Brewerton, NY — August 7, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Chris Marks Photo
The 2009 Super DIRTcar Series has suddenly turned into the ‘Super Matt’ Series as Matt Sheppard dominated the Northeast premier Big-Block Modified tour for the second straight race, climbing to the top in the ‘Summit Motors 100’ Friday night at Brewerton Speedway.
For the second time in five days for Sheppard it was a third-miler taking center stage and the second-generation star from Waterloo, N.Y. grabbing all the spotlight as he dusted the field en route to his latest $6,000 triumph at the ‘D-Shaped DIRT Demon.’
“We were real good at Merrittville and we didn’t touch the car this week, I mean didn’t touch ONE thing on it,” remarked Sheppard, 27, following his second straight victory at Brewerton that gives him three on both the series and at his Friday home track. “Came here with the same exact deal and it was good again tonight, so we’re definitely going to write it down and put that in the notebook for later.”
Veteran Alan Johnson remained in contention from the opening green flag before settling for runner-up laurels, with local favorite Jimmy Phelps, cousin Ryan Phelps and defending track and Mr. DIRTcar Champion Billy Decker rounding out the front-five. Danny Johnson crossed the line seventh to earn a guaranteed starting berth in the prestigious Rite Aid 200 Championship race on Oct. 11 of Super DIRT Week XXXVIII at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
Despite drawing the pole to start the 100-lap finale, Sheppard dropped to second behind front row partner Dale Planck with Jimmy Phelps, Decker and Alan Johnson picking up chase further back. Just as Chris Hile looped his mount in turn to force out the first of only three yellow flags, Johnson unseated Decker in the fourth slot to move outside for the ensuing lap nine restart.
Only two more laps clicked off before third-place starter Gary Tomkins spun all alone in the first corner collecting Larry Wight in the aftermath. Sheppard hounded Planck back under green flag conditions until finally forging the first lead change as the top two crossed the stripe to complete lap 26.
The third and final caution period arrived on lap 30 when Sean Beardsley suffered a flat left-rear tire, giving Johnson, Planck, Decker and Jimmy Phelps another chance to keep pace with the speeding Sheppard. Decker was first to take advantage, jumping past Planck on the last restart, blasting out of turn four high around Johnson on lap 33, then completing the forward charge outside of Sheppard as the leaders crossed the line side-by-side the next time around.
Johnson grabbed second by lap 40 with Sheppard hanging tight just ahead of Jimmy Phelps and Planck, but Sheppard returned the favor almost immediately and the JB Motorsports no. 9s Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell entry disposed of Decker soonafter with half the race in the record book.
Sheppard wasted little time pulling away from the pack while Decker went in the opposite direction as the race wore on. Jimmy Phelps overtook Decker for third on lap 73 and just four circuits later Ryan Phelps dropped Decker to fifth where he would stay for the remainder.
With traffic stretched around the entire speedway, the leaders made three-wide maneuvers regularly although their lane choice differed as the laps dwindled. Sheppard swept around heavyweights Justin Haers and Vic Coffey to complete lap 80 while Johnson split lapped cars twice in the final 10 laps to stay in reach. In the end it never mattered as Sheppard opened up an eight-car margin under the final checkered flag.
Finishing out of the top-five for the first time in 11 events this season was current Super DIRTcar Series points leader Brett Hearn, followed by Danny Johnson, Pat Ward, and Canadians Stewart Friesen and Pat O’Brien, who was the last driver to complete the entire distance.
“The car was probably better than what I showed,” noted Sheppard, after increasing his DIRTcar Northeast Big-Block Modified-best feature win total to 13 with his first career series victory at Brewerton. “You never know with this place so I just tried to take it conservative and ride around the bottom, plugged away and was able to sneak back by. I’m sure Alan was right there. We had a good car, might’ve been a little better than what I showed but I definitely wanted to take it easy.”
“These Bicknell chassis have been awesome and the cars are really dialed in with these Integra Racing Shocks. Then when you get a dialed in car you need a motor. These CC Performance engines have just been awesome as well all year long. I can’t thank enough my owner, Jeff Brownell, and all my guys. Especially Mini (Andrew Perkins), he’s the only guy to come with me tonight and was there when we won at Merrittville, too,” Sheppard added.
