Brewerton, NY — Decker Does It Again With 8th Advance Series Victory Friday At Brewerton
*Mike Johnson Photo: Billy Decker & Family
August 15, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
For the eighth time this season Billy Decker came away with victory in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series to extend his lead even further in the point standings. However, the seven wins scored prior to his first career tour triumph at Brewerton Speedway were scored in more convincing fashion.
In the Friday night nail-biter at the ‘D-Shaped DIRT Demon,’ Decker first swapped the point early on with Alan Johnson, then diced with Dale Planck the second half of the race before regaining the lead for good when Planck suffered a flat tire with just five laps to go.
“Things are going good,” said Decker, 43, after beating Planck to the stripe for the third consecutive Advance Series race. Gary Tomkins finished third in his best showing of the season followed by top-five tour travelers Matt Sheppard and Jimmy Phelps. “But I don’t thing we really had a whole lot for the 77x, (Planck) was on fire tonight.”
“We’ve got a fair amount of experience here at Brewerton, we were just trying to be patient, be patient, and not seal a tire. (Dale) went on by me and I wanted to go up there and try that groove for a little while. I think he sealed them (tires) just a little bit because we could stay even with him then. I saw a few sparks off the right rear and he got a little tight to the wall down here (turn four), must’ve flattened his tire,” Decker figured.
With a right rear tire suddenly losing air with just a handful of laps to go, Planck gave up a lead he had worked so hard to hold and limped home under the checkered flag to settle for runner-up honors in the ninth annual ‘WHF Racing 100’ at Brewerton.
“I took what notes I had from last year and the car was just as good this year, just came up a couple laps short there,” remarked Planck, 38, who set fast time at Brewerton a year ago en route to the $6,000 payoff, this time collected by Decker after his sixth feature win of 2008 at Brewerton. “I could feel the tire going down and thought ‘man, please last about five more laps.’ I honestly thought that there was one more lap to go when the checkers were out so I looked up on the board and saw second, I’m a happy guy.”
A one week delay was well worth the wait for Brewerton faithful on a sun-drenched Friday evening in Central New York. It started out even better for former Advance Series winner at Brewerton in 1998 and reigning Mr. DIRTcar points king Brett Hearn as he got an early jump on the 34-car field, earning a second straight Integra Shocks Fast Time Award after stopping the clocks at 14.883 seconds. A close call in the pits while lining up for his heat race forced Hearn to arrive late to the starting grid and after qualifying through the consolation round never quite recovered in time to challenge the leaders.
Defending Brewerton points champion Willy Decker drew number one to earn the pole-position start come feature time, although ’08 runner-up in the track standings Alan Johnson blasted to the front to pace the 30-car grid during the initial stages. Billy Decker had moved from fourth to second by the time the first yellow flag unfurled for debris on the track with four laps scored, and just two more times around the smooth one third-miler nosed the LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell machine ahead of ‘A.J. Slideways’ to force the first lead change.
A second caution period came on lap 10 when ’06 Brewerton tour winner Jimmy Phelps suffered a flat left-rear tire, with Canadian pilot Pat O’Brien having a right front tread lose air at the same time. With Johnson stationed outside Decker on the ensuing restart, he regained the lead before once more falling to second as the ‘Franklin Flyer’ darted low across the stripe to complete lap 16.
With all eyes on the battle up front, Planck was beginning to mount a charge and with a quarter of the race in the books had rallied from 24th to 11th and was just getting started. Passing high and low and in the middle between turns three and four, Planck had the RezX Racing no. 77x Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts/TEO ride primed for perfection. He grabbed seventh on lap 30, ducked under Billy Dunn for fifth-place five laps later before overtaking Johnson for fourth on lap 40.
A quick move past Sheppard put the ‘Natural’ in third on a lap 41 restart and the next time around Planck snatched second away from Tomkins. The mission was complete for the second-generation standout from Cortland, New York as he drifted high around Decker in turn four and passed the starter’s stand out front on lap 45.
