MITCH GIBBS, JEFF RUDALAVAGE CAPTURE TWIN 20s AT AFTON
AFTON, NY - Mitch Gibbs of Norwich and Jeff Rudalavage from Olyphant, Pa. provided the on-track fireworks for the Fourth of July at The New Afton Speedway as the veterans captured the DIRT 358-Modified Twin-20 features Friday. Gibbs, the all-time wins leader at Afton, and Rudalavage, the defending track champion, both passed more cars than anyone else to win their respective features on Mid-Season Championship Night.
Also, Butch Klinger of Walton picked up his first DIRT Sportsman win of the 2003 season; Pete Gulick from Binghamton became a three-time winner in the Pro Stocks; Buck Mills of Willet scored his fifth Pure Stock win and Newfield's Bob Doolittle won his first 2003 Afton 4-Cylinder Stock main event.
Front-row mates Chris Ostrowsky and J.R. Crouse brought the field to the green flag for the first Twin-20 and each driver led one lap before a caution flag on lap three for a multi-car tangle, which included Gibbs and Rudalavage, and began the most bizarre set of circumstances. With Gibbs and many top runners in the back of the pack, the first restart saw Ostrowsky and Crouse lock bumpers and spin in front the entire field. Only six cars found openings as Turn Two became blocked by 18 cars. Both Gibbs and Paul Kinney were near the back of the pack, but found open lanes momentarily. Starter Dick Sweet waved the red flag on the frontstretch as Bob Hamm, Jr. emerged the lead with J.R. Hurlburt, Scott Brady, Gibbs, Kinney and Marc Johnson being the lucky ones. Most everyone else dove into the pits after they were extricated from the wreck and many returned to finish the race. Hamm grabbed the lead for several laps on the second restart with Hurlburt holding off Brady and Gibbs. Brady gave up the third spot to Gibbs on lap seven and Gibbs moved into the runner-up spot by lap 11. Gibbs was closing on Hamm when the caution flew again on lap 12. After the restart, Gibbs used one-lap to pick his passing spot and, with a nice inside move, he took over the top spot. Only caution flags on lap 14 and 16 slowed Gibbs' winning run as he pulled away to a big advantage over Hamm. Hurlburt was third with Brady and Kevin Jordan rounding out the top five. It was Gibbs' fourth win of the season.
With the top 12 finishers inverted for the second Twin-20, Aaron Excell and Rich Keehle brought the 24 small-blocks to the green flag. Excell was the dominant car as he led 10 of the first 11 laps with Jeremy Smith sticking his nose in front at the start-finish line on lap eight for a brief lead. Meanwhile, Rudalavage was working his way from the 24th starting spot after jumping into his back-up car for the second race because of the damage to his primary mount, which did place ninth, in the first race.
Gibbs overtook Smith for the lead on the lap 12 restart, but his advantage was shortlived when his car lost power on lap 13 and retired to the pits. Smith had a strong car while Rudalavage had climbed into the runner-up spot by lap 14.
Rudalavge outpowered Smith on a lap 17 restart and held on over the remaining caution-filled laps for his third checkered flag of the season. Smith was second with Paul Kinney, Jordan and Colin Jackson rounding out the top five.
The DIRT 358-Modifieds left after the evening activities to prepare for the mid-week (July 9) Turning Stone Casino Super DIRT Series as Round Six would be coming to their home track.
Klinger is another long-time Afton runner who has not had the best of years, but, like Steve Anderson one week earlier, the veteran used his pole position spot to build-up a big early advantage to lead from flag-to-flag in the caution-free 20-lap feature.
Klinger cruised to a big win with Tom Perrego, Jessica Zemken, Michael Trautschold and Jamie Christian rounding out the top five.
Tim French ran second for the first 12 laps before retiring for the night with mechanical problems as he pulled his Rockdale Rocket into the infield on lap 14.
Aaron Hacker and Bob Mills brought the Pro Stocks to the line for their 20-lap main event, but it was Gulick who charged from his fifth starting spot into the lead down the backstretch and completed his pass of Hacker in Turns Three and Four before the opening lap was complete. Only a lap two caution slowed Gulick down and he proved to be the class of the field this night. Gulick regained the points lead as Denny Smith had problems during his heat race and could not start the feature.
Bob Mills completed his best run of the season with a second place finish as he held off any challenges from third-place Harold Humphrey. Kenny Hammond outdueled veteran Ray Taylor for fourth. Taylor was fifth in his first Afton appearance of 2003.
Charlie Holcomb led the first lap in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, but Mills quickly took control on lap two and left his competitors far behind for his second straight win.
Attrition took its toll in this race with Robert Schultes, Brother Bob Stilson and Paul Harrington among those forced to drop out during the race. Harrington was running second and trying to chase down Mills when he lost a tire on lap 14, bringing out the third, and final, caution of the feature.
