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RUDALAVAGE, ANDERSON ENJOY TWINS, GIBBS HEADS CHAMPIONS



AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY

AFTON, NY - The final points show at The New Afton Speedway had something for everyone as two drivers enjoyed sweeping victories while five track champions were crowned after a busy night of racing action.

Jeff Rudalavage was "The Dominator" as the Olyphant, PA driver won both of the DIRT 358-Modified Twin 20-lap feature while West Edmeston's Steve Anderson was equally impressive by taking both checkered flags in the DIRT Sportsman Twin 15-lap main events. Other winners were Bob Mills of South Plymouth in the DIRT Pro Stock 20-lap feature; Paul Harrington from Unadilla in the 15-lap Pure Stock main event; Oxford's Jim Money in the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Super Stock feature and Jim Roberts of West Winfield in the 4-Cylinder Enduro 15-lap feature.

Track champions for 2004 are Mitch Gibbs of North Norwich in the 358-Modifieds, Tim French from Rockdale in the Sportsman, Harrington in the Pure Stocks, Newfield's Bob Doolittle in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks while Denny Smith of Trout Creek and Cortland's Jeremy Clark are co-champions in the Pro Stocks.

Bobby Varin brought the DIRT 358-Modifieds to Sam Rogers' green flag in the first of the Twin 20-lap main events and he led the first four laps as caution flag waved frequently. On the lap five restart, outside polesitter Ben Bushaw grabbed the top spot with a strong pass on the outside of turns one and two as Varin fell into second place with defending track champion Jeremy Smith third, Rudalavage, who started eighth, and J.R. Crouse settling into the top five. Bushaw was looking strong at the point while Rudulavage was on a mission as he charged into the runner-up spot on lap six. What transpired next was great action that kept the fans on the edge of their seats as the youngster held off all the passing attempts by the veteran until lap 17.

Bumper-to-bumper, door handle-to-door handle racing without contact was superb until Rudalvage found the inside groove and slipped by Bushaw. The 2002 tack champion would pull away for his sixth win of the season with Bushaw, Smith, Gibbs and Richie Pratt, Jr. rounding out the top five.

The points were tallied and the top-10 finishers from the first twin were re-handicapped for the second Twin 20. Bob Hamm, Jr. was on the pole with Bushaw again on the outside of the front row. Hamm led the first lap as caution flags flew before and after the first lap was completed with Rudalavage charging into second place from his fifth starting spot.

On the lap two restart, Rudalavage rocketed to the point and never looked back as his dominance continued until the checkered flag flew over his seventh win of 2004. Hamm held off Bushaw from second place with Gibbs and Billy Van Pelt rounding out the top five. Gibbs, the 2001 track champion, used his two top-five runs to win his fourth Afton track title by 25 points over Rudalavage.

Olin Renwick brought the DIRT Sportsman to the green flag for their first Twin 15-lap feature, but it was Brad Alger who led for the first lap. Anderson, who started fourth, blasted by Alger on the lap two restart and proceeded to pull away for fifth in of the season. Alger would hold on to the runner-up spot with Butch Klinger, Loren Lincoln and French rounding out the top five.

The same formula used for the 358s was used to set the starting grid for Sportsman Twin #2. Ronnie Clark brought the field to the starting line, but his time at the point was brief as Alger took over the top spot on a lap two restart with Anderson, Klinger, Richie Budd, Jr. also moving past Clark by the time the lap was complete.

On a lap five restart, Anderson got the run he needed and powered past Alger. Once in front, Anderson would not surrender the spot and recorded win number six. Klinger came across the line in second place as the checkered flag flew with Budd, Alger and French completing the top five.

Klinger and Anderson narrowed the gap on French for the track championship, but the two fifth-place runs kept French on top by 14 points over Klinger and 44 over Anderson. It is the second track championship for French, who also claimed top honors in 2000.

Pat Nolan and Todd Hurlburt brought the DIRT Pro Stocks to the green flag with Hurlburt leading the first seven laps before Nolan took the lead for one circuit before the caution flag flew. Clark and Mills used the high and low routes to go around Nolan on the lap nine restart as Clark looked to make-up the two-point deficit that he trailed Smith by in the championship chase. As the leader, Clark had the points needed to win the title outright.

Four more caution flags flew between laps 11 and 13. Nolan came to a halt for one of the yellow flags while Smith's flat tire on lap12 as he was running third brought out another slow down. Clark was deemed to have helped flatten Smith's tire as Smith and Mills were battling Clark for the lead.

