AFTON SPEEDWAY CROWNS 2002 TRACK CHAMPIONS
AFTON, NY - The final night regular points racing program had something for everyone Friday as Afton Speedway closed out the track championship chases.
Defending 358 Modified track champion Mitch Gibbs closed out a rough season at the Afton Fairgrounds� facility as the Norwich driver won the 30-lap feature; Steve Anderson from West Edmeston scored his third win of the season in the Sportsman 20-lap main event; Afton driver Wade Decker claimed the 20-lap Pro Stock feature; Paul Harrington of Sidney won his first-ever Pure Stock 15-lap feature and Jamie Banta from Unadilla grabbed his third checkered flag in the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Stock feature.
Meanwhile, track championships were claimed by Jeff Rudalvage of Olyphant, PA in the 358 Modifieds, Chad Cook from Deposit won the Sportsman title; James Cornell of Harpursville repeated as Pro Stock champion and Buck Mills of Willet is the 2002 Pure Stock champion. Shawn Mills (Windsor) wrapped up the 4-Cylinder Stock championship one week earlier.
The 358 feature got off to a rough start when Arnie Slade, Tony Pepicelli and Russell Hendrickson, Jr. tangled in turn one after the opening green flag as all other drivers took evasive action to avoid contact. On the restart, Adam Smith grabbed the lead with Joel Thomas in tow.
By lap two, Gibbs had moved from his fifth starting position to challenge for the lead. On lap five, Gibbs powered past Smith for the lead as J.R. Hurlburt, Jeremy Smith and Joel Thomas rounded out the top five. One lap later, Rudalavage, who started 11th, moved into the fifth spot behind Jeremy Smith, who started 12th.
The caution flag flew on lap 17 as Gibbs saw his straightaway lead disappear with Hurlburt, Jeremy Smith, Rudalavage and Adam Smith in the top five. Brian Malcolm jumped into the fifth spot of the restart before another caution on lap 19 as Hurlburt slowed and limped to the pits. When Hurlburt slowed, Jeremy Smith had to check-up and Rudalavage powered into the second spot.
The remainder of the feature was mostly uneventful as Gibbs was able to keep Rudalavage at bay while Jeremy Smith had to settle for third. Malcolm completed a strong run in fourth place and Pepicelli came back from the first lap jingle to finish fifth.
Rudalavage finished 14 points ahead of Smith in the tightest of the track championship battles.
In the Sportsman feature, Anderson did all he could do to have a shot at catching Cook for the track championship as he overtook Rodney Hart for the second time on lap five and pulled away for a five car-length victory.
Hart ran second until Kevin Jordan roared into the runner-up spot on lap 13 as points leader Cook rolled into the fourth position after an early race tangle that sent him to the back of the pack.
As Anderson took the checkered flag, Hart and Jordan did a little rubbing coming out of turn four on the final lap which caused Jordan to slide high. Hart and Cook both moved up one spot with Jordan coming across the line in fourth. Newcomer Rocky Rosetti rounded out the top five.
Cook claimed the track champion by 44 points, unofficially, after being the runner-up in 2001 to Arnie Slade.
The Pro Stock feature had lots of excitement as leader Todd Hurlburt broke on lap four which put Jason Youngs on the point. Youngs looked strong , but Denny Decker tracked him down and grabbed the advantage on lap 10. Youngs went to the pits on lap 11 while Decker and Pat Nolan got together on lap 12 which brought out the caution. Decker went the pits with a flat tire while Nolan was sent to the back of the pack.
That chain of events put Wade Decker in front and Decker kept the rest of the field at bay for the remaining eight circuits for his second win of the 2002 season at Afton. Neil Palladino completed one of his best runs of the season by taking second place with Gary Roberts, Denny Decker and Jason Schlafer rounding out the top five.
Cornell and Harold Humphrey got together on lap 17 with Humphrey spinning as the two top points contenders battled. Humphrey was able to continue and Cornell was sent to the back of the pack. Humphrey came back to finish seventh, but only cut four points off Cornell�s 42-point margin entering the night. The ninth place finish allowed Cornell to complete a repeat track championship performance.
