Middletown, NY — October 19, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Bob Armbruster Photo (L-R) 3rd-Phelps, 1st-Johnson, 2nd-Hindley
Danny Johnson saved his best for last as he scored his first Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series win of the season Sunday afternoon in the 47th running of the Eastern States 200 Big-Block Modified Championship at Orange County Fair Speedway. Johnson’s fifth career win in the nation’s longest-running short-track event of its kind was the second straight for car owner Mike Petruska and DJ’s first DIRTcar victory of the season was worth $20,000 for the Atlas Paving no. J66 Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/TEO Team.
“This can’t get any better for me right now,” remarked Johnson, 48, who many picked as a pre-race favorite aboard the potent Petruska ride despite a his roller-coaster season and not winning at Orange County since June of 2002. The Sunday show marked only the Doctor’s sixth race with the 1980 Eastern States Small-Block Champion turned car owner this year, although their ’08 Advance Series debut resulted in a runner-up finish at Merrittville (Ont.) Speedway. “There’s no “i” in team and the Petruska guys are one helluva team.”
Local favorite Tim Hindley rallied to finish second 10 car-lengths behind, followed by overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Championship runner-up Jimmy Phelps, who edged Tim Fuller on the final lap, while race rookie Michael Storms rounded out the front-five in the caution-plagued event. Billy Decker, who clinched his second Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified title at Syracuse last week, charged back to place ninth after suffering a flat tire on lap 145 while running third.
After starting fourth on the 44-car grid, Johnson pitted with most of the field on lap 53 then methodically worked his way through the pack until overtaking Orange County regular Tommy Meier on the lap 128 restart. Hindley inherited the lead from defending Eastern States champion Jeff Heotzler during that first major round of pit stops and in the borrowed Sherlock Racing no. 10 Tri-State Roofing-Dirt Works-Escape RV/TEO entry made a late-race charge that gave Johnson his only challenge of the day.
“Tires were definitely a concern. I tried to keep the car straight and not abuse it all race and just try to keep the tires under it. Tim is a regular here and a great runner whose been around for awhile so it was good to be able to hold him back in that last run,” said Johnson, who registered his first Eastern States 200 win in 1992, repeated the following year yet had not taken home the trophy since 2001. He ranks second all-time with 66 Advance Series wins on DIRTcar Racing NorthEast’s premier Big-Block Modified tour.
The caution-plagued 200-lapper opened with eighth-place starter Ric Hill slipping high and riding the turn two wall to require the first of 18 yellow flags on the day. Fuller took advantage of the ensuing restart and bolted by pole-sitter Heotzler to set the early pace, one the Edwards, New York pilot would enjoy during the early stages. Second-generation chauffeur Ryan Phelps suffered a right-rear flat on lap 36 and Heotzler moved to the point past Fuller when the green lights reappeared on lap 42.
As the mass excursion into the pits unfolded under yellow on lap 53, Hindley remained trackside to take command while Jimmy Phelps, Meier, Jerry Higbie, Frankie Caprara and Justin Haers also avoided the infield traffic jam to stay in the hunt. When the dust settled, Danny Johnson was the first driver off pit lane and the Rochester, New York racer filed into 17th on the track followed by Heotzler, Brett Hearn and Fuller. On the next restart the idle mount of A.J. Romano in turn two incurred a sixth caution, and with the yellow flag unfurled contact between Johnson and Hearn on the frontstretch suddenly sent Hearn’s Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Construction ride spinning before coming to rest with a broken front end.
With Hearn’s chances of sweeping the Eastern States Weekend Modified events for an unprecedented fourth time expired, Heotzler’s own window of opportunity to claim a second consecutive E-S Big-Block win was slammed shut after contact with Storms in turns three and four sent the Jeffer’s newly acquired J&S Racing no. 74 Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations/TEO machine pitside for good with 78 laps scored. Ironically, Heotzler garnered his first Eastern States Championship just last autumn steering the 66 Petruska car from 42nd to first in 193 laps around the 5/8-mile ‘Hard Clay’ oval.