Mills regained the top spot on the lap 13 restart and held off Dustin Harris over the remaining laps for his third win of the 2004 season. Clark charged back into the third spot an the checkered flag with Smith in fourth and Bob Zimmerman rounding out the top five. Clark did pick up two more points than Smith and the two drivers were crowned co-champions. It was the first track championship for either driver at Afton. Mike Codington was on the pole for the start of the Pure Stock 15-lap feature and he led the first three laps before Harrington, who started fifth, roared by and cruised to his sixth win of the season and his first track championship.

Codington would take second place with two-time defending track champion Buck Mills returning for the finale and coming home third. Joe Buchek and Jeremy Shaw rounded out the top five.

George Crippen grabbed the lead on the first lap of the 4-Cylinder Super Stock 15-lap main event from polesitter Gary Card, Jr. Crippen had the strongest car as he was able to keep the entire field behind him while Money and Doolittle would battle for second place.

That was the scenario until Crippen lost power out of turn two on lap 13. Money seized the opportunity to take the lead and Crippen regained power and held off Doolittle for the runner-up spot for one lap. Money kept his narrow lead as Doolittle tried to reel him in over the final two laps, but Money was not to be denied his second win of 2004. Doolittle enjoyed the track champion with a second-place run while Crippen, Card and Mike Stringer rounded out the top five.

There will be some big changes taking place at The New Afton Speedway before the action returns for the first of the special shows planned at the track. The biggest change will be the new 3/10-mile layout that will be in place for September 24, if the weather cooperates. More on that and the upcoming special shows next week.

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 AUGUST 27, 2004 DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS-Twin #1 (20 Laps): JEFF RUDALAVAGE, Ben Bushaw, Jeremy Smith, Mitch Gibbs, Richie Pratt, Jr., J.R. Crouse, Wayne Jelley, Rich Price, Mike Doty, Bob Hamm, Jr., Darrin Schuler, Russell Hendrickson, Jr., Ed Harris, Bobby Varin, J.R. Hurlburt, Billy Van Pelt, Jamie Christian, Chris Ostrowsky . Heat winners: Christian, Varin, Bushaw.

DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS-Twin #2 (20 Laps): JEFF RUDALAVAGE, Bob Hamm, Jr., Ben Bushaw, Mitch Gibbs, Billy Van Pelt, Jeremy Smith, Rich Price, Jamie Christian, J.R. Crouse, Wayne Jelley, Russell Hendrickson, Jr., Darrin Schuler, Ed Harris, Mike Doty, Richie Pratt, Jr., J.R. Hurlburt, Chris Ostrowsky, DNS-Bobby Varin.

DIRT SPORTSMAN-Twin #1 (15 Laps): STEVE ANDERSON, Brad Alger, Butch Klinger, Loren Lincoln, Tim French, Dustin Winn, Rich Budd, Jr., Aaron Cross, Ronnie Clark, Steve Ragan, Bruce Gould, Ken Moulton, Jr., Skip Pickwick, Olin Renwick, Adam Smith, Tim Mayne, Craig Pope, Randy Banks, Roger Cook. Heat winners: Anderson, Smith, Alger.

DIRT SPORTSMAN-Twin #2 (15 Laps): STEVE ANDERSON, Butch Klinger, Rich Budd, Jr., Brad Alger, Tim French, Adam Smith, Tim Mayne, Randy Banks, Skip Pickwick, Dustin Winn, Ronnie Clark, Steve Ragan, Aaron Cross, Bruce Gould, Loren Lincoln. DNS-Ken Moulton, Jr., Olin Renwick, Craig Pope, Roger Cook.

DIRT PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): BOB MILLS, Dustin Harris, Jeremy Clark, Denny Smith, Bob Zimmerman, Randy Newell, Jeff Witt, Todd Hurlburt, Dennis Valentine, Pat Nolan, Jason Youngs, Chris Hurlburt, Chad Hyzer, Chad Winne. Heat winners: Nolan, T. Hurlburt.

PURE STOCKS (15 laps): PAUL HARRINGTON, Mike Codington, Buck Mills, Joe Buchek, Sr., Jeremy Shaw, Rob Loucks, Gene Brainard, Bryan Lindsey, Ed Felker, Rob White, Jessica Pierce, Garnet Prescott, Chris White. Heat winner: Mills, Buchek.

4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (15 laps): JIM MONEY, Bob Doolittle, George Crippen, Gary Card, Jr., Mike Stringer, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Jack Hill, Joe Kiesecker, Tim Clapper, Ron Cumming, Ken Hotaling, III. Heat winners: Hotaling, Crippen.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO (15 Laps, top 3): JIM ROBERTS, Rich Gardiner, Dustin Wilber.