J.R. HURLBURT LEADS TRIO OF FIRST-TIME WINNERS TO VICTORY LANE
AT THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY
AFTON, NY - For three drivers at The New Afton Speedway, Friday was a day of reward for a long season of hard work and dedication. Grabbing their first wins of the 2003 season were J.R Hurlburt of Otego in the DIRT 358-Modifieds, Rockdale's Tim French in the DIRT Sportsman and Jeff Leslie of Fly Creek in the 4-Cylinder Stocks on Five Star Equipment Night.
Also returning to victory lane were Kenny Hammond of Berkshire with his second Pro Stock win and nine-time feature winner Buck Mills of Willet.
The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club returned to Afton for their second appearance of the season with Brad Litzenberger of Romulus winning the 1950s Division; Pat Sonnenberg of Stevensville, Ontario, Canada repeating in the 1960s Division and John McNamee from Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada back in the 1970s Division winners' circle.
Colin Jackson and Dustin Purdy brought the DIRT 358-Modifieds to Dick Sweet's green flag at the start of the 30-lap feature and Purdy quickly shot into the lead. Jackson dropped into the runner-up spot as J.R. Crouse, Hurlburt and Rich Price rounded out the top five. The 19-year-old, who continues to get stronger each race in his second year of modified competition, pulled out to a commanding lead over Jackson in the first 11 laps while Crouse and Hurlburt had a great battle going on for third.
The only two caution flags of the race came back-to-back on laps 12 and 13. The first when Jim Introne spun in Turn Three with the second for Adam Smith, who spun in Turn Two on the next lap. Dan Vauter and Jeff Rudalavage tangled in Turn One as they tried to avoid traffic for the stopped Smith machine and were sent to the back of the pack.
Hurlburt got a great restart on lap 12 to move into the second stop and he beat Purdy to Turn One on the lap 13 restart to take the lead. Once in front, Hurlburt pulled away from Purdy for that satisfying first win this season. Purdy completed his strong run in second place with Bob Hamm, Jr. coming across the finish line in third place. Crouse was fourth and points leader Jeremy Smith completed his 11th top-five run of 2003 in the fifth spot.
With the win, Hurlburt claimed the final Syracuse Sunoco/A-Plus 358-Modified Championship guaranteed starting spot for The New Afton Speedway. He is now eligible to join Willy Decker and Dale Planck as Afton representatives for the October 11 feature at the New York State Fairgrounds as part of Super DIRT Week activities.
In a season of mechanical problems and bad racing luck, French had everything go his way as he led the DIRT Sportsman field to the green flag for their 20-lap main event. French would lead from flag-to-flag in a race slowed just twice by caution flags.
On the lap two restart, Butch Klinger held his second place spot with Michael Trautschold and Jamie Christian powering past Jessica Zemken for third and fourth respectively. Christian overtook Klinger on lap seven, but French was still more than a straightaway in front until the field was again bunched up for a lap 14 restart.
French accelerated to a three car-length advantage in the single-file restart and would post a six car-length margin of victory over Christian with Klinger third. Trautschold completed one of his best runs of the season by holding off Zemken for fourth place.
The 20-lap Pro Stock feature was a wild affair with outside polesitter A.J. Digsby leading the first lap, but Harold Humphrey took over the top spot one lap later with Pete Gulick charging second place by lap three. Hammond, who started sixth, spun in Turn Four on lap 4 to bring out the first caution flag and he needed assistance getting restarted.
Gulick grabbed the lead on the restart, but Humphrey stayed close behind as the two drivers put on a great battle. Back-to-back restarts on laps nine and ten saw Gulick in front on the first restart, but Humphrey retook the lead on the lap 10 restart with Gulick, Todd Hurlburt, Bob Mills and Hammond close behind. Hurlburt passed Gulick on lap 15 before Gulick brought out the caution three laps later when he lost his transmission in the backstretch. On the restart, Hammond shot to the lead down the backstretch after Humphrey and Hurlburt both had problems. Hurlburt got loose coming out of Turn Two as there may have been contact between the top three cars. Humphrey dropped off the pace with a flat tire.