Holcomb would edge Barney Fuller for second. Harrington and Stilson were credited with fourth and fifth place finishes base on their laps run before they headed pitside.
In the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Stock feature, polesitter Harold Humphrey led the bounty hunters for the first six laps as Doolittle was charging from his 12th starting spot into second by lap four. Jamie Banta (13th at start), Skip Pickwick, Jim Money (15th) and Kenny Hotaling (14th) charged into the top six as well.
Doolittle took the lead on lap seven when Humphrey's car momentarily lost power. Doolittle had the field covered as Humphrey quickly regrouped to hold on to the runner-up spot. Money was running third with Banta and Hotaling battled for fourth.
Contact between Banta and Hotaling sent Hotaling's car hard into the backstretch wall as the two exited Turn Two and brought out the race to a halt. Hotaling appeared to be okay, but the Cooperstown Comet was done for the night and the bounty would go unclaimed. With Hotaling not being able to finish the final two laps, the $75 bounty will carry over to this Friday night. If no one beats him, Hotaling will claim his own bounty.
At the finish, it was Doolittle, followed by Humphrey, Money, Banta and George Crippen in the top five.
Wednesday night was the 100-lap Turning Stone Casino 358-Modified Super DIRT Series stop at The New Afton Speedway. More on this race next week as the Pure Stocks were also part of this mid-week special.
This Friday will be Mid-Season Championship night for the DIRT Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stocks. The winner of the Pure Stock feature will also earn a guaranteed starting spot in the August 17 "Hurricane On the Mountain" Harry Uhl, Jr. Memorial race at Thunder Mountain Speedway. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with all the racing action getting underway 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 JULY 3, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (First feature - 20 laps): 1. MITCH GIBBS; 2. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 3. J.R. Hurlburt; 4. Scott Brady; 5. Kevin Jordan; 6. Paul Kinney; 7. Dustin Purdy; 8. Jeremy Smith; 9. Jeff Rudalavage; 10. Colin Jackson; 11. Rich Keehle; 12. Aaron Excell; 13. Dave Barrows; 14. Harry Schafer; 15. Ben Bushaw; 16. Marc Johnson; 17. Pat Dabiere; 18. J.R. Crouse; 19. Rich Price; 20. Tony Ross; 21. Chris Ostrowsky; 22. Steve Walsh; 23. Billy Eggel. DNS-Brent Wilcox.
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (Second feature - 20 laps): 1. JEFF RUDALAVAGE; 2. Jeremy Smith; 3. Paul Kinney; 4. Kevin Jordan; 5. Colin Jackson; 6. J.R. Hurlburt; 7. Rich Keehle; 8. Dave Barrows; 9. Steve Walsh;10. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 11. Ben Bushaw; 12. Dustin Purdy; 13. Pat Dabiere; 14. Rich Price; 15. Tony Ross; 16. Chris Ostrowsky; 17. Scott Brady; 18. Mitch Gibbs; 19. Marc Johnson; 20. Aaron Excell; 21. Harry Schafer; 22. Billy Eggel; 23. J.R. Crouse. DNS-Brent Wilcox. Heat winners: Jackson, Jordan, Excell.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. BUTCH KLINGER; 2. Tom Perrego; 3. Jessica Zemken; 4. Michael Trautschold; 5. Jamie Christian; 6. Rick Amo; 7. Brent Cross; 8. Jeremy Shaw; 9. Steve Anderson; 10. Tim French; 11 Craig Pope; 12. Jamie Yannone. Heat winners: Klinger, Christian.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. PETE GULICK; 2. Bob Mills; 3; Harold Humphrey; 4. Kenny Hammond; 5. Ray Taylor; 6. Pat Nolan; 7. Todd Hurlburt; 8. Randy Newell; 9. Chad Hyzer; 10. Chris Palmer; 11. Aaron Hacker; 12. Gus Gould; 13. Scott Chapman; 14. Bret Belden; 15. A.J. Digsby. DNS-Denny Smith. Heat winners: Hammond, Gulick.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BUCK MILLS; 2. Charlie Holcomb; 3. Barney Fuller; 4. Paul Harrington; 5. Brother Bob Stilson; 6. Brandon Clapperton; 7. Robert Schultz; 8. Robert Krajcovic; 9. Frank Mills.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BOB DOOLITTLE; 2. Harold Humphrey; 3. Jim Money; 4. Jamie Banta; 5. George Crippen; 6. Tim Clapper; 7. Jeff Leslie; 8. Skip Pickwick; 9. Jack Hill; 10. Ken Carson, III; 11. Ron Cumming; 12. Ken Hotaling; 13. Larry Miller, Jr.; 14. Shanna Pickwick; 15. Chris Torbett; 16. Ron Nolan; 17. Jim Hotaling. DNS-Daron Schultes.