Middletown, NY — June 17, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Bob Armbruster Photo: Top-3 Finishers
Defending overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar points champion Billy Decker prevailed through the elements Wednesday night at Orange County Fair Speedway, capturing his first Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event of the year in the Benjamin Moore Paints-Mohegan Sun ‘The Big Show’ presented by event promoter Brett Hearn.
Decker first waited through over an hour delay for a freak generator fire, then coasted around the slickening 5/8-mile Middletown oval for a half-dozen laps in the rain before officials dropped the final checkered flag with 59 of the scheduled 100 laps complete.
“I don’t care if it was a 15-lapper, that would’ve been good enough for me,” remarked Decker, 44, following his 50th career Advance Series victory that was his third at Orange County. Worth a cool $6,000 to the Unadilla, New York pilot, his DIRTcar Northeast circuit high seventh feature win of 2009 vaulted him from 13th to fourth in the series standings through three events.
“The series has been a little tough on us so far. We’re back there in points but its not a result of how the car has been running, just the way things have gone for us. This whole LJL Racing team is a lot better program than that and I think tonight is a little more indicative of what this team is capable of,” said Decker, who placed 15th in the Advance Series lid-lifter at Big Diamond Raceway and followed up with an 18th-place finish in round two at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Looking for his second straight series victory at Orange County, Danny Johnson settled for second-place followed by race host Hearn, Southern Tier talent Mitch Gibbs and Xtreme Lubricants Slick Move of the Race award winner Tommy Meier. Crossing the line under caution in top-10 slots were local runner Gary Edwards Jr., Canadian invader Stewart Friesen, second-generation standout Dale Planck, and tour followers Gary Tomkins and Justin Haers, while OCFS mainstay Craig Mitchell and teenager Larry Wight were the last drivers scored on the lead lap.
A stellar field of 62 DIRTcar Modified entries packed the fairgrounds infield pits for the initial Driven Marketing Group production spearheaded by Hearn and his partners Rich Wordon (marketing) and Tom Genova (financial advisor). Fresh off his flag-to-flag victory June 6 at Lebanon Valley, Matt Sheppard blistered the ‘Hard Clay’ oval in a time of 20.278 seconds for an average speed of 110.958 mph to set a new track record.
Under racing conditions however, ‘Super Matt’ drew the no. 3 pill to invert the same number for each of the six qualifying heats and missed out by one position to relegate him to the consolation round. Decker and Johnson both copped their respective heat races while Decker was most fortunate as he snagged the pole-position start in the customary pre-race draw among the top-two qualifiers.
Battling a grim forecast from the time the track gates opened in mid-afternoon and getting further backed up by a faulty generator wire in the early evening hours, the 31-car feature field finally charged to the opening green at 10:50 p.m. Front row partner Edwards drove around Decker as the lead duo raced out of turn two on the initial circuit with Friesen, Johnson and Planck filling out the front-five with a handful of laps complete.
Chief starter Dave Farney unfurled the first of just two yellow flags on lap 10 when Orange County favorite Jerry Higbie slowed off the pace in turn one at the same instant that hard clay veteran Rich Eurich pulled his mount pitside. Edwards and Decker resumed their battle up front with the green lights back on, while Johnson disposed of Friesen and Gibbs moved into the fray through 15 laps.
Decker finally slipped the nose of his LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell machine under Edwards to lead lap 27 yet Edwards regained the point the next time around to salvage a half-car advantage at the end of 28. Not to be denied, Decker mirrored his move on the inside lane and forged the final lead change up front with 29 laps scored and precipitation starting to fall.
“I was trying to make a move from lap one but (Gary) just wasn’t being very cooperative,” stated Decker, who last won a tour race at Orange County in 2006 with his first registered in the 1998 edition of Eastern States Weekend. “He was relay getting around pretty good early on.”
“He just ended up getting a little loose in turn three and that’s the spot I had the best move on him. Just had to wait and stay with it as our car really came to us after about 10 laps. Almost had to give him the standing eight count,” Decker said.
