RUDALAVAGE, CHRISTIAN, NOLAN, MILLS AND HOTALING ARE "FAIR" WINNERS AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - Jeff Rudalavage of Olyphant, Pa.; West Winfield's Jamie Christian; Buck Mills of Willet and Cooperstown's Ken Hotaling were joined by first-time 2003 Pro Stock feature winner Pat Nolan of Deposit in victory lane at The New Afton Speedway Friday. The wins are more special when the Afton Fair is in town, because racing first began in the tiny village during the fair in 1933.
Rudalavage became a four-time winner in the DIRT 358-Modified Division with his commanding win; Christian returned to the winners' circle for the sixth time in the DIRT Sportsman ranks while Mills and Hotaling recorded their seventh wins in the Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock ranks, respectively.
J.R. Crouse and Tony Ross brought the field to the green flag for the start of the 30-lap DIRT 358-Modified feature with Crouse nosing out Ross for the lead after the first lap, but the "Big Cat" grabbed the lead with a strong outside move on a lap two restart with Crouse, Dustin Purdy, Rich Price and points leader Jeremy Smith in tow.
As Ross began opening up his advantage, all eyes focused on two cars charging through the pack. The first was Rudalavage, who started 12th, and the other was Mitch Gibbs, who arrived late after of his daughter's wedding rehearsal and started last.
A restart on lap five saw Ross still in command, but Rudalavage was now in the top five and moving forward. By lap nine, Rudalavage had moved into the runner-up spot was began chopping away at Ross' full straightaway lead.
With Rudalvage closing in, Ross led until lap 16, when he slowed on the frontstretch and Rudalavage flew by. Ross picked up his pace again as he came out of Turn Two, but Rudalavage powered away and was never seriously challenged, though a caution flag on lap 23 did tighten the pack up one final time. Ross completed a very strong overall run with a second place finish. Crouse posted a solid third place effort with Smith fourth and Gibbs completing the top five.
Aaron Excell came across the line in sixth place, Purdy completed one of his best runs of the season in seventh, after slipping three spots over the final four circuits. J.R. Hurlburt, Price and Dan Vauter rounded out the top ten.
Polesitter Tim French brought the DIRT Sportsman to the line for the start of their 20-lap main event, but it was Christian grabbing the lead from his outside front-row spot before the end of lap one and he dominated the race, which was slowed only once for a lap three caution flag. Christian was more than 12 car-lengths ahead at the finish.
French held on to second place until Tom Perrego moved into the runner-up spot on lap 13. French kept third place at the checkered flag with Steve Anderson fourth and Jessica Zemken nipping Butch Klinger for fifth place.
The 20-lap Pro Stock feature provided the most excitement of the evening as polesitter Nolan and Harold Humphrey put on a great show for the win. Nolan grabbed the lead on the opening lap with Randy Newell and Bret Belden in tow as Humphrey started in the 18th spot.
On lap two, Newell and Belden made contact in Turn One. Both cars spun and everyone started sliding into the two stopped cars and the track was blocked in short time. Denny Smith, Mark Effner and Humphrey were the lucky ones who navigated the pack and filled out the top five as the red flag came out.
A series of yellow flags and another red flag before lap eight was completed would keep the pack tight. The red flag came out for Ray Taylor, whose car clipped the wall coming out of Turn Two and did a very slow roll onto his side before coming to a stop on its roof. Either an oil line or fuel line was ripped loose turning the slow overturning process and the car burst into flames after coming to a stop. There was concern for the driver at first as the car started to burn, but, amazingly, Taylor unbuckled his belts and shoulder straps and scampered away from the car just before it caught fire.
Humphrey grabbed the lead on the lap seven restart, but Nolan stayed close. The race was running smooth with Humphrey in front and trying to pull away before one final caution flag flew on lap 16.
Humphrey kept the lead on the restart, but Nolan smelled a win and began stalking the leader. Nolan pulled along side of Humphrey on lap 17 and on the very next lap, he went for the opening given to him. Nolan snuck by and held on over the final two circuits to post the narrow victory as the crowd cheered. Humphrey was the runner-up as Kenny Hammond took over the points lead with his third place finish. Effner and Smith rounded out the top five.
