ROOKIE SHOWS “HART” IN 358 MODIFIED WIN AT AFTON
AFTON - There was something for everyone Friday at Afton Speedway on Snap-On Tools/New York State Stock Car Association (NYSSCA) Safety Night including a first-time winner, a triple-rollover and a show-stopping Pure Stock accident that brought down a light pole that halted the remaining action for the evening.
Don Hart, Jr. of Bainbridge picked up his first DIRT 358-Modified feature win, Tim French from Rockdale notched his second Sportsman checkered flag of the season and Harpursville hotshoe James Cornell notched his third Pro Stock win of the season in the three completed features.
The triple-rollover was courtesy of newcomer Jon Holden from Johnstown. During his 4-Cylinder Stock heat, Holden went hard into turn one and the right front tire and rim dug into the clay and sent the car into a triple roll, which ended with the car on its wheels. To the cheers from the crowd, Holden got the car restarted and drove into the pits.
The other incident was not as serious as it looked. Buck Mills (Willet) and Dennis Valentine of Morris came together coming out of turn two in the early stages of the Pure Stock 15-lap feature. The two cars locked together with Valentine on the inside. Both cars veered to the left heading down the backstretch and drifted towards the infield. Valentine’s car hit one of the tractor tire around a light pole and was launched into the pole, snapping it off and bringing the lights and wires down. Valentine’s car ended up on its roof as the red flag came out and darkness fell on the backstretch. Valentine was not injured in the accident, but the rest of the show had to be postponed. The Pure Stock feature will run this Friday night while the 4-Cylinder Stock main event will run July 5.
Hart started the 30-lap feature in the fifth spot, but the rookie in the 358 Modified ranks got a great start and moved into the second spot by the completion of the first lap behind pole sitter Skip French and just ahead of the very quick Arnie Slade. The caution flag flew after the first lap.
After a rash of yellow-flag fever, the green flag flew again on the lap two restart and Hart shot to the point and would maintain his lead for the remainder of the main event. French held down the second spot through lap 26 while Slade was continuing his best run of the season in third place through 21 laps. Slade’s car began to slip back as hard-charging Jeff Rudalavage and Mike Clapperton moved into the third and fourth spots on lap 22.
On lap 27, points leader Rudalavage moved into second place with Clapperton, French and Aaron Excell in tow, but late race spin by Excell would drop him back into ninth place.
As the checkered flag flew, Hart would enjoy a one-half straightaway lead over Rudalavage. Clapperton was third, Slade climbed back into fourth and George Hoffmier, Jr. rounded out the top five. Positions six through ten went to Jeremy Smith, French, Joel Thomas, Excell and newcomer Pat Dabiere.
In the 20-lap Sportsman feature, polesitter Chad O’Hara grabbed the lead and held the top spot for the first three circuits. Tim French started the main event in fourth place, but was quickly into the runner-up spot.
On a lap four restart, French used the outside groove to move past O’Hara and he pulled away for the remaining laps. O’Hara and Butch Klinger gave chase as did points leader Chad Cook, who started eighth, but was in the top five by lap five. Only some caution periods would tighten up the field, but the Rockdale Rocket always rebuilt his advantage.
O’Hara remained in second place until he slid back a couple of positions. Klinger was second on lap 8 before Cook became the runner-up on lap nine. Cook tried the close of French, but never got closer than a couple of car-lengths. Klinger would hold on to third place with Rodney Hart and O’Hara rounding out the top five. Newcomer Bill Papula, Joe Rando, Pat O’Hanlon, Craig Pope and Olin Renwick completed the top ten.
Steve Anderson lost a lot of ground in the points chase as Cook made a strong finish while a first lap jingle took Anderson out of action and relegated the West Edmeston driver to last place. It was just the third finish outside the top five for Anderson this season and it was his first finish outside the top 10.
Cornell took the lead on a lap five restart after starting seventh on the opening green flag. He pulled away during the remainder of the 20-lap feature to record his fourth overall win (including the North-South Series stop) at Afton.
Steve Cummings grabbed the lead from his fourth starting spot and led the first three laps before Todd Hurlburt grabbed the point on lap four. Wade Decker moved into the second spot on lap 6 while Hurlburt continued his strong run in third place until his mount broke midway through the main. When Hurlburt went to the pits under caution, Harold Humphrey, Denny Decker and Jason Schlafer moved into the top five.
On the lap 12 restart, Cornell pulled away as Wade Decker gave chase. Humphrey and Denny Decker had a nice battle for third over the remaining laps while Schlafer kept his fifth place secure. Rounding out the top ten were Neil Palladino, Jason Youngs, Ralph Finnegan, Hurlburt and Cummings.
Heat winners in the Pure Stocks were Bob Mills, Ralph Jennings and Buck Mills while Dave Jaindl and Shawn Mills won 4-Cylinder Stock heat races.
A nice turnout of Snap-On Tools folks along with NYSSCA president John Keegan and Afton Speedway rep Jay Johnson enjoyed the action on the track. NYSSCA presented a $50 bonus and hat to the first car across the finish line with a NYSSCA decal, plus a $25 wild-card awards. All three feature winners were NYSSCA members and claimed the $50 bonus while 358 Modified driver Skip French was the $25 wild-card pick. Johnson will be at Afton this Friday night to award the $50 Pure Stock bonus and another $25 wild-card.
Action will return to the 3/8-mile clay on the Afton Fairgrounds June 28 with the held-over Pure Stock feature plus a full slate of DIRT 358 Modified, Sportsman, Pro Stock, Pure Stock and 4-Cylinder Stock action. The first green flag will fly at 7:15 p.m. as Parts Plus sponsors the racing program. Afton Speedway is located on Route 41, right off Exit 7 of Interstate 88. For more information, check out the Afton Speedway website at www.aftonspeedway.50megs.com or call the track office at 607-639-1966.
SNAP-ON TOOLS/NYSSCA SAFETY 358 MODIFIED RESULTS - 30 laps: DON HART, JR., Jeff Rudalavage, Mike Clapperton, Arnie Slade, George Hoffmier, Jr., Jeremy Smith, Skip French, Joel Thomas, Aaron Excell, Pat Dabiere, Pete Lyon, J.R. Hurlburt, Adam Smith, Mitch Gibbs, Steve Walsh, Todd Thomas, Jim Potts, Duane Hilliard, John Lutes.
Heat winners: Slade, J. Smith, Hart
SNAP-ON TOOLS/NYSSCA SAFETY SPORTSMAN RESULTS - 20 laps: TIM FRENCH, Chad Cook, Butch Klinger, Rodney Hart, Chad O’Hara, Bill Papula, Joe Rando, Pat. O’Hanlon, Craig Pope, Olin Renwick, Michael Trautschold, Ed Bennett, Rob Carey, Steve Anderson.
Heat winners: Hart, Cook.
SNAP-ON TOOLS/NYSSCA SAFETY PRO STOCK RESULTS - 20 laps: JAMES CORNELL, Wade Decker, Harold Humphrey, Denny Decker, Jason Schlafer, Neil Palladino, Jason Youngs, Ralph Finnegan, Todd Hurlburt, Steve Cummings, Scott Chapman, Chad Hyzer, Pat Nolan.
Heat winners: Wade Decker, Hurlburt.