EXCITING FINISHES ON GENNY LIGHT NIGHT AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - It was a night of exciting close finishes during Genny Light Night at The New Afton Speedway. A late pass decided one feature and several others were under two car-lengths as the top two came across the line.
Danny Johnson of Rochester made a surprise visit and posted his third career win in the 30-lap DIRT 358-Modifieds, Rockdale's Tim French claimed his fourth win in the DIRT Sportman 20-lap main, Jeremy Clark of Cortland took his fifth DIRT Pro Stock feature, Paul Harrington from Unadilla celebrated his impending Saturday wedding with his fifth Pure Stock checkered flag, Newfield's Bob Doolittle took advantage of the race leaders on the last lap to recorded win number six in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks and Lance Willes of Greene became a four-time winner in the 4-Cylinder Enduro. The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club was also on hand with class wins going to Jeff Ackerman of New Berlin (1950s), Jim Chicoski (1960s) of Black Creek, Ontario, Canada and John McNamee (1970s) from Kingston, Ontario.
Ben Bushaw brought the 358-Modifieds to head flagger Sam Rogers' green flag and led the first three circuits before Chris Ostrowsky grabbed the point on a lap four restart. Ostrowky had a short one-lap stint on the point before Jeff Rudalavage took over first on a lap five restart. From that point, Rudalavage was fast and pulled away to a one-half lap lead as Ostrowsky, J.R. Crouse, Billy Van Pelt and Johnson became the main competitors for the remaining top-five spots.
At the halfway point, Ostrowsky was still second with "The Doctor" moving into third place on lap 16 followed by Van Pelt and points leader Mitch Gibbs. Rudalavage saw his lead disappear with the wave of the yellow flag on lap 24 and his great run turned into a nightmare two laps later when the driveshaft dropped out of his Pine Line Auto/DAGS Auto Parts #112. Johnson gladly took the lead for the few remaining laps with Van Pelt applying the pressure, but coming up two car-lengths short. Gibbs finished third, Crouse fourth and Ostrowsky fifth.
Polesitter Olin Renwick led the first lap of the DIRT Sportman main event, but lost the lead to Steve Anderson on a lap two restart. The caution flag flew two laps later and Anderson was penalized for jumping the restart and took the next green flag in fourth place as French bolted to the front. By the completion of the fourth lap, Anderson was back in second place as Butch Klinger and Adam Smith both worked their way into the top five.
French was able to hold a comfortable lead as Klinger climbed into the second spot with Anderson, Smith and Richie Budd, Jr. in tow. No one would catch the Rockdale Rocket as he posted a four car-length win over Anderson, who passed Klinger on the final lap with Smith and Budd completing the top five. Denny Smith and Todd Hurlburt shared the front row for the start of the Pro Stock feature as pole sitter Pat Nolan answered the call to the starting grid late and was dropped to the back of the pack. Smith took the lead as Clark and Hurlburt tangled in turn two to bring out the caution flag.
A series of two restarts allowed Smith to keep the lead while, Clark, who has perfected the spin-and-win maneuver at The New Afton Speedway in 2004, fought back to second-place on lap three. Clark worked underneath Smith and took the lead on lap four and proceeded to open an advantage of one full straightaway.
While Clark appeared to have things in hand, Smith and Wade Decker were locked in a great battle for second place with Mills running fourth. Decker took the runner-up spot on lap 13 and slowly began to reel Clark in. It did not appear that Decker would have enough time to catch Clark until the two drivers began working lapped traffic on lap 18. Suddenly, Decker was within a car-length as the white flag flew. Over the final lap, Clark held a slight advantage, but both drivers encountered one more lapped car coming out of turn four. Both cars snuck by with Clark winning the final sprint to the checkered flag with Decker right on his back bumper. Smith came home third with Mills and Hurlburt rounding out the top five.
Outside polesitter Mike Codington led the first six laps of the Pure Stock main event before Harrington made his move and roared to the front. Harrington would go on and take the checkered flag as Codington rolled out of turn four. Joe Buchek, Jeremy Shaw and Brother Bob Stilson rounded out the finishing five.