While Taylor's car fire was serious, things were even tougher for Pro Stock driver Pete Gulick, who crashed head-on against the outside retaining wall in the middle of Turns Three and Four during the final lap of his heat race. Gulick, who was the points leader coming into the night, remained in his car for nearly 45 minutes before he was extricated. Track safety personnel, plus EMTs and firemen from Afton were extra cautious as they tended to the injured driver, who was conscious, but woozy and in pain. Not long after Gulick was extricated from the car and placed in the ambulance, the helicopter arrived and he was transported to the hospital where he spent the night.
According to his wife, Jill, through a post on the speedway's website, Gulick was reported to have a fractured rib, a slight concussion and was very sore, but all other x-rays were negative. The hospital wanted him to stay another night, but he was ready to return home and did so Saturday. Mrs. Gulick also said that her husband wanted to race again this coming Friday.
In the 15-lap Pure Stock main event, Mills started fifth and grabbed the lead on lap one from polesitter Brother Bob Stilson. Once in front, no one else could keep pace as Mills rolled to the victory. Stilson came home second with Dan Babcock, Arnie Roe and Charlie Holcomb rounding out the top five.
There will be a $50 bounty on Buck Mills when the Pure Stocks return to action on August 1st at The New Afton Speedway. This is the second bounty on Mills this season.
Humphrey also took the lead from the outside pole at the start of the 4-Cylinder Stock 15-lap feature, but his car lost power on a lap four restart as Hotaling took over the point from his runner-up spot.
Both Skip Pickwick and George Crippen tried to mount challenges, but the "Cooperstown Comet" won by a hefty 10 car-length margin. Pickwick took second place with Crippen, Terry Onyan and Jack Hill rounding out the top five.
This Friday, ADMAR will sponsor a great racing program highlighted by the first ever visit of the new Patriot Sprint group to The New Afton Speedway. These 360 cubic inch engine machines should post some great times around the 4/10-mile clay. Rounding out the card will be the DIRT 358-Modifieds, Dirt Sportsman and Pro Stocks.
Tickets will be $16 for adults; $14 for senior citizens and students; $10 for children between 5 and 10-years-old and $2 for children under 5. 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 JULY 18, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. JEFF RUDALAVAGE; 2. Tony Ross; 3. J.R. Crouse; 4. Jeremy Smith; 5. Mitch Gibbs; 6. Aaron Excell; 7. Dustin Purdy; 8. J.R. Hurlburt; 9. Rich Price; 10. Dan Vauter; 11. Colin Jackson; 12. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 13. Jim Potts; 14. Pat Dabiere; 15. Steve Walsh; 16. Adam Smith;17. Dave Barrows; 18. Chris Van Buren. Heat winners: Excell, Ross, Jackson.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. JAMIE CHRISTIAN; 2. Tom Perrego; 3. Tim French; 4. Steve Anderson; 5. Jessica Zemken; 6. Butch Klinger; 7. Michael Trautschold; 8. Tony Farone; 9. Rick Amo; 10. Jeremy Shaw; 11. Olin Renwick; 12. John Conway; 13. Darren Keyser; 14. Craig Pope. Heat winners: Christian, Zemken.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. PAT NOLAN; 2. Harold Humphrey; 3. Kenny Hammond; 4. Mark Effner; 5. Denny Smith; 6. Chris Stull; 7. Bret Belden; 8. Chris Palmer; 9. Randy Newell; 10. A.J. Digsby; 11. Chad Hyzer; 12. Todd Hurlburt; 13; Robert Humphrey; 14. Aaron Hacker; 15. Dan Howe; 16. Scott Chapman; 17. Ray Taylor; 18. Bob Mills. DNS-Pete Gulick. Heat winners: Hammond, Nolan, Taylor.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BUCK MILLS; 2. Brother Bob Stilson; 3. Dan Babcock; 4. Arnie Roe; 5. Charlie Holcomb; 6. Paul Harrington; 7. Brandon Clapperton.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. KEN HOTALING; 2. Skip Pickwick; 3. George Crippen; 4. Terry Onyan; 5. Jack Hill; 6. Dave White; 7. Jeff Leslie; 8. Ken Carson, III; 9. Jim Hotaling; 10. Harold Humphrey; 11. Jim Money. DNS-Ken Thornton. Heat winners: Humphrey, Crippen.