SUPER DIRT WEEK: Phelps, Decker & Ward Top Triple 20s Friday At Syracuse

From Tom Skibinski - DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region PR Director - Syracuse, NY – October 8, 2010 – The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau Big-Block Modified Triple 20 qualifying heats held Friday at the New York State Fairgrounds not only rewarded winners Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker and Pat Ward with a lucrative payday, they kept the seasoned Empire State trio locked in as pre-race favorites for Sunday’s headline SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Presented by Ferris/Snapper/Simplicity Championship.

Continuing to set the pace in the 39th edition of Super DIRT Week on the Syracuse Mile, Phelps, Decker and Ward each posted flag-to-flag victories in preparation for Sunday’s ‘Super Bowl’ of DIRTcar Racing worth $50,000 to the 200-mile winner.

Following up with his fast time trial on Thursday at the historic Salt City speedplant, Phelps out-gunned Canadian chauffeur Stewart Friesen on the initial green flag and never looked back en route to his second career Triple 20 victory in Syracuse.

“Hopefully we can keep it going on Sunday, its been a banner week so far,” remarked Phelps, after returning to the podium beside the potent HBR Motorsports no. 98h Wave Energy Drink-Mohawk Northeast/Troyer entry on Friday afternoon. “At Syracuse you’ve really got to have everything go your way to stand a chance.”

“We had a really fast car today, that always helps here, and the guys made real good decisions when they sent us out. My radio came undone on the very first lap so I felt a little lost out there and just bided my time to get the job done,” Phelps noted.

The caution-free affair ended with Friesen five car-lengths back at the checkers, while Garden State invader Ryan Godown, Eastern New Yorker Tim Hindley and popular Frenchman David Hebert completed the top-five.

Decker was just as dominant in round two, making it a clean sweep after capturing a Twin 20-lap 358-Modified qualifier earlier in the day steering a similarly prepared small-block-powered LJL Racing no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium Int'l-Quality Hardwoods/Bicknell mount

“Yes, things are good right now,” smiled Decker, in search of his fifth SEF 200 victory that would tie him with tour rival Brett Hearn for wins since the most prestigious Big-Block Modified event in the nation was launched in 1972. Decker also ranks behind only Hearn (29) as the Unadilla, N.Y. driver has now taken 22 checkered flags during Super DIRT Week in both Big-Block and 358-Modified competition.

“We’ve got two more days of competition out here, things are really looking good but we’ve been around long enough to know anything can happen at any time. Hopefully we’ll be just as happy as right now come Sunday, that’s when we’ll either be a hero or a goat. There’s really only one winner at Syracuse, we’re two-thirds of the way right now,” figured Decker, who last won in 2005 when the race was rain-delayed into November.

Decker only need 12 minutes to best runner-up J.R. Heffner in what amounted to a 20-lap dash, with Bobby Varin, Bob McGannon and Tim McCreadie settling in for front-five finishes at the stripe.

Open-wheel qualifying action came to a close with Decker’s Gypsum Express teammate Pat Ward cruising out to a 10 car-length victory in the third and final segment.

“The outside turned pretty slippery so we got a good jump on everybody from the start and just stayed out of trouble the rest of the way,” said Ward, after registering his third career Triple 20 victory. Unlike the first two heats run Friday, the final round required a red flag on the opening lap when Ted Lamb Jr. slid low on the front straightaway and dug deep into the soft clay to force his M.R. Burdick Enterprises no. 85 Ferguson Water Works/TEO machine into a slow rollover.

“It got dusty out there with all the sun and wind, hopefully we’ll get it all blown off in time for the weekend events and we can do some racing. Up front is certainly the place you want to be, hopefully we can stay there and have a chance at the end. That’s everybody’s goal, just give yourself a chance and be in the hunt over the final laps,” Ward added.

Time trials (6), qualifying races (27), BRP Tour winner and two guaranteed starters from the Super DIRTcar Series bring the total to 33 cars before the 'Dig Safely New York Shootout' last-chance consolation round on Sunday morning, the addition of provisionals, and Saturday night shootout at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park complete the 45-car starting grid for Sunday's headline SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 finale scheduled for 2 p.m.

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX MODIFIED TRIPLE 20s RESULTS
Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau Heat #1
FIN  CAR# DRIVER
1          98h      Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
2          44        Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
3          747     Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
4          1th       Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY
5          1h        David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
6          3          Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
7          98        Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
8          49        Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
9          99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
10        27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
11        96        Todd Milton/Auburn,NY
12        42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
13        3b        Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
14        57        Donnie Corellis/Averill Park,NY
15        16        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
16        44v      Phil Vigneri/Elba,NY
17        3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
18        22L     Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT

Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau Heat #2
FIN  CAR# DRIVER
1          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
2          74        J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
3          10        Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
4          21m    Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY
5          39        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
6          9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
7          usa1    Richie Tobias Jr./Anneville,PA
8          14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
9          45        Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
10        32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
11        56        Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
12        02        Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
13        24        Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
14        93x      Craig Mitchell/Poughkeepsie,NY
15        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
16        14s      Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
17        8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
DNS    19        John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY

Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau Heat #3
FIN  CAR# DRIVER
1          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
1          42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
2          77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
3          12a     Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
4          74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
5          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
6          115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
7          34        Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
8          43        Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
9          99        Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
10        14j       Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
11        13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
12        1ny      Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
13        7          Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
14        62s      Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
15        151kb Brian McDonald/Cornwall,ONT
16        85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
DNS    24        Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
DNS    24x      Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX MODIFIED NON-QUALIFIERS RACE LINE-UP (Oct. 10)
Dig Safely New York Shootout – 5 Qualify
ST  CAR#     DRIVER
1          16        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
2          8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
3          42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
4          02        Roy Bresnahan/Palermo,NY
5          13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
6          3b        Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
7          24        Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
8          1ny      Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
9          57        Donnie Corellis/Averill Park,NY
10        93x      Craig Mitchell/Poughkeepsie,NY
11        7          Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
12        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
13        151kb Brian McDonald/Cornwall,ONT
14        44v      Phil Vigneri/Elba,NY
15        14s      Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
16        85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
17        3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
18        22        Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT

2008 MODIFIED SEF SMALL ENGINE FUELS Presented By FERRIS-SNAPPER-SIMPLICITY 200 STARTING LINE-UP
STR  CAR# DRIVER
1          98h      Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
2          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
3          42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
4          44        Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
5          74        J.R. Heffner/Pittsfield,MA
6          62s      Tom Sears Jr./Clay,NY
7          747     Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
8          10        Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
9          77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
10        1th       Tim Hindley/Monticello,NY
11        21m    Bob McGannon/Garnerville,NY
12        12a     Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
13        1h        David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
14        39        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
15        74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
16        3          Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
17        9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
18        20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
19        98        Eddie Marshall/Ridgefield,CT
20        usa1    Richie Tobias Jr./Anneville,PA
21        115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
22        49        Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
23        14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
24        34        Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
25        99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
26        45        Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
27        43        Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
28        27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
29        32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
30        99        Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
31        96        Todd Milton/Auburn,NY
32        56        Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY
33        14j       Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
*Top-6 locked in from Thursday time trials;                       
*Positions 7-33 locked in from Friday Triple-20s

From Tom Skibinski  / DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region PR Director - Syracuse, NY – October 8, 2010 – Mirroring last year’s opening day conditions on the sun-drenched New York State Fairgrounds one-mile oval, Modified qualifying races for the 150-lap ‘Salute to the Troops’ 358-Modified Championship got underway Friday with Big-Block veterans Billy Decker and Wayne Jelley taking checkered flags in the Pullen’s Truck Center Twin 20s.

The fastest in time trials the day before, both Decker and Jelley each led every lap en route to their respective heat race victory, with both former winners of the SDW small-block title event also collecting a $1,000 top prize after dominating performances in the 20-mile preliminary events. Decker is a four-time race winner while Jelley parked in the winner’s circle in 2004 following the biggest win of his career.

“A good starting position is definitely the key to a lot of the stuff that goes on out here,” remarked Decker, following his fourth career ‘Twin 20s’ qualifying race triumph on the storied Syracuse Mile. The Unadilla, N.Y. pilot will start on the pole Saturday in search of a third straight Super DIRT Week 358-Modified Championship on the Syracuse Mile steering the red LJL Racing Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium International/Bicknell mount.

“So far we’ve been spot on every time out. I owe a lot to John, Laura (Wight, cars owners), Scott (Jeffery, crew chief) and this whole team for all the effort they’ve put in this week. You can’t ask for much more having good equipment every time you buckle in. Fortunately, I’ve been able to take advantage and keep the car up front when it counts,” Decker added.

Second-generation star Ronnie Johnson from Duanesburg, N.Y., Vernon, New Yorker Willy Decker, Watertown’s Tim McCreadie and Pennsylvanian Rick Laubach filled out the front-five in the first of two qualifiers that was slowed by three caution periods.

Matching Decker’s flag-to-flag romp in the second 20-lapper, Jelley toured the fairgrounds uncontested with a trio of yellow flags for minor mishaps also keeping the field tight most of the way.

“This was another good run for us, everybody really put in a good effort today,” stated Jelley, who will join Decker on the front row in Saturday’s small-block finale buckled into his yellow Freedom Plains no. 45 Jelley's Auto/TEO entry. Friday’s victory was his first-ever in heat race competition during Super DIRT Week.

“We’ve been good with a small-block pretty much every year, if we can just get the big-block rolling around here better we’ll be in good shape. Have to thank Steve Hough for coming in and helping me out this week, its really made a big difference getting ready for all our qualifying,” Jelley said.

Two-time SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Big-Block winner Jimmy Horton from Neshanic Station, N.J. chased Jelley across the stripe, followed by five-time ‘Salute To The Troops 150’ winner Pete Bicknell from St. Catharines, ONT, defending SEF 200 champion Matt Sheppard from Waterloo, N.Y. and all-time DIRTcar Northeast open-wheel feature winner Brett Hearn towing in from Sussex, N.J.

The Pullen Truck Center Twin 20s qualifiers set the stage for the 31st edition of the ‘Salute To The Troops’ 150 --- the featured race for Small-Block Modifieds on Saturday of Super DIRT Week XXXIX. Following the Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Series event Friday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, a strong 40-plus car starting field will fill out the grid for the headline event that pays $20,000 to the winner and gets underway at 2 p.m.

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 358-MODIFIED TWIN 20s RESULTS
*Pullen’s Truck Center Heat #1
FIN  CAR# DRIVER
1          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
2          76a     Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
3          1x        Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
4          4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
5          27L     Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
6          74x      Matt Billings/Brockville,ONT
7          99        Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
8          1h        David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
9          01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
10        6m       Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
11        1xx      Todd Stone/Middlebury,VT
12        115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
13        24        Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
14        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
15        1ny      Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
16        32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
17        7g        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
18        19        John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
19        4j         Jeff Sykes/Edwards,NY
20        24s      Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
21        27        Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
22        24x      Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
23        16        Kyle Hoffman/Averill Park,NY
24        3m       Henry Maier/Spencerport,NY
25        34        George Foley/Saranac Lake,NY
DNS    72        Denis Gauvreau/Alymer,QUE
DNS    124     Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE

*Pullen’s Truck Center Heat #2
FIN  CAR# DRIVER
1          45        Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
2          14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
3          42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
4          1w       Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
5          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
6          42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
7          99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
8          22j       Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY
9          8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
10        10        Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
11        22        Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
12        3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
13        74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
14        13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
15        46        Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
16        4          Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
17        27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
18        72        Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT
19        tj1        Tom Jock Jr./Akwesasne,NY
20        14s      Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
21        7*        Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
22        6          Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
23        22c      Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
24        85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
25        66x      Carey Terrance/Akwesasne,NY
DNS    22g     Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
DNS    38        Luke Whitteker/Iroquois,ONT
DNS    14m    C.G. Morey/Rutland,VT