Watching the top contenders jockey back-and-forth in the early stages, Johnson moved under Edwards on lap 31 although still trailing Decker by almost 20 car-lengths while Gibbs, Hearn and Edwards went head to toe for the next dozen laps. Starting in 13th position, Meier cracked the front-five for the first time on lap 42 with Hearn slipping by Gibbs as the halfway point closed in.
With 50 laps on the scoreboard, Decker, Johnson and Hearn stood solid among the top-three with Gibbs and Meier looking to make bid during the second half of the century grind. But when Ryan Phelps slowed on the back straightway to bring out the second caution period, the light showers intensified and the curtain finally dropped on The Big Show just minutes later.
“The car was really fun to drive, then it started to rain and you couldn’t see very good,” added Decker, who used a record-tying 10 tour victories to secure DIRTcar Northeast’s top honor last autumn. His dominance was displayed further as he led more than twice as many feature laps as any driver while setting a tour-high five Integra Shocks Fast Times.
“If you got out of line, especially getting into the turns, the car just squeezed up underneath you really easy. Not really knowing what kind of lead you had and not seeing that good, I was running pretty hard the whole time,” Decker added.
The closest Johnson came to Decker’s rear bumper was during the final caution period, by that time it was too late and the Doctor’s bid for a seventh Advance Series trophy at Orange County came up one spot shy.
“This is almost like a win to us, I gotta thank all the fans for persevering because its the true race fans that came here today,” said Johnson, 49, who moved to second in the Advance Series standings still 68 points behind perennial rival Hearn. “It was great show, hats off to everyone that made it possible.”
“The rain coming didn’t really change our plans, we were moving on right from the start, that’s all we had to give her. We knew the rain was there, I could feel it hitting my face there at the end. You didn’t know if the front end was going to slide up or stick, its just a tough racing in the rain,” Johnson noted.
Drawing ninth to fill inside row five on the start grid, Hearn was hoping to land his 12th Advance Series win at Orange County, the site of his landmark 100th career tour triumph last July.
“I don’t even want to talk about third-place tonight, we packed the grandstand but I’m really, really sorry for all the stuff that happened tonight,” apologized Hearn, 50, trying to gain forgiveness from the crowd despite having no control of the weather or grounds equipment on this historic occasion. The fans seemed sympathetic to Hearn’s plight, offering a rare round of applause rather than a chorus of boos that have accompanied nearly 300 of his victories scored at OCFS since 1975. “But I’m also very relieved we got it in, hopefully everybody went feeling like they saw a feature and it was a good race.”
“From a racer’s standpoint, I figure with a couple more yellows I could’ve made a race out of this thing but on the other hand I’m really happy we got to lap 50. I think it was a very competitive race with a lot of passing.”
“All I can say is that we had a lot of things planned, I’m extremely disappointed that we didn’t get to pull off some of the things like driver introductions and a four-wide parade lap …. I totally apologize for having to rush through this thing but I appreciate everybody’s blessing and support they gave me for doing this and taking it on, especially my racer friends.”
Concluded Hearn, “As a promoter I learned all the things that can go against you. We had a great forecast for 10 days, no rain in the forecast. And we come here the day of the race and they start talking about rain coming in here at 10 o’clock. I few people stayed away but we still had a great, I have to be very thankful for that.”
A number of racers were also thankful for Hearn’s diligence in securing sponsorship for his inaugural event. Bilstein provided both the fifth and 10-place feature finishers a pair of large canister shocks, the runner-up and 12th-place finisher collected $100 product certificates from Fast Axle, while Joe Gibbs Racing rewarded the third and sixth-place finishers a case of brake cleaner and a case of degreaser to the fourth and seventh-place finishers.
In addition, VP Racing Fuels awarded the halfway leader with a $250 bonus, $50 went to each heat race winner on behalf of Valken Racing Wheels, while Dave’s Racing Collectibles paid out $50 to the fast timer in each group of time trials. In a special 50-50 drawing, the winning ticket-holder took home a pair of light truck shocks valued at $325. While the Bart Contractors B-Main was washed out, the $2,000 winner’s share was divided evenly among all scheduled participants as the night came to a close.