Hindley stayed up front and at the halfway point was further rewarded with the $1,000 bonus posted by Budweiser-Dana Distributors for leading lap 100. Yet to make their mandatory pit stop after lap 50 were runner-up Meier, Matt Sheppard, Steve Hulsizer and fifth-place runner Haers. Danny Johnson was already up to sixth, moving past Bobby Varin and Jimmy Horton, who were among the last drivers still waiting to make the required left-hand turn onto pit row.
Gary Tomkins’ Honeoye Auto Parts no. 84 entry had a right-rear tire go down on lap 106 and under caution the next time around Meier assumed the lead when Hindley finally made his trip down pit lane. Joining Hindley in the infield were Sheppard, Haers and Horton while Varin (lap 113), Hulsizer (lap 122) and Meier (lap 141) completed the list of drivers not pitting as the laps clicked off.
Johnson was anxious to get to the front, blasting by Meier under green on the 128th circuit and stretching his lead over top chaser Andy Bachetti, Decker, Ronnie Johnson and Fuller in the process. Early leader Fuller was back in the top-five with 135 scored, and a half-dozen laps later improved to third behind Bachetti when runner-up Meier stopped for fuel and Decker turned pitside to replace a bald right-rear tread. In his all-out bid to get back to the front, Meier’s day came to an abrupt halt as he slammed the turn one wall on the next restart to force out a yellow flag for the 14th time.
Not even among the top-10 with 160 circuits complete, Hindley was on the gas speeding toward the front in the final stretch run. By lap 170 the Monticello, New York driver had worked his way into seventh, disposed of Storms the next time around and got past Alan Johnson to crack the front-five on lap 172. A rare red flag dropped on lap 177 after Billy Dunn rolled his mount out of turn four, with Jeff Heotzler Jr. and Bobby Varin also involved in the mishap. But that slowdown failed to deter Hindley in his valiant surge forward over the last quarter of the race.
On the ensuing restart, Hindley traveled the high road overtaking Ronnie Johnson at the line then blasting by both Fuller and runner-up Bachetti to carry the crowd to the edge as only Danny Johnson stood in his way. With Hindley pulling right up to Johnson’s bumper on lap 179, the Doctor slid up a groove on the homestretch and contact between his right rear and Hindley’s left front suddenly squelched any momentum. “My car would be very wide too if I was in Danny’s position at the end,” noted Hindley afterwards.
Third-place runner Bachetti suddenly slowed and retired the Steve Hough Motors mount behind pit wall to set up the final run to the checkers. But that too was thwarted as Dale Planck lost a right-rear wheel to force out caution lights for the last time on lap 191. When the green flag waved Johnson was shadowed by Hindley and Fuller on the final restart with Storms and Phelps looking for room further back. Phelps was the only driver to make up ground over the final five laps, putting the H&H Motorsports/Troyer ride past Fuller to steal away third on the last trip around.
“I picked up the pace right there at the end as I was really trying to conserve tires the whole race,” added Johnson, who ranks behind only eight-time E-S 200 winner Hearn after surpassing Will Cagle’s count of four victories tallied from 1966-71. Also a winner of five Eastern States 358-Modified Championships, he improved his Orange County Big-Block total to 21 feature wins that places him among the track’s top-15 all-time. ‘But when Tim got up to me there was no conserving anything, I just gave her all I had.”
“Before the race Mike (Petruska) drew up a diagram on the trailer floor to show how to save on tire wear. He told me you gotta strut and dance sometimes to get the job. And afterwards he jumped on the roof and kissed me saying ‘you were really strutting your stuff and dancing out there today.’ It was such a great car and its even better to be associated with such good people on this team,” said Johnson, who teamed with Petruska at Cayuga County Fair Speedway (17th, 23rd) and Rolling Wheels Raceway Park (25th) before breaking a rear-end with four to go and ending up 23rd in the Advance Series Rite Aid 200 at Super DIRT Week. In between, the four-time Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Modified champion steered the JIR Motorsports no. 27J and no. 7J machines through mid-July, the Forte no. M40 mount at Orange County (July 31) and the Willix no. 11 entry up north along with his own no. 27J Troyer Mud Buss that allowed him to contend for points in all 26 series events.