Tim Johnson was the main crew member for his cousin Alan, helping DIRTcar Northeast’s all-time Big-Block winner piece together the same Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF, Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell ride that lost its entire right side in a multi-car crash the previous Sunday while contending at Cayuga County Fair Speedway.
“I don’t think there’s anybody that could get that no. 9 tonight,” declared Johnson, 51, who was looking to double up at the Wight family facility after collecting first-place honors in July at sister track Fulton Speedway. “Finishing second to (Matt) is really like a win nowadays. He’s got a helluva race car and he can drive it.”
“The outside was pretty good early but it went away. After that you kinda had to stay on the bottom to keep position. It got that way where the low groove worked the best for just about everybody, fortunately I got there before most of the others,” Johnson added.
Joining Sheppard as one of four qualifying heat race winners, Phelps mustered a patented late race run before settling for a fourth top-five finish to remain behind only Hearn and Sheppard in the coveted Mr. DIRTcar points chase.
“We were pretty good I thought, we were up there in the mix all night,” figured Phelps, who rallied past Johnson at Brewerton to register his first career Super DIRTcar Series win in 2006, last year finishing second to Decker in the final overall point standings. “Its just one of those deals, we had good track position, started good but Brewerton’s a place you gotta have a real good race car to keep it up front.”
“Lapped traffic got awful thick out there, just followed the guy in front of us trying to wait for a hole to open. Fortunately, my guys gave me a solid race car and we were able to stay up in the hunt all night. We’re going to Canandaigua tomorrow and hopefully get the monkey off our back over there. Can’t complain with a third-place out here, its tough company,” said Phelps, now enjoying his fourth full season behind the wheel of the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer entry.
The Super DIRTcar Series doesn’t wait long to return to action as teams head west down the thruway toward Canandaigua Speedway for the Dig Safely 100 tomorrow.
Super DIRTcar Series Race #11 – Brewerton Speedway, August 7, 2009 ‘Summit Motors 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 1 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY ($6,000)
2 5 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
3 4 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 10 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
5 6 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
6 7 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7 16 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
8 11 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
9 8 1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
10 17 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
11 12 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
12 14 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
13 24 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
14 9 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
15 18 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
16 29 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
17 21 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
18 20 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
19 28 5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
20 30 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
21 2 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
22 13 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
23 23 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
24 19 33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
25 26 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
26 27 83x Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
27 3 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
28 22 16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY
29 15 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
30 25 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS: Planck (1-25), Sheppard (26-33), Decker (34-49), Sheppard (50-100).
CAUTIONS: 3 (lap 9, lap 11, lap 30).
HEAT WINNERS: J.Phelps, Decker, Sheppard, Fuller.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Dunn, Bowman.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Alan Johnson.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Danny Johnson.
HALFWAY LEADER: Matt Sheppard.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Jim Witko Jr.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Alan Johnson.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (6th): Brett Hearn.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Jimmy Phelps (14.694sec/81.666mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 35.
NEXT EVENT: Canandaigua Speedway “Dig Safely 100” – August 8, 2009.
DID NOT QUALIFY(5)
X-Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
02-Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
37x-Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
82s-Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
99b-Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 14.694 81.666 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 14.765 81.273 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
3 14.792 81.125 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
4 14.855 80.781 6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
5 14.914 80.461 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
6 14.932 80.364 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
7 14.966 80.182 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
8 14.973 80.144 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
9 14.984 80.085 1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
10 15.054 79.713 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
11 15.067 79.644 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
12 15.074 79.607 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
13 15.089 79.528 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
14 15.108 79.428 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
15 15.131 79.307 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
16 15.156 79.177 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
17 15.158 79.166 02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
18 15.172 79.093 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
19 15.188 79.010 83x Tim Sears/Central Square,NY
20 15.191 78.994 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
21 15.198 78.958 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
22 15.214 78.875 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
23 15.226 78.813 32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
24 15.244 78.719 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
25 15.252 78.678 24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA
26 15.258 78.647 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
27 15.321 78.324 33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
28 15.343 78.212 5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY
29 15.372 78.064 X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY
30 15.414 77.851 16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY
31 15.457 77.635 62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
32 15.488 77.479 56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
33 15.510 77.369 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
34 15.994 75.028 37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
35 16.118 74.451 82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature; top 3 redrew)
#1: J.Phelps, Friesen, Planck, Wight, O’Brien, Bresnahan, Bates, C.Phelps, Witko.