Rounds four and five of the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series arrive in time for the holiday as Ransomville Speedway and Fulton Speedway host Fourth of July specials with valuable points on the line towards the overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship in both events.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #3 – Orange County Fair Speedway, June 17, 2009 Brett Hearn presents Benjamin Moore Paints-Mohegan Sun ‘The Big Show 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY ($6,000)
2 5 66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
3 9 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 8 673 Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
5 13 33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ
6 2 21jr. Gary Edwards Jr./Bloomingburg,NY
7 3 1f Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
8 6 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
9 16 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
10 10 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
11 12 93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY
12 14 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
13 15 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
14 11 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
15 30 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
16 28 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
17 19 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
18 23 11 Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
19 18 4 Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
20 31 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
21 22 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
22 24 21m Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY
23 21 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
24 7 4h Duane Howard/Oley,PA
25 27 24v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
26 29 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
27 17 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
28 4 47 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY
29 20 12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
30 26 10e Rich Eurich/Warwick,NY
DNS 25 21 Clinton Mills/Middletown,NY
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS: Edwards (1-26), Decker (27), Edwards (28), Decker (29-59).
CAUTIONS: 2 for 11 laps (10-12, 52-59).
VALKEN RACING WHEELS HEAT WINNERS: D.Johnson, Haers, Howard, Higbie, Decker, Ward.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Sheppard, J.Johnson, Flach.
BART CONTRACTORS B-MAIN: Rain-Cancelled.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Billy Decker.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Danny Johnson.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Billy Decker.
ALL-STAR WEEKEND EXEMPTION DASH QUALIFIER: Danny Johnson.
VP RACING FUELS HALFWAY LEADER: Billy Decker.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Jimmy Phelps.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Tommy Meier.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (21st): Ryan Phelps.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Matt Sheppard (20.278sec/110.958mph)
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 62.
NEXT EVENT: Ransomville Speedway “CWM Chemical 100” – July 3, 2009.
DID NOT QUALIFY(31)
X-Ben Rizzo/Middletown,NY
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
2-Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
4b-Donnie Wilson/Ramsey,NJ
6-Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ
7k-Kirk Horton/Eldred,NY
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
10-Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY
14-Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
15-Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
17-Elmo Reckner/Ballston Lake,NY
j17-Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
17k-Chuck McKee/Middletown,NY
23-Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ
25-Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
26-Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
34-Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
40-Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ
m40-Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
53-Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ
70-Eric Acquaro/New Windsor,NY
71-David VanHorn Jr./Phillipsburg,NJ
73-Rick Mill/New Windsor,NY
73j-John Marsh Jr./Johnstown,NY
79-Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
85-Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
88-Steve Dodd/Middletown,NY
88c-Rich Laubach/Quakertown,PA
98-Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
115-Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
267-Mike Barone/Hillsborough,NJ
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
*1 20.278 110.958 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
*NEW TRACK RECORD *$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 20.288 110.903 66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
3 20.340 110.619 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