Not even regularly chasing Big-Block points —although he did finish second to Jerry Higbie in the final 358-Modified standings— at his long-time home track in Orange County this season, Hindley was just as content with a runner-up spot on the podium in his biggest race of the year.
“The car was great all day,” said Hindley, Orange County’s 358-Modified points champion in 2002 after earning a pair of track Sportsman Modified titles in 1994 & ’96. The past Super DIRT Week Sportsman winner has taken checkered flags in all three Modified divisions at the historic Middletown oval, with Sunday marking his first-ever Eastern States 200 top-five. “I kinda left everything in Roby’s (Sherlock, owner) hands … pit stop, tire change … whatever he wanted to do I’d roll with it. He gave me a good car and I’m just happy with that.”
“The car was great from start to finish, it probably showed a little more later in the race. Guys were dropping off and we had the same car for the whole race. I think the 2nd-place team is happier than the 1st-place team. Once we got to the top-5 it’s the best I’ve ever done here, this is just great. I don’t think the fans can say there’s no passing here at Middletown,” declared Hindley, who timed 31st fastest Friday in his normal Manheim’s Newburgh Auto Auction no. 1H Troyer car. He then qualified third in the last heat Saturday before discovering a broken rocker arm and jumping into the same car Randy Sherlock failed to qualify the opening two rounds.
Steering possibly the quickest car in the closing laps on Sunday, Phelps nipped Fuller at the line for third that helped him climb into second on the final overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Championship points chart.
“I think we had a little more tire than those guys at the end and we were able to turn it up there a little bit,” said Phelps, who has continued to climb the ladder to success in the DIRTcar NE Big-Block ranks alongside H&H Motorsports/Troyer team owners Johns Holland and Al Heinke, finishing 9th in 2005, 7th in ’06 and 4th last season. Bobby Varin gave the Holland/Heinke their biggest victory in the Eastern States 200 held in 2003. “I found out about the top (groove) at the end and that was the difference.”
“My guys said you’ve got enough tire so I put her out there and fortunately it worked. The guys made good calls in the pits, we wanted to play it safe so we went with a tire strategy that ended up paying off with our car able to run really hard at the end with plenty of fuel. I can’t thank everybody enough, they gave me what I needed, a couple more spots and I would’ve been happier but we’ll take it. The Troyer team has a strong handle here but as a driver I really haven’t. But its starting to come to me and as a team, given what we need, we’re getting there. We’re happy with second (points), next year we’ll go after the championship.”
Added Phelps after his late race charge, “Timmy’s (Fuller) a clean racer, I knew if I could get door-to-door with him he’d give me the line. Fortunately, the car rolled the top real good and I was able to get my nose in there. You just gotta make it happen, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today we got one there.”
