BROTHER BOB SCORES EMOTIONAL WIN WHILE JASON ROOD MAKES BIG FIRST IMPRESSION
AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - It was a busy night as The New Afton Speedway pits were filled and a capacity crowd packed the grandstands Friday for a great night of racing that included 29 Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club cars. When the final checkered flag had flown, Brother Bob Stilson of Unadilla claimed his first ever feature win in the Pure Stocks; newcomer Jason Rood from Oneida won the Pro Stock main event; North Norwich hotshoe Mitch Gibbs returned to DIRT 358-Modified winners' circle while Jamie Christian (West Winfield) and the "Cooperstown Comet" Ken Hotaling made their fifth trips to the Hawkins Homes-Delaware Sports Center Victory Lane in the DIRT Sportsman and 4-Cylinder Stock ranks. Hotaling held off the bounty hunters for one week, but the bounty jumps to $50 for this week's show for any 4-Cylinder pilot that can snap Hotaling's four-race winning streak.
For the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club, Jeff Ackerman (Endicott) won the 1950s class; Pat Sonnenberg (Stevensville, Ontario, Canada) claimed the 1960s class checkered flag and Gary Byerly (Rochester) had the 1970s class victory.
Darrin Schuler brought a full field of 358-Modifieds to Dick Sweet's green flag for their 30-lap feature, but a tangle in turn two eliminated Bob Hamm, Jr. before a lap had been completed. On the restart, Gibbs, who started tenth originally, found the outside line was the safest route and his charged into contention quickly with the Nice-and-Easy No. 2G rocket. Schuler was the leader with Steve Walsh, Gibbs, J.R. Crouse and Aaron Excell in pursuit. Gibbs' rim-riding moved him into the runner-up spot by lap two and he began to pressure Schuler as Excell climbed to third with Crouse and the lightning-quick Willy Decker close behind.
On a lap 5 restart, Gibbs powered into the lead out of turn two as Excell followed into second place with Schuler, Decker and Crouse being joined by Jeff Rudalavage and newcomer Paul Kinney. Rudalavage started 21st after needing to run the consolation race to make the 24-car field and he moved into fifth on lap seven while Decker overtook Schuler for third. The field began to settled down after the lap eight restart as Gibbs pulled away leaving Decker, Excell, Rudalavage and Kinney battling for second place. Gibbs held a 10 car-length advantage over runner-up Decker through 20 laps as the Westmoreland Golf Club-sponsored driver from Vernon was several car-lengths in front of Rudalavage, who moved into third as Kevin Jordan climbed to fourth one lap later with Excell clinging to fifth.
The top four never changed for the remainder of the race as Gibbs picked up his second win of the season with Decker a distant second. Rudalavage and Jordan were third and fourth respectively while Jeremy Smith, who passed Excell on lap 26 posted his sixth top-five finish of the season and maintains his points lead.
It looked like it would be Ladies night in the 20-lap Sportsman feature as 17-year-old Jessica Zemken bolted into the lead from her fourth place starting spot on the opening lap and proved to be the class of the field. Pole sitter Tim French was running second with Tom Perrego, Steve Anderson and Arnie Slade in tow. On lap four, the caution flag flew as Anderson and Paul Carey tangled in turn two. The bad luck continues for these two talented drivers who saw the evening came to an early end.
Zemken resumed command of the race on the restart with French, hard-charging Christian, Slade and Tony Farone taking up the chase. One lap later, Tim Clemons moved into the fifth spot and the running order settled until Christian moved into the runner-up spot on lap 10 while Clemons overtook Slade for fourth one lap later. Christian pulled up to Zemken's back bumper, but could not make a pass.
Fate then stepped in when Rick Amo's mount broke with 16 laps in the books and the caution flag flew. The field circulated the 4/10-mile surface several times until the field was given one-to-go signal. As the cars started down the backstretch, Zemken tried to pull away, but all she could do was pull to the inside of turn three as her engine expired. The caution period remained as the frustrated Zemken was pushed to the infield.
Christian moved into the top spot and pulled away on the restart and cruised to the win. French held on to second place with Clemons, Slade and Butch Klinger rounding out the top five. In victory lane, Christian said that he had nothing for Zemken and that she would have won. He also predicted that she will get the win soon at Afton.
Polesitter Kenny Hammond brought the Pro Stocks to the line for the start of the 20-lap feature and led the first two laps, but a series of caution flags on laps three, four and five led to different leaders. Pete Gulick led lap three, but Harold Humphrey took the top spot on the next two restarts.
On lap six, Rood powered around Humphrey for the top spot and the two began an intense battle for the top spot with Hammond, Gulick and Todd Hurlburt running in the top five. Gulick faded back in the middle stages of the race as Pat Nolan, Bret Belden and Denny Smith all took one lap in fifth place. Belden actually suffered a flat tire and went to the pits under caution on lap 12, but returned to the back of the pack.
Rood began to feel pressure from Hammond on lap 14 as Humphrey's mount began to falter with Hurlburt moving into third. Humphrey would bring out the caution on lap 15 as he lost power. One lap later, Hurlburt brought out the caution. He ducked into the pits, but did not return on the restart and lost valuable time before returning.