On the lap 19 restart, Hammond got the jump on Hurlburt. At the checkered flag, Hammond had a four car-length advantage over Hurlburt as Ray Taylor, Chad Hyzer and Mills rounded out the top five.
In the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, polesitter Paul Harrington led the first lap, but he was overtaken on lap two by Mills. Once in front, only the caution flag allowed the field to stay close with hopes for a shot at the bounty on Mills. Unfortunately, Mills answered those challenges and pulled away. Mills had a full straightaway lead over runner-up Harrington at the checkered flag. The bounty will increase to $75 for the first car to beat Mills across the line August 15. Harrington took second place with Brother Bob Stilson, Bill Norman and Gene Brainard completing the top five.
Jim Hotaling and Leslie held the front row at the start of the 4-Cylinder Stock 15-lap main event with Leslie grabbing the lead from the outside pole. Leslie would lead the first four circuits before Humphrey took charge on lap.
As Humphrey set the pace, points leader Ken Hotaling moved into the runner-up spot with Leslie, Jim Hotaling and Ken Carson running in the top five as caution came out on lap nine. Humphrey kept Ken Hotaling at bay on the restart, but the caution fag flew again on lap 10. This time, Hotaling got the advantage on the restart and Humphrey dropped in behind him. As the leaders came out of Turn Four to complete lap 12, Humphrey tapped the rear of Hotaling's car and sent him spinning. The caution flag flew and Humphrey saw his chance for a win wiped out. He received the black flag, was sent to the pits and credited with a last place finish.
Leslie found himself back on top and he made the most of it. Leslie hit his marks over the remaining laps and posted a two car-length victory over Skip Pickwick. Jim Hotaling, Carson and Tim Clapper rounded out the top five.
This Friday, the DIRT Sportsman will compete in a 30-lap Sunoco Race Fuels Super DIRT Series East Region event at the The New Afton Speedway. There will also be a regular show for the DIRT 358-Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stocks. 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 AUGUST 8, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. J.R. HURLBURT; 2. Dustin Purdy; 3. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 4. J.R. Crouse; 5. Jeremy Smith; 6. Aaron Excell; 7. Rich Price; 8. Jimmy Chester; 9. Jeff Rudalavage; 10. Brian Malcolm; 11. Marc Johnson; 12. Colin Jackson; 13. Tony Ross; 14. Steve Walsh; 15. Pat Dabiere; 16. Dave Barrows; 17. Dan Vauter; 18. Jim Potts; 19. Adam Smith; 20. Jim Introne. DNS-Darrin Schuler. Heat winners: Hamm, Purdy, Excell.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. TIM FRENCH; 2. Jamie Christian; 3. Butch Klinger; 4. Michael Trautschold; 5. Jessica Zemken; 6. Tom Perrego; 7. Arnie Slade; 8. Rick Mill; 9. Rick Amo; 10. Craig Pope; 11. Jeremy Shaw. DNS-Mark Majewski, Steve Anderson. Heat winners: French, Zemken.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. KENNY HAMMOND; 2. Todd Hurlburt; 3. Rayz Taylor; 4. Chad Hyzer; 5. Bob Mills; 6. A.J. Digsby; 7. Scott Chapman; 8. Aaron Hacker; 9. Pat Nolan; 10. Harold Humphrey; 11. Randy Newell; 12. Pete Gulic; 13. Chris Palmer. Heat winners: Mills, Gulick.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BUCK MILLS; 2. Paul Harrington; 3. Brother Bob Stilson; 4. Bill Norman; 5. Gene Brainard; 6. Robert Krajcovic; 7. Erik Knudson; 8. James Cornell.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. JEFF LESLIE; 2. Skip Pickwick; 3. Jim Hotaling; 4. Ken Carson III; 5. Tim Clapper; 6. Ron Nolan; 7. Ken Hotaling; 8. Jack Hill; 9. Ron Cumming; 10. Harold Humphrey.
MIDSTATE VINTAGE STOCK CAR CLUB (10 laps): 1950s-Brad Litzenberger; 1960s-Pat Sonnenberg; 1970s-John McNamee.