#2: Decker, R.Phelps, Hearn, Haers, Brownell, Dunn, Scagliotta, Ti.Sears, Bower.
#3: Sheppard, A.Johnson, Coffey, Beardsley, Mahaney, To.Sears, Hile, Vitale, Shields.
#4: Fuller, Ward, Tomkins, D.Johnson, Paine, Storms, Bowman, Scheetz.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Dunn, Bates, Scagliotta, Ti.Sears, Witko, C.Phelps, Bresnahan, Bower (DNS).
#2: Bowman, To.Sears, Vitale, Hile, Storms, Scheetz, Shields.
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Point Standings (Thru Aug. 7, 2009)
Rank No. Driver Total Series Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 20 Brett Hearn 995 995 0 2 10 11 11
2 9s Matt Sheppard 873 873 -122 3 7 8 11
3 98H Jimmy Phelps 825 825 -170 0 4 8 11
4 91 Billy Decker 807 807 -188 2 6 6 11
5 99 Ryan Phelps 736 736 -259 2 4 7 11
6 3 Justin Haers 687 687 -308 0 0 5 11
7 77x Dale Planck 660 660 -335 0 1 4 11
8 84 Gary Tomkins 645 645 -350 0 1 6 11
9 27J Danny Johnson 631 631 -364 0 1 5 11
10 4 Mike Storms 558 558 -437 0 0 2 11
11 49 Billy Dunn 534 534 -461 0 1 2 10
12 14J Alan Johnson 527 527 -468 1 3 5 8
13 99L Larry Wight 500 500 -495 0 0 0 11
14 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 420 420 -575 0 1 2 8
15 74 Tim Fuller 381 381 -614 0 2 2 6
16 7x Steve Paine 359 359 -636 0 0 4 6
17 8 Rich Scagliotta 258 258 -737 0 0 0 4
18 6 Pat O’Brien 247 247 -748 0 1 2 4
19 FX1 Frankie Caprara 224 224 -771 0 0 2 4
20 42 Pete Bicknell 203 203 -792 0 1 2 3
21 62 Tom Sears Jr. 169 169 -826 0 0 0 3
22 33 Mike Mahaney 148 148 -847 0 0 0 4
23 32c Vic Coffey 142 142 -853 0 0 1 3
24 1H David Hebert 140 140 -855 0 1 1 2
25 17 Sean Beardsley 132 132 -863 0 0 0 3
26 02 Roy Bresnahan 132 132 -863 0 0 0 3
27 22 Mario Clair 127 127 -868 0 0 0 2
28 3b Chad Brachmann 125 125 -870 0 0 0 3
29 83x Tim Sears 120 120 -875 0 0 0 3
30 99B Chuck Bower 113 113 -882 0 0 0 3
31 43 Keith Flach 111 111 -884 0 0 0 2
32 34b Andy Bachetti 110 110 -885 0 1 1 1
33 9m Tim McCreadie 105 105 -890 0 0 1 2
34 76 Travis Braun 97 97 -898 0 0 0 2
35 21 Yan Bussiere 97 97 -898 0 0 0 2
36 24 Jim Witko Jr. 96 96 -899 0 0 0 2
37 96 Kyle Dingwal l 95 95 -900 0 1 1 1
38 97 Michel Chicoine 95 95 -900 0 0 0 2
39 26 Rick Richner 94 94 -901 0 0 0 2
40 16 Mike Bowman 90 90 -905 0 0 0 2
41 60 Brian Berger 86 86 -909 0 1 1 1
42 73 Alain Boisvert 82 82 -913 0 0 1 1
43 22 Larry Lampman Jr 81 81 -914 0 1 1 1
44 33.3 Tommy Meier 81 81 -914 0 1 1 1
45 77F Mark Flach Jr. 81 81 -914 0 1 1 1
46 57 Donnie Corellis 77 77 -918 0 0 1 1
47 8R Rob Bellinger 72 72 -923 0 0 0 2
48 42 Guy Sheldon 71 71 -924 0 0 1 1
49 160 Johnny Hill 70 70 -925 0 0 0 2
50 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 69 69 -926 0 0 0 2
51 88 Tim O’Brien 68 68 -927 0 0 0 1
52 98 Eddie Marshall 66 66 -929 0 0 0 1
53 44 Shannon Whaley 65 65 -930 0 0 0 1
54 72 Todd Stewart 65 65 -930 0 0 1 1
55 07 Tim Kerr 65 65 -930 0 0 0 1
56 54 Steve Bernard 65 65 -930 0 0 1 1
57 14 Jimmy Horton 63 63 -932 0 0 0 1
58 7* Danny O’Brien 62 62 -933 0 0 1 1
59 5H Chris Hile 60 60 -935 0 0 0 1
60 1F Adam Ferri 60 60 -935 0 0 0 1
61 72 Tommy Flannigan 60 60 -935 0 0 0 1
62 123 Robbie Krull 60 60 -935 0 0 0 1
63 64 Donnie Ackner 59 59 -936 0 0 0 1
64 26 Ryan Godown 57 57 -938 0 0 0 1
65 38 Scott Wood 56 56 -939 0 0 0 1
66 22 Eric Gauvreau 56 56 -939 0 0 0 1
67 44 Sebastien Gougeon 56 56 -939 0 0 0 1
68 88k Randy Chrysler 55 55 -940 0 0 0 1
69 3 Claude Brouillard 54 54 -941 0 0 0 1
70 88 Krey Sandstedt 52 52 -943 0 0 0 1
71 42B Kevin Bates 51 51 -944 0 0 0 1
72 24s Chris Shultz 51 51 -944 0 0 0 1
73 46 Kayle Robidoux 51 51 -944 0 0 0 1
74 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 51 51 -944 0 0 0 1
75 56 Vince Vitale 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
76 52 James M. Friesen 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
77 xXx Todd Gordon 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
78 6m Mat Wiliamson 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
79 M96 Brian McDonald 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
80 3d Dexter Stacey 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