The final 60 laps were run caution-free with the track surface turning black and slippery yet staying smooth for the duration. Weaving in and out of traffic throughout the final 20 miles, Planck and Decker played cat and mouse without either taking the bait. Once opening up a lead of over 2.0-seconds, Decker sliced the margin to 6/10ths of a second as Planck put 15th-place runner Stewart Friesen down a lap with 35 laps still to go.
Aside from the top two, positions continued to change among the top-10 as the laps dwindled and traffic tightened in every corner during the waning moments. While Tomkins and Sheppard diced back and forth for third, Jimmy Phelps and cousin Ryan Phelps contended for a top-five slot while Hearn hovered among the first dozen.
Jimmy Phelps charged past Johnson into fifth on lap 57 and Tomkins secured third for good on lap 73 although up ahead leaders Planck and Decker demanded most of the attention as they were forced to use up three lanes just to escape traffic. Decker quickly closed right in on the bumper of Planck with 95 laps showing and in a daring three-wide maneuver exiting turn four, split the lapped car of Chad Phelps down low and Planck up high to forge the final lead change on lap 96. A soft right-rear tire was the culprit for Planck although he managed to hang on for a tidy second-place tally suddenly a straightaway back as the failed tire shredded completely.
“This whole deal starts right at the top, John (Wight, owner) provides us with superb equipment and basically its on our shoulders from there,” noted Decker, as he remained perfect with his 16th top-10 finish in 16 races, 13 of which were registered among the front-five. “All the guys work their tails off and do a tremendous job.”
“I’m very fortunate, I get to be the lucky one to sit behind the wheel. You got to get them while you’re hot. It’s the same stuff we ran last year that we couldn’t win with, its cycling now and seems to be our turn. Brewerton is a super tough place, we were fortunate to wheel off a few wins in the spring and hit things right. Can-Am (Saturday) is certainly not one of our better tracks, we’re just hoping for the best, maybe nail something, and we’re looking forward to Cornwall on Sunday. It’s a stress-filled weekend you can count on that, its gonna test everybody,” added Decker, as he acknowledged two more consecutive days of Advance Series activity scheduled further north.
Despite settling for runner-up accolades at Brewerton, Planck was just as content as he continued to enjoy his best season ever on the premier Big-Block Modified tour in the nation.
“We came out of the box really good tonight, second fastest in hot laps, just made the wrong tire choice so that kinda got us behind the 8-ball,” said Planck, who was the last to run under the clocks and ultimately timed 31st out of 34 Big-Block entries. Then in the heat I just got a little antsy starting in the back trying to make a re-draw position. Stuck my nose in there where it didn’t belong and pinched the front end.”
“In the feature I was trying to get through lapped traffic there and the wall probably cut the tire. We have no radios or anything to signify how close Billy was. Racing against him and these guys on the Super DIRT Series, you gotta run every lap like it’s the last one. Probably partly my fault there trying to get by lapped traffic and got into the wall a little bit. But I’m still really happy to be here in second. Can’t thank enough Carey Terrance (owner) and all the guys here tonight. Gave them a good show anyways, just came up a little short,” added Planck, who garnered the Bert/KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award after rallying from 24th to second while taking home the Holley Hard Luck Award following his late race flat tire. All while still moving past Brett Hearn for second on the Advance Series points chart heading for round 17 at Can-Am.
Tomkins was maybe the most stable throughout the century grind, starting where he finished to place among the top-three for the first time on tour this season steering the Honeoye Auto Parts no. 84 Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell machine.
“It feels so long since I’ve been here (podium), I needed directions,” joked Tomkins, who earning preferred starter status in the prestigious Rite Aid 200 Championship race on Oct. 12 of Super DIRT Week XXXVII at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Best finishes for the 2004 overall Mr. DIRTcar Champion prior to Friday were fourth-place runs at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in May and Autodrome Drummond in July. “We really needed this one bad.”