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 358-MOD NON-QUALIFIERS RACE LINE-UP (Oct. 9)
ST  CAR#     DRIVER
1          32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
2          4          Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
3          7g        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
4          27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
5          19        John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
6          72        Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT
7          4j         Jeff Sykes/Edwards,NY
8          tj1        Tom Jock Jr./Akwesasne,NY
9          24        Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
10        14s      Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
11        27        Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
12        7*        Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
13        24x      Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
14        6          Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
15        16        Kyle Hoffman/Averill Park,NY
16        22c      Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
17        3m       Henry Maier/Spencerport,NY
18        85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
19        34        George Foley/Saranac Lake,NY
20        66x      Carey Terrance/Akwesasne,NY

"SALUTE TO THE TROOPS" 150
MR. DIRTcar 358-MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP STARTING LINE-UP
STR  CAR# DRIVER
1          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
2          45        Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
3          4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
4          14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
5          76a     Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
6          42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
7          1x        Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
8          1w       Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
9          27L     Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
10        20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
11        74x      Matt Billings/Brockville,ONT
12        42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
13        99        Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
14        99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
15        1h        David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
16        22j       Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY
17        01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
18        8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
19        6m       Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
20        10        Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
21        1xx      Todd Stone/Middlebury,VT
22        22L     Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
23        115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
24        3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
25        24        Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
26        74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
27        48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
28        13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
29        1ny      Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
30        46        Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
*Top-6 locked in from Thursday time trials;                       
*Positions 7-30 locked in from Friday Pullen's Truck Center Twin-20s;            
*Remaining positions filled in by Rolling Wheels qualifier on Friday, last-chance qualifier Saturday at Syracuse plus Guaranteed & Provisional Starters.

SUPER DIRT WEEK: Steiner & Warner Prevail At SDW In Final 'Futures' Events

Syracuse, NY – October 8, 2010 – By Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR - Tony Steiner of Jamesville, N.Y. (Big-Block Modified) and Rocky Warner of Gloversville, N.Y. (Pro Stock) were victorious in the DIRTcar ‘Futures’ feature events that closed Friday’s Super DIRT Week XXXIX action at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Steiner’s triumph in the 8-lap Big-Block Modified race was a milestone for the 44-year-old driver, who is in his third season of competition in DIRTcar Northeast’s marquee division.

“Winning at Syracuse is awesome – especially when it’s your first total career win,” said the smiling Steiner, who had never before reached the checkered flag first in his four-year racing career. “I’m pretty excited. This has actually been my worst year of racing – we’ve had so many mechanical issues, took a nasty flip at Brewerton and had a bunch of other crashes – so this makes it all worthwhile.”

Steiner, who put his Bicknell car on the pole of the four-car sprint by registering the fastest lap in a late-morning qualifying session, was never challenged. He easily defeated Phil Vigneri of Elba, N.Y., by 4.942 seconds for the $750 top prize.

Racing with power supplied by an engine built specifically for the Syracuse Mile by Shawn and Brian Donath, Steiner felt fortunate to simply start the ‘Futures’ event. Earlier in the day the regular at New York’s Brewerton and Fulton speedways was nearly swept up in a multi-car crash during the third Big-Block heat race.

“Ted Lamb was right in front of me in the Triple 20 when he flipped,” said Steiner, who decided to start racing at the age of 40 because, he joked, he experienced a “mid-life crisis.” “I never saw him flipping. I don’t know how I missed him, but I’m sure glad I did because if I’d have torn the car up there I wouldn’t have been able to come in here and win this.”

The 12-lap Pro Stock ‘Futures’ feature, meanwhile, fell under Warner’s tight grasp after a hairy-raising early-race battle with fellow Capital District racer Jeremy Pitts of Clifton Park, N.Y. Warner started from the pole position with Pitts to his outside and they swapped the lead twice in the first four laps.

“We were busting chops before qualifying and talked about going into turn one (at the start) and banging bumpers, sparks flying, getting our pictures taken and stuff,” said Warner. “Then we go in the corner, I lost him, then all of a sudden he shoots right back around the outside and passed me when I come off two and hit the bump.

“I thought, Oh man, it’s gonna be tough to pass him back. Then (the next lap) he went back to the bottom where I was and I went where he was and passed him back. It was a blast.”

Warner’s $400 triumph continued his spectacular 2010 season. He won track championships at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in Fultonville, N.Y., and Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway and copped the Thunder on the Thruway Series title.

“You come here as a kid and dream of winning a race here,” said Warner, a 29-year-old in his second season of Pro Stock competition. “To finally actually do something like that is a real thrill.”

Big-Block Modified ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (8 laps): TONY STEINER, Phil Vigneri, Lance Willix II, Brian Swarthout, Ted Lamb Jr. (DNS), Marc Johnson (DNS).

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 'FUTURES' TIME TRIALS @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 8    
*Determined feature race starting positions.                                            
BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED                                        
            FAST              AVE               
            TIME               MPH            CAR#    DRIVER
1          31.346            114.847          13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
2          31.381            114.719          85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
3          31.833            113.090          44v      Phil Vigneri/Elba,NY
4          31.967            112.616          16        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
5          32.657            110.237          3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
6          33.448            107.630          14s      Brian Swarhout/Beaver Dams,NY

Pro Stock ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (12 laps): ROCKY WARNER, Jeremy Pitts, Scott Duell, Pete Broderson, Francois Adam, Chuck Towslee, Sheldon Martin, Bill Smith IV, Ron Nuzzaro Jr., Bernie Companion, Thunder Anderson, Paul Engwer, Milo Campbell, Walt Brownell.

