Canandaigua, NY — August 8, 2009 – By Tom Skibinski, Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
*Alex Bruce Photo
Its been two years since Tim Fuller last won a Super DIRTcar Series race and two decades since car owners Steve Hastings and Joe Knoth teamed up to garner a first-place trophy on the Northeast’s top tour for Big-Block Modifieds.
The formidable trio made sure their first win together would be a memorable one as they outlasted raindrops from the opening green flag then held back a late-race surge by Gary Tomkins and Jimmy Phelps under the checkers to capture the dramatic ‘Dig Safely 100’ on Saturday night at Canandaigua Speedway.
“They were nipping at my heels but I wasn’t going to change my line, wasn’t going to the bottom,” stated Fuller, 41, who scored his only other win at Canandaigua in May of 2001, although the veteran from Edwards, N.Y. registered the previous series victory in August of ’07 at Cayuga County Fair Speedway before netting his 18th career SDS win at Canandaigua. “I was just no good down there and found my place up top.”
“Actually I didn’t know where anybody was (on last restart). That’s probably the most tired I’ve been after a race in quite a while. It was a very physically demanding track but we got it in. The rain didn’t help anybody today but we got it in for the fans and that’s all that really matters. Got a completed show,” said Fuller said, after his first victory of the year steering the Smith Bros. Concrete Foundations no. 74 Hudson Valley Concrete Pumping/TEO entry for the seventh time this season.
Locked into a see-saw battle for the runner-up position during the final five laps, Tomkins won out by a bumper over Phelps followed by 10-time and defending Canandaigua points champion Steve Paine and past track regular Justin Haers. Tomkins’ best finish of the season earned him 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.
Fresh off his 100-lap victory the night before at Brewerton Speedway north of Syracuse, ‘Super Matt’ Sheppard kicked off the Canandaigua card by posting his third Integra Shocks Fast Time of the season on the ultra-moist half-miler. Yet after the top-three were inverted to start the heats, Sheppard could only chase Fuller across the stripe in the second of four qualifiers before falling into third on the 30-car feature race grid.
Pat Ward selected the pole-position and led in the early going with Sheppard right on his tail from lap one. Paine joined the lead duo and watched as Sheppard took command on lap 15, then grabbed second from Ward two circuits later. Sheppard reached the back of the pack on lap 19 and Paine took advantage of the traffic to drive on by for the front spot on lap 22.
Shannon Whaley stopped high in turn two to incur the first caution period, with all yellow flag laps counting with the threat of a major downpour looming throughout the night. Back under green, Sheppard immediately moved to the high side and blasted by Paine to regain the lead on lap 28.
Back-to-back cautions (laps 33 & 38) for Paul Guererri looping in turn two kept the field bunched with Danny Johnson becoming a factor as Ward faded in front of former track regular Dave Rauscher from nearby Waterloo. The ensuing lap 41 restart proved pivotal as Sheppard suffered a broken rear-end in the JB Motorsports no. 9s Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell machine, giving Paine back the point and opening the door for a new winner as Sheppard’s two-race tour win streak came to an abrupt halt on home soil.
At the halfway mark Paine paced the brothers Johnson, Danny and Alan, while seventh-place starter Fuller emerged among the top-five ahead of early leader Ward. Water droplets continued to fall from above although not enough to cause a concern among officials as a light dust still filtered through the air and the racing surface remained fast from top to bottom.
Fuller was able to use both grooves in his march toward the front, sweeping high around Alan then ducking under Danny to secure second on lap 63. Danny grabbed it back for two more laps with Fuller again in second on lap 68 while Alan diced with Phelps in the final top-five slots. Phelps disposed of Alan on lap 69 and moved past Danny the next circuit while Fuller forged the final lead change past Paine on lap 72.
After starting 11th aboard the Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer machine, Phelps went high around Paine in turn two to secure second and set his sights on Fuller. Phelps gained ground low while Fuller was successfully navigating the high line, just before the momentum was suddenly thwarted as Pennsylvania pilot Del Rougeux Jr. shredded a left-front tire and parked his no. 20D Vinyl Graphics Unlimited-K&N Performance Filters/Bicknell on the front stretch infield for the fifth and final yellow on lap 88. While under caution, top-10 running Brett Hearn pulled pitside to replace a soft left-read tread yet returned quickly without losing a lap.