“It’s a brand new (Bicknell) car, actually put together a couple months ago but this is our third race on it and first with a big-block. I think its got some potential, a few things have changed on it like some stuff Randy (Williamson, Bicknell fabricator) and his guys wanted to try. We’re still a little bit off yet but at least I can see (Decker) after the race, usually we’re loading up the car now and not even going over the scales. So its almost like a win for us, hopefully we can get ourselves back on track a little bit and run better, the way we think we should.”
“The last few times I’ve been here the place has been different than when I used to run here. Tonight it reminded me a lot more of the way it was back in 2004-05 so we sort of went by what we did then. We’re fortunate we’re going to have a car we’re gonna run tomorrow night (Can-Am) that’s proven, its one that we’ve been running all year so we’ll save this one again for Cornwall on Sunday. Hopefully, we can get through tomorrow okay and go to Cornwall with some momentum,” Tomkins added.
The Advance Auto Part Super DIRTcar Series doesn’t wait long to return to action as teams head north to Can-Am Motorsports Park for the F.X. Caprara Car Companies 100 tomorrow before closing out the weekend at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday, August 17 in the 14th Akwesasne Mohawk Casino International 100.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #16 – Brewerton Speedway, August 15, 2008 ‘WHF Racing 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
Feature
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 4 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY($6,000)
2 24 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
3 3 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
4 5 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
5 11 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
6 2 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
7 12 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
8 21 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
9 1 1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
10 22 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
11 6 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
12 9 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
13 23 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
14 16 1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
15 14 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
16 17 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
17 7 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
18 30 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY®
19 8 16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY
20 25 X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
21 28 09 Kyle Lewis/Pennellville,NY
22 15 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
23 26 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
24 20 87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY®
25 13 77 Steve Planck/Cortland,NY
26 29 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
27 10 83 Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
28 19 02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
29 27 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
30 18 160 Johnny Hill/Hastings,NY
EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: A.Johnson (1-5), B.Decker (6-9), A.Johnson (10-15), B.Decker (16-44), D.Planck (45-95), B.Decker (96-100).
CAUTIONS: 4 (lap 5, lap 10, lap 38, lap 41).
HEAT WINNERS: Tomkins, O’Brien, J.Phelps, A.Johnson.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNER: Haers.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
CRANE CAMS WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Dale Planck.
CRANE CAMS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Dale Planck.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Gary Tomkins(P).
HALFWAY LEADER: Dale Planck.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Dale Planck.
HOLLEY HARD LUCK AWARD: Dale Planck.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (27th): Tom Sears Jr.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Brett Hearn (14.883sec/80.629mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,575.
CARS ENTERED: 34.
NEXT EVENT: Can-Am Motorsports Park – August 16, 2008.
DID NOT QUALIFY(4)
13-Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY®
38-Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
42-Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
83x-Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 14.883 80.629 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 14.944 80.300 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
3 14.949 80.273 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
4 14.970 80.160 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
5 15.004 79.979 1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
6 15.017 79.909 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
7 15.032 79.830 02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
15.032 79.830 1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
9 15.044 79.766 77 Steve Planck/Cortland,NY
10 15.087 79.539 16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY
11 15.092 79.512 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
12 15.104 79.449 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
13 15.154 79.187 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
14 15.181 79.046 83 Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
15 15.182 79.041 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
16 15.234 78.771 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
17 15.253 78.673 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
18 15.274 78.565 160 Johnny Hill/Hastings,NY
19 15.284 78.513 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
20 15.300 78.431 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
21 15.310 78.380 88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
22 15.427 77.786 09 Kyle Lewis/Pennellville,NY
23 15.446 77.690 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
24 15.502 77.409 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
25 15.543 77.205 X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
26 15.575 77.047 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
27 15.585 76.997 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
28 15.590 76.972 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY®
29 15.594 76.953 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY®
30 15.643 76.712 42 Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
31 15.694 76.462 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
32 15.804 75.930 87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY®
33 16.250 73.846 83x Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
34 16.527 72.608 38 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature, top 3 went to re-draw)
#1: Tomkins, W.Decker, Dunn, S.Planck, Hulsizer, C.Phelps, Hearn, Wight.
