There was a restart on lap 24 and Rudalavage checked out on the rest of the field for a commanding win. Van Pelt settled for second while Vauter, Decker and Price rounded out the top five,
Craig Pope brought the DIRT Sportsman to the green flag, but Anderson grabbed the lead from the outside pole and led from flag-to-flag in the 20-lap main event. The only caution flag flew on lap 9 as Anderson put some daylight between himself and the rest of the field. That restart allowed Butch Klinger to moved around Tim French and he began to track down the leader. Klinger got inside Anderson coming out of Turn Four with the checkered flag in sight, but Anderson had enough left to post a one car-length victory. Following Klinger were French, Brad Alger and Tim Mayne to complete the top five.
Bob Mills was on the pole for the start of the 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock main event an he led the first circuit. The caution flag flew on lap two and that proved to be a big break for Smith, who moved around Mills on the restart and led the remaining 19 caution-free laps.
Jeremy Clark moved into the runner-up spot on lap three by overtaking Mills.
As the laps wound down, the best battle was for positions three through six. Mills ran third from lap 9 to 15 before Hurlburt grabbed the spot. It was Smith by several car-lengths at the checkered flag with Clark, Hurlburt, Mills and Bret Belden completing the top five.
Buchek brought the Pure Stocks to the line at the start of their 15-lap main event, but Mills grabbed the top spot before the first lap was complete with Paul Harrington close behind. It looked like it would be a great battle between the two drivers until Harrington brought out the caution after losing a tire on lap five.
With his toughest competitor in the pits, Mills drove hard despite losing the power steering belt with four laps to go. Mills held on for a big win while Butch Green tried to grab the top spot. Green would finish second as Buchek, Jeremy Shaw and Chris White rounded out the top five.
Doolittle led the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks to the green flag, but Jim Money took the early lead from the outside pole. The two drivers swapped the lead three times in the 15-lap main event. Money led until lap six before Doolittle grabbed the spot. Money retook the lead on lap 10 and looked to pull away, but Doolittle rallied on lap 13 to take the point back. Doolittle would led the remaining circuits with Money, Ken Hotaling, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr, and Jack Hill rounding out the top five.
The Friday night will be a full slate of DIRT 358 Modified, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stock, Pure Stock, 4-Cylinder Super Stock and 4-Cylinder Enduro action, along with the first of three appearances by the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club. The folks from COOL 100 (100.5 FM) watching from the Budweiser VIP Tower. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with the racing action to begin at 7:30.
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.
FEATURE RESULTS FROM JUNE 4, 2004
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): JEFF RUDALAVAGE, Billy Van Pelt, Dan Vauter, Willy Decker, Rich Price, Darrin Schuler, Jeremy Smith, Mitch Gibbs, J.R. Hurlburt, Pete Lyon, Chris Ostrowsky, Ben Bushaw, J.R. Crouse, Jamie Christian, Paul Kinney, Steve Walsh, Junior Green, Tony Ross, Bob Hamm, Jr., Dustin Purdy. Heat winners: Price, Schuler, Vauter.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 Laps): STEVE ANDERSON, Butch Klinger, Tim French, Brad Alger, Tim Mayne, Craig Pope, Adam Smith, John DeForrest, Skip Pickwick, Aaron Cross, Ronnie Clark, Olin Renwick. Heat winners: Anderson, Klinger.
DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): DENY SMITH, Jeremy Clark, Todd Hurlburt, Bob Mills, Bret Belden, Jason Youngs, Brian Belden, Bob Zimmerman, Chad Hyzer, Pat Nolan, Dustin Harris, Ryan Lund, A.J. Digsby, Chris Hurlburt . Heat winners: T. Hurlburt, Smith.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): PBUCK MILLS, Butch Green, Joe Buchek, Jeremy Shaw, Chris White, Rich Green, Paul Harrington. DNS- Phillip Prescott. Heat winner: Buchek.
4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (15 laps): BOB DOOLITLE, Jim Money, Ken Hotaling, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Jack Hill, George Crippen, Gary Card, Larry Miller, Mike Stringer. Heat winner: Doolittle.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (15 Laps, Top 3): JIM PLAMER, Lance Willes, Rich Gardiner.