The green lights reappeared with seven laps still to go, treating fans to the most thrilling series finish of the season to date. Phelps ducked low on the lap 94 restart with Fuller continuing to rim ride the historic half-miler as Tomkins overtook Paine for the show position. Fuller hung tough on the high side while Phelps and Tomkins proceeded to trade the runner-up spot each of the final five laps … Phelps edging ahead on the odd laps and Tomkins muscling past on the even ones, including lap 100 as the series speedsters finished behind Fuller by two car-lengths at the stripe.
“Its just nice to prove to yourself that you can still drive (Modified) and its really good for my guys to get a win under their belts too,” said Fuller, who provided Hastings and Knoth their first series victory since Jeff Heotzler won a Syracuse Qualifier at Orange Co. Fair Speedway in July of 1989 behind the wheel of their white Diet Pepsi-backed no. 74 Olsen mount. Fuller was fitted inside a predominantly blue Teo Pro Car, still boasting a Precision power plant that helped land the $6,000 top prize. “Joe and Steve really put a good piece together, even though we’ll just run it 10-15 times this year.”
“When we can come out and be fast and actually get the job completed its even better yet. Being able to come here on an off week and make a couple bucks makes me even more happy.”
“We were experimenting with some stuff last night —finished 11th at Brewerton— but with (Canandaigua) track as heavy as it was here we took it right off. All the guys on this team gel together pretty good so when we can only run a handful of races, I’m happy to do as well as we’re doing,” noted Fuller, the 2005 overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Champion, already owning a second-place in the All-Star 100 at Cayuga County and fourth at Fulton Speedway, with an Integra Shocks Fast Time Trial Award received at the Big-Diamond season-opener in April.
Himself the overall Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block titlist in ’04, Tomkins was close to finding the form that carried him to back-to-back series win at Canandaigua in 2005-06, although his best finish by far this season in owner Doug Dulen’s Honeoye Motorsports no. 84 Rochester Americans-National Guard/Bicknell ride was most satisfying at his home track.
“Its great to come here and finally finish up front … we’ll take it, the car’s in one piece and we’re standing here so it must be good,” remarked Tomkins, 43, whose only other front-five finish (4th) came at Cayuga County on July 19 during All-Star Weekend. “Have to thank everybody for sticking behind us, especially Mike (Payne, crew chief), the guy’s ready to take the bridge. Its not his fault, I haven’t been driving too well and we’re missing something but don’t know what it is. It’s a team effort all the way no matter what the results, this car needs to make money and so far it hasn’t been. Usually when you get in a funk like this people go away but we’ve had a lot of guys around lately asking what they can do to help out.”
“I knew we had a good car all night. We’ve been running terrible lately, not only bad luck but going really bad. Had this same car here last Saturday and wrecked it so we had to rebuild it. Tonight I was just trying to take my time because I really wanted to finish the race first. Some guys that usually don’t drive me bad did and I lost some spots, that’s how Timmy got by me, but I don’t want to take anything away from him as he was really fast. We had a good car, just needed that caution a little bit earlier, would’ve been interesting. Jimmy was good on the bottom and I could actually roll the middle pretty decent but Timmy had the spot where I wanted to be up top,” added Tomkins, who scored his 17th career series win last summer at Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway.
Finishing in third for the second straight night, Phelps logged his only other front-five (5th) at Canandaigua in the 2006 tour event although he won the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series race held at the Routes 5& 20 oval last September.
“It was an interesting deal, a lot of fun to be a part of,” figured Phelps, 34, who remains a solid third in the ’09 overall points hunt through 12 events steering the H&H Motorsports no. 98H Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer mount for the fifth straight summer. “Gary stuck his nose in the middle and it looked like he was going to drive by both of us there.”
“I felt a little better on the top in turns 1-2 but Fuller was running up there so I just had to drive through the bottom and see what happens. I’m historically mediocre here so I’m pretty happy to be able to go to the front and race with these guys. We brought this new Troyer car out and its been great right out of the box. We’ve been real good, hopefully we’ll keep it rolling and try to climb back into that points deal. I have to thank everybody at Troyer and H&H that works so hard on this, we get a lot of support and it really showed on a night like this,” Phelps added.
