DECKER AND GULICK FIRST-TIME WINNERS, CHRISTIAN REPEATS AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY

AFTON, NY - For the second time in as many racing weeks, first-time winners found their way into the Hawkins Housing Victory Lane at The New Afton Speedway. Willy Decker of Vernon scored his first-ever DIRT 358-Modified win and Pete Gulick from Binghamton notched his first-ever win by capturing the Pro Stock main event. Jamie Christian of West Winfield grabbed his second DIRT Sportsman checkered flag in as many races.

The Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock feature did not run because of the 11 p.m. curfew at the track so those two main events will kick off a busy show this Friday night.

With 28 DIRT 358-Modifieds in the pits, three heat races and a consolation race set the heads-up starting grid for the 30-lap feature. Wayne Jelley (Pownal, VT) brought the field to the green flag with Decker grabbing the top spot from his outside pole position. Unfortunately, a caution flag at the end of the first lap was an ominous omen of things to come. Three caution flags in the first two laps trimmed the starting field considerably including a huge backstretch pile-up that totaled defending track champion Jeff Rudalavage's mount and knocked out opening night winner Mitch Gibbs. Ray Zemken, Russell Hendrickson and Brian Malcolm were also among those early causalities.

On second lap two restart, Decker did to show his power by pulling away from the rest of the field while Tony Ross, Bob Hamm, Jr., Kevin Jordan and Dan Vauter gave chase. Jeremy Smith moved into the top five on lap four. Jordan moved into the runner-up spot of lap six with Ross slipping to third.

On the green flags continued to click off, Hamm got stronger as he climbed into the third spot on lap 11 with Smith and Aaron Excell completing the top five. Hamm's fortunes would change on lap 14 when something broke in his mount. Hamm stopped in turn one to bring out the caution. Smith and Jordan also tucked into the pits with tire problems. On the restart, Decker took off, leaving Ross, Excell, Jelley and J.R.Crouse battling for top five positions.

One final caution flag would fly on lap 21 to tighten up the field. Decker powered away over the final ten laps for his first win in the division and lock up a guaranteed starting spot in the Sunoco/A-Plus Syracuse DIRT 358-Modified Championship race at the New York State Fairgrounds October 11.

Excell got past Ross on the same restart and held the spot to record the runner-up finish with Ross third. Smith charged his way back into fourth place by the checkered flag with Jelley rounding out the top five. Crouse, Jordan, Steve Walsh, John Lutes, Jr. and Dustin Purdy completed the top ten.

Christian started on the pole for the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman main event and he would go flag-to-flag in dominating fashion to easily win his second feature of the season.

The battle for the remaining positions was fantastic with Tim Mayne, Darren Keyser, Paul Carey, Tim French and Shaun Walker all fighting for top five spots.

Jessica Zemken was caught up in an early caution, but she was flying towards the front and may have been the most serious contender for Christian. Zemken climbed into third place by lap 8, but her run was cut short when she lost the right front-wheel and broke whole assembly on lap 12.

Mayne looked like he had second place wrapped up until Carey ducked to the low side entering turn three on lap 16 and grab the spot. French and Walker would finally slip by Mayne as his handling seemed to go away.

At the checkered flag, Christian was way out in front with Carey, French, Walker and Mayne in the top five. Positions six through ten went to Rick Amo, Butch Klinger, Craig Pope, Mike Wilmont and Jeremy Shaw.

Gulick outdragged polesitter Mark Effner into turn one as the green flag flew for the 20-lap Pro Stock feature and Gulick would not give up the position the entire race. That left Effner and Harold Humphrey in a heated battle for second place while Denny Smith, Wade Decker and Kenny Hammond fought for fourth through sixth.

Decker had some mechanical problems on lap 12 and retired to the pits while Effner spun out in turn two. Effner's spin was aided by contact from Humphrey so the 78H was sent to the back of the pack as well.

On the restart, Gulick tried to open up some distance on opening night winner Kenny Hammond and was successful over the remaining nine laps. Hammond had to settle for second place with Smith in third. Todd Hurlburt and Pat Nolan finished strong runs in fourth and fifth place. Mike Decker, Humphrey, Effner, Chad Hyzer and Randy Newell rounded out the top ten.