With Eastern States Weekend now officially in the record book, all eyes turn to the 33rd annual DIRTcar Racing NorthEast ‘Night of Champions’ on Saturday, November 15 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York where over $400,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top teams in competition. The banquet will honor the 2008 champions in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Modified (Billy Decker), 358-Modified, Sportsman Modified, Pro Stock (Pete Stefanski) and Street Stock divisions. The 358-Modified, Sportsman and Street Stock classes crown champions next weekend after their final point shows scheduled for Saturday, October 25.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #26 – Orange County Fair Speedway, October 19, 2008 Eastern States 200 Championship Event Summary
FEATURE (200-laps):
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 4 j66 Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY($20,000)
2 26 *1h Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY
3 20 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 2 19f Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
5 3 4 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ®
6 14 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7 19 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
8 18 47 Jerry Higbie/Slate Hill,NY
9 16 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
10 9 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
11 21 88 Steve Dodd/Middletown,NY
12 42 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
13 27 55 Mitch Gibbs/North Norwich,NY
14 35 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
15 29 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
16 12 9x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
17 40 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
18 36 Z Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA
19 25 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
20 31 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY®
21 39 11 Danny Creeden/Middletown,NY
22 13 2 Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
23 32 44 Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
24 44 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
25 34 34 Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
26 43 1j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
27 23 21 Clinton Mills/Middletown,NY
28 28 j17 Jeff Heotzler Jr./Wallkill,NY
29 37 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
30 33 673 Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
31 17 77f Mark Flach Jr./Selkirk,NY
32 7 33-1/3 Tommy Meier/Waldwick,NJ
33 30 88h Steve Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
34 5 24 Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
35 22 73 Rick Mill/New Windsor,NY
36 6 19 Chuck McKee/Middletown,NY
37 1 74 Jeff Heotzler/Wallkill,NY
38 38 93x Craig Mitchell/Wappingers Falls,NY
39 11 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
40 10 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
41 41 16 A.J. Romano/Johnstown,NY
42 15 10 Rich Eurich/Warwick,NY
43 24 115 Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
44 8 53 Ric Hill/Lafayette,NJ
*Picked up ride in no. 10 Sherlock Motorsports car.
EVENTS SUMMARY
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS: Fuller (1-41), Heotzler Sr. (42-52), Hindley (53-106), Meier (107-127), D.Johnson (128-200).
TOTAL LAPS LED: 73-D.Johnson, 54-Hindley, 41-Fuller, 21-Meier, 11-Heotzler.
CAUTIONS: 18 for 99 laps; 1 RED FLAG (lap 177).
BUDWEISER/DANA DISTRIBUTORS HALFWAY (LAP 100) AWARD: Tim Hindley.
BERT HARD CHARGER: Ryan Phelps.
HOLLEY HARD LUCK AWARD: Tommy Meier.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (25th): Andy Bachetti.
HEAT WINNERS: Laubach, Hearn, VanHorn, Paine, R.Johnson, Ward.
CONSI WINNERS: Varin, Bachetti, Sheppard.
WLR CONSTRUCTION POLE WINNER: Jeff Heotzler (20.839sec/107.971mph).
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIMER: Jeff Heotzler (20.839sec/107.971mph).
CARS ENTERED: 74.
TOTAL PURSE: $62,200.
DID NOT QUALIFY(30)
OB’s-Oscar Boria/Middletown,NY
1k-Robert King/Granville,NY
6g-Martin Gagne/Granby,QUE
7k-Kirk Horton/Eldred,NY
7×1-Bill Wilson/Mahwah,NJ
9-Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE
10s-Randy Sherlock/Milford,PA
1c-Bobby Hayes Jr./Nanuet,NY
12t-Tim Bayles/Wantage,NJ
14b-Dan Barnes/Honesdale,PA
16w-Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
17d-Danny O’Brien/Kingston,ONT
20c-Craig Hanson/Tribes Hill,NY
21j-Jamie Yannone/Newburgh,NY
21m-Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY
t21-Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
21jr.-Gary Edwards Jr./Bloomingburg,NY
22-Rich Coons/Montgomery,NY
k22-Kenny Moulton Jr./Rock Hill,NY
25-Mike Kolka/Circleville,NY
27-Jerry Wildrick/Wantage,NJ
33h-Matt Hulsizer/Stony Point,NY
42-Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
77-Jimmy Johnson/Bloomingburg,NY
81h-Jim House/Middletown,NY
88k-Randy Chrysler/Tuscarora,NY
157-Billy Eggers Jr./Woodcliff Lake,NJ
220-John Ferrier/Middletown,NY®
7-17-Everett Haubrich/Lafayette,NJ
923-Colin Jackson/Peckville,PA
923a-Allan Kellogg/Mt.Cobb,PA
SUNDAY QUALIFYING
Consolation Round (10 laps, top-3 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Varin, Tittle, Creeden, J.Johnson, Kellogg, McGannon, Eggers, King, Haubrich, R.Phelps, Jackson (DNS), Coons (DNS), O’Brien (DNS).