#2: O’Brien, To.Sears, Bowman, Witko, Hill, Haers, Lewis, Lamb, Ward (DNS).
#3: J.Phelps, B.Decker, Sheppard, Bower, Bresnahan, Homan, D.Johnson, D.Planck.
#4: A.Johnson, Bates, R.Phelps, Friesen, Donath, Caprara, Paine, Steiner, Ti.Sears.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Race (top 10 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Haers, Hearn, Caprara, D.Planck, C.Phelps, Homan, Paine, Lewis, D.Johnson, Wight, Steiner, Ti.Sears, Lamb, Ward (DNS).
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (Thru Aug. 15, 2008)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Diff Wins T-5 T-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 1,349 1,349 0 8 13 16 16
2 77x Dale Planck 1,195 1,195 -154 3 12 14 16
3 20 Brett Hearn 1,174 1,174 -175 2 8 15 16
4 98h Jimmy Phelps 1,119 1,119 -230 1 7 14 16
5 9s Matt Sheppard 1,065 1,065 -284 1 5 12 16
6 84 Gary Tomkins 1,024 1,024 -325 0 4 13 16
7 7x Steve Paine 967 967 -382 0 6 8 16
8 FX1 Frankie Caprara 905 905 -444 0 1 8 16
9 27J Danny Johnson 864 864 -485 0 4 5 16
10 99 Ryan Phelps 859 859 -490 0 0 5 16
11 3 Justin Haers 829 829 -520 0 1 9 15
12 14J Alan Johnson 796 796 -553 0 1 7 14
13 49 Billy Dunn 784 784 -565 0 0 2 16
14 99L Larry Wight 650 650 -699 0 0 1 16
15 6 Pat O’Brien 450 450 -899 0 0 1 11
16 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 343 343 -1,006 0 0 0 9
17 42B Kevin Bates 331 331 -1,018 0 0 0 9
18 14 Rich Laubach 256 256 -1,093 0 2 2 4
19 79 Mike Storms 255 255 -1,094 0 0 1 6
20 99b Chuck Bower 230 230 -1,119 0 0 0 7
21 4 Duane Howard 198 198 -1,151 0 2 2 2
22 56 Vince Vitale 188 188 -1,161 0 0 0 5
23 357 Stewart Friesen 185 185 -1,164 0 1 1 3
24 16 Mike Bowman 181 181 -1,168 0 0 0 5
25 48T Dave Rauscher 162 162 -1,187 0 0 0 5
26 21 Yan Bussiere 161 161 -1,188 0 0 1 3
27 1w Billy Pauch 152 152 -1,197 0 0 2 2
28 22 Mario Clair 152 152 -1,197 0 0 0 3
29 32c Vic Coffey 145 145 -1,204 0 1 1 3
30 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 144 144 -1,205 0 0 0 5
31 62s Tom Sears Jr. 142 142 -1,207 0 0 0 4
32 11j Sean Beardsley 139 139 -1,210 0 0 0 4
33 91h Chad Homan 134 134 -1,215 0 0 0 4
34 19 Tim Fuller 130 130 -1,219 0 1 1 2
35 46 Kayle Robidoux 125 125 -1,224 0 0 2 2
36 5 Jason Potter 125 125 -1,224 0 0 0 4
37 HR2 Jimmy Horton 121 121 -1,228 0 0 0 2
38 89b Todd Burley 120 120 -1,229 0 1 1 3
39 88 Steve Hulsizer 115 115 -1,234 0 0 0 3
40 14w Ryan Watt 111 111 -1,238 0 0 0 2
41 19 Kenny Brightbill 111 111 -1,238 0 0 1 2
42 30 Jamie Mills 110 110 -1,239 0 1 1 1
43 71 David VanHorn Jr. 109 109 -1,240 0 0 0 2
44 30 H.J. Bunting III 103 103 -1,246 1 1 1 1
45 15x Billy Pauch Jr. 103 103 -1,246 0 0 0 2
46 85 Wade Hendrickson 103 103 -1,246 0 0 1 2
47 26 Rick Richner 100 100 -1,249 0 0 0 2
48 44 Shannon Whaley 100 100 -1,249 0 0 0 3
49 26 Ryan Godown 98 98 -1,251 0 0 0 2
50 3 Claude Brouillard 98 98 -1,251 0 0 0 2
51 19 Chuck McKee 96 96 -1,253 0 1 1 1
52 126 Jeff Strunk 96 96 -1,253 0 1 1 1
53 23 Dany Bilodeau 96 96 -1,253 0 0 0 2
