WILSON FLIES TO PATRIOT SPRINT WIN AT AFTON AS EXCELL AND ZEMKEN NOTCH FIRST WINS
AFTON, NY - With a bold move along the wall, Rick Wilson of Joyceville, Ontario, Canada became the first Patriot Sprint Group feature winner at The New Afton Speedway as ADMAR sponsored a great night of racing action. Wilson powered around leader Gordy Button on lap 18 of the 20-lap main event to collect his third series win of the season.
There were two first-time 2003 winners at Afton during the exciting night as Aaron Excell from East Hamilton found victory lane in the DIRT 358-Modified ranks while 17-year-old Jessica Zemken of Sprakers led flag-to-flag for her first Afton, and second career, DIRT Sportsman win. Todd Hurlburt of Guilford grabbed his second Pro Stock checkered flag of the season.
After the traditional four-wide salute to the fans, polesitter Tim Zimbardi and Button brought a full 24-car field of Patriot Sprints to the green flag for their 20-lap A-Main. Button immediately powered his way to the point and began pulling away while Zimbardi, points leader Billy Krull, Mike Lauterborn and Kyle Drum gave chase.
With Button comfortably in front, Drum worked his way into second place on lap eight while Wilson, who started 10th, had worked his way into the top five. Drum brought out one of the two caution flags when his motor expired on lap 10 as he was closing in on Button.
Drum was the one of the fastest cars of the night as he won his heat race and followed up by winning the six-car Dash For Cash sponsored by Scott Landers and the folks from Binghamton Truck and Tire Center.
On the restart, Button resumed his front-running spot with Zimbardi second as Wilson began his outside charge to the front. Wilson flew by third-place runner Krull on lap 13 before overtaking Zimbardi on lap 17.
With all the momentum on his side, Wilson continued the wall-hugging march to the front and overtook Button one lap later.
Wilson led the remaining circuits on the 4/10-mile clay to post the win. Button came across the line second with Zimbardi, Chris Muhleisen and Krull rounding out the top five.
The only other caution in the Patriot Sprint feature came when Howard Singer rolled his winged mount in Turn One to bring out the red flag on lap four. Singer was not injured though the #26 was done for the evening.
Rich Price brought the DIRT 358-Modifieds to the green flag and he would lead three of the first four laps while Dustin Purdy stuck his nose in front to complete lap two.
The caution flag flew five times in the first nine laps, but it wasn't slowing down some fast cars. Bob Hamm, Jr. grabbed the lead on a lap five restart and, one lap later, Tony Ross had charged into the runner-up with Excell, Price and Dan Vauter close behind.
On the lap nine restart, the top three remained the same as Gibbs moved to fourth and Vauter ran fifth. Vauter and J.R. Hurlburt overtook Gibbs on lap 10, but Vauter retired to the pits with mechanical woes on lap 13. As Hamm tried to distance himself from the rest of the pack, Ross and Excell were swapping second place with Gibbs and Hurlburt in tow.
On lap 22, Hamm felt the pressure as lapped traffic slowed his march and allowed the rest of the top five to close in quickly. Going into Turn Three too hot, Hamm threw his 77 mount sideways and lost a lot of momentum. That triggered a chain-reaction in Turn For that found the top five car crunched together like bumper cars. The pack continued down the front-stretch as the caution flag flew when Ross spun to a halt under Dick Sweet's flagging tower.
On the lap 22 restart, Hamm kept the lead, but Excell stayed close behind with Gibbs, Hurlburt and Jeremy Smith in tow. Excell found his opening on lap 27 and slide past Hamm for the lead. As the cars exited Turn Four, Gibbs came sliding into the infield as Smith, Hurlburt and Paul Kinney completed the top five with the caution flag flying. The running order remained the same over the final three laps as Excel pulled away for his first win of 2003.
Zemken grabbed the lead from her outside pole position to start the 20-lap DIRT Sportsman feature and she was the class of the field as she opened up a straightaway lead. Steve Anderson was running well in second place while Jamie Christian climbed into third by lap five just ahead of Michael Trautschold and Tom Perrego.
The field would slow just once for a caution on lap seven when Olin Renwick spun in Turn One. Zemken retook command and opened up a comfortable lead as Anderson was locked in a battle for second with Christian and Perrego moved into fourth place ahead of Trautschold. Christian overtook Anderson on lap eight and began the long pursuit of Zemken.
Zemken's lead appeared insurmountable until lapped traffic made Zemken more cautious and Christian closed on her bumper by lap 18. Christian did stick his car underneath Zemken a couple of times, but she held him off over the final two laps and posted a narrow victory. Christian, Anderson, Perrego and Trautschold rounded out the top five.
