MIKE DECKER, SHAUN WALKER & HAROLD HUMPHREY

ARE FEATURE WINNERS AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY SPECIAL SHOW
AFTON, NY — The pits were packed with 129 cars Friday night as The New Afton Speedway
christened the new 3/10-mile layout. There were 39 Modifieds on hand were the Big Block/Small Block
Showdown; along with 32 Sportsman Modifieds, 25 Pro Stocks, 17 4-Cylinder Super Stocks and 16 4-
Cylinder Enduros. The top five drivers in the final points standings at The New Afton Speedway for the
2004 season were guaranteed starters for the features.
After a long night of on-track activity, Mike Decker of Gibson, Pa. claimed the 75-lap Modified
Showdown; Shaun Walker from Masonville took the Sportsman checkered flag and Norwich’s Harold
Humphery won the Pro Stock main event. Both 4-Cylinder 20-lap features were cancelled due to curfew.
After the four Modified heat races were run, the top three drivers participated in a re-draw for
starting positions. Decker was the 11th driver in the re-draw order. He pulled out the pole position and
brought the 28-car field to the green flag. The unlucky driver was Flyin’ Brian Weaver who drew first
and picked the 12th starting position.
Outside polesitter Don Hart, Jr. grabbed the early lead and paced the field for the first two laps
before Decker claimed the top spot with Hart, Jeremy Smith, Rick Holgate and Mike Colsten in tow.
Decker would hold the point until lap 15 when Weaver, who climbed into the number two spot on a lap 8
restart, motored to the head of the pack. Weaver led for three laps before Decker reclaimed the top spot
for four more circuits.
Weaver had had enough and decided that he should set the pace. The Dream Weaver went back to
the point on lap 22 and led until the caution flag flew on lap 64.
While those two drivers battled for the lead, Smith, Johnson and Colsten were in a heated battle remained
in the next three spots. Colsten dropped out of contention on lap 31 while Johnson faded on lap 60.
On the lap 64 restart, Decker found the open lane and grabbed the lead for the remainder of the
feature. Smith took over the second spot with Weaver and Joel Batzel fighting for third. Weaver’s bid for
the win ended on lap 69.
The final restart took place and Decker held off Smith for the win. Batzel, George Kostalansky and
Rich Price rounded out the top five.
The Sportsman 30-lap feature also featured the top three finishers from the heats doing a re-draw.
Ray Taylor was the ninth driver in the draw and he grabbed the lucky pole position while Walker drew
the fourth starting spot.
Brian Decker took the opening lap lead from the outside pole and led the first 11 circuits. Rodney
Hart settled into second place until Walker took over the runner-up spot on a lap nine restart as Hart
dropped from contention to bring out the caution flag.
Walker set his sights on Decker and grabbed the lead on lap 12 with Russ Hefti, Kevin Jordan and
Dusty Jagger climbing into the mix. A flat tire would send Jagger to the pits on lap 16. The restart saw
Walker maintain the top spot while Hefti overtook Decker for second place. The top four spots remained
the same until the checkered flag with Howard Jarvis completing the top five.
A re-draw from the top four finishers in each of the three Pro Stock heats helped set the field for
the 30-lap main event. Humphrey drew the ninth starting spot while Denny Decker drew the pole
position. Decker grabbed the lead at the green flag led the field through numerous caution flags over the
first ten laps. While Humphrey used the quick stop and starts to climb into the runner-up spot by lap
seven. On a lap 11 restart, Humphrey took the lead from Decker and led the remainder of the feature.
In contrast to the first 15 laps, the remaining 15 laps were nearly caution-free. Kenny Hammond
moved into second place on lap 18 as Decker faded back through the field and kept the runner-up spot
until the checkered flag flew. Decker would finish eighth.
Bill Trego climbed from his 11th starting position to claim third place with Dan Pompey and Jimmy
Howard rounding out the top five.
The final on-track activities at The New Afton Speedway will take place on Saturday, October 23,
with the running of the ever-popular Halloween Spooktacular. Pro Stock, Pure Stock and Midstate
Vintage Stock Car Club action highlight the day, along with a demolition derby. Gates will open at 10 a.
m. with racing to begin at 12 noon. More details will following in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions on the upcoming Spooktacular, 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.

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