Rood pulled away while Hammond and Gulick engaged in the battle for second place. Gulick took the spot on lap 19 with Hammond, Smith and Nolan rounding out the top five at the checkered flag.
There was excitement at the start of the 15-lap Pure Stock main event as Buck Mills lost an axle coming out of turn two. Mills' bad luck was worse for Charlie Holcomb, who ran over the axle and was sent barrel-rolling down the backstretch to quickly bring out the red flag. After some anxious moments, Holcomb was removed from his damaged car. He was taken to the ambulance and checked out. Holcomb was sore after the ordeal, but was otherwise okay and back in the pit area before the end of the feature. Buck Mills was done for the night as well.
Stilson, who started fourth, led the first lap, but Frank Mills grabbed the point on a lap two restart. On lap six, Stilson roared past Mills and began to pull away as Jondale Howey and Paul Harrington also gave chase.
While Stilson out of touch, Mills and Harrington waged the battled for second after Harrington passed Howey on lap 10. It look like Harrington might finally take runner-up honors, but he lost a wheel coming out of turn four on the final lap. The checkered flag flew with Stilson winning. Mills, Howey, Robert Schultz and Harrington completed the top five.
In victory lane, Stilson dedicated his first win to his father, who went to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City during the week. Stilson and his excited family could not wait to take the trophy to the hospital. Stilson also moved into the points lead by two points (314-312) over Buck Mills with the win and Mills' 11th place finish.
Jack Hill started on the pole for the 4-Cylinder Stock 15-lap feature after original polesitter Ron Nolan could not take the green flag. Hill led the first five laps, but Hotaling was charging from his ninth starting spot quickly.
Hotaling took the point of lap six and the Cooperstown Comet pulled away for another easy win. Hill took second with Jeff Leslie, Ken Carson III and George Crippen rounding out the top five.
This Friday, it will be Fan Appreciation Night, plus a full program of DIRT 358-Modified, DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock action at The New Afton Speedway. The gates will open at 5 p.m. After hot laps, fans will be allowed into the pits to meet their favorite drivers for autographs and pictures. Fans will be in the pit area from 6:50 until 7:15 with the first green flag to fly as soon as the pits are cleared out. Delaware Sports Center (Walton) will sponsor the racing action and will have a display of lawnmowers, ATVs and motorcycles. Many items will have special "Fan Appreciation Night" prices, Delaware Sports Center features Suzuki, the official motorcycle and ATV of DIRT Motorsports.
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 JUNE 6, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. MITCH GIBBS; 2. Willy Decker; 3. Jeff Rudalavage; 4. Kevin Jordan; 5. Jeremy Smith; 6. Aaron Excell; 7. Scott Brady; 8. Jeff Bronson; 9. J.R. Hurlburt; 10. Rich Price; 11. Adam Smith; 12. John Lutes, Jr.; 13. Dustin Purdy; 14. Steve Walsh; 15. Ben Bushaw; 16. J.R.Crouse; 17. Paul Kinney; 18. Darrin Schuler; 19. Tony Ross; 20. Wayne Jelley; 21. Jim Witko; 22. Dan Vauter; 23. Kevin Crave; 24. Bob Hamm, Jr. Heat winners: Excell, Decker, Kinney, Hamm. Consi-Rudalavage.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. JAMIE CHRISTIAN; 2. Tim French; 3. Tim Clemons; 4. Arnie Slade; 5. Butch Klinger; 6. Tony Farone; 7. Jessica Zemken; 8. Jeremy Shaw; 9. Rick Amo; 10. Darren Keyser; 11. Craig Pope; 12. Wayne Northrop; 13. Brent Cross; 14. Tom Perrego; 15. Steve Anderson; 16. Paul Carey; 17. Tim Mayne. Heat winners: French, Anderson.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. JASON ROOD; 2. Pete Gulick; 3. Kenny Hammond; 4. Denny Smith; 5. Pat Nolan; 6. Brian Belden; 7. Ed Ostrander, Jr.; 8. Randy Newell; 9. Aaron Hacker; 10. Bob Zimmerman, Jr.; 11. Harold Humphrey; 12. Bret Belden; 13. Mark Effner; 14. A.J. Digsby; 15. Chad Hyzer; 16. Todd Hurlburt. DNS-Bob Mills. Heat winners: Gulick, Hammond.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BROTHER BOB STILSON; 2. Frank Mills; 3. Jondale Howey; 4. Robert Schultz; 5. Paul Harrington; 6. Barney Fuller; 7. Jodie Proper; 8. Robert Krajcovic; 9. Brandon Clapperton; 10. Charlie Holcomb; 11. Buck Mills; 12. Dana Camenga.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. KEN HOTALING; 2. Jack Hill; 3. Jeff Leslie; 4. Ken Carson, III; 5. George Crippen; 6. Dan Taylor; 7. Skip Pickwick; 8. Terry Onyan; 9. Larry Miller, Jr.; 10. Harold Humphrey; 11. John Carter. DNS-Ron Nolan.
MIDSTATE VINTAGE STOCK CAR CLUB WINNERS 1950s: Jeff Ackerman. 1960s: Pat Sonnenberg. 1970s: Gary Byerly (Rochester).