RUDALAVAGE BACK ON TOP WHILE GREEN NOTCHES FIRST EVER WIN
AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - It was a mix of veterans and first-time winners making their way to the Don's Automotive Mall Victory Lane at The New Afton Speedway Friday night.
Jeff Rudalavage of Olyphant, PA returm to the DIRT 358 Modified winners' circle; Rockdale's Tim French won a thrilling DIRT Sportsman main event; Jeremy Clark from Cortland was tops in the DIRT Pro Stock feature; George Crippen of Cooperstown and Ken Hotaling from Hartwick won the 4-Cylinder stock features and Jim Plamer of Dowsnville won his fifth 4-Cylinder Enduro feature. Butch Greenfrom Maine won his first-ever Pure Stock feature and the first-ever winner in the Faster Pastors Race involving area clergymen was Jim Ingalls from Sidney's Faith Community Church. A total of six pastors competed in what was a exciting new event at the speedway.
Bob Hamm, Jr. started on the pole for the DIRT 358 Modified 30-lap feature, but it was Jeremy Smith won grabbed the first lap lead from his third starting spot. J.R. Crouse ran second for the first two laps before Rudalavage overtook him with Mitch Gibbs and Hamm completing the top five.
On a lap 7 restart, Rudalavage powered his way into first place and was never seriously challenge for his fourth win of the 2004 season. Rudalavage took the checkered flag as Smith came out of Turn Four. Crouse, Gibbs and Russell Hendrickson rounding out the top five.
Outside polesitter Brad Alger grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman main event. While most of the racing was tight with Alger leading the first nine circuits, Butch Klinger, Tim Mayne and French enjoyed their own feud.
Klinger took the lead on a Lap Nine restart with Alger, Mayne, Steve Anderson giving chase while French slipped to fifth. Ronnie Clark brought out the caution flag on lap 18 to set-up a thrilling finish.
Alger took the lead as the green flag flew while French rocketed in the runner-up spot. One lap later, French tucked inside of Alger and completed his pass for the lead. French would win by just a few car-lengths with Alger, Mayne, Anderson and Richie Budd, Jr. rounding out the top five. Klinger got a poor restart and wound up sixth at the end.
Jason Youngs brought the DIRT Pro Stocks to Sam Rogers' green flag for the 20-lap feature. Clark, who started third, grabbed the top spot for the first circuit with Todd Hurlburt charging to the point for laps two and three. The two cars would come across the start/finish line even on lap four with Smith retaking the lead on a nice inside pass between Turns One and Two.
The only caution flag flew on lap nine. Hurlburt used the inside pass on Clark in Turn Four to take the lead before Clark would make the fifth, and finally, lead change on lap 10. Clark would pull away to a comfortable winning margin over the Wild Thing with Denny Smith, Youngs and Bob Mills rounding out the top five.
Green starting on the outside of the front row with Joe Bucek on the pole for the 15-lap Pure Stock main event. Green blasted into the lead at the drop of the green flag and slowly built a full a straightaway lead over Jeremy Shaw, Buck Mills and Paul Harrington. Mills moved into second place on lap three and slowly reeled in the leader in the caution-free event. Green held his line and never gave the two-time defending track champion anywhere to complete a pass. Harrington moved into third place on lap nine and finished in that spot while Shaw and Buchek completed the top five.
Jack Hill grabbed the lead from his pole position in the held-over 15-lap 4-Cylinder Super Stock feature and appeared to be on his way to victory as Bob Doolittle could not find and high or low groove to make a pass. That was until lap 13 when Hill got a little loose out of Turn Two, Instead by backing off, Doolittle drove through Hill and sent him spinning into the infield with no caution flag waving. Doolittle would take the checkered flag, but was penalized two spots for rough riding. This gave a surprised Crippen the win with Nate Stevens, Doolittle, Hotaling and Jim Money completing the top five.
It was Hotaling leading from flag-to-flag from his outside front row starting spot in the second 15-lap 4-Cylinder Super Stock main event. Hotaling held on for a one car-length victory over Doolittle in the caution-free feature with Ralph Cuozzo, Jr, money and Stevens rounding out the top five.
This Friday night will be a full slate of DIRT 358 Modified, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stock, Pure Stock, 4-Cylinder Stock and 4-Cylinder Enduro action sponsored by Parts Plus Auto Stores. 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.
DON' S AUTOMOTIVE MALL FEATURE RESULTS FROM JUNE 18, 2004
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): JEFF RUDALAVAGE, Jeremy Smith, J.R. Crouse, Mitch Gibbs, Russell Hendrickson, Rich Price, Dan Vauter, Darrin Schuler, Richie Pratt, Jr., Billy Van Pelt, Pete Lyon, J.R. Hurlburt, Bob Hamm, Jr., Jamie Christian, Chris Ostrowsky, Don Slover. Heat winners: Smith, Hurlburt.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 Laps): TIM FRENCH, Brad Alger, Tim Mayne, Steve Anderson, Richie Budd, Jr., Butch Klinger, Craig Pope, Aaron Cross, John DeForrest, Ronnie Clark, Adam Smith, Olin Renick, Skip Pickwick. Heat winners: Klinger, Mayne
DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): JEREMY CLARK, Todd Hurlburt, Denny Smith, Jason Youngs, Bob Mills, Bret Belden, Dustin Harris, Dennis Valentine, Mark Effner, Chad Hyzer, Randy Newell. Heat winners: Hyzer, Smith.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): BUTCH GREEN, Buck Mills, Paul Harrington, Jeremy Shaw, Joe Buchek, Rob Loucks, DNS- Frank Mills. Heat winner: Green.
4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (Make-up from 6/18): GEORGE CRIPPN, Nate Stevens, Bob Doolittle, Ken Hotaling, Jim Money, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Mike Stringer, Jack Hill, Gary Card, Sr., Gary Card Jr.
4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS: KEN HOTALING, Bob Doolittle, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Jim Money, Nate Stevens, George Crippen, Jack Hill, Gary Card Jr, Gary Card, Sr., Ken Carson, Mike Stringer. Heat winner: Doolittle, Stevens.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (15 Laps, top 3): JIM PALMER, Lance Willes, Cale Brownell.
FASTER PASTORS RACE (5 laps): JIM INGALLS, Steven Blews, Clint Potter, Jack Harris, Bill Fowler, Mike Rowe.