The 4-Cylinder Stock feature saw a physical battle between many of the competitors for most of the 15 laps. Kenny Hotaling led the first four laps with Doolittle climbing into second place while Jack Hill and Ralph Cuozzo, Jr. worked their way from the back of the pack after being part of a three-car tangle on lap two. Those same two got together again on lap five and brought out the caution, which saw Doolittle grab the point on the restart. Hotaling went for the lead on lap six, but contact between his car and Doolittle led to Hotaling spinning and Doolittle joining him in the back of the pack.
Hill suddenly found himself at the front with Couzzo second and Hotaling charging back into third. Within three laps, Cuozzo overtook Hill with Hotaling and Doolittle moving by on consecutive laps. Hotaling tried to take the lead coming out of turn two on the final lap, but Cuozzo dropped low to block the passing attempt. As both cars slowed momentarily, Doolittle swung to the outside and tried to pass both cars down the backstretch. Doolittle completed the pass in turn three and pulled away by three car-lengths at the checkered flag. Cuozzo would take second place as Hotaling, Hill and Mike Stringer rounded out the top five.
There were a total of 19 Midstate Vintage Stock Cars in the pits and these folks put on another great show. In the 1950s-60s race, Chicoski took the lead from the outside pole on the opening lap and led the first nine circuits before Ackerman, who started eighth, overtook him on the final lap and posted the win. It was career win number five at Afton.
Bob Williams, Sr. led the first three laps of the 1970s feature from his pole position before McNamee, who started fifth, overtook him and posted another Afton victory. For McNamee, it was his fourth career win at Afton.
This Friday night, there 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. The night will feature a Sunoco/A-Plus 358-Modified Qualifier, plus a Pit Stop Challenge where the winners get a free pit pass and trophy.
There are just three points shows remaining in 2004 and most divisions are far from deciding the track champions. 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.
GENNY LIGHT FEATURE RESULTS FROM AUGUST 6, 2004
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): DANNY JOHNSON, Billy Van Pelt, Mitch Gibbs, J.R. Crouse, Chris Ostrowsky, Darrin Schuler, J.R. Hurlburt, Jamie Christian, Ben Bushaw, Jeremy Smith, Ed Harris, Bob Hamm, Jr., Jeff Rudalavage, Jeremy Markle, Bobby Varin, Larry Keegan, Don Slover, Russell Hendrickson, Jr, Rich Price. DNS- Jim Christ. Heat winners: Ostrowsky, Crouse, Gibbs.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 Laps): TIM FRENCH, Steve Anderson, Butch Klinger, Adam Smith, Richie Budd, Jr., Shaun Walker, Ronnie Clark, Dustin Winn, Craig Pope, Bruce Gould, Brad Alger, Tim Mayne, Randy Banks, Jr., Olin Renwick, Ken Moulton, Jr., Chad Hadlick, John DeForrest, Steve Ragan, Skip Pickwick, Ricky Rutt. DNS- Roger Cook. Heat winners: Renwick, Anderson, Walker.
DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): JEREMY CLARK, Wade Decker, Denny Smith, Bob Mills, Todd Hurlburt, Brian Belden, Jason Youngs, Pat Nolan, Dustin Harris, Chris Hurlburt, Robert Krascovic, Randy Newell, Terry Johnson. Heat winners: Nolan, T. Hurlburt.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): PAUL HARRINGTON, Mike Codington, Joe Buchek, Sr., Jeremy Shaw, Brother Bob Stilson. Heat winner: Stilson.
4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (15 laps): BOB DOOLITTLE, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Kenny Hotaling, Jack Hill, Mike Stringer, Gary Card, Jr., Ron Cumming, George Crippen, Jim Money. Heat winners: Cuozzo, Hotaling.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO (10 Laps, top 3): LANCE WILLES, Dustin Wilber, Cale Brownell.
MIDSTATE VINTAGE STOCK CAR CLUB (10 lap features)
1950s: JEFF ACKERMAN, Josh Flach, Brad Litzenburger, Howdy` Witter, Jr., Dick Ackerman, Gordie Wood. 1960s: JIM CHICOSKI, Tom Witter, Harold Sonnenberg, John Mason, Shirley Morden.
1970s: JOHN McNAMEE, Bob Williams, Sr., Scot Gates, Pat Sonnenberg, Clay McNamee, Lowry Siemens, Richard Taggert, Mike Cole.