While Buck Mills and Shaun Walker waged a great battle for the second place and the track championship, the Pure Stock feature belonged to Harrington. The Pure Stock rookie grabbed the lead from his outside pole position and led flag-to-flag to get that first win. Harrington competed in the 4-Cylinder ranks in 2001.
Harrington held off Ralph Jennings for the first five laps until Jennings spun and brought out the caution. Charlie Holcomb moved into the runner-up spot on the lap six restart with Walker, Mills and Rob White close behind. Holcomb bobbled on lap nine as Walker and Mills moved up one position. Walker was challenging for the lead as the yellow flag came out on lap 10.
Harrington was up to the task and would not be denied on the restart as he again pulled away while Walker and Mills got involved in a side-by-side battle for second. Harrington took the checkered flag with a straightaway lead over Mills, who slid around Wilbur on lap 11. Walker remained fourth as Jennings battled back for fifth place. Mills did some victory doughnuts on the speedway to celebrate his 2002 track championship.
With the 4-Cylinder Stock track crown already decided, the tight battles for the second through tenth spots in the final standings took center stage.
Ken Hotaling grabbed the early advantage as Jim Money and Banta applied most of the pressure. Hotaling kept the lead while Money began to experience problems and would retire to the pits on lap 8 as Banta finally completed the pass on Hotaling for the lead.
Banta would feel some pressure from Hotaling on a couple of restarts, but he was still able to pull away for this third victory of the season. Hotaling held on to second place with Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Shawn Mills and Scott Johnson rounding out the top five.
Next up is construction work as Afton Speedway begins its expansion before the October 26 Halloween Spooktacular. Pine Valley Auto and Art�s Auto Refinishing will sponsor all the racing action, which gets underway at 1 p.m.
Also, tickets are now available for the Afton Speedway Awards Banquet on November 16. The banquet will be held at the Lisle Fire Department from 6 p.m. until 12 midnight with great food and dancing. Tickets can be ordered by calling Pat and Janet Jordan at 607-657-8018.
358 MODIFIED FEATURE RESULTS (30 laps): MITCH GIBBS, Jeff Rudalavage, Jeremy Smith, Brian Malcolm, Tony Pepicelli, Arnie Slade, Rich Price, Don Hart, Jr., Skip French, Joel Thomas, Adam Smith, Duane Hiller, J.R. Hurlburt, Steve Walsh, Russell Hendrickson, Jr., Todd Thomas, Jim Introne. Heat winners: Gibbs, Hendrickson, French.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE RESULTS (20 laps): STEVE ANDERSON, Rodney Hart, Chad Cook, Kevin Jordan, Rocky Rosetti, Butch Klinger, David Crandall, Craig Pope, Olin Renwick, Ray Menard, Fred Christ, Tim French, Darren Keyser, Bill Papula. Heat winners: Hart, Cook.
PRO STOCK FEATURE RESULTS (20 laps): WADE DECKER, Neil Palladino, Gary Roberts, Denny Decker, Jason Schlafer, Mike Decker, Harold Humphrey, Pat Nolan, James Cornell, Ralph Finnegan, Scott Chapman, Roger Lewis, Jason Youngs, Brian Steigerwald, Todd Hurlburt, Denny Smith. Heat winners: Youngs, Palladino, Hurlburt.
PURE STOCK FEATURE RESULTS (15 laps): PAUL HARRINGTON, Buck Mills, Mike Wilbur, Shaun Walker, Ralph Jennings, Frank Mills, Chris White, Rob White, Joe Barnes, Dennis Valentine, Jeremy Shaw, Charlie Holcomb, Andy Graves, Kurt Decker, Robert Krascovic, Ted Baker. Heat winners: Holcomb, Jennings.
4-CYLINDER STOCK FEATURE RESULTS (15 laps): JAMIE BANTA, Ken Hotaling, Ralph Cuozzo, Jr., Shawn Mills, Scott Johnson, Skip Pickwick, Jack Hill, George Crippen, Ken Carson, Ron McMullen, Dave Jaindl, Jim Money, Ron Cummings. Heat winners: Mills, Banta.