54 123 Robbie Krull 96 96 -1,253 0 1 1 1
55 42 Pete Bicknell 95 95 -1,254 0 0 0 2
56 24 Jim Witko Jr. 92 92 -1,257 0 0 0 2
57 80 Chris Steele 92 92 -1,257 0 0 0 2
58 43 Jimmy Horton IV 90 90 -1,259 0 0 0 2
59 2 Michel Dusseault 90 90 -1,259 0 0 0 2
60 85 Dan Vauter 89 89 -1,260 0 0 0 2
61 1 David Hebert 88 88 -1,261 0 0 0 2
62 X Chad Phelps 86 86 -1,263 0 0 0 2
63 6 Pete Taylor 86 86 -1,263 0 0 0 3
64 8 Rob Bellinger 86 86 -1,263 0 0 0 3
65 47 Jerry Higbie 85 85 -1,264 0 1 1 1
66 41 Boyd MacTavish 84 84 -1,265 0 0 0 2
67 24L Carl Labonte 84 84 -1,265 0 0 0 2
68 13 Tony Steiner 83 83 -1,266 0 0 0 1
69 39w Steven Downs 83 83 -1,266 0 0 0 2
70 54 Steve Bernard 81 81 -1,268 0 0 0 2
71 6G Martin Gagné 81 81 -1,268 0 0 0 2
72 84L Eric Landry 80 80 -1,269 0 0 0 2
73 66w Wallace Stacey 80 80 -1,269 0 0 0 1
74 3b Chad Brachmann 78 78 -1,271 0 0 1 1
75 28 Scott Kerwin 76 76 -1,273 0 0 1 1
76 1x Willy Decker 68 68 -1,281 0 0 1 1
77 1c Craig VonDohren 68 68 -1,281 0 0 1 1
78 53e Ric Hill 65 65 -1,284 0 0 1 1
79 20m Jeff McGinnis 65 65 -1,284 0 0 1 1
80 17d Danny O’Brien 65 65 -1,284 0 0 1 1
Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar Modified Entries – August 15 (34)
CAR# DRIVER / HOMETOWN TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY Haun Welding Supply-Ashley Winery-Midstate Tree Service/TEO/Morrison
02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY Gypsum Express-RJ’s Excavating/Bicknell/Enders
09 Kyle Lewis/Pennellville,NY Stadium International-Piluso’s Service/Bicknell/Enders
1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT Springfield Tractor & Implements-William Fuller Masonry/TEO/JPM
1x Willy Decker/Vernon,NY Westmoreland Golf Club-Khien’s Collision/Bicknell/Enders
fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY F.X. Caprara Car Co.-Auto Value-JK Contracting/Troyer/Dan Bedell
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT 730 Truck Stop-Gypsum Logistics-Newells Garage/Bicknell/Enders
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Troyer/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY JB Motor Sports-BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY® NY Tech Supply-Antonio’s Restaurant/Troyer/Finger Lakes
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc./Bicknell/Paul Gavenda
16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY Klaben Nursery-Fulton Springs/Troyer/Finger Lakes-Bowman
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR/TEO/Enders
24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA Brenzel Construction-Bruce’s Speed Shop/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Johnson Racing-Twin G Motorsports/Troyer/Chevrolet
38 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY Bennett’s Car Care-Harris Logging & Excavating/Bicknell/Tommy Carr
42 Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Murphy Racing/Bicknell/Enders
42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA Blaise & Son Racing-Locklin’s Bottled Gas/Bicknell/Murray
