DENNY SMITH MAKES FIRST TRIP TO VICTORY LANE WHILE REPEAT WINNERS SCORE BIG AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - Veteran Pro Stock driver Denny Smith made a triumphant return to the Hawkins Homes-Delaware Valley Sports Center victory lane Friday night at The New Afton Speedway. The 17-year competitor from Trout Creek held off the hard-charging Todd Hurlburt over the final 10 laps of their feature to earn his win at Afton since August 18, 2000.
In other feature action, it was repeaters night. DIRT 358-Modified driver Jeff Rudualavage from Olyphant, Pa. and Pure Stock "Birthday Boy" Paul Harrington of Sidney Center won their second straight main events. Cooperstown's Ken Hotaling won for the third straight week, and forth time this season, in the 4-Cylinder Stock ranks while Jamie Christian of West Winfield was also back in victory lane for the fourth time this season. There will be a $25 bounty of Hotaling's head for another 4-Cylinder hotshoe to claim if they can stop the Cooperstown Comet.
Russell Hendrickson and Darrin Schuler brought the 358-Modifieds to the green flag for their 30-lap main event, but three early cautions jumbled up the running order. Hendrickson set the early place with Colin Jackson close behind, but Rudalavage, who started eighth, J.R. Hurlburt and Mitch Gibbs were quickly in contention by lap three.
Rudalavage moved past Hendrickson on lap 5 as he and Rudalavage bumped. Hendrickson's mount hopped over Rudalavage's right rear tire and would fall back to a 20th place finish.
On the lap 6 restart, Rudalavage began to pull away from Gibbs with Hurlburt, Jackson and Jeremy Smith in tow. Gibbs could not keep up with Rudalavage and soon had pressure from the hard-charging Smith. By lap 11, Smith was running third and Willy Decker had move into fourth place with Hurlburt now fifth. Between restarts on lap 13 and 14, Smith climbed into second place ahead of Gibbs as all four previous feature winners were now running in the top four.
No one would challenge Rudalavage, who won by eight car-lengths and was the first repeat 358-Modified winner in 2003 at Afton. Points leader Smith with come home second with Gibbs, Decker and Bob Hamm, Jr. rounding out the top five. It was greta end for Hamm who was caught up in an early incident with Kevin Jordan and battled back to finish in the top five.
Outside polesitter Steve Anderson led the first two laps of the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature before third-place starter Jessica Zemken used the short way around turns one and two to sneak past Anderson with Christian, Tim French and Paul Carey in tow.
On lap 6, French's mount hesitated coming out of turn four. French regained his power to hold on the fourth place, but the chain reaction contact behind him ended the night for both Carey and Butch Klinger in a multi-car tangle. Anderson also went to the pits under this caution, but will return to post a sixth place finish.
On the restart, Christian outdragged Zemken through the first two turns to grab the lead and the division's points leader would not look back. Tom Perrego powered into the second spot on lap nine with Zemken, French and Darren Keyser completing the top five.
The final caution of the feature came out on lap 17 when French spun in turn one. Christian held off the final challenges from Perrego to earn the win with Zemken, Keyser and Rick Amo rounding out the top five. Wayne Northrop provided the most excitement in this event when he car slid up the track in turn one, went over the concrete barriers and down the embankment. The Oneonta driver was not injured after his wild ride.
The 20-lap Pro Stock feature was the most exciting race of the evening. Chad Hyzer and Pat Nolan brought the field to Dick Sweet's green flag, but Pete Gulick and Harold Humphrey, who started side-by-side, quickly tangled when Gulick slid sideways in the turn and Humphrey found his driver's side door panel. Both drivers would continue from the back of the pack. Nolan would lead the first lap, but Kenny Hammond was in front after the restart as Smith slid into third with Randy Newell and newcomer Brian Belden close behind.
Belden was racing hard with Humphrey, who was battling his way back into top five contention on lap 4 when the Rome driver slid too high coming out of turn two. Belden rear-end climbed the concrete barriers and rolled over several times on the wall before coming to rest on his wheels half way down the backstretch. The car was destroyed, but Belden walked away uninjured. Though the two cars never made contact, Humphrey came to a halt in turn three as the result of the scramble to avoid Belden's flipping car and his night was over as well.
On the restart, Smith took over as Gulick powered back into the runner-up spot with Nolan, Hurlburt and Newell giving chase. Newell's great run would come to an end after a flat tire on lap 10 to bring out the final caution flag on the event.