The Super DIRTcar Series takes a short break before returning to action as teams head north to Can-Am Motorsports Park for the ‘End Of Summer Spectacular’ on Friday, August 21 before closing out the same weekend at Cornwall Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 23 in the rescheduled 15th Akwesasne Mohawk Casino International 100.
Super DIRTcar Series Race #12 – Canandaigua Speedway, August 8, 2009 ‘Dig Safely 100’ Big-Block Modified Event Summary
FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 7 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY ($6,000)
2 9 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
3 11 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
4 5 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
5 8 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
6 14 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
7 2 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
8 6 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
9 12 99r Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
10 19 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
11 15 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
12 10 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
13 1 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
14 17 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
15 20 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
16 4 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
17 22 19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY
18 28 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
19 25 14 Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
20 16 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
21 23 8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
22 26 20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA
23 27 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
24 13 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
25 3 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
26 30 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
27 18 7 Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY
28 24 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
29 21 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
30 29 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
GATER RACING NEWS LAP LEADERS: Ward (1-14), Sheppard (15-21), Paine (22-27), Sheppard (28-41), Paine (42-71), Fuller (72-100).
CAUTIONS: 5 for 21 laps.
HEAT WINNERS: P.Ward, Fuller, Decker, Rauscher.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Donk, Planck.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Tim Fuller.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Tim Fuller.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Gary Tomkins.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Gary Tomkins.
HALFWAY LEADER: Steve Paine.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Sean Beardsley.
XTREME LUBRICANTS SLICK MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Gary Tomkins.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (17th): Chris Higgins.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Matt Sheppard (18.171sec/99.059mph).
TOTAL PURSE: $27,750.
CARS ENTERED: 39.
NEXT EVENT: Can-Am Motorsports Park “End Of Summer Spectacular” – August 21, 2009.
DID NOT QUALIFY(9)
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
13-Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
25-Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY
27jr.-Dan Johnson Jr./Phelps,NY
28p-Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY
33-Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
37x-Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
45m-Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
50-Don Slover/Bath,NY
QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
1 18.171 99.059 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
2 18.196 98.923 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
3 18.240 98.684 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
4 18.301 98.355 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
5 18.302 98.350 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
6 18.311 98.302 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
7 18.313 98.291 4* Michael Storms/Wantage,NJ
8 18.387 97.895 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
9 18.391 97.874 42p Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
10 18.403 97.810 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
11 18.459 97.513 99r Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
12 18.461 97.503 48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
13 18.498 97.308 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
14 18.523 97.176 74 Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
15 18.547 97.051 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
16 18.617 96.686 8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
17 18.621 96.665 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
18 18.632 96.608 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
19 18.651 96.510 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
20 18.697 96.272 91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY
21 18.737 96.067 19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY
22 18.839 95.546 99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY
23 18.841 95.536 99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
24 18.862 95.430 20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA
25 18.925 95.112 44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY
26 18.950 94.987 21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY
27 18.992 94.777 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
28 19.013 94.672 13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
29 19.022 94.627 18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
30 19.070 94.389 7 Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY
31 19.120 94.142 14 Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
32 19.139 94.049 28p Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY
33 19.336 93.091 37x Tom Scheetz Jr./Boyertown,PA
34 19.343 93.057 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
35 19.350 93.023 33 Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
36 19.511 92.256 45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY
37 19.642 91.640 25 Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY
38 20.319 88.587 27jr. Dan Johnson Jr./Phelps,NY
39 21.766 82.698 50 Don Slover/Bath,NY
Heat Races (10 laps, top 5 finishers transferred to feature; top 3 redrew)
#1: P.Ward, Haers, D.Johnson, Storms, Bower, Beardsley, Whaley, DA.Johnson, Slover.
#2: Fuller, Sheppard, Paine, Brownell, Wight, Higgins, Donk, Scagliotta, Rougeux, Steiner, Scheetz.
#3: Decker, A.Johnson, J.Phelps, Hearn, Guererri, Swarthout, Bellinger, Payne, Mahaney, M.Ward.
#4: Rauscher, Tomkins, R.Phelps, Homan, Podsiadlo, Planck, Bates, Dunn, Habeck.
Dig Safely New York Last Chance Races: (10 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to feature)
#1: Donk, Higgins, Whaley, Rougeux, Beardsley, Steiner, Scagliotta, Scheetz, DA.Johnson, Wight, Slover.