Action was delayed twice during the evening as concrete barriers in turn one had to be replaced. The first delay came during heat race action in the 358s when Colin Jackson locked bumpers with Darrin Schuler in the front-stretch. When the two cars broke free, Schuler wound up going backwards over one barrier and rolling his car over the turn one embankment, taking the barrier with him. Jackson hit another one of the barriers knocking it down the turn one embankment as well. Emergency and track personnel helped Schuler free himself from his car. The Stroudsburg, Pa. driver waved to the crowd as he walked to the ambulance for a check-up.

The second incident came during the 358-Modified feature when a car backed into a barrier and pushed it over the turn one embankment. The car was damaged, but stayed safely on the track.

Because of the number of cautions and extended amount of time used in the 358 Modified feature, it was 11 p.m. by the time the checkered flag flew which would not allow a start for either the 4-Cylinder Stocks or Pure Stocks features. That means there will be seven big feature events this Friday night, May 16.

The make-up 4-Cylinder Stock feature will kick things off, followed by the Pure Stock main event. A full card of DIRT 358-Modified, DIRT Sportsman Modified, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock will follow. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with the first green flag to fly at 7:30 p.m.

If you have any questions, you may call the speedway office at 607-657-8018; the track at 607-639-1966 or you may log on to The New Afton Speedway website at www.thenewaftonspeedway.com. The New Afton Speedway is located on the Afton Fairgrounds off of Interstate 88, Exit 7, on Route 41.

FEATURE RESULTS FROM MAY 9, 2003

DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. WILLY DECKER; 2. Aaron Excell; 3. Tony Ross; 4. Jeremy Smith; 5. Wayne Jelley; 6. J.R. Crouse; 7. Kevin Jordan; 8. Steve Walsh; 9. John Lutes, Jr.; 10. Dustin Purdy; 11. Rich Price; 12. Jim Introne; 13. J.R. Hurlburt; 14. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 15. Dan Vauter; 16. Brian Payne; 17. Adam Smith; 18. Chris Ostrowsky; 19. Chris Van Buren; 20. Mitch Gibbs; 21. Brian Malcolm; 22. Jeff Rudalavage; 23. Russell Hendrickson; 24. Ray Zemken.

Heat winners: Jelley, Decker, Gibbs. Consi: Payne.

DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. JAMIE CHRISTIAN; 2. Paul Carey; 3. Tim French; 4. Shaun Walker; 5. Tim Mayne; 6. Rick Amo; 7. Butch Klinger; 8. Craig Pope; 9. Mike Wilmont; 10. Jeremy Shaw; 11. John DeForest; 12. Darren Keyser; 13. Jessica Zemken; 14. Arnie Slade; 15. Wayne Northrop; 16. Steve Anderson; 17. Michael Trautschold; 18. Tom Perrego.

Heat winners: Christian, Keyser.

PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. PETE GULICK; 2. Kenny Hammond; 3. Denny Smith; 4. Todd Hurlburt; 5. Pat Nolan; 6. Mike Decker; 7. Harold Humphrey; 8. Mark Effner; 9. Chad Hyzer; 10. Randy Newell; 11. Bob Zimmerman, Jr.; 12. Bob Mills; 13. Wade Decker; 14. Aaron Hacker; 15. Mike Thayer.

Heat winners: Effner, Gulick.

MAKE-UP FEATURES STARTING GRID

PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. Buck Mills; 2. John Cooper, Jr.; 3. Howard Jones; 4. Car #20S; 5. Brother Bob Stilson; 6. Charlie Holcomb; 7. Robert Krascovic; 8. Paul Harrington; 9. Jodie Proper; 10. Frank Mills; 11. Brandon Clapperton.

Heat winner: B. Mills.

4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. Harold Humphrey; 2. Ken Carson, Jr.; 3. Jim Money; 4. Ken Hotaling; 5. Ron Nolan; 6. Jack Hill; 7. Ron Cumming; 8. Jeff Leslie; 9. Ron McMullen; 10. Joe Bunt; 11. Skip Pickwick.

Heat winners: Humphrey.