Harold Humphrey charged from his fourth starting spot into the lead on lap one of the 20-lap Pro Stock main event, but outside polesitter Chad Hyzer would hold the top spot for lap two.
On a lap three restart, Pat Nolan powered his way to the point with Humphrey, Hurlburt, Denny Smith and Bob Mills closing fast. Pete Gulick brought out a caution flag on lap six as he returned from a nasty crash one week earlier.
Humphrey retook the lead on the restart, but Nolan and Hurlburt were right in his tire tracks as Smith and Kenny Hammond battled for fourth. As the laps clicked off, Hurlburt moved into the runner-up spot on lap 15.
The field bunched up one final time as the caution flew on lap 17 as Bob Mills' car came to a halt on the front-stretch. Humphrey held the lead for one lap before Hurlburt powered by. The "Wild Thing" held on over the final two laps as Humphrey faded to seventh place. At the checkered flag, Hurlburt had the win.
Nolan came home second with Hammond, Smith and Ray Taylor rounded out the top field. It was a nice run for Taylor, whose car flipped and caught fire last week. He spent all week rebuilting his car with help from friends.
NYSSCA President John Keegan and track representative Jay Johnson were on hand to award $50 bonus checks to the first NYSSCA member cars across the finish line. Excell, Zemken and Nolan were the three lucky drivers to receive the bonus. The bonus will be awarded to the top NYSSCA member car in the Pure Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stocks this week. There will also be a $50 bounty on Buck Mills, who has a five-race winning streak in the Pure Stock ranks.
This Friday, Pine Line Auto Sales will sponsor a great racing program at The New Afton Speedway on Fan Appreciation Night. Fans will get to visit the pits from 6:50 until 7:15 p.m. The card will feature the DIRT 358-Modifieds, Dirt Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stocks. Friday night will also be the third, and final, Sunoco/A-Plus 358 Modified Championship Qualifier. The top non-qualified finisher will pick up a guaranteed starting spot in the big Super DIRT Week 358 Championship race at the New York State Fairgrounds in October. Willy Decker picked up the first Afton spot on May 9 and Dale Planck picked up the next Afton spot with his Turning Stone Casino 358-Modified Super DIRT Series win July 9. 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 JULY 25, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. AARON EXCELL; 2. Boib Hamm, Jr.; 3. Jeremy Smith; 4. J.R. Hurlburt; 5. Paul Kinney; 6. Rich Price; 7. J.R. Crouse; 8. Brian Malcolm; 9. Jim Potts; 10. Mitch Gibbs; 11. Steve Walsh; 12. Pat Dabiere; 13. Ben Bushaw; 14. Dave Barrows; 15. Pete Lyon; 16. Tony Ross; 17. Dan Vauter; 18. Jeff Rudalavage; 19.Colin Jackson; 20. Dustin Purdy; 21. Jeff Bronson; 22. Darrin Schuler. Heat winners: Price, Excell, Smith.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. JESSICA ZEMKEN; 2. Jamie Christian; 3. Steve Anderson; 4. Tom Perrego; 5. Michael Trautschold; 6. Tim French; 7. Butch Klinger; 8. Mark Majewski; 9. Brad Alger; 10. John DeForest; 11. Olin Renwick; 12. Jeremy Shaw. Heat winners: Anderson, Zemken.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. TODD HURLBURT; 2. Pat Nolan; 3. Kenny Hammond; 4. Denny Smith; 5. Ray Taylor; 6. Randy Newell; 7. Harold Humphrey; 8. Chad Hyzer; 9. Aaron Hacker; 10. Gary Roberts; 11. Bob Mills; 12. Chris Palmer; 13. Pete Gulick; 14. A.J. Digsby. Heat winners: Humphrey, Smith.
PATRIOT SPRINTS (20 laps): 1. RICK WILSON; 2. Gordy Button; 3. Tim Zimbardi; 4. Chris Muhleisen; 5. Billy Krull; 6. Jeff Cook; 7. Don Bellen; 8. Warren Alexson; 9. Tim Barnard; 10. Jared Zimbardi; 11. Dave Wickham; 12. Ray Preston; 13. Dan Adamczyk; 14. Geoff McNally; 15. Kyle Moffit; 16. Brad Knab; 17. Mike Lauterborn; 18. Kris Dumigan; 19. Kyle Drum; 20.Phil Mott; 21. Bob Podolak; 22. Dan Deming; 23. Howard Singe; 24. Jeremy Barnard. DNS-Gary Troutman. Heat winners: Drum, Wilson, Muhleisen.