#2: Bachetti, Dunn, J.Horton, K.Horton, Edwards, Ro.Chrysler, A.Johnson, Sherlock (DNS), Kolka (DNS), Ferrier (DNS), Hayes (DNS), Moulton (DNS), Wilson (DNS), Bayles (DNS), Hitchcock (DNS).
#3: Sheppard, Mitchell, Romano, Hanson, Dagenais, Wildrick, Planck (DNS), Yannone (DNS), Willix (DNS), Bicknell (DNS), Ra.Chrysler, (DNS), House (DNS), Gagne (DNS).
Guaranteed: R.Phelps, A.Johnson, Planck.
2008 Overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Modified/
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Point Standings (FINAL)
®-Rookie
Rank No. Driver Points Series Bonus Diff. Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 91 Billy Decker 2,495 2,195 300 0 10 18 24 26
2 98h Jimmy Phelps 2,293 2,019 274 -202 1 14 23 26
3 77x Dale Planck 2,251 1,959 292 -244 3 16 21 26
4 84 Gary Tomkins 2,204 1,908 296 -291 2 11 21 26
5 20 Brett Hearn 2,164 1,876 288 -331 2 9 20 26
6 9s Matt Sheppard 2,143 1,859 284 -352 1 9 18 26
7 FX1 Frankie Caprara1,904 1,612 292 -591 0 2 14 26
8 7x Steve Paine 1,852 1,560 292 -643 0 9 11 25
9 99 Ryan Phelps 1,795 1,539 256 -700 0 1 8 26
10 3 Justin Haers 1,738 1,480 258 -757 0 2 14 25
11 14J Alan Johnson 1,689 1,401 288 -806 3 6 12 22
12 49 Billy Dunn 1,599 1,347 252 -896 0 0 3 26
13 27J Danny Johnson 1,588 1,448 140 -907 1 5 7 26
14 99L Larry Wight® 1,242 1,020 222 -1,253 0 0 1 23
15 6 Pat O’Brien 1,049 765 284 -1,446 0 0 2 17
16 29 Jeff Brownell Jr.984 754 230 -1,511 0 0 1 16
17 19 Tim Fuller 694 644 50 -1,801 0 4 4 7
18 42B Kevin Bates 691 439 252 -1,804 0 0 0 12
19 79 Mike Storms® 679 425 254 -1,816 0 1 2 8
20 56 Vince Vitale 659 417 242 -1,836 0 0 1 8
21 99b Chuck Bower 610 364 246 -1,885 0 0 0 11
22 88 Steve Hulsizer 589 347 242 -1,906 0 0 0 7
23 4 Andy Bachetti 587 299 288 -1,908 1 1 1 3
24 32c Vic Coffey 559 393 166 -1,936 0 1 2 7
25 74 J.R. Heffner 535 271 264 -1,960 0 1 2 2
26 98 Eddie Marshall 527 265 262 -1,968 0 1 2 2
27 48T Dave Rauscher 503 277 226 -1,992 0 0 1 7
28 91h Chad Homan 498 280 218 -1,997 0 0 0 8
29 16 Mike Bowman 495 263 232 -2,000 0 0 0 7
30 93 Ryan Bartlett 493 243 250 -2,002 0 0 0 6
31 5 Jason Potter 489 239 250 -2,006 0 0 0 7
32 43 Keith Flach 487 235 252 -2,008 0 0 1 4
33 62s Tom Sears Jr. 482 214 268 -2,013 0 0 0 5
34 71 David VanHorn 481 221 260 -2,014 0 0 0 4
35 24 Chris Shultz 472 216 256 -2,023 0 0 0 3
36 02 Roy Bresnahan 472 270 202 -2,023 0 0 1 4
37 47 Jerry Higbie 467 201 266 -2,028 0 1 2 2
38 53e Ric Hill 454 222 232 -2,041 0 0 1 4
39 77F Mark Flach Jr. 453 185 268 -2,042 0 1 1 2
40 115 Kenny Tremont 452 182 270 -2,043 0 0 0 3