4 20.347 110.581 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
5 20.372 110.446 71 David VanHorn Jr./Phillipsburg,NJ
6 20.377 110.419 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 20.436 110.100 12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
8 20.450 110.024 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
9 20.475 109.890 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
10 20.491 109.804 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
11 20.540 109.542 1f Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
12 20.564 109.415 33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ
13 20.579 109.335 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
14 20.606 109.191 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
15 20.629 109.070 21m Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY
16 20.696 108.717 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
17 20.698 108.706 4h Duane Howard/Oley,PA
18 20.748 108.444 47 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY
19 20.754 108.413 53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ
20 20.771 108.324 4 Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
21 20.781 108.272 93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY
22 20.802 108.163 21jr. Gary Edwards Jr./Bloomingburg,NY
23 20.807 108.137 11 Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
24 20.821 108.064 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
25 20.845 107.940 88c Rich Laubach/Quakertown,PA
26 20.862 107.852 24v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
27 20.869 107.815 43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
28 20.888 107.717 673 Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
29 20.904 107.635 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
30 20.934 107.481 21 Clinton Mills/Middletown,NY
31 20.956 107.368 98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
32 20.971 107.291 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
33 20.972 107.286 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
34 20.977 107.260 m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
35 20.986 107.214 10 Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY
20.986 107.214 10e Rich Eurich/Warwick,NY
37 21.001 107.138 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
38 21.018 107.051 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
39 21.040 106.939 14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
40 21.048 106.899 26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
41 21.127 106.499 73 Rick Mill/New Windsor,NY
42 21.156 106.353 25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
43 21.190 106.182 17k Chuck McKee/Middletown,NY
44 21.221 106.027 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
45 21.250 105.882 j17 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
46 21.272 105.773 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
47 21.329 105.490 40 Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ
48 21.398 105.150 7k Kirk Horton/Eldred,NY
49 21.402 105.130 17 Elmo Reckner/Ballston Lake,NY
50 21.438 104.954 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
51 21.469 104.802 15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
52 21.539 104.462 4b Donnie Wilson/Ramsey,NJ
53 21.578 104.273 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
54 21.584 104.244 73j John Marsh Jr./Johnstown,NY
55 21.606 104.138 85 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
56 21.671 103.825 267 Mike Barone/Hillsborough,NJ
57 21.734 103.524 23 Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ
58 21.865 102.904 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
59 22.001 102.268 6 Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ
60 22.691 99.158 X Ben Rizzo/Middletown,NY
61 24.765 90.854 70 Eric Acquaro/New Windsor,NY
62 -NT- —– 88 Steve Dodd/Middletown,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature; top 2 redrew)
#1: D.Johnson, Gibbs, Meier, Sheppard, Marshall, J.Horton, Brownell, Heotzler, Tonkin, Acquaro, Marsh.
#2: Haers, Friesen, Wight, R.Phelps, Mills, M.Forte, Mill, VanHorn, Reckner, Rizzo, Dodd (DNS).
#3: Howard, Edwards, Fuller, Creeden, Eurich, Laubach, Godown, J.Phelps, Wilson, R.Forte.
#4: Higbie, Mitchell, Tomkins, J.Johnson, Kolka, Markle, Greene, Barone, A.Johnson, Carberry (DNS).
#5: Decker, Hearn, Shultz, McGannon, Varin, Hindley, Hill, Scagliotta, Lamb, McAleer.
#6: Ward, Planck, Storms, Flach, McKee, Dunn, Bachetti, K.Horton, Tremont, R.Johnson.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (8 laps, top 3 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Sheppard, R.Phelps, Mills, Marshall, Tonkin, Forte, Mill, Reckner, VanHorn, J.Horton (DNS), Brownell (DNS), Heotzler (DNS), Acquaro (DNS), Marsh (DNS), Dodd (DNS).
#2: J.Johnson, Creeden, Eurich, Kolka, Markle, Godown, Laubach, Barone, Wilson, R.Forte, Greene, A.Johnson, J.Phelps, Carberry (DNS).
#3: Flach, McGannon, Varin, McKee, Dunn, Bachetti, Hindley, Hill, K.Horton, Scagliotta, McAleer, Rizzo, Tremont, R.Johnson (DNS).
B-Main: (20 laps) Rain-Cancelled.
Guaranteed: Dunn, A.Johnson, J.Phelps, Brownell.