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 'FUTURES' TIME TRIALS @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 8    
*Determined feature race starting positions.                                            
PRO STOCK                                               
            FAST              AVE               
            TIME               MPH           CAR#     DRIVER
1          37.423            96.198            79        Rocky Warner/Gloversville,NY
2          37.688            95.521            27        Jeremy Pitts/Clifton Park,NY
3          38.455            93.616            114     Scott Duell/Green Island,NY
4          38.648            93.148            23        Chuck Towslee/Manchester, VT
5          38.814            92.750            92        Sheldon Martin/Scotia,NY
6          38.817            92.743            53b     Pete Broderson/Ballston Spa,NY
7          38.951            92.424            31x      Ron Nuzzaro Jr./Yonkers,NY
8          39.291            91.624            41        Bill Smith IV/Ballston Spa,NY
9          39.708            90.662            01        Francois Adam/St.Pie,QUE
10        41.026            87.749            87        Walt Brownell/Ballston Spa,NY
11        41.449            86.854            34        Paul Engwer/East Greenbush,NY
12          -NT-                 -----               30        Thunder Anderson/Hogansburg,NY
13          -NT-                 -----               83        Bernie Companion/Ballston Spa,NY
14          -NT-                 -----               143     Milo Campbell/Shaftsbury,VT

Super DIRT Week: Last Lap Pass Gives Johnson SDW Win Over Hearn At Rolling Wheels

Elbridge, NY – Oct. 8, 2010 – For those fans making an early departure from Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on Friday night while Brett Hearn was leading the first 74 laps of the Pullen’s Truck Center 75 --- shame on you.

Especially with Danny Johnson hot on Hearn’s trail and $4,000 on the line for the winner of the annual Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series event scheduled in autumn during Super DIRT Week.

Taking advantage of two lapped cars sandwiching Hearn entering turn three on the final lap, Johnson suddenly dove low looking for an opening and swept past all three to pull off a dramatic win for owner Mike Payne in his Honeoye Auto Parts no. 7z Currier Plastics-Waste Management/Bicknell ride.

“We hung with him the whole race and tried to get underneath and he moved to the bottom” began Johnson, 50, as he recounted the final lap in his latest addition to the 2010 season highlight reel. “When you get to lapped traffic you don’t know what to do, unfortunately he got the two of them. He got the road blocked and I managed to get a hold on the bottom and go by both of them.”

“The car was really good down low the whole race but I had to hit it just right. If I went in too hard I slid, getting it just right was tough to do. This is a great win, hopefully it will get the guys spirits back up for when we go to Syracuse,” added Johnson, following his second Series win of the year.

Finishing a ways back behind Johnson and Hearn in the Super DIRT Week thriller were Pennsylvania invader Frank Cozze, current Mr. DIRTcar 358 points leader Danny O’Brien and older brother Alan Johnson, the winningest Big-Block driver on the DIRTcar Northeast circuit.

Luck of the draw among the top-10 heat race qualifiers put Hearn on the pole to begin the 75-lap Modified main with Johnson filing into ninth on the 30-car starting grid. Six yellow flags slowed the action during the first half of the race, yet it was the final 30 that went non-stop as Johnson was able to chip away at Hearn’s once seemingly insurmountable lead.

After shadowing Hearn over the last dozen circuits, Johnson actually nosed past his chief rival’s Madsen Motorsports no. 20 Wentworth Custom Homes-Fox Hill Campgrounds/TEO machine exiting turn two on lap 74 but couldn’t pull off the pass with still over a lap to go. However, his perseverance paid big dividends over the final half-mile as the ‘Doctor’ stayed glued to Hearn’s rear bumper and when the hole opened up he filled it with no hesitation before crossing the line with a surprising sixcar-length win in Rolling Wheels next to last event.

There is little time to relax as teams chasing points towards the overall Hoosier-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship get right back to action the next day when the Syracuse Mile plays host to the ‘Salute To The Troops 150’ at the State Fairgrounds.

Now following O’Brien (1605) on the points chart through eight events are Danny Johnson (1595), Pete Bicknell (1590), David Hebert (1514), Mario Clair (1501), Pat O’Brien (1454), Mat Williamson (1433), Carey Terrance (1369), Luke Whitteker (1360), Eric Gauvreau (1357), Jeremy Wilder (1357), and defending overall Mr. DIRT car 358-Modified champion Dale Planck (1313). The 2010 Mr. DIRTcar champion will be crowned at Brockville Ontario Speedway next weekend when the BOS stages it 2nd Annual DIRTcar Fall Nationals outside the city of the Thousand Islands.

Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified Championship Series Race #8 – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Oct. 8, 2010 ‘Pullen’s Truck Center 75’ Event Summary
FEATURE
FIN      STR  CAR#    DRIVER
1          9          7z        Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY ($4,000)
2          1          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
3          8          90        Frank Cozze/Wind Gap,PA
4          13        7*        Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
5          4          Deuce Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
6          18        42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
7          29        124h   David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
8          10        4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
9          17        7f         Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
10        7          33        Mike Mahaney/King Ferry,NY
11        22        3b        Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
12        11        99b     Chuck Bower/Lansing,NY
13        16        38        Luke Whitteker/Iroquois,ONT
14        21        4j         Jeff Sykes/Edwards,NY
15        26        6m       Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
16        30        26        Rick Richner/Niagara Falls,NY
17        19        28        Todd Gordon/St.Catharines,ONT
18        12        22        Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
19        6          1x        Todd Stone/Middlebury,VT
20        15        6*        Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
21        20        71        Mike Bowman/St.Catharines,ONT
22        2          9s        Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
23        5          6          Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
24        25        38r      Ryan Susice/Ransomville,NY
25        3          93        Rich Vinson/Sanborn,NY
26        28        22j       Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY
27        14        77x      Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
28        24        37s      Boyd MacTavish/Ransomville,NY
29        23        22c      Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
30        27        66x      Carey Terrance/Akwesasne,NY
GATER NEWS LAP LEADERS:   Hearn (1-74), D.Johnson (75).                                            
CAUTIONS:   6 (lap 5, lap 9, lap 16, lap 23, lap 43, lap 45).                                          
HEAT WINNERS:   P.O'Brien, Stone, A.Johnson, Vinson, Hearn.                                             
CONSI WINNERS:   Sykes, Brachmann, Clair.                                        
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD:   Danny Johnson.                                 
SYRACUSE 150 QUALIFIER:   Frank Cozze.                                         
HALFWAY LEADER:   Brett Hearn.                                              
BERT HARD CHARGER:   David Hebert.                                    
PENSKE POWER POSITION (21st):   Mike Bowman.                                       
BILSTEIN SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD:   Matt Sheppard (20.456sec/109.992mph).       
TOTAL PURSE:   $19,325                                     
CARS ENTERED:   56.                                          
NEXT EVENT:   New York State Fairgrounds "Salute To The Troops 150" - October 9, 2010.                                            

By Tom Skibinski / DIRTcar PR

ENJOY CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND!

October 8, 2010. It’s been a two week whirlwind for #17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver DJ Kennington since claiming the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series title. This weekend race fans will have the chance to watch the final event of the season on television and also listen to a firsthand account of the season long battle that culminated with a championship.

The premiere broadcast of the Kawartha 250, the thirteenth and final race of the season will air on Sunday October 10^th at 1PM Eastern on TSN. You’ll follow the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team through the race to the checkered flag and see the championship trophy presentation to DJ Kennington by Mr. George Silbermann the NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations.

Also on Sunday evening race fans can enjoy a feature interview with #17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver DJ Kennington on the Raceline Radio Network. Hosted by veteran motor sports broadcaster Erik Tomas Raceline airs on a network of twenty stations from coast to coast in Canada and has become appointment listening for the racing fan.

The on track competition has concluded but the pace hasn’t slowed down nor has the smile diminished at all from the face of the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver Kennington. “I’ve had so many phone calls and emails from race fans, family and friends and other racers it’s been really special” said Kennington. “I think with everything that’s being planned this off season will be just as hectic as the summer, and I don’t mind a bit. There’s a lot of exciting events planned in the next few months and I can’t wait” he added.

#17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver DJ Kennington will be honoured on December 11^th at the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala to be held at the newly opened NASCAR Hall of Fame where he will receive his Championship Ring. By winning the title Kennington has also earned a starting spot in the prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale, California on January 28 & 29.

Follow the latest off season news and happenings of the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Power Tools Dodge by logging on to the team website www.djkracing.ca plus you can follow their activities at www.twitter.com/djkracing. You’re also invited to join the Facebook Group DJK Racing.

Photo: DJ Kennington making a pass during the race at Kawartha Speedway

Photos Credit: Mathew Manor/NASCAR

Super DIRT Week: Defending SDW champion Decker Fastest In 358-Mod Time Trials

Syracuse, NY – October 7, 2010 – Veteran racers rose to the occasion Thursday afternoon on the notorious ‘Moody Mile’ with two-time defending champion Billy Decker and 2004 race winner Wayne Jelley posting the two best times to earn front row starting positions in Saturday’s ‘Salute To the Troops’ 358-Modified Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds.

A five-time fast timer in the Big-Block ranks, Decker toured the Syracuse Mile in a time of 32.637 sec. (110.304 mph) to set his first National Parts Peddler fast time in small-block qualifying. Jelley’s clocking of 33.004 sec. (109.078 mph) rewarded him his first trip the frontstretch podium since his popular victory lane appearance made a half-dozen years earlier.

“This is exactly the way we wanted to start the week, the way the weather has been the past couple days it was really hard to get a handle on the track,” noted Decker, 45, who looks to match his car builder, Pete Bicknell, a five-time 358-Modified title race winner who won three straight SDW small-block shows from 1998-2000. “I think the limited amount of time spent on the track actually played into our hands.”

“We’ve car the same car, same motor, same everything as last year. So maybe we got a little edge, didn’t really do any experimenting at all. It was just a matter of trying to catch a clean lap out there and not give up too much speed. There was a real hefty wind out there today, I can tell you we were going a lot faster into turn one than three. And with these small-blocks they move around more and you just can’t into turn three fast enough. We’ll only make a couple changes from this set-up to the one for the race and hopefully we’ll have a strong car again,” added Decker, who also won this event in 1991 and 2002.

Second-generation standout Tim McCreadie (33.059) was third quick steering the Four Star Special, two-time SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Big-Block winner Jimmy Horton (33.071) was fourth fastest aboard owner Dick Biever’s trusted Teo Pro mount, while Alton and Carole Palmer’s first-string pilot Ronnie Johnson (33.085) and ‘Mr. Small-Block Pete Bicknell (33.109) filled out the top-six.

“Saturday is a long day and Billy is always quick, we’ll just see what happens and try to be there at the end,” said Mid-State Golf Carts Outside Pole award winner Jelley, younger brother of Northeast Modified Hall of Famer Butch Jelley. “In the past I always seemed to miss the gear, this time around I read my notes and put in a little more gear. On Saturday we’ll take it back out.”

“The first lap wasn’t my good one as I got in a little too deep, yet I have to take off my hat to the track crew. The weather hasn’t been too good making for some tough conditions but the surface is pretty decent right now,” Jelley said.

Never a regular small-block campaigner on the Syracuse Mile, McCreadie hopes to match last year’s success with car owner Vinny Salerno when he captured the Super DIRT Week satellite event at Brewerton Speedway on Thursday night.