81 66w Wallace Stacey 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
82 23 Dany Bilodeau 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
83 1H Tim Hindley 50 50 -945 0 0 0 1
84 124 Pierre Dagenais 49 49 -946 0 0 0 1
85 80x Chris Steele 48 48 -947 0 0 0 1
86 72x Denis Gauvreau 48 48 -947 0 0 0 1
87 17c Bobby Davidson 48 48 -947 0 0 0 1
88 43 Fred Carleton 46 46 -949 0 0 0 1
89 37s Wayne Conn Jr. 45 45 -950 0 0 0 1
90 22J Gino Clair 45 45 -950 0 0 0 1
91 55 Mike King 45 45 -950 0 0 0 1
92 08 Mark D’Ilario 44 44 -951 0 0 0 1
93 39 Clement Therrien 44 44 -951 0 0 0 1
94 87 Hector Stratton 44 44 -951 0 0 0 1
95 28 Scott Kerwin 43 43 -952 0 0 0 1
96 21m Bob McGannon 42 42 -953 0 0 0 1
97 20 Jeff McGinnis 41 41 -954 0 0 0 1
98 71 Mike Bowman 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
99 108 Bill Bleich 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
100 44 Brian Stevens 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
101 37c Eric Fisher 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
102 35 Adam Moore 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
103 0 Bill Gill 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
104 x31 Andy Lloyd 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
105 9 Jason Riddell 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
106 85 David Langlois 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
107 63 Dominic Dufault 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
108 74 Fredric Gamache 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
109 49 Francois Berrier 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
110 90 Martin Roy 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
111 198h Erick Rudolph 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
112 44v Phil Vigneri Jr. 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
113 93 Richie Vinson 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
114 24v Bobby Varin 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
115 33 Ray Swinehart 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
116 39 Ryan Larkin 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
117 87x Paul Gilardi 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
118 88 Eric Lefebvre 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
119 87 Martin Gagne 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
120 61 Jean Boissonneault 40 40 -955 0 0 0 1
Super DIRTcar Series Modified Entries – August 7 (35)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
X Chad Phelps/Mexico,NY Haun Welding Supply-Ashley Winery-Midstate Tree Service/Troyer/Morrison
02 Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY Gypsum Express-RJ’s Excavating/Bicknell/Enders
1 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT Jeff Daley & Sons Oil Service-Westmoreland Golf Club/TEO/Enders
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
5h Chris Hile/Syracuse,NY Ernie Kreis & Son-Fastline Performance-P&M Fabrication/Bicknell/Morrison
6 Pat O’Brien/Kingston,ONT 730 Truck Stop-Gypsum Logistics-Milestone Concrete/Bicknell/Enders
7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY Tallmadge Tire-Swarthout Recycling-Instant Heat Wood Pellets/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ Central Jersey Trailer & Hitch Depot-Adamsville Maintenance/Troyer/Feil
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell/Jimmy D’s Speed
16 Mike Bowman/Baldwinsville,NY Klaben Nursery-Fulton Springs/Troyer/Finger Lakes-Bowman
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Pipe Pros-Bradco Supply/Troyer/Moshier
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
24 Jim Witko Jr./Clarks Summit,PA Brenzel Construction-Bruce’s Speed Shop/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
32c Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY Sweeteners Plus-Integra Shocks-CME,Inc./Troyer/C.C. Performance
33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY Aloi Materials Handling/Bicknell/Enders
37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA TNT Repairs-Jeff D’Ambrosio Dodge/Bicknell/Doug Meyers