41 14 Rich Laubach 441 441 0 -2,054 0 2 3 6
42 357 Stewart Friesen 439 439 0 -2,056 0 2 3 6
43 44 Shannon Whaley 438 236 202 -2,057 0 0 0 7
44 42p Pat Ward 425 249 176 -2,070 0 0 1 3
45 33.3 Tommy Meier 423 175 248 -2,072 0 0 1 2
46 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 420 184 236 -2,075 0 0 0 7
47 19 Chuck McKee 416 146 270 -2,079 0 1 1 2
48 1x Willy Decker 402 126 276 -2,093 0 0 1 2
49 19h Chris Higgins® 394 188 206 -2,101 0 0 0 5
50 8 Rob Bellinger 388 132 256 -2,107 0 0 0 4
Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Modified Champions
YEAR CHAMPION (wins) ROOKIE of the YEAR
2008 Billy Decker (10) Larry Wight
2007 Brett Hearn (7) Mike Bowman
2006 Alan Johnson (6) Kenny Stafford
2005 Tim Fuller (6) Stewart Friesen
2004 Gary Tomkins (4) Justin Hears
2003 Alan Johnson (6) Matt Sheppard
2002 Alan Johnson (5) Joe Beyea
2001 Brett Hearn (7) Frankie Caprara
2000 Steve Paine (4) Jeff Brownell
1999 Danny Johnson (2) Josh Skarzenski
1998 Billy Decker (6) Todd Milton
1997 D.Johnson (7)/B.Hearn (5) Tim McCreadie
1996 Brett Hearn (5) Vic Coffey
1995 Bob McCreadie (6) Tim Fuller
1994 Bob McCreadie (9) Jamie Mills
1993 Brett Hearn (5) Scott Schrader
1992 Danny Johnson (6) Ricky Elliott
1991 Doug Hoffman (5) Lenny Boyd
1990 Brett Hearn (7) Scott Prentice
1989 Danny Johnson (7) John Ventura
1988 Jack Johnson (2) Mike Jeffery
1987 Jack Johnson (2) Steve Behrent
1986 Charlie Rudolph (1) Jim Ruston
1985 Jack Johnson (1) Rich Burgess
1984 Jack Johnson (3) Ray Underwood
1983 Alan Johnson (4) Jimmy Begolo
1982 Jack Johnson (2) Randy Glenski
1981 Alan Johnson (2) Craig Keel
1980 Jack Johnson (5) Roger Phelps
1979 Will Cagle Jim Jarvis
1978 Will Cagle Jerry Knox
1977 Dave Lape Rick Martell
1976 Will Cagle —–
SKIDMARKS
2nd Mr. DIRTcar Championship Clinched By Billy Decker In ‘08: Heading east to Middletown this past weekend, Billy Decker had already captured the coveted Mr. DIRTcar crown, locking up his second Big-Block crown at Super DIRT Week on the Syracuse Mile. Exactly 10 years ago the Unadilla, New York pilot claimed his first overall Mr. DIRTcar Modified Championship as well as his only Eastern States 200 title race victory. The ‘Franklin Flyer’ earned his second Mr. DIRTcar title by collecting the most points in the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series along with earning valuable bonus points at his designated hometrack —Brewerton Speedway— throughout the regular season. Decker maxed out with 300 points as his best five hometrack feature race finishes were all wins at Brewerton.
