J.R. HURLBURT PICKS UP 358 MODIFIED WIN AT AFTON, WHILE BUTCH KLINGER CAPTURES HIS FIRST DIRT SPORTSMAN VICTORY!
Afton, NY - The forecast was bad, the skies were gray, but nevertheless, Afton Speedway triumphed over mother nature as a full program was completed shortly before the rains moved in Friday night. Otego native J.R. Hurlburt picked up his first feature win of the season in the DIRT 358 Modifieds, after coming up short of the victory last week.
Skip French, of Rockdale, led the early way in the 30 lap event, quickly moving up from his fourth starting position. South Canaan's Ed Strada and Mike Clapperton, of Sidney Center, battled for second and third. A lap eleven tangle involving 3 of the top five runners would end up putting Hurlburt, who was running sixth, into the runner up spot, with current points leader Jeff Rudalavage, of Olyphant, PA, into third. Hurlburt took the lead from French on the restart, and never looked back en route to picking up the win. Rudalavage moved into second two laps later, as French's ride seemed to go away a bit.
At the checkers, it was Hurlburt with the win, a hard charging Rudalavage, who started 11th, in for second, with Mike Ricci, Mitch Gibbs and Clapperton completing the top five.
Last season's Pro Stock points champion Butch Klinger, of Walton, took home the top honors in the 20 lap DIRT Sportsman feature.
Edmeston's Tim Ross was the early race leader, until Harpursville native Don Hart, Jr. took over the number one spot on lap seven. Hart seemed to have the car to beat as he built up a substantial lead. Cassville's Craing Pritchard, and Klinger, who started sixth, moved up to second and third as Ross's car fell of the pace. Hart's great run came to a premature end, as smoke poured from his machine as he crossed the line on lap eleven. Hart pitted as the caution came out, but was unable to return to racing action.
Pritchard inherited the lead, but Klinger would overtake him for the lead with just 5 laps left to go. Klinger would go on for the win, in just his third start driving a Sportsman. Guilford's Arnie Slade finished second, followed by Ladd Yeomans, Pritchard, and Chad Cook.
After two weeks of bad luck, things seemed to be looking up for Norwich's Harold Humphrey, as he jumped out to the early race lead in the 20 lap Pro Stock feature.
Harpursville's James Cornell moved into second behind Humphrey on lap eight, edging out Todd Hurlburt, of Guilford, for the spot. Just two laps later, lady luck would let Humphrey down, as he exploded his third motor in three weeks at the half-way point.
Cornell inherited the lead, and held on to pick up the win, as his teammate Wade Decker, of Afton, came in for the runner-up spot. P.J. Goodwin, Winnie Winchester, and Jason Schlafer completed the top five. In the 15 lap Pure Stock feature, rookie driver Butch Green, of Binghamton, took off from his outside pole starting position to lead the way. Bainbridge's Rob Loucks ran second, but lost the handle of his machine in turn for on the third lap. Loucks gathered it back up without bringing out the yellow, but a spin by Unadilla's Bob Stilson would bring the caution out the next lap.
Green held the lead as the field returned to green flag racing, but veteran driver Buck Mills, of Guilford, was hot on his heels as he moved into second.
Mills took over the top spot on lap seven, and went on for the win.
Green ran second until losing the handle coming out of turn four on the ninth lap. Denny Decker finished second, followed by Shaun Walker, Steve Green, and Loucks.
Jamie Banta, of Unadilla, returned to victory lane for a second time this season, taking home the win in the 15 lap Four Cylinder Stock feature event.
Banta, who started sixth, wasted no time moving to the front as head took the lead over from Harpursville's Russell Hendrickson, Jr., on the second lap.
Banta led the rest of the way en route to the win, with Hendrickson coming in for second, followed by Ralph Jennings Jr, Bob Doolittle, and Jason Jaindl.
The twelve lap Dwarf Car main saw Windsor's Gordie Isham leading the way, as he took the lead from Charleton, MA's Chic Chandler on the second circuit.
Isham, who started third, looked to be on his way to victory lane, until a late race charge by Berkshire's Louie Gordinier would rain on his parade.
With just two laps to go, Gordinier got a good bite off of turn four, and made the move to get by Isham. Gordinier went on to capture his second Dwarf Car feature win of the year at Afton, with Isham in second, Chandler third, and Floyd Clark and Steve Tourje completing the top five.
Afton is now back to running regular Friday evening shows. Gates open at 5pm, with racing set to go at 7:30pm. See you at the races!
358 MODIFIED RESULTS: J.R. Hurlburt, Jeff Rudalavage, Mike Ricci, Mitch Gibbs, Mike Clapperton, Mark Terry, Skip French, Steve Walsh, Ed Strada, Tony Pepicelli, John Siedlecky, Jim Witko Jr, Brad Schafer, Brent Cross, George Hoffmier Jr, Mike Frost, Carl Bittenbender.
SPORTSMAN RESULTS: Butch Klinger, Arnie Slade, Ladd Yeomans, Craig Pritchard, Chad Cook, Bob Conklin, Tim Ross, Billy Harris, Chad O'Hara, Dave Crandall, Steve Anderson, Tony Ross, Tim French, Craig Pope, Don Hart Jr.
PRO STOCK RESULTS: James Cornell, Wade Decker, P.J. Goodwin, Winnie Winchester, Jason Schlafer, Denny Smith, Mike Decker, Todd Hurlburt, Brian Steigerwald, John Walker, Jason Bartsch, Jason Youngs, Roger Lewis, Neil Palladino, Harold Humphrey, James Christ, Bob Zimmerman.
PURE STOCK RESULTS: Buck Mills, Denny Decker, Shaun Walker, Steve Green, Rob Loucks, Dennis Valentine, Butch Green, Bob Stilson.
FOUR CYLINDER STOCK: Jamie Banta, Russell Hendrickson Jr, Ralph Jennings Jr, Bob Doolittle, Jason Jaindl, Ed Leslie, Scott Johnson, Skip Pickwick, George Crippen, Rob Coulman, Todd Smith, Jack Hill, Leonard Miller, Frank Chapman, Ralph Cuozzo Jr.
DWARF CARS: Louie Gordinier, Gordie Isham, Chic Chandler, Floyd Clark Jr, Steve Tourje, Duane Knapp, Tim O'Neill, Chris Thompson, Alan Barker.