#2: Planck, Bellinger, Swarthout, Dunn, Bates, Mahaney, Habeck, Payne, M.Ward.
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified Point Standings (Thru Aug. 8, 2009)
Rank No. Driver Total Diff Wins Top-5 Top-10 Starts
1 20 Brett Hearn 1055 0 2 10 11 12
2 9s Matt Sheppard 921 -134 3 7 8 12
3 98H Jimmy Phelps 916 -139 0 5 9 12
4 91 Billy Decker 870 -185 2 6 6 12
5 99 Ryan Phelps 802 -253 2 4 8 12
6 3 Justin Haers 770 -285 0 1 6 12
7 84 Gary Tomkins 743 -312 0 2 7 12
8 27J Danny Johnson 700 -355 0 1 6 12
9 77x Dale Planck 700 -355 0 1 4 12
10 14J Alan Johnson 602 -453 1 3 6 9
11 4 Mike Storms 598 -457 0 0 2 12
12 49 Billy Dunn 575 -480 0 1 2 11
13 99L Larry Wight 540 -515 0 0 0 12
14 29 Jeff Brownell Jr. 496 -559 0 1 3 9
15 74 Tim Fuller 486 -569 1 3 3 7
16 7x Steve Paine 445 -610 0 1 5 7
17 8 Rich Scagliotta 268 -787 0 0 0 4
18 6 Pat O’Brien 247 -808 0 1 2 4
19 42p Pat Ward 225 -830 0 1 3 5
20 FX1 Frankie Caprara 224 -831 0 0 2 4
21 42 Pete Bicknell 203 -852 0 1 2 3
22 17 Sean Beardsley 179 -876 0 0 0 4
23 62 Tom Sears Jr. 169 -886 0 0 0 3
24 99B Chuck Bower 167 -888 0 0 0 4
25 33 Mike Mahaney 158 -897 0 0 0 4
26 32c Vic Coffey 141 -914 0 0 1 3
27 1H David Hebert 140 -915 0 1 1 2
28 02 Roy Bresnahan 132 -923 0 0 0 3
29 21 Derrick Podsiadlo 131 -924 0 0 1 3
30 22 Mario Clair 127 -928 0 0 0 2
31 3b Chad Brachmann 125 -930 0 0 0 3
32 83x Tim Sears 120 -935 0 0 0 3
33 8R Rob Bellinger 115 -940 0 0 0 3
34 43 Keith Flach 111 -944 0 0 0 2
35 34b Andy Bachetti 110 -945 0 1 1 1
36 44 Shannon Whaley 105 -950 0 0 0 2
37 9m Tim McCreadie 105 -950 0 0 1 2
38 76 Travis Braun 97 -958 0 0 0 2
39 21 Yan Bussiere 97 -958 0 0 0 2
40 24 Jim Witko Jr. 96 -959 0 0 0 2
41 96 Kyle Dingwall 95 -960 0 1 1 1
42 97 Michel Chicoine 95 -960 0 0 0 2
43 26 Rick Richner 94 -961 0 0 0 2
44 42B Kevin Bates 91 -964 0 0 0 2
45 16 Mike Bowman 90 -965 0 0 0 2
46 60 Brian Berger 86 -969 0 1 1 1
47 73 Alain Boisvert 82 -973 0 0 1 1
48 22 Larry Lampman Jr 81 -974 0 1 1 1
49 33.3 Tommy Meier 81 -974 0 1 1 1
50 77F Mark Flach Jr. 81 -974 0 1 1 1
51 57 Donnie Corellis 77 -978 0 0 1 1
52 42 Guy Sheldon 71 -984 0 0 1 1
53 160 Johnny Hill 70 -985 0 0 0 2
54 1F Stewart Friesen 68 -987 0 2 4 4
55 88 Tim O’Brien 68 -987 0 0 0 1
56 98 Eddie Marshall 66 -989 0 0 0 1
57 72 Todd Stewart 65 -990 0 0 1 1
58 07 Tim Kerr 65 -990 0 0 0 1
59 54 Steve Bernard 65 -990 0 0 1 1
60 14 Jimmy Horton 63 -992 0 0 0 1
61 7* Danny O’Brien 62 -993 0 0 1 1
62 5H Chris Hile 60 -995 0 0 0 1
63 1F Adam Ferri 60 -995 0 0 0 1
64 72 Tommy Flannigan 60 -995 0 0 0 1
65 123 Robbie Krull 60 -995 0 0 0 1
66 64 Donnie Ackner 59 -996 0 0 0 1
67 19H Chris Higgins 58 -997 0 0 0 1
68 26 Ryan Godown 57 -998 0 0 0 1
69 38 Scott Wood 56 -999 0 0 0 1
70 22 Eric Gauvreau 56 -999 0 0 0 1
71 44 Sebastien Gougeon 56 -999 0 0 0 1
72 48T Dave Rauscher 55 -1000 0 0 0 2
73 88k Randy Chrysler 55 -1000 0 0 0 1
74 3 Claude Brouillard 54 -1001 0 0 0 1
75 99 Charlie Donk 52 -1003 0 0 0 1
76 88 Krey Sandstedt 52 -1003 0 0 0 1
77 24s Chris Shultz 51 -1004 0 0 0 1
78 46 Kayle Robidoux 51 -1004 0 0 0 1
79 115 Kenny Tremont Jr. 51 -1004 0 0 0 1
80 56 Vince Vitale 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
81 52 James M. Friesen 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
82 xXx Todd Gordon 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
83 6m Mat Wiliamson 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
84 M96 Brian McDonald 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
85 3d Dexter Stacey 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
86 66w Wallace Stacey 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