“It’s a real joy to drive this car, Vinny and his boys do a phenomenal job, it’s just a first class race team,” said McCreadie, who is yet to crack the Top-10 in Saturday’s 150-mile main. “I don’t run these cars as much as I used to so when I come home and get to run with a team like this its really special. I just wish I could do a little better out there for them. I think I left a little bit out there today, not a Billy Decker time, but that’s okay. We’ll still be alright on Saturday, that’s when it counts the most.”

Posting one of his best times in the small-block portion of Super DIRT Week during the new millennium, Garden State star Jimmy Horton remains in quest of his inaugural 358-Modified Championship after taking a pair SEF 200 Big-Block checkered flags in 1987 and ’94.

“Hopefully we’ll be good, didn’t get a whole lot of laps with the car so we’re pretty happy,” said Horton, who finished in sixth-place back-to-back in 1998-99 yet has not been among the Top-10 since. “It was a little dusty out there so we didn’t want to risk anything.”

“It’s basically the same car we ran here last year, just took it home and covered it up until rolling it out last week. I hope it’s as good as last year, but regardless we just have to go with what we got. We’re normally battling at the back in this race so starting up front is a big turnaround for us, so maybe it’s the start of a good weekend,” Horton figured.

“With the competition out here, just to be lined up with these guys is a real good thing and I’m proud to drive for Carole and Alton (Palmer, owners),” remarked Johnson, son of two-time (1979, 1984) SEF 200 Big-Block winner Jack Johnson, who will begin the small-block finale in fifth. “Hopefully come Saturday we can stick with these guys.”

“The wind definitely shook you up going down the back straightaway, but you just try to ignore it for a couple laps and do the best for the team. We were just trying to get into the top-six and today things worked out for us. To win here is the next step, it would be really satisfying to finally get one at Syracuse,” Johnson added.

In search of an unprecedented sixth small-block championship during Super DIRT Week, Bicknell will fill out the front three rows on Saturday when the 31st ‘Salute To The Troops 150’ takes the first green flag at 2 p.m.

“Going out early today we were really scared, the way the track is you just don’t know and it always gets faster by the end,” said Bicknell, now 55, and also a three-time overall Hoosier Tire-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar 358-Modified points champion, winning his first two Syracuse events in 1982 & ’83. “Especially when the sun came out, we thought we might even be in more trouble.”

“But it worked out good, got a good time right off the bat, so we’re happy. Timing in the top-six is really important. And the way the car felt in practice I think we’re in real good shape,” smiled Bicknell, who revealed that he is working with four-time Syracuse winner Gary Balough on an experimental BRP design that he plans to unveil when the NYS Fairgrounds plays host to the 40th Annual Super DIRT Week motorsports extravaganza next autumn.

The remainder of the ‘Salute To The Troops’ starting field will come from 358-Modified Twin 20’s on Friday with the 150-lap Syracuse Small-Block Championship set to roll off the line Saturday afternoon.

Super DIRT Week XXXIX action continues on Friday afternoon with the Big-Block Modified Triple 20s and 358-Modified Twin 20s taking center stage on the NYS Fairgrounds oval, followed immediately by Sportsman Time Trials along with World of Outlaws Sprint Car ‘King of the Mile’ exhibition dash and Pro Stock practice.

But that’s not all as the action then moves over to Rolling Wheels for a 358-Modified/Sportsman Hoosier-VP Racing Fuels Mr. DIRTcar Series doubleheader while across town Cayuga County Fair Speedway hosts a 360 Sprint Car Challenge under the lights plus a Tri-Track Stock Car Series and Mod Lites special.

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 358-MODIFIED TIME TRIALS, NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 7
            FAST             AVE
            TIME             MPH    CAR# DRIVER                                          
1          32.637            110.304          91        Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
*$1,000-National Parts Peddler Pole Award
2          33.004            109.078          45        Wayne Jelley/Pittsfield,MA
*$500-Mid-State Golf Carts Outside Pole Award
3          33.059            108.896          4*        Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY
4          33.071            108.857          14        Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
5          33.085            108.811          76a     Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
6          33.109            108.732          42        Pete Bicknell/St.Catharines,ONT
7          33.118            108.702          1x        Willy Decker/Vernon,NY
8          33.180            108.499          1w       Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
9          33.199            108.437          1h        David Hebert/St. Damase,QUE
10        33.213            108.391          20        Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
11        33.221            108.365          19        John Lazore/Hogansburg,NY
12        33.252            108.264          22c      Mario Clair/St-Edmond,QUE
13        33.314            108.063          74x      Matt Billings/Brockville,ONT
14        33.353            107.936          42p     Pat Ward/Genoa,NY
15        33.370            107.881          99        Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
16        33.378            107.855          99L     Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
17        33.442            107.649          27L     Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
18        33.541            107.331          22j       Jeremy Wilder/Fort Plain,NY
19        33.614            107.098          01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
20        33.636            107.028          8          Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
21        33.637            107.025          6          Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
22        33.661            106.949          10        Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY
23        33.753            106.657          1xx      Todd Stone/Middlebury,VT
24        33.766            106.616          22        Eric Gauvreau/Chelsea,QUE
25        33.796            106.521          48too  Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
26        33.876            106.270          22L     Larry Lampman,Jr./Port Colborne,ONT
27        33.934            106.088          27        Ryan Godown/Ringoes,NJ
28        33.994            105.901          3j         Marc Johnson/Guilderland,NY
29        34.011            105.848          115     Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY
30        34.033            105.780          27j       Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
31        34.048            105.733          24s      Chris Shultz/Pawling,NY
32        34.059            105.699          74        Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY
33        34.098            105.578          24        Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
34        34.127            105.488          38        Luke Whitteker/Iroquois,ONT
35        34.387            104.691          4j         Jeff Sykes/Edwards,NY
36        34.413            104.612          4          Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
37        34.578            104.112          34        George Foley/Saranac Lake,NY
38        34.618            103.992          13        Tony Steiner/Jamesville,NY
39        34.641            103.923          16        Kyle Hoffman/Averill Park,NY
40        34.651            103.893          46        Kayle Robidoux/St-Constant,QUE
41        34.705            103.731          3m       Henry Maier/Spencerport,NY
42        34.802            103.442          tj1        Tom Jock Jr./Akwesasne,NY
43        34.806            103.430          7g        Lance Willix II/Theresa,NY
44        34.829            103.362          72        Tommy Flannigan/St.Catharines,ONT
45        34.942            103.028          1ny      Greg Atkins/Clintonville,NY
46        35.319            101.928          14s      Brian Swarthout/Beaver Dams,NY
47        35.414            101.655          72g     Denis Gauvreau/Alymer,QUE
48        35.459            101.526          14m    C.G. Morey/Rutland,VT
49        37.047            97.174            124     Pierre DagenaisGatineau,QUE
50          -NT-                 -----               2rj        Ronnie Johnson/Duanesburg,NY
51          -NT-                 -----               5h        Rob Hile/Syracuse,NY
52          -NT-                 -----               7*        Danny O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
53          -NT-                 -----               19        Joe Williams/Schenectady,NY
54          -NT-                 -----               24x      Mike Perrotte/Plattsburgh,NY
55          -NT-                 -----               32c      Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY
56          -NT-                 -----               43        Keith Flach/Ravena,NY
57          -NT-                 -----               72        Cass Bennett/Mechanicville,NY
58          -NT-                 -----               85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY
59          -NT-                 -----               220     John Ferrier/Middletown,NY
60          -NT-                 -----               3b        Chad Brachmann/Sanborn,NY
*Top-6 locked into front three rows; 60 Cars Entered                             