Advance Auto Parts Series Point Standings (Through June 17, 2009)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 20 Brett Hearn 281 281 0 0 3 3 3
2 66 Danny Johnson 213 213 -68 0 1 2 3
3 98H Jimmy Phelps 212 212 -69 0 1 2 3
4 91 Billy Decker 206 206 -75 1 1 1 3
5 77x Dale Planck 196 196 -85 0 0 2 3
6 9s Matt Sheppard 196 196 -85 1 1 1 3
7 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 186 186 -95 0 1 1 3
8 84 Gary Tomkins 182 182 -99 0 0 2 3
9 3 Justin Haers 175 175 -106 0 0 1 3
10 99 Ryan Phelps 166 166 -115 0 1 1 3
11 4s Mike Storms 163 163 -118 0 0 1 3
12 14J Alan Johnson 153 153 -128 0 0 1 3
13 4 Duane Howard 150 150 -131 1 1 1 2
14 49 Billy Dunn 146 146 -135 0 0 0 3
15 99L Larry Wight 142 142 -139 0 0 0 3
16 74 Tim Fuller 112 112 -169 0 0 0 2
17 43 Keith Flach 111 111 -170 0 0 0 2
18 34b Andy Bachetti 110 110 -171 0 1 1 1
19 673 Mitch Gibbs 88 88 -193 0 1 1 1
20 60 Brian Berger 86 86 -195 0 1 1 1
21 33.3 Tommy Meier 81 81 -200 0 1 1 1
22 77F Mark Flach Jr. 81 81 -200 0 1 1 1
23 21Jr Gary Edwards 79 79 -202 0 0 1 1
24 57 Donnie Corellis 77 77 -204 0 0 1 1
25 8p Billy Pauch Jr. 76 76 -205 0 0 1 1
26 1F Stewart Friesen 75 75 -206 0 0 1 1
27 42 Guy Sheldon 71 71 -210 0 0 1 1
28 98 Eddie Marshall 66 66 -215 0 0 0 1
29 88c Rich Laubach 66 66 -215 0 0 0 1
30 93x Craig Mitchell 63 63 -218 0 0 0 1
31 FX1 Frankie Caprara 62 62 -219 0 0 1 1
32 42p Pat Ward 59 59 -222 0 0 0 1
33 64 Donnie Ackner 59 59 -222 0 0 0 1
34 62 Tom Sears Jr. 58 58 -223 0 0 0 1
35 26 Ryan Godown 57 57 -224 0 0 0 1
36 37x Tom Scheetz Jr. 56 56 -225 0 0 0 1
37 14 Jimmy Horton 53 53 -228 0 0 0 1
38 88 Krey Sandstedt 52 52 -229 0 0 0 1
39 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 51 51 -230 0 0 0 1
40 6 Mike McAleer 51 51 -230 0 0 0 1
41 1H Tim Hindley 50 50 -231 0 0 0 1
42 11 Danny Creeden 46 46 -235 0 0 0 1
43 47 Jerry Higbie 45 45 -236 0 0 0 1
44 55 Mike King 45 45 -236 0 0 0 1
45 34 Steve Hough 45 45 -236 0 0 0 1
46 87 Hector Stratton 44 44 -237 0 0 0 1
47 21m Bob McGannon 42 42 -239 0 0 0 1
48 44 Frank Cozze 42 42 -239 0 0 0 1
49 24s Chris Shultz 41 41 -240 0 0 0 1
50 24v Bobby Varin 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
51 12a Jack Johnson 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
52 10e Rich Eurich 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
53 28 Richie Pratt Jr. 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
54 33 Ray Swinehart 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
55 117 Kevin Hirthler 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
56 1c Craig VonDohren 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
57 126 Billy Pauch 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
58 39 Ryan Larkin 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
59 87x Paul Gilardi 40 40 -241 0 0 0 1
60 8 Rich Scagliotta 30 30 -251 0 0 0 0
61 07 Tim Kerr 20 20 -261 0 0 0 0
62 X Ben Rizzo 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
63 15 Brett Tonkin 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
64 17k Chuck McKee 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
65 21e Clinton Mills 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
66 1 Darwin Greene 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
67 71 David Van Horn Jr. 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
68 4B Donnie Wilson 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
69 17 Elmo Reckner 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
70 70 Eric Acquaro 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
71 17J Jeff Heotzler 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
72 79 Jeremy Markle 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
73 73J John Marsh 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
74 7K Kirk Horton 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
75 m40 Mark Forte Jr 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
76 40 Ryan Forte 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
77 267 Mike Barone 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
78 25 Mike Kolka 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
