BOB MILLS PARKS NEW CAR IN VICTORY LANE

AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY ON MICHELOB ULTRA NIGHT

AFTON, NY - Bob Mills has been fast all season long, but the South Plymouth driver could not find enough racing luck to reach victory lane. All that changed Friday night at The New Afton Speedway. In just the second week of piloting the newly-built Pine Valley Auto #94x, Mills led flag-to-flag in the 20-lap DIRT Pro Stock feature to post his first win in the division on Michelob Ultra Night. Mills did post one win earlier in the season in his old #24 at Skyline Raceway.

Other Michelob Ultra feature winners included five-time winner Jeff Rudalavage from Olyphant, PA in the DIRT 358 Modifieds, Steve Anderson of West Edmeston grabbed win number four in the DIRT Sportsman, Mike Codington of Port Crane grabbed his first-ever Pure Stock checkered flag at Afton, Bob Doolittle of Newfield returned to victory lane in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks and Greene's Lance Willes claimed his second straight checkered flag in the 4-Cylinder Enduro.

Dustin Harris brought the DIRT Pro Stocks to head flagger Sam Rogers' green flag for the start of the 20-lap main event, but Mills, who also picked up a heat win, quickly bolted from his fourth starting spot to the lead before the first lap was in the books. Harris dropped into the runner-up spot with Jason Youngs, Todd Hurlburt and Bret Belden in close pursuit. Unfortunately, Harris and Belden got together in Turn One on lap three and spun out in front of points leader Jeremy Clark, who had no where to go. Harris and Belden were able to continue immediately while Clark lost five laps in the pits removing all the right side sheet metal.

On the restart, Mills pulled away as Youngs and Hurlburt were joined by Pat Nolan and Denny Smith in the top five. Hurlburt and Nolan spun on lap eight to bring out another caution flag while the restart saw Youngs get black-flagged for rough riding after spinning out Belden, who had climbed back into contention. Jim Cornell and A.J. Digsby were swept up in this incident.

When racing resumed, Mills remained in command as Denny Smith roared into the second spot while Hurlburt, Nolan and Brian Belden gave chase. The running order only saw one change before the checkered flag flew and that was Bret Belden overtaking Brian Belden for the fifth spot.

Polesitter Chris Ostrowsky grabbed the lead at the start of the 30-lap DIRT 358 Modified feature and he remained out in front for 15 of the first 17 circuits on the 4/10-mile layout. J.R. Hurlburt led briefly on a lap four restart and defending track champion Jeremy Smith led the lap six restart before Ostrowsky went back on top on lap seven.

The guys got their act together after the lap 15 restart and ran to the checkered flag without another yellow flag flying. Ostrowsky set the pace, but Rudalavage, who started 14th, began working to Ostrowsky's inside coming out of Turn Four on the previous lap. Rudalavage completed the pass heading down the backstretch and the DAG's Auto Parts #112 would be untouchable the rest of the way.

Ostrowsky completed his best run of the season in second place with Smith, Mitch Gibbs and Billy Van Pelt rounding out the top five.

The DIRT Sportsman 20-lap feature got off to an inauspicious start as outside polesitter Brad Alger spun around in front of the field in Turn Two after the green flag flew and collected six other cars, including points leader Butch Klinger and Anderson. Alger, Klinger, Skip Pickwick and Tim Mayne all went off on the hook while Mike Decker's car headed pitside under its own power, but all five cars were done for the night. Anderson suffered some sheet metal damage on the right side, but continued as did John DeForrest, who has spun in the melee, but was in good shape.

On the restart, polesitter Adam Smith set the pace for the first seven laps while Anderson worked his way towards the front. On a lap eight restart, Anderson got underneath Smith and took the lead for the remaining 13 laps.

Tim French got by Smith on lap 18 for second place while Richie Budd, Jr. overcame an early spin on lap 8 to grab fourth place. Craig Pope rounded out the top five.

The start of the Pure Stock 15-lap main event was equally eventful as polesitter Joe Buchek looped his car in Turn One on the opening lap. Points leader Paul Harrington took evasive action and cut to the inside. Unfortunately, he went over the uke-tires and flattened both of his left-side tires. Harrington returned to action on the lead lap, but he off-track excursion also did some damage to the driveshaft, which broke on lap 8 while he was running in second place and ended his night.

Meanwhile, Codington got out in front on the first lap and stayed there the entire 15 laps to record his first-ever feature win at Afton. Jeremy Shaw completed a great run in second place with Rob White in third.

Jim Money brought the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks to the green flag for their 15-lap feature, but outside pole mate Ken Hotaling took the lead on the first lap and led the first seven circuits before a flat tire sent him in front of George Crippen on the backstretch. Both cars would continue.

Doolittle grabbed the lead on the lap eight restart as Money and Jack Hill gave chase. Hotaling spun again on lap nine, but would soon be penalized for jumping five spots on the restart on lap nine. That penalty was enforced under caution on lap 12 after Gary Card, Jr. spun in Turn Four.

Meanwhile, Doolittle was having things his way at the front of the pack and cruised to his fourth win of the season at Afton. Crippen, Money, Hill and Hotaling rounded 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 Super Stock and 4-Cylinder Enduro action sponsored by NBT Bank. It will also be Fan Appreciation Night will all the drivers bringing their cars onto the horse track in front of the covered grandstand beginning at 5:45 p.m. so fans get a look at them up close and get autographs from their favorite drivers. As an added attraction, Mitch Gibbs and Jeff Rudalavage will have their magnificent 358 Modified transporters parked behind the grandstands for fans to walk through. 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.

MICHELOB ULTRA FEATURE RESULTS FROM JULY 9, 2004 DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): JEFF RUDALAVAGE, Chris Ostrowsky, Jeremy Smith, Mitch Gibbs, Billy Van Pelt, Rich Price, Joel Batzel, J.R. Crouse, Bob Hamm, Jr., Russell Hendrickson, Jeremy Markle, Jamie Christian, Darrin Schuler, Pete Lyon, Jim House, J.R. Hurlburt, Dustin Purdy, Don Slover. DNS- Ben Bushaw, Mike Doty. Heat winners: Price, Smith, Gibbs.

DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 Laps): STEVE ANDERSON, Tim French, Adam Smith, Richie Budd, Jr., Craig Pope, Ronnie Clark, Olin Renwick, John DeForrest, Chad Hadlick, Dustin Winn, Bill Van Inwegen, Skip Pickwick, Brad Alger, Tim Mayne, Butch Klinger, Mike Decker. Heat winners: Smith, Alger.

DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): BOB MILLS, Denny Smith, Todd Hurlburt, Pat Nolan, Bret Belden, Brian Belden, Jim Cornell, Bruce Streeter, Randy Newell, Chad Hyzer, Jeremy Clark, Dustin Harris, Jason Youngs, A.J. Digsby, Chris Hurlburt. Heat winners: T. Hurlburt, Mills.

PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): MIKE CODINGTON, Jeremy Shaw, Rob White, Joe Buchek, Paul Harrington, Brother Bob Stilson. Heat winners: Buchek.

4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS: BOB DOOLITTLE, George Crippen, Jim Money, Jack Hill, Kenny Hotaling, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Mike Stringer, Gary Card Jr. Heat winner: Money.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (10 Laps, top 3): LANCE WILLES, Cale Brownell, Alex Gloeckler.