From Tom Skibinski DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region PR Director

Super DIRT Week: Raabe, VanBrocklin & Caswell Fastest 'Futures' In Super DIRT Week Specials

Syracuse, NY – October 7, 2010 – By Kevin Kovac, DIRTcar Racing PR ... Rising star Chris Raabe of Napanee, Ont., joined American Tradition Motorsports teammates Josh VanBrocklin of Watertown, N.Y., and Dale Caswell of Central Square, N.Y., as winners in the DIRTcar ‘Futures’ feature events that capped Thursday’s Super DIRT Week XXXIX at the Syracuse Mile.

Raabe captured the 8-lap DIRTcar 358-Modified ‘Futures’ race in what was his second-ever start in the division, while VanBrocklin and Caswell made team owner Dean Patterson proud by rolling to victories in the twin 12-lap DIRTcar Sportsman mains that were run to accommodate the large field of 31 aspiring racers.

The fourth annual ‘Futures’ series – short sprints for drivers seeking their first starts in their respective divisions’ headline Super DIRT Week events – ended the first full day of competition at the storied one-mile oval on the New York State Fairgrounds.

Raabe, 19, demonstrated his budding talent in his first DIRTcar 358-Modified start on the Syracuse Mile, leading the eight-car race from start-to-finish off the pole position. He outgunned front-row mate Matt Billings of Brockville, Ont., for the top spot at the initial green flag and was never threatened thereafter en route to a dominating victory margin of 13.637 seconds – roughly a full straightaway – over Denis Gauvreau of Gatineau, Que.

Billings settled for third-place, George Foley of Saranac Lake, N.Y., was fourth and Aaron Jacobs of Frankfort, N.Y., took fifth.

“Matt jumped me a little bit from the outside and tried pinching me down getting into turn one,” said Raabe, the two-time and defending Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman champion. “But I just held my ground and came out with the lead out of turn two.”

Raabe, who survived a mid-race scare when he jumped the cushion in turn four and bent the front valence on his Bicknell car, added the $600 ‘Futures’ triumph to a resume that is building very quickly. He is completing a memorable 2010 campaign that includes a DIRTcar Sportsman single-season record 30 feature wins and track titles at Mohawk Int’l Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., and Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway.

“I’ve been here with a Sportsman twice, but winning our first time here in a 358 is pretty exciting,” said Raabe, a mechanical engineering student at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. “I just want to go as far as I can (in racing).”

Raabe, who drives for John and Perry Francis of Akwesasne, N.Y., will continue his chase of a third consecutive Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman in Saturday’s 30-lap SUNY Canton Sportsman Championship event. He also hopes to compete in Saturday’s ‘Salute to the Troops’ 358-Modified 150 after timing 19th-fastest in Thursday’s qualifying session, giving him a 10th-row starting spot in the first of Friday afternoon’s twin 20-lap heat races.

VanBrocklin, meanwhile, won the first DIRTcar Sportsman ‘Futures’ event to begin a sweep of the division’s twin-bill by the American Tradition Motorsports team, a three-car Super DIRT Week squad fielded by Philadelphia, N.Y.’s Patterson. He wasn’t headed after racing off the pole position to grab the lead at the start, beating fourth-starter Steve Barber of Lansdowne, Ont., to the finish line by 2.166 seconds.

Don Spatorico of Ransomville, N.Y., finished third, followed by Jeff Leslie of Fly Creek, N.Y., and Shane Jablonka of Stanfordville, N.Y.

An entrant in last year’s Sportsman ‘Futures’ feature before failing to qualify for the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship race in his first-ever visit to the Moody Mile, VanBrocklin showed improvement in his second stab at the historic track.

“I’m a lot more confident in my driving,” said VanBrocklin, whose fifth season of DIRTcar Sportsman competition saw him finish second in Can-Am’s weekly points and emerge as the champion of the track’s nine-race SUNY-Canton Series. “I just tried to run my own race. I know (Barber) was on my bumper at the start and he gave me a tap one time, but I didn’t know how much of a lead I had.”

