THE DOCTOR MAKES A WINNING HOUSE CALL AS THE NEW AFTON SPEEDWAY CROWNS 2003 TRACK CHAMPIONS
AFTON, NY - On a night when The New Afton Speedway honored of the its 2003 track champions, "The Doctor" made a house call. Danny Johnson made his first trip to the new 4/10-mile clay surface and the DIRT legend from Rochester dominated the 30-lap DIRT 358-Modified feature.
Johnson shared victory lane honors on Simmons MHR Night Friday. Steve Anderson of West Edmeston posted his second DIRT Sportsman win of the 2003 season; Binghamton's Pete Gulick grabbed his sixth win in the Pro Stocks; Buck Mills of Willet won for the 12th time in the Pure Stocks and Jim Hotaling from Fly Creek was a first-time 4-Cylinder Stock winner.
In the heads-up start, Johnson started on the pole position for the 30-lap DIRT 358-Modified feature, but Brian Malcolm won the battle into turn one and he led the first two laps before the caution flag flew. On the restart, 2003 track champion Jeremy Smith came out on top with Johnson, Malcolm, Bob Hamm, Jr. and Mike Ricci in tow.
Smith would lead until Johnson dove to the inside of turn four and took a lead that he would never surrender. Johnson would pull away in the 99K and never faced a serious challenge. The only time anyone was close to Johnson would be under the caution flag, but the veteran would quickly establish who had the top car once the green flag flew.
Aaron Excell moved into the runner-up spot on lap 12 and remained there and he held off the challenges of Hamm. Chris Ostrowsky completed his best run of the season with a fourth place run in his new Bicknell Chassis mount. Malcolm rounded out the top five. Smith picked a good night to have off night as he went pit-side on lap 23 with a broke rear axle and placed 13th in the final running order.
Anderson started on the pole for the DIRT Sportsman 20-lap main event and he maintained control over the field throughout race. It was a solid run that saw Anderson lap most of the field.
Jamie Christian, the 2003 track champion, ran second for the first two laps before getting tangled up with the lapped car of Bob Wetherbee on lap four. Wetherbee was able to continue, but Christian was taken to the pits on the hook.
Klinger became the runner-up on the lap four restart and he held off the advances of Greg Doust for a second place finish. Doust was third as Michael Traustchold and Tim French completed the top five finishers.
Bob Mills brought the Pro Stocks to the line for the 20-lap feature, but front-row mate Ray Taylor would take the lead as Gulick dashed from his third stating spot into second. By lap three, Gulick moved around Taylor for the lead and checked out on the rest of the field in the caution-free event.
Taylor and Kenny Hammond hooked-up for in a battle for the second spot. Taylor was able to hold on the spot until lap 19 when Hammond slid by and claim the spot. Taylor, Mills and Pat Nolan rounded out the top five finishers.
Hammond did close the gap on Gulick, but had to settle for the runner-up spot. In the process, Hammond became the 2003 track champion in the Pro Stock Division after his 12th top-five finish. In all, Hammond had 14 finishes in the top-5 after you factor in his two feature wins.
Paul Harrington tried his best to spoil the championship celebration for Mills as the fast Sidney Center driver started on the pole for the 15-lap main event. Harrington opened up a five car-length advantage early in the race before Mills began reeling him in.
On lap ten, Mills completed the passing move coming out of turn four and rolled the the win and capped off a great season. It was Mills' second straight Pure Stock track crown at Afton.
Harrington took second place with Charlie Holcomb, Gene Brainard and Garnet Prescott completing the top five.
After two laps of the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Stock feature, it was clear that a Hotaling would be in victory lane in nothing happened to the car. The only question was which Hotaling would in be.
Jim Hotaling grabbed the lead from his outside pole position as Jack Hill dropped into the runner-up spot with Ken Hotaling in third. Kenny moved into second place on lap three and need just one more circuit to overtake Jim for the lead.
As the caution-free event rolled on, it looked like Ken Hotaling would celebrate his 2003 track championship with win number 10, but Jim would not give up. As the champion bobbled in turn two on the final lap, he opened the door for one last passing chance. Jim took advantage in the final two turns and won the drag race to the finish for his first win of the season.
Ken Hotaling finished second as Skip Pickwick, Jim Money and Hill rounded out the top five.
Heather Simmons presented trophies to the top-three finishes in the each feature and she returned to victory lane with bottles of champagne for each track champion during the evening ending ceremonies. It was gracious gesture by the night's sponsor, who also gave away four children's bicycles and other great prizes during the night.
In a statement regarding the 2004 season, track promoters Pat Jordan and Wally Smith announced that the Pro Stocks will run under the DIRT banner next season. That announcement was made so that all DIRT-legal Pro Stock drivers would be allowed to compete in any of the final events hosted by the speedway during the remainder of this 2003 season. This Friday will be another great night of racing at The New Afton Speedway. Action will feature a special appearance by the Late Models, along with the DIRT 358-Modifieds, DIRT Sportsman and DIRT Pro Stocks. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with all the racing action getting underway at 7:15 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 SEPTEMBER 5, 2003
DIRT 358 MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. DANNY JOHNSON; 2. Aaron Excell; 3. Bob Hamm, Jr.; 4. Chris Ostrowsky; 5. Brian Malcolm; 6. Colin Jackson; 7. J.R. Hurlburt; 8. Steve Walsh; 9. Pete Lyon; 10. Ed Harris; 11. Pat Dabiere; 12. Matt Smith; 13. Jeremy Smith; 14. Mike Ricci; 15. Jim Potts; 16. Tim Ross; 17. Ben Bushaw; 18. Don Slover. Heat winners: Johnson, Malcolm.
DIRT SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. STEVE ANDERSON; 2. Butch Klinger; 3. Greg Doust; 4. Michael Trautschold; 5. Tim French; 6. Jim Burton; 7. Brad Alger; 8. Rick Amo; 9. Jim Winchell; 10. Jim Roberts; 11. Tim Mayne; 12. Olin Renwick; 13. Jamie Christian; 14. Mark Majewski; 15. Craig Pope; 16. Bob Wetherbee. Heat winners: Anderson, Christian.
PRO STOCKS (20 laps): 1. PETE GULICK; 2. Kenny Hammond; 3. Ray Taylor; 4. Bob Mills; 5. Pat Nolan; 6. Jason Rood; 7. Todd Hurlburt; 8. A.J. Digsby; 9. Bill Knapp; 10. Bill Rampe; 11. Randy Newell; 12. Chad Hyzer; 13. Denny Decker; 14. Dustin Harris; 15. Ben Carpenter. Heat winners: Digsby, Gulick.
PURE STOCKS (15 laps): 1. BUCK MILLS; 2. Paul Harrington; 3. Charlie Holcomb; 4, Gene Brainard; 5. Garnet Prescott; 6. Robert Krajcovic; 7. Ron Cumming. Heat winner: Harrington.
4-CYLINDER STOCKS (15 laps): 1. JIM HOTALING; 2. Ken Hotaling; 3. Skip Pickwick; 4. Jim Money; 5. Jack Hill; 6. Ron Nolan; 7. Larry Miller; 8. Ken Carson III; 9. Jeff Leslie. Heat winner: K. Hotaling.