87 23 Dany Bilodeau 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
88 1H Tim Hindley 50 -1005 0 0 0 1
89 124 Pierre Dagenais 49 -1006 0 0 0 1
90 80x Chris Steele 48 -1007 0 0 0 1
91 72x Denis Gauvreau 48 -1007 0 0 0 1
92 17c Bobby Davidson 48 -1007 0 0 0 1
93 43 Fred Carleton 46 -1009 0 0 0 1
94 14 Brian Swarthout 45 -1010 0 0 0 1
95 37s Wayne Conn Jr. 45 -1010 0 0 0 1
96 22J Gino Clair 45 -1010 0 0 0 1
97 55 Mike King 45 -1010 0 0 0 1
98 91 Chad Homan 44 -1011 0 0 0 1
99 08 Mark D’Ilario 44 -1011 0 0 0 1
100 39 Clement Therrien 44 -1011 0 0 0 1
101 87 Hector Stratton 44 -1011 0 0 0 1
102 28 Scott Kerwin 43 -1012 0 0 0 1
103 20d Del Rougeux Jr. 42 -1013 0 0 0 1
104 21m Bob McGannon 42 -1013 0 0 0 1
105 44 Frank Cozze 42 -1013 0 0 0 1
Super DIRTcar Series Modified Entries – August 8 (39)
Car# Driver/Hometown Team (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)
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
7 Paul Guererri/Geneva,NY Pumphouse Tavern-Gevo’s Rears&Gears-Al Raymond Collision/Bicknell/Tim Johnson
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
8r Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY U-Store of Watertown-Westward Painting-Coffin Excavation/Troyer/Finger Lakes
9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/C.C. Performance
13 Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY NY Tech Supply-Tech Tire Repairs/Bicknell/Donath
14 Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY Swarthout Recycling & Container Service-Edward’s Accounting/TEO/Finger Lakes
14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY Bully’s Truck Stop-CFF,Inc.-Raymond’s Car Care/Bicknell/Jimmy D’s Speed
18 Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY Pipe Pros-Bradco Supply/Troyer/Moshier
19h Chris Higgins/Syracuse,NY Transportation Repair Service-JLRB Construction/Bicknell/Higgins Performance
20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ Madsen Motorsports-Wentworth Custom Homes-Kruger-WLR-BPG/TEO/Enders
20d Del Rougeux,Jr./Frenchville,PA Vinyl Graphics Unlimited-K&N Performance Filters/Bicknell/Kriner
21 Derrick Podsiadlo/Penn Yan,NY Penn Yan Mini Storage-Keuka Restaurant/TEO/Finger Lakes
25 Paul Habeck/Penfield,NY SwimmingPool.com-DJM Equipment-Bobcat of Finger Lakes/Troyer/Bruneau
27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY Thompson Motorsports-SUNY Canton/Troyer/Dan Bedell
27jr. Dan Johnson Jr./Phelps,NY Johnson Motorsports/Troyer/B&M
28p Eldon Payne,Jr./Hopewell,NY Fox’s Auto-Payne’s Tiltbed Service/TEO/Finger Lakes
29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell/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
44 Shannon Whaley/Pavilion,NY Davis Trailer World-D&M Precision/Bicknell/Morrison
45m Mike Ward/Genoa,NY Cal-East Collision & Street Rods/Bicknell/Chet Ward
48too Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY Magee Transportation Services-Monadnock Disposal Service/Bicknell/Morrison
49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY Number One Speed-American Traditions-Fast Lube Watertown/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
50 Don Slover/Bath,NY Slover Racing/Bicknell/Velton Slover
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
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
91h Chad Homan/Macedon,NY DigTrack.com-North Eastern Pool & Spa/Bicknell/Campbell
98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY Mohawk N.E.-New England Race Fuels-Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/Troyer/Bruneau
99 Charlie Donk/Macedon,NY Original Pizza Logs-K&D Disposal-Turner Auto-Ron Donk Excavating/Troyer/Mastin