ORANGE COUNTY “EASTERN STATES 200” MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP
DATE LAPS FIRST – SECOND – THIRD – FOURTH – FIFTH
10/19/08 200 Danny Johnson – Tim Hindley – Jimmy Phelps – Tim Fuller – Michael sSorms
10/21/07 200 Jeff Heotzler – Brett Hearn – Rich Eurich – Rick Laubach – Kenny Tremont
10/22/06 200 Brett Hearn – Frank Cozze – Jerry Higbie – Tommy Meier – Pat Ward
10/23/05 203 Brett Hearn – Wayne Jelley – David VanHorn – Kenny Tremont – Frank Jashembowski
10/24/04 200 Brett Hearn – Billy Decker – Gary Tomkins – Alan Johnson – Doug Hoffman
10/26/03 207 Bobby Varin – Chuck McKee – Tim McCreadie – Jeff Heotzler – Vic Coffey
10/27/02 200 Brett Hearn – Tim McCreadie – Alan Johnson – Jerry Higbie – Chuck McKee
10/21/01 200 Danny Johnson – Alan Johnson – Steve Paine – Kenny Tremont – Pat Ward
10/22/00 200 Chuck McKee – Alan Johnson – Vic Coffey – Steve Paine – Tim McCreadie
10/24/99 204 Alan Johnson – Billy Decker – Danny Johnson – Brett Hearn – Andy Bachetti
10/25/98 200 Billy Decker – Doug Hoffman – Jimmy Horton – Alan Johnson – Danny Johnson
10/26/97 200 Danny Johnson – Alan Johnson – Kenny Brightbill – Tim McCreadie – Chuck McKee
10/27/96 200 Brett Hearn – Jack Johnson – Dave Camara – Dale Planck – Alan Johnson
10/22/95 200 Jimmy Horton – Brett Hearn – Bob McCreadie – Tommy Meier – Jeff Heotzler
11/5/94 200 Bob McCreadie – Jimmy Horton – Doug Hoffman – Kenny Tremont – Rich Eurich
10/24/93 200 Danny Johnson – Brett Hearn – Bob McCreadie – Doug Hoffman – Jeff Heotzler
10/25/92 200 Danny Johnson – Brett Hearn – Jeff Trombley – Mike Ricci – Alan Johnson
10/27/91 200 Jimmy Horton – Doug Hoffman – Jack Johnson – Joe Plazek – Alan Johnson
10/21/90 200 Frank Cozze – Steve Paine – Danny Johnson – Brett Hearn – Roger Horvath
10/22/89 200 Frank Cozze – Danny Johnson – Dave Lape – Brett Hearn – Kenny Tremont
10/23/88 200 Rich Eurich – Frank Cozze – Jack Johnson – Billy Decker – John Strupp
10/25/87 200 Doug Hoffman – Jack Johnson – Kevin Collins – Dave Lape – Alan Johnson
4/25/87 200 Brett Hearn – Jack Johnson – Kevin Collins – Jimmy Horton – Chuck McKee
10/27/85 200 Jack Johnson – Carl Reynolds – Charlie Rudolph – Steve Bottcher – Doug Hoffman
10/28/84 200 Dave Lape – Jack Johnson – Carl Collis – Jeff Heotzler – Bob McCreadie
10/30/83 200 C.D. Coville – Brett Hearn – Jack Johnson – Jimmy Horton – Charlie Shire
10/17/82 200 Harry Behrent – Carl Reynolds – Carl Pittenger – Bobby Malzahn – Charlie Shire
10/25/81 200 Brett Hearn – Larry Brolsma – Richie Smith,Jr. – Harry Behrent – Sammy Beavers
10/19/80 200 Kenny Brightbill – Harry Behrent – Jimmy Horton – Frank Cozze – Jeff Heotzler
10/21/79 200 Brett Hearn – Billy Osmun – Lou Lazzaro – Carl Collis – Darryl Welty
10/22/78 200 Lou Lazzaro – Kevin Collins – Brett Hearn – Buzzie Reutimann – Clayton Husted
10/23/77 200 Gary Balough – Kevin Collins – Sammy Beavers – Don Kreitz,Sr. – Jimmy Horton
11/6/76 200 Gerald Chamberlain – Buzzie Reutimann – Tommy Hager – Jimmy Horton – Don Kreitz,Sr
10/26/75 200 Wayne Reutimann – Rich Eurich – Kenny Brightbill – Gary Balough – Buzzie Reutimann
10/27/74 200 Bobby Bottcher – Kenny Brightbill – Buzzie Reutimann – Ed Delmolino – Charlie Shire
10/28/73 200 Gerald Chamberlain – Tommy Corellis – Will Cagle – Dick Tobias – Johnny Haroll
10/25/72 200 Buzzie Reutimann – Will Cagle – Bobby Malzahn – Wayne Reutimann – Bobby Bottcher
10/31/71 200 Will Cagle – Buzzie Reutimann – Bobby Gerhart – Danny Mitchell – Bobby Malzahn
10/25/70 200 Will Cagle – Bobby Bottcher – Gerald Chamberlain – Rags Carter – Buzzie Reutimann
10/26/69 200 Al Tasnady – Joe Kelly – Buzzie Reutimann – Bobby Malzahn – Whip Mulligan