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
77 Steve Planck/Cortland,NY SUNY Canton Racing-Dale Planck Racing(DPR)/TEO/Kevlar
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
83 Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY Commercial Roofing & Sheet Metal-Mullen Industrial/Bicknell/Bleskoski
83x Tim Sears/Central Square,NY Total Site Development-Stevens Masonry-Commercial Roofing/Bicknell/Morrison
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Red Parker & Son Excavating/Bicknell/Mastin
87 Shawn Donath/S. Onondaga,NY® Red Line Synthetic Oil-Behron Auto Glass/Troyer/Bill Daniels
88 Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY Thompson Road Tavern-Circle S Stables/Troyer/Kevlar
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Enders
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-Bytronics,Inc./Bicknell/Campbell
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Finger Lakes
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-Daggett Insurance-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY® Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Enders
160 Johnny Hill/Hastings,NY Aero Marina-Back-on-Track Pub-P.M. Mobile Service/TEO/Enders
SKIDMARKS
While Decker and Planck once gain took top billing in the Advance Auto Parts Series show at Brewerton, now copping 11 of the initial 16 points races, those names were also recognized further back in the field with Willy Decker (no relation) and Dale’s son Steve Planck making their own tire tracks on Friday. “I’m here to make the show, just get some seat time and not try to impress anybody,” said Steve, 18, who finished 25th after qualifying for his first-ever Advance Series race. It was just his fourth Big-Block event after netting a pair at Brewerton and one at Fulton earlier this season. “This is the same (Teo) car, pretty much identical to may father’s. You grow up and can’t wait to be on the same track as your dad, now its here. My dad does give me a couple of set-ups but most of the time he’s too busy with his own stuff. But this is a real family operation and we’re all in it together.
Collecting his first-ever DIRTcar Big-Block Modified track title last year at Brewerton, Willy Decker ranks fifth in points this season with one feature win produced in 12 starts. “We started out the season fast but got rapped in he back and the car hasn’t been the same ever since,” divulged Decker, 34, who scored four wins at Brewerton last season to capture the elusive crown. He faded to ninth Friday in the 100-lapper after drawing the pole-position start. “We were wasting races trying to figure things out so we came back with a small-block a couple weeks ago and just crushed the field. With the Big-Block Series I just need to run more shows. It would be nice to find a ride, that would make things a lot easier. We’ve got a car coming next but who knows when we’ll have it ready. We’ve been struggling pretty bad lately so the sooner the better.”