42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA Locklin’s Bottled Gas-Bates Motorsports/Bicknell/Murray
42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
56 Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY Summit Motors-Affordable Landscaping-V & V Racing/Troyer/Enders
62s Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY Mullen Industrial-Commercial Roofing & Sheetmetal/Bicknell/JanCen
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
82s Roy Shields/King Ferry,NY Shields Bookkeeping-RLS Auto Repair/Bicknell/Shields
83x Tim Sears/Central Square,NY Total Site Development/Bicknell/Morrison
84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY Honeoye Auto Parts-Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell/Mastin
91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int’l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell/Kevlar
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
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-United Fasteners-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
SKIDMARKS
Racing The Wight Way: The ‘Summit Motors 100’ marked the second Super DIRTcar Series event held at a track owned by John and Laura Wight. A successful tour debut on the Fourth of July at Fulton Speedway was followed up Friday by another blockbuster program that attracted 35 cars to the ‘DIRT Demon’ including 18 of the Top-20 SDS point earners. “I’m pleasantly surprised at how well Brewerton has gone so far and elated with how the fans have responded and shown their support this season at Fulton,” remarked prominent area businessman and race-team owner Wight, who began yet another new era this year at both history-laden Central New York facilities. Following the track purchases, Wight immediately brought back former owner Harvey Fink into the fold to serve as promoter for the 2009 race season. “Its been very enjoyable working with Harvey. He seems to see things that need to be changed just before I do, some are meant to get things back to the way they used to be around here and I think others are what he always envisioned but could never afford to get done. Whatever the situation, Harvey and I both want to be visible and do whatever needs to be done. The part I probably enjoy the most is being hands-on to make the two tracks successful. Just starting out we needed a lot of equipment upgrades, like a new water truck, grader and some packers, with a new tractor my favorite.” In anticipation of the first-ever World of Outlaws Late Model Series event coming to Brewerton on Sept. 2, Wight is in the process of adding a pair of grandstand sections outside turn four to accommodate the capacity crowd expected for the inaugural event. The Gypsum Express Ltd. trucking magnate from nearby Phoenix, N.Y. has already poured a 725-feet cement wall along the front straightaway, complete with 20 feet of catch-fence reinforced with six steel cables, and repaired bleacher boards and provided a fresh coat of paint to the entire grandstand structure. “We’ve got a few ideas for next year, but nothing definite for print. If things work out we might even add some more clay to Brewerton in September, we’re taking everything one week at a time.”
Home Track Advantage Lost: The Super DIRTcar Series often pits the top touring stars against the local favorites with bragging rights on the line whenever they clash. That was not the case at Brewerton as six of the series stars call the historic Route 11 oval home every Friday this season and four had already scored feature wins. Gypsum Express teammates Billy Decker, Ryan Phelps and Larry Wight headlined the group that also included Matt Sheppard, Jimmy Phelps and Alan Johnson, with Decker (4), Sheppard (2), Johnson and Ryan Phelps reaching victory lane before the SDS showdown. Brett Hearn, Dale Planck, Gary Tomkins and Danny Johnson have each cracked the winner’s circle at Brewerton, with Alan Johnson adding five more wins in Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified competition during Super DIRT Week.