10/27/68 200 Will Cagle – Bobby Gerhart – Frankie Schneider – Ralph Chittenden – Larry Voss
10/22/67 100 Frankie Schneider – Bobby Malzahn – Al Tasnady – Whip Mulligan – Jackie Evans
10/23/66 100 Will Cagle – Bobby Malzahn – Sammy Reakes – Buzzie Reutimann – Whip Mulligan
10/24/65 100 Ron Lux – Kenny Shoemaker – Rags Carter – Frankie Schneider – Ray Cook
10/25/64 100 Rags Carter – Bobby Malzahn – Al Tasnady – Frankie Schneider – Rene Charland
10/27/63 100 Frankie Schneider – Al Tasnady – Ernie Gahan – Ed Ortiz – Billy Deskovick
10/28/62 100 Frankie Schneider – Bobby Malzahn – Don Stumpf – Ernie Gahan – Kenny Shoemaker
Day Of Champions: Brett Hearn (1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2002, 2004-06), was among 10 past champions —now accounting for 23 of the past 30 wins— attempting to qualify for the headline Advance Auto Parts Series Eastern States 200 for Big-Block Modifieds when the weekend kicked off Friday at the OC Fairgrounds. Joining Hearn in quest of the $20,000 top prize were past E-S 200 champions Danny Johnson (1992-93, 1997, 2001, 2008), Frank Cozze (1989-90), Jimmy Horton (1991, 1995), Bobby Varin (2003), Chuck McKee (2000), Alan Johnson (1999), Billy Decker (1998), Rich Eurich (1988) and Jeff Heotzler (2007).
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, DIRTcar Racing 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 DIRTcar organization is proud to retain the company as a valued partner in the timing and scoring of all DIRTcar Racing events.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The 33rd annual DIRTcar Racing NorthEast ‘Night of Champions’ Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, November 15 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. The banquet will honor the 2008 series champions in the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modified, 358-Modified, Sportsman Modified, UMP Pro Stock and UMP Street Stock divisions. Track promoters and operators will convene on Friday, November 14 for the annual DIRTcar track meetings at the Turning Stone entertainment complex, ranked among the top-five largest tourist attractions in New York State and drawing over 4.5 million visitors annually.
2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Schedule
NP=Non-Point event.
Day-Date Laps Track Winner/Rite Aid 200 Qualifier (Location)
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(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 Gary Tomkins(G)
Sun-Aug 17 Cornwall Motor Speedway G.Tomkins/Carey Terrance(P)
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway Alan Johnson(G)
Sun-Aug 31 Cayuga Co Fair Speedway B.Decker/Frankie Caprara(P)
Mon-Sep 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway B.Decker/Roy Bresnahan(P)
Sat-Sep 6 Lebanon Valley Speedway Andy Bachetti(G)
Fri-Sep 12 Lernerville Speedway Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 20 Canandaigua Speedway A.Johnson/Tim Fuller(P)
Sat-Sep 27 Rolling Wheels Raceway A.Johnson/Vince Vitale(P)
Sun-Oct 12 New York State Fairgrounds Frank Cozze
Sun-Oct 19 Orange Co Fair Speedway Danny Johnson
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 and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional partners include AMB i.t., Rite Aid Corporation and the University of Northwestern Ohio and the contingency sponsors are Bert Transmission, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Crane Cams, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignitions, Motorsports Safety Systems, Penske Shocks and Wrisco Industries.