Pot Holes: Half of the 34-car field on Friday was made up of Brewerton regulars led by top-three track point earners Billy Decker, Alan Johnson and Matt Sheppard. ‘Super Matt’ was the top time trailer of the bunch as he was third fastest behind only Integra Shocks Fast Timer Brett Hearn and Brewerton/Fulton mainstay Jim Witko Jr., who travels up to Central New York every weekend from his home in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania…..Decker’s eighth Advance Series win was even sweeter as the Unadilla, New York wheelman was helping celebrate his father Floyd Decker’s birthday…..Hearn’s second straight fast time improves his all-time Advance Series leading total to 40. Hearn arrived late for his heat race after getting cut off on pit road and then slowed on the first lap to draw a caution and immediately after a chorus of boos from the partisan grandstand throng…..Standing 15th in Brewerton points entering the event, Pat O’Brien posted his first heat race win of the season. “I’ve been good in heats this year, it’s the features that have been a struggle most of the time.” …..Initial run for Pat Ward aboard Brian Murphy’s no. 42 Bicknell before a broken lid-lifter sidelined the team after time trials. More Super DIRTcar Series events could be in the future for the Genoa, New York veteran…..Jimmy Phelps said before therace that being patient and saving the tires is the only way to win a 100-lapper at Brewerton. Ironically, Phelps suffered a flat tire on just the 10th circuit to require an early caution flag yet the ‘B’Ville Blizzard’ charged back through to finish fifth…..Danny Johnson back in tour competition after spinning a couple motor bearings in last Saturday’s series stop at Canandaigua steering his trusty orange no. 27J Troyer Mud Buss…… Dale sandwiched between Danny Johnson and Chad Homan on back stretch of opening lap, suffering a collapsed front end ….
Get Out The Word First: RACEceiver is the Official Driver Communicator of DIRTcar Racing. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans will allow RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866/301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events.
Tracks Know The Score: In the ongoing effort to assist every sanctioned track with presenting the best possible race programs, DIRT has teamed with AMB i.t. which continues to be recognized as the Official Timing System of DIRTcar racing. AMB i.t. is the world’s leader in automatic race timing and scoring systems and the DIRT organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRTcar Racing events.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The mighty Mod Squad enters stage two of a big tripleheader with Can-Am Motorsports Park hosting the second straight $6,000-to-win 100-lapper on August 16 followed by Cornwall Motor Speedway on Aug. 17. The touring stars arrive at the home of DIRTcar NorthEast on Aug. 31 for Twin 54s at Cayuga County Fair Speedway.
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER
Wed-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Billy Pauch
Thr-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Fri-Feb 15 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Dale Planck
Sat-Feb 16 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jimmy Horton
Sat-Mar 22 Hagerstown Speedway Weather-Cancelled
Thr-May 1 Virginia Motor Speedway Matt Sheppard(G)
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Billy Decker(G)
Sun-May 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway Dale Planck(G)
Sun-May 25 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway D.Planck/Danny Johnson(P)
Sat-Jun 7 Fulton Speedway B.Decker/Brett Hearn(P)
Thr-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway B.Decker/Robbie Krull(P)
Thr-Jul 10 Brockville Ont Speedway B.Decker/Jimmy Phelps(P)
Fri-Jul 11 Autodrome Granby Brett Hearn(G)
Sat-Jul 12 Autodrome Drummond D.Planck/Steve Paine(P)
Wed-Jul 16 Grandview Speedway B.Decker/Jeff Strunk(P)
Thr-Jul 17 Georgetown Speedway H.J. Bunting III(G)
Thr-Jul 31 Orange Co Fair Speedway B.Hearn/Chuck McKee(P)
Mon-Aug 4 Merrittville Speedway Jimmy Phelps(G)
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway B.Decker/Vic Coffey(P)
Sat-Aug 9 Canandaigua Speedway B.Decker/Justin Haers(P)
Fri-Aug 15 Brewerton Speedway B.Decker/Gary Tomkins(P)
Sat-Aug 16 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sun-Aug 17 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sat-Sep 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY
Fri-Sep 12 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Sat-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 12 New York State Fairgrounds Syracuse,NY
Sun-Oct 19 Orange Co Fair Speedway Middletown,NY
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As of April 19, 2008, the Company operated 3,291 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at http://www.advanceautoparts.com.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SERIES SPONSORS
The Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series for Big-Block Modifieds is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts and Hoosier Racing Tire. Rite Aid Corporation is a promotional partner and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks, Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Dig Safely New York, Holley HP Carburetors, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks, Rislone Oil Stabilizer and Wrisco Industries.