79 53 Ric Hill 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
80 73 Rick Mill 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
81 2RJ Ronnie Johnson 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
82 88 Steve Dodd 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
83 85 Ted Lamb 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
84 23 Tom Carberry Jr. 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
85 27 Troy Wink 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
86 6 Pat O’Brien 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
87 53 Mike Gular 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
88 41 Jeff Strunk 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
89 00 Doug Manmiller 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
90 69 Bob Trapper 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
91 87J Wayne Jelley 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
92 171 Tom Faxon 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
93 347 Skip Fox 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
94 24s Rich Salisbury 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
95 20 Matt Quinn 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
96 518 Kyle Sheldon 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
97 21 Kris Bradbury 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
98 7 John Ruchel Jr. 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
99 77J J.C. Flach 10 10 -271 0 0 0 0
Advance Auto Parts DIRTcar Modified Entries – June 17 (62)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
X Ben Rizzo/Middletown,NY Gross-Graphics-Turner Trucks/TEO/Precision(358)
1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA Greene Quality Bluestone-Blue Diamond Tools-TJ’s NAPA/Bicknell/Jensen Tech
1f Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT Jeff Daley & Sons Oil Service-Buzz Chew Chevrolet/TEO/Enders
2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Teo Pro Car-Palmer’s Service-B0dry/TEO/JPM
3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY Phelps Cement Products-SMV Motorsports-Jeff Jolly Masonry/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
4 Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ Keizer Aluminum Wheels-Mike Sparta Trckng-Four Star Transmissions/TEO/Morrison
4b Donnie Wilson/Ramsey,NJ Armbruster Racing-Wilson’s Auto & Truck/TEO/Precision(358)
4h Duane Howard/Oley,PA BPG Racing-Mavericks Motorcycle Club-Alex’s Lemonade/Troyer/Feil
6 Mike McAleer/Tabernacle,NJ C&S Equipment-Pondish & Sons Excavating/Troyer/H&G Associates
7k Kirk Horton/Eldred,NY Black Bear Fuel-Shadow Shocks/PMC/Carl Horton(358)
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
10 Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works Excavation/TEO/Precision
10e Rich Eurich/Warwick,NY Collier Motor Car-Lain’s Auto Parts-AZ Trucking/Bicknell/Wally Fiehl
11 Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY R.G.H. Construction-Mid Hudson Construction Management/TEO/Dan Bedell
12a Jack Johnson/Duanesburg,NY Palmer’s Service Center-Witz Roofing-Krug Home Builders/TEO/JPM
14 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ Alpha Mills-Reiley & Sterner Auto Sales-Josie’s Place-BOSS/TEO/Enders
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Raymond Car Care/Bicknell/Chevrolet
15 Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA Grimm Construction-G&G Towing/Bicknell/Wally Fiehl
17 Elmo Reckner/Ballston Lake,NY Holmes Excavating LLC-Allen’s Snowplowing/TEO/Walt Markert
j17 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY Mike Sparta trucking-Alex’s Marine/Bicknell/Joe Beyea
17k Chuck McKee/Middletown,NY Black Bear Fuel-Shadow Shocks/PMC/Carl Horton
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
21 Clinton Mills/Middletown,NY Placid Property Maintenance-Maintenance Plus/Bicknell/Gary Edwards Sr.
21m Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY Pine Bush Equipment-McGannon Excavating/TEO/Morrison
21jr. Gary Edwards Jr./Bloomingburg,NY Placid Property Maintenance-Image Tree Service/TEO/Gary Edwards Sr.