99b Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY Ingles Performance-United Fasteners-Bradco Supply/Bicknell/Finger Lakes
99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY Gypsum Express,Ltd./Bicknell/Kevlar
99r Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY Big Red Towing-Dave Miller Auto Body/Bicknell/Enders
SKIDMARKS
Canandaigua Attracts Miss Sprint Cup: Despite the threatening weather surrounding the Finger Lakes Region, Miss Sprint Cup Anne-Marie Rhodes persevered to make her first-ever appearance at Canandaigua Speedway for the annual Super DIRTcar Series shoot-out at the Ontario Co. Fairgrounds. During the night’s festivities Miss Sprint Cup took time to meet and greet the Canandaigua fans and provided a personal autograph session behind the main grandstand. Rhodes also highlighted the pre-race ceremonies, by offering the to the competitors the familiar words, “Gentlemen Start Your Engines!”
Copp No Robber: With the nationally touring Sprint Cup Series running nearby in its annual visit to Watkins Glen International, Canandaigua Street Stock graduate D.J. Copp from Ontario, N.Y. took in the action from high atop the turn four media tower. Relocating south 14 years and becoming a tire changer on a number of Cup teams, Copp had not been back to his home state in 8-9 years yet was proud to return to his racing roots at the storied Ontario County Fairgrounds oval. Often referred to today as the ‘Land of Legends,’ Copp counted up three wins in the rookie stock division and two more once all the classes were combined in a short-track career that spanned 1993-96.
Rookie Orientation: Jeff Hachmann experienced his first Super DIRTcar Series event serving as track General Manager at Canandaigua. The questionable weather forecast dictated the late arriving crowd yet attendance on the other side of the fence was not in question as a fine field of 39 Big-Block Modified teams filled the fairgrounds pits, which was up two entries from the previous season. Arguably the best finish up to this point on tour was worth the brow-beating as the 100-lap Modified main was checker-flagged at 9:55pm leaving just enough time to close out the program with a 25-lap DIRTcar Sportsman feature. “What a show that was,” beamed Hachmann, following the Big-Block finale that had scorers reeling during the 40-minute thriller.
Pot Holes: A seemingly bad day for Super DIRTcar Series points leader Brett Hearn actually ended with an increase in his points advantage. Despite finishing 11th, Hearn’s first run out of the Top-10 in 12 shows, closest challenger Matt Sheppard placed 25th to extend the margin from 122 to 134 markers…..Although residing in Pennsylvania, Del Rougeux Jr. is part of the regular Saturday night cast of Modified stars at Canandaigua in 2009, this weekend making the haul north after going from last to first to win at Lernerville Speedway on Friday…..Making his Big-Block Series debut at Canandaigua, Brian Swarthout will also be a rookie when he arrives at the New York State Fairgrounds for Super DIRT Week in October. Another TEO chassis is on order to house his current Big-Block powerplant while a Small-Block engine will be installed in the current TEO frame will come autumn.
UPCOMING EVENTS
A two week break is in store for Super DIRTcar Series point chasers before returning to action further north on both sides of the border. 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 in the $17,500-to-win ‘Mr. DIRT Track U.S.A.’ title event.
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 Tim Fuller
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.