Smith tried to pull away, but Hurlburt stayed right there and these two drivers waged a great battle to the checkered flag. Hurlburt was able to get along side Smith a couple of times during the final 10 laps, but Smith used all his veteran skills to keep his car in front. At the checkered flag, Smith bested Hurlburt by four car-lengths with Hammond taking third. Nolan came across the line in fourth while Gulick completed the top five.
The outside row was the place to be as Brother Bob Stilson beat polesitter Robert Krajcovic into turn one for the lead with Harrington following Brother Bob into second place. Ironically, it was Krajcovic who working his way to the outside to avoid the faster cars when Buck Mills tried the same outside run.
Contact between the two send Mills to the pits with a flat tire. Mills would rejoin the field for the lap two restart.
Harrington took the top spot from Stilson on the restart, but Stilson returned the favor on lap three to retake the lead. In a great battle, Harrington moved back in front to stay on lap four with Stilson close behind. Charlie Holcomb was running third with Mills fourth and David Pope fifth.
Fate would step in again for points leader Mills as he lost his replacement tire on lap six and spun to a halt for the final time this evening. On the restart, Frank Mills get into the back of Stilson and the caution waved again after the lap was completed.
On the final restart, Harrington began to pull away as Holcomb tried to stay close. Gene Brainard was now running third with Pope and Stilson charging hard. Harrington, who turned 21 one day earlier, would pull away to a 10 car-length victory. Holcomb took second as Stilson, Brainard and Pope rounded out the top five. It was Harrington's third career win.
In the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Stock feature, outside polesitter led the first three laps before surrendering the top spot to Ken Carson on a lap 4 restart with Ron Cumming, Ron Nolan and Hotaling running in the top five. Hotaling had actually been sent to the back of the pack under caution on lap 3 for contact with Skip Pickwck in the front stretch. As Carson continued to set the pace, Hotaling moved into the runner-up spot on lap six and Pickwick was now back in fifth place.
Hotaling caught Carson on lap eight, made the pass for the lead and cruised to his fourth win of the season. Carson took second place honors as Hill, Pickwick and Nolan rounded out the top five.
This week, it will be a full slate of DIRT 358-Modified, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock action at The New Afton Speedway. Also on the card is the first of two appearances by The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club. Fans will again have a chance to relive the days of the early 1950s through 1970s when this great looking cars were the norm at every track. Every car body is from 1948 or earlier and is American made. The gates will open at 5 p.m. with the first green flag to fly at 7 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 30, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. JEFF RUDALAVAGE; 2. Jeremy Smith; 3. Mitch Gibbs; 4. Willy Decker; 5. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 6. Wayne Jelley; 7. Dan Vauter; 8. J.R. Hurlburt; 9. J.R.Crouse; 10. Colin Jackson; 11. Kevin Jordan; 12. Rich Price; 13. Steve Walsh; 14. Dusty Purdy; 15. Chris Van Buren; 16. Marc Johnson; 17. Darrin Schuler; 18. Chris Ostrowsky; 19. Ben Bushaw; 20. Russell Hendrickson; 21. Aaron Excell; 22. Adam Smith; 23. John Lutes, Jr. DNS-Dave Barrows. Heat winners: Gibbs, Jackson, Rudalavage.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. JAMIE CHIRSTIAN; 2. Tom Perrego; 3. Jessica Zemken; 4. Darren Keyser; 5. Rick Amo; 6. Steve Anderosn; 7. Arnie Slade; 8. Tim French; 9. Bill Price; 10. Jeremy Shaw; 11. Craig Pope; 12. Mike Wilmont; 13. Tim Mayne; 14. Wayne Northrup; 15. Butch Klinger; 16. Paul Carey. DNS-Brad Alger. Heat winners: Anderson, Zemken.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. DENNY SMITH; 2. Todd Hurlburt; 3. Kenny Hammond; 4. Pat Nolan; 5. Pete Gulick; 6. Chad Hyzer; 7. A.J.Digsby; 8. Jack Terrell; 9. Randy Newell; 10. John Satterly; 11. Aaron Hacker; 12. Terry Mudge; 13. Brian Belden; 14. Harold Humphrey. DNS-Bob Mills. Heat winners: Hammond, Gulick.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. PAUL HARRINGTON; 2. Charlie Holcomb; 3. Brother Bob Stilson; 4. Gene Brainard; 5. David Pope; 6. Frank Mills; 7. Jodie Proper; 8. Robert Krajcovic; 9. Buck Mills; 10. Robert Schultz. DNS-Shepard Blodgett.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. KEN HOTALING; 2. Ken Carson; 3. Jack Hill; 4. Skip Pickwick; 5. Jeff Leslie; 6. Ron Nolan; 7. Doug Halsey; 8. Ron Cumming; 9. Harold Humphrey.