23 Tom Carberry/Hopewell,NJ Bucks County River Country-Equipment Zone-PennFab/Bicknell/Burnett-Wegner
24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY Liberty Rock Crushing-Bob’s Garage/TEO/JPM
24v Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY Liberty Rock Crushing-Bob’s Garage/TEO/JPM
25 Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY Distinctive Hardwood Floors-Minisink Paving/Bicknell/Precision
26 Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ Stanton Hills Landscaping-Champion Tire-Art’s Radiator-Metal Fab/Bicknell/JPM
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants-Seneca Auto Sales/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ Barry’s Lawn Service-Pearseco Construction/Bicknell/Meserendina
34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA Albraeda Waste LLC-Steve Hough Motors-Garrity Asphalt/PMC/Morrison
40 Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ Wildside Custom Trailers & Truck Conversion-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
m40 Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ Chickie’s & Pete’s Crabhouse-BSR Products/TEO/Finger Lakes
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
43 Keith Flach/Ravena,NY Flach Crane & Rigging-Gould Erectors & Riggers/BRP/Enders
47 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY Beaverkill Trout Hatchery-Superior Building Supply-Team Shaver/Bicknell/Precision
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ Escape RV-Double D Racing-Valley Mason Supply/TEO/JPM
66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Atlas Paving-Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/TEO/JPM
70 Eric Acquaro/New Windsor,NY D&D Auto Supply-Hudson Valley Auto Electric/TEO/Ammirati(358)
71 David VanHorn Jr./Phillipsburg,NJ Harmony Sand&Gravel-Diamond Hart Ent.-Art’s Radiator/TEO/D.VanHorn,Sr.
73 Rick Mill/New Windsor,NY Frank Stevens & Sons Roofing-Peak Racing Equipment/Bicknell/Simonek
73j John Marsh Jr./Johnstown,NY John’s Auto Service Center-Adirondack Construction & Electrical/Bicknell/JPM
74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations-Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO/Precision
77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY RezX Racing-Grow It Hydroseeding-Action Race Parts-Teo Fab./TEO/Kevlar
79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY Len & Jo’s Restaurant-Advance Recovery/Bicknell/Precision
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell/Mastin
85 Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY M.R. Burdick Enterprises-Fergison Water Works/TEO/Morrison
88 Steve Dodd/Middletown,NY Boyce Excavating-Todd Lyons Paving-Spiro&Spiro Electric/Bicknell/JPM
88c Rich Laubach/Quakertown,PA Clay Realty Group-Paradise Beach Realty/TEO/Lombardo
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY FPHATS.com-J&J Auto Maintenance-Dom’s Towing/PMC/Enders
98 Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT Marshall Oil Co.-Advance Water Technologies-R&M Heating & AC/TEO/Enders
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Bruneau
99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY S&S Asphalt-Rifenburg Construction-Park East Sales/Bicknell/Tremont
267 Mike Barone/Hillsborough,NJ Century Tube-Landscape Materials Inc./Bicknell/TK High Performance
673 Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY Mike Sparta Trucking-RM Tuit Paving/Bicknell/JPM
SKIDMARKS
Practice Was Perfect: The fastest timers in all six practice sessions ducked under the Orange County single-lap record with Danny Johnson (20.457 sec.), Larry Wight (20.618), Gary Edwards Jr. (20.611), Craig Mitchell (20.691), Billy Decker (20.461) and Pat Ward (20.751) undercutting the mark set by David VanHorn (20.710) in last July’s Series stop. Matt Sheppard continued the torrid pace in Integra Shocks Time Trials that followed immediately after, establishing a new track standard of 20.278 sec. (110.958 mph) with the 17 fastest cars all bettering the previous record. 2008 OCFS points champion VanHorn posted a 20.372-second lap (5th fastest) before slamming the turn one/two wall in second time trial session that forced him to unload the back-up no. 71 Harmony Sand & Gravel/TEO machine.
Hot Lapse: After a wire blew in the generator situated just beyond the turn four half-covered grandstands —ultimately closed in the aftermath— a small fire resulted forcing fans to evacuate before the heat races could be run off. The 90-minute delay was actively filled with Quad Wars competition on the front stretch along with numerous pitside driver interviews conducted by Joel Murns that enlightened the capacity crowd in attendance. However, during the unexpected intermission the raindrops began to fall over the fairgrounds and soon after the blackened skies let loose to curtail the Modified main event just beyond the halfway point.