Miss Sprint Cup Visits Canandaigua: Miss Sprint Cup Anne-Marie Rhodes is slated to make her first-ever appearance at Canandaigua Speedway just in time for the annual Super DIRTcar Series shoot-out at the Ontario Co. Fairgrounds on Aug. 8. “I love all forms of racing and can’t wait to hang out with all the fans,” said Miss Sprint Cup. “It’s not often I get to visit a dirt track with my hectic schedule, but I am thrilled to be able to take part in the evening’s activities at Canandaigua Speedway!” During the night’s festivities Miss Sprint Cup will take time to meet the Canandaigua fans and headline a personal autograph session beginning at 6:45pm behind the main grandstand. Rhodes will also take part in pre-race ceremonies, providing to all competitors the familiar command, “Gentlemen Start Your Engines!”
Pot Holes: Up one entry from the 34-car field that arrived for the rain-delayed super DIRTcar Series show staged last August, newcomers signed in this time around were Michael Storms, Chris Hile, Rich Scagliotta, Sean Beardsley, Jeff Brownell Jr., Vic Coffey, Mike Mahaney, Tom Scheetz Jr., Vince Vitale, Tim Fuller and Roy Shields. Storms made the 30-car feature race line-up in his back-up Four Star ride after losing the engine in his heat race. Coffey and Fuller are two of the drivers planning to be in competition for the WoO LM debut in September, along with LJL Motorsports teammates Billy Decker and Larry Wight……Danny Johnson back aboard the Thompson Motorsports/Troyer machine, this time sporting an eye-catching reddish purple paint scheme adorned by his familiar no. 27J. Meanwhile, older brother Alan was aboard his yellow Bicknell mount with the trademark no. 14J shoe-polished on the passenger side after flipping the Bully’s Truck Stop Special last Sunday at Cayuga County…..New Jersey traveler Rich Scagliotta was another rollover victim in the Super DIRTcar Series showdown at Merrittville Speedway on Monday, returning to Brewerton following a week’s worth of work by crew chief Sam Westcott Jr. Along with a new front axle, all new side panels and roof were among the most visible cosmetic improvements made with Scagliotta reaching the starting grid with a full complement of sheet metal around him. The hard-luck driver could only complete a single lap come feature time as a hole in the radiator during the consolation round made him the first to go behind pit wall…..Possibly the greatest difference in age was evident at Brewerton while following the exploits of talented teenager Larry Wight and veteran chauffeur Roy Shields. With both celebrating birthdays coming in the months ahead, Wight turns 17 in October and Shields blows out 67 candles in December which amounts to a half-century separation…..A lucky ‘Junior Fan Club’ member received a ride around the Brewerton oval with their favorite driver Alan Johnson buckled in behind the wheel of the pace car. Johnson is expected to debut a newly re-numbered Commercial Roofing & Sheetmetal 10 car for owner Ken Saya and crew chief Eric Kingsley next week at Brewerton and pencil out a tentative schedule for the remainder of the season —including Super DIRT Week— at that time…..Both Willy Decker and Kyle Lewis were part of the SDS program last summer at Brewerton. Decker did attend the Friday event although after buying Lewis’ equipment he ran short of time putting all the pieces together for the latest tour show.
UPCOMING EVENTS
In less than 24 hours the mighty Mod Squad returns to action at Canandaigua Speedway with the ‘Dig Safely 100’ highlighting the annual summer visit to the Ontario Co. Fairgrounds on Aug. 8. Can-Am Motorsports Park and Cornwall Motor Speedway (rescheduled from July 12) stage consecutive 100-lappers Aug. 21 & 23 prior to the touring stars closing out the month at Lebanon Valley Speedway on Aug. 27.
2009 Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified 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 Brett Hearn
Sat-Jul 4 Fulton Speedway Alan Johnson
Thr-Jul 9 Brockville Ont Speedway Brett Hearn
Fri-Jul 10 Autodrome Granby Billy Decker
Sat-Jul 18 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Ryan Phelps
Sun-Jul 19 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Ryan Phelps ($20,000-to-win)
Mon-Aug 3 Merrittville Speedway Matt Sheppard
Fri-Aug 7 Brewerton Speedway Matt Sheppard
Sat-Aug 8 Canandaigua Speedway Canandaigua,NY
Fri-Aug 21 Can-Am Motorsports Park LaFargeville,NY
Sun-Aug 23 Cornwall Motor Speedway Cornwall,ONT
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
Fri-Sep 18 Autodrome Drummond Drummondville,QUE
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-
The Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors 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.
