FOUR-TIME WINNERS ABOUND AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - Once again, Mother Nature tried to put an end to a racing program at The New Afton Speedway Friday, but a couple of light showers could not deter some great on-track excitement. The drivers even sensed the urgency of getting the program in and most of the features were nearly caution-free. When the lightning-quick program was finished in under three hours, four drivers had notched their fourth wins of the 2004 season.
Heading the lucky "4" was DIRT 358-Modified points leader Mitch Gibbs of Norwich. Also picking up fourth wins were Walton's Butch Klinger in the DIRT Sportsman main event, Jeremy Clark of Cortland captured the DIRT Pro Stock checkered flag and Unadilla's Paul Harrington padded his Pure Stock points lead. Kenny Hotaling of Hartwick won his second 4-Cylinder Super Stock feature of 2004 and Cale Brownell of Unadilla became a two-time 4-Cylinder Enduro winner.
Ben Bushaw of Homer brought the DIRT 358-Modifieds to head starter Sam Rogers' green flag for the start of the 30-lap feature, but Darrin Schuler jumped into the lead from the outside pole on lap one and led the first four circuits around the 4/10-mile layout. Bushaw took the lead back on lap five in a great side-by-side battle with Schuler, but the former track champion retook the point one lap later. The veteran and the youngster continued great battle for the top spot as Russell Hedrickson, Jr., J.R. Crouse and Gibbs gave chase. By lap 14, Gibbs had climbed to third from his sixth starting spot with J.R. Hurlburt and Billy Van Pelt closing in.
The great Schuler-Bushaw battle came on lap 17 when Bushaw had a rear tire come apart and brought out the only caution flag of the main event. It was the second week in a row that Bushaw had his potential top-five run come to an end by the only caution flag of the feature.
On the restart, Schuler fired quickly, but Gibbs, Hurlburt and Van Pelt decided to make an aggressive outside pass in Turns One and Two. It worked as the trio freight-trained past Schuler, dropping him to fourth place.
Once in front, Gibbs cruised to career win number 55 at The New Afton Speedway. The Nice-and-Easy #2G was in Turn One when Hurlburt beat Van Pelt to the finish line for second place with Rudalavage fourth. Defending track champion Jeremy Smith edged Schuler at the line for fifth.
Polesitter Dustin Winn led the DIRT Sportsman to the green flag in their 20-lap main event and the Bainbridge driver set the pace for the first six laps with Skip Pickwick, Ronnie Clark, Klinger and Tim French battling for top five spots.
On lap seven, French had reeled in Winn and powered by for the top spot. Klinger also got by Winn with Pickwick and Adam Smith closing in. The running order for first and second remained the same as French appeared headed for victory until the lapped car of Roger Cook came into the equation on lap 14. French tried to move to the inside of Cook coming out of Turn Two, but his right-side rub-rail locked-up with Cook's left-side bars momentarily. As the two cars nearly came to a halt, Klinger shot by on the outside and pulled away to an easy victory in the caution-free event.
French recovered for a second-place finish while Brad Alger, Winn and Tim Mayne rounding out the top five. Polesitter Jason Youngs led the first lap of the DIRT Pro Stock 20-lap feature, but Clark was on a mission as he charged from his third starting spot into second place on lap one. Clark roared by Youngs on lap two, bringing Bret Belden and points leader Denny Smith with him. The only caution flag in this event flew on lap three when Todd Hurlburt came to a halt in Turn Two.
After the restart, fans were treated to one of the best Pro Stock races all season long. Clark would stay out in front, but Belden got several nice runs on the leader. Clark held off the challenges to claim the checkered flag. While Belden was trying for the lead, he would also need to keep his eyes on Smith, who was trying to overtake him for second. For 18 laps, the top three cars remained within a few car-lengths of each other with Clark posting a two car-length advantage at the checkered flag. Smith was the same distance behind Belden with Bob Mills and Brian Belden completing the top five.
The 15-lap Pure Stock feature saw Jeremy Shaw grab the lead from his outside front row spot as polesitter Brother Bob Stilson dropped behind Joe Buchek in the battle for second place.
Harrington charged into second place on lap four and set his sights on Shaw. Stilson saw his great third-place run come to an end on lap 10 when he pulled into the pits. Buchek moved up to third with Chris White and Mike Codington rounding out the top five.
Shaw struggled to keep his car on the low side of the track and that tendency to drift high cost him the lead on lap 13. Harrington would lead the final circuits and enjoy a five car-length margin of victory. Shaw, Buchek, White and Codington would complete the top five in another caution-free feature. Gary Card, Jr. brought the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks to the green flag for their 15-lap main event, but it was Hotaling making all the right moves from his fourth starting spot. The defending track champion took the lead on the opening lap and led flag-to-flag despite four caution periods.
Jim Money applied pressure from his second spot in the running order for 10 laps until points leader Bob Doolittle finally overtook the Oxford driver. Doolittle closed in on Hotaling as well, but he could never complete a pass for the top stop. When the checkered flag flew, Hotaling had a three car-length winning margin with Doolittle, Money, George Crippen and Mike Stringer rounding out the top five.
Thanks to the generosity of the Nolan Racing Team, nearly 40 kids competed in an elimination-style bicycle obstacle course race to win one of four great-looking bikes during the intermission. Thanks to DIRT Pro Stock driver Pat Nolan and his family for making four kids very happy.
This Friday night, Genny Light will sponsor a full slate of DIRT 358 Modified, DIRT Sportsman, DIRT Pro Stock, Pure Stock, 4-Cylinder Super Stock and 4-Cylinder Enduro action. Friday will also mark the second appearance of the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club at The New Afton Speedway and there will be a Ladies' Pro Stock Race. 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 JULY 30, 2004
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): MITCH GIBBS, J.R. Hurlburt, Billy Van Pelt, Jeff Rudalavage, Jeremy Smith, Darrin Schuler, J.R. Crouse, Chris Ostrowsky, Bob Hamm, Jr., Ed Harris, Allen Willoughby, Ben Bushaw, Russell Hendrickson, Jr., Jamie Christian. DNS- Bobby Varin, Pete Lyon, Tom Gervasi. Heat winners: Gibbs, Crouse, Hendrickson.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 Laps): BUTCH KLINGER, Tim French, Brad Alger, Dustin Winn, Tim Mayne, Skip Pickwick, Adam Smith, Steve Anderson, Ronnie Clark, Craig Pope, Roger Cook, Olin Renwick. DNS- Wayne Northrup, John DeForrest, Bob Wetherbee. Heat winners: Klinger, French.
DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): JEREMY CLARK, Bret Belden, Denny Smith, Bob Mills, Brian Belden, Jason Youngs, Chris Hurlburt, Josh Humphrey, Dennis Valentine, Chad Hyzer, Todd Hurlburt, Pat Nolan. Heat winners: T. Hurlburt, Nolan.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): PAUL HARRINGTON, Jeremy Shaw, Joe Buchek, Sr., Chris White, Mike Codington, Rob White, Brother Bob Stilson. DNS- Bob Silvernail. Heat winner: Shaw.
4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS: KENNY HOTALING, Bob Doolittle, Jim Money, George Crippen, Mike Stringer, Jack Hill, Gary Card, Jr., Jeff Leslie, Larry Champion, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr. Heat winners: Cuozzo, Hotaling.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (10 Laps, top 3): CALE BROWNELL, Jim Roberts, Dave Finch.