Autographs Abound: Advance Series current point earners were swamped by autograph seekers as a dozen drivers participated in the pre-race program outside the 31st Lap located in the familiar fairgrounds midway. Brett Hearn, Jimmy Phelps, Matt Sheppard, Jeff Brownell Jr., Dale Planck, Ryan Phelps, Mike Storms, Gary Tomkins, Justin Haers, Duane Howard plus defending Mr. DIRTcar Champion Billy Decker and ’08 Rookie of the Year Larry Wight spent a half-hour signing everything from posters and hero cards to racing caps and t-shirts to the delight of the hundreds of fans on hand. Many copies of the sold-out special edition ‘Big Show’ souvenir program produced by Steve Barrick at Program Dynamics were also used with fans able to fill out a Top-5 Feature Finish ballot that was designed to award one lucky winner a $1,000 top prize if the correct order was selected.
UPCOMING EVENTS
With round number three of the ’09 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series in the record book, Big-Block Modified teams get a two-week break from tour competition. Yet once the Independence Day holiday arrives, the vacation is over as a half-dozen extra-distance events fill up 10 straight days while the All-Star 100 spectacular in Cayuga County includes an entire weekend of trackside activities to end the month. Back-to-back century grinds at Ransomville and Fulton kick off activity in the states before teams cross the border for the ‘Great Canadian Tour’ —- a four-day, four-race test for both man and machine featuring 400 laps of feature race action in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. $20,000 awaits the July 19 winner of the inaugural All-Star 100.
2009 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event; SP=Show-Up Point event.
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE TRACK WINNER/LOCATION
Wed-Feb 11 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Thr-Feb 12 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Pat Ward
Fri-Feb 13 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Jamie Mills
Sat-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park-NP Brett Hearn
Sat-Mar 28 Hagerstown Speedway rain-cancelled
Sun-Apr 26 Big Diamond Raceway Duane Howard
Sat-Jun 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway Matt Sheppard
Sun-Jun 7 Airborne Speedway rain-cancelled
Wed-Jun 17 Orange Co Fair Speedway Bily Decker
Fri-Jul 3 Ransomville Speedway Ransomville,NY
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Fulton,NY
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brockville,ONT
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Granby,QUE
Sat-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
Sun-Jul 12 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY ($20,000-to-win)
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Thorold,ONT
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Brewerton,NY
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Thr-Aug 27 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon,NY ($17,500-to-win)
Sun-Sep 6 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Weedsport,NY
Mon-Sep 7 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Fri-Sep 11 Lernerville Speedway Sarver,PA
Sat-Sep 19 -TBA-
Sat-Sep 26 Rolling Wheels Raceway Elbridge,NY
Sun-Oct 11 New York State Fairgrnds Syracuse,NY ($50,000-to-win)
Sun-Oct 18 -TBA-
Sun-Oct 25 -TBA-
DIRTcar Racing Northeast main office is located in Weedsport, New York on the Cayuga County Fairgrounds www.cayugacountyfairspeedway.com, home of the 2009 DIRTcar All-Star Weekend, July 17-19, featuring Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Championship Series events for Sportsman and Big-Block Modifieds in the richest short-track show of its kind in the nation — the $20,000-to-win Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series “DIRTcar All-Star 100” on Sunday, July 19.
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 www.advanceautoparts.com.
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, Hoosier Racing Tire www.hoosiertire.com and VP Racing Fuels www.vpracingfuels.com. Promotional partners include Rite Aid Corporation www.riteaid.com, Dig Safely New York www.digsafelynewyork.com and the University of Northwestern Ohio www.unoh.com and the contingency sponsors are Bars Leaks www.barsproducts.com, Bert Transmission www.berttransmission.com, Bicknell Racing Products www.bicknellracingproducts.com, Bilstein Shocks www.bilstein.com, Brodix Cylinder Heads www.brodix.com, Ferris Industries www.ferrisindustries.com, Integra Shocks www.integrashocksandsprings.com, Intercomp www.intercomp-racing.com, KSE Racing Products www.kse-racing.com, Motorsports Safety Systems www.motorsportssafetysystems.com, Penske Shocks, www.penskeshocks.com, Racing Electronics www.racingelectronics.com, Rislone Oil Stabilizer www.barsproducts.com and Wrisco Industries www.wrisco.com.