VanBrocklin scored a $400 victory in his first start driving a Bicknell car from Patterson’s stable. He recently accepted Patterson’s offer of a ride for Syracuse, freeing VanBrocklin to enter his family-owned car in this Friday night’s Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series event at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, N.Y.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to drive for (Patterson),” VanBrocklin said after climbing from the machine that sports sponsorship from the movie Jesus: The Lost Years. “We run our own car at Can-Am and park next to him, so we’ve become friends.”

Caswell, 28, topped off Patterson’s perfect ‘Futures’ day, winning the second race with another flag-to-flag effort. He beat fourth-starter Nate Reynolds to the checkered flag by 4.340 seconds.

Shane Pecore of St. Andrews, Ont., placed third, ahead of Andy Durie of Stillwater, N.Y., and Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y.

Caswell was behind the wheel of Patterson’s unique 9-11 Tribute car, a Bicknell mount carrying a special paint scheme in honor of the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and western Pennsylvania. It was just the second DIRTcar Sportsman start of his career.

“I tried out a Sportsman once before in 2005 at Fulton (Speedway),” said Caswell, who has also won this season in the crate Late Model, IMCA Modified and Mod Lite divisions. “I was excited when Dean gave me a chance to drive one again. He came down to my shop about a month ago to get some work done on his some race cars and asked me if I wanted to drive, and I said, ‘Sure.’”

Caswell has concentrated his 2010 racing on crate Late Models, running to a championship at Brewerton (NY) Speedway and finishing second in the points battle at Fulton Speedway. He also qualified for two World of Outlaws Late Model Series events this season with his crate Late Model.

The ‘Futures’ series continues during Friday’s Super DIRT Week program, with events for budding Big-Block Modified and Pro Stock racers on the agenda. Scheduled start time is 4 p.m.

358-Modified ‘Futures’ Feature Finish (8 laps): CHRIS RAABE, Denis Gauvreau, Matt Billings, George Foley, Aaron Jacobs, C.G. Morey, Cass Bennett, Henry Maier (DSQ).

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 'FUTURES' TIME TRIALS @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 7    
*Determined feature race starting positions.                                            
358-MODIFIED                                            
            FAST              AVE               
            TIME               MPH            CAR#    DRIVER
1          33.324            108.030          01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
2          33.894            106.213          24        Patrick Dupree/Saranac Lake,NY
3          34.100            105.572          74x      Matt Billings/Brockville,ONT
4          35.217            102.223          72        Denis Gauvreau/Alymer,QUE
5          35.258            102.104          72        Cass Bennett/Mechanicville,NY
6          35.455            101.537          14m    C.G. Morey/Rutland,VT
7          35.755            100.685          34        George Foley/Saranac Lake,NY
8          36.014            99.961            3m       Henry Maier/Spencerport,NY
9          36.081            99.776            16        Aaron Jacobs/Frankfort,NY
10          -NT-                 -----               5h        Rob Hile/Syracuse,NY
11          -NT-                 -----               85        Ted Lamb Jr./Clay,NY           

Sportsman ‘Futures’ Feature No. 1 Finish (12 laps): JOSH VanBROCKLIN, Steve Barber, Don Spatorico, Jeff Leslie, Shane Jablonka, Jake elley, Brent Kelsey, Kristian Smoke, Jenna David, Thunder Anderson, Jason Occhino, Tom Keyes, Henry Desormeau, Brad Winters, Dean Patterson (DNS).

Sportsman ‘Futures’ Feature No. 2 Finish (12 laps): DALE CASWELL, Nate Reynolds, Shane Pecore, Andy Durie, Anthony Perrego, Jimmy Spellmon, Robert Bublak, Tim Paul, Steve Hankle, Jack Gentile, Brett Martin, Christine Martin, John Wilber, John Scarborough, Paul Kline, Rick Eggers Jr., Travis Back, Brandon Sweet (DNS).

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXIX 'FUTURES' TIME TRIALS @ NYS Fairgrounds, Oct. 7    
*Determined feature race starting positions.                                            
SPORTSMAN                                             
            FAST              AVE               
            TIME               MPH           CAR#     DRIVER
1          35.216            102.226          10        Josh VanBrocklin/Watertown,NY
2     35.283            102.032          9-11    Dale Caswell/Central Square,NY
3          35.313            101.945          67        Don Spatorico/Ransomville,NY
4          35.400            101.695          61s      John Scarborough/Bomoseen,VT
5          35.623            101.058          62        Jeff Leslie/Fly Creek,NY
6          35.638            101.016          15        Shane Pecore/Cornwall,ONT
7          35.675            100.911          14        Paul Kline/Reading,PA
8          35.726            100.767          80        Steve Barber/Lansdowne,ONT
9          35.810            100.531          6r         Nate Reynolds/Newfane,NY
10        35.882            100.329          25        Jake Jelley/Pownall,VT
11        35.910            100.251          32        Andy Durie/Stillwater,NY
12        36.010            99.972            9          Kristian Smoke/Akwesasne,NY
13        36.143            99.604            28        Jimmy Spellmon/Butler,NJ
14        36.184            99.491            44x      Shane Jablonka/Stanfordville,NY
15        36.221            99.390            18x      Anthony Perrego/Montgomery,NY
16        36.233            99.357            30        Brent Kelsey/Plantagenet,ONT
17        36.268            99.261            10m    Brett Martin/Burt,NY
18        36.444            98.782            92ny    Brad Winters/Lison,NY
19        36.757            97.941            20        Jack Gentile/Ballston Lake,NY
20        36.758            97.938            60        Henry Desormeau/Weedsport,NY
21        36.909            97.537            19        Rob Bublak Jr./Ballston Spa,NY
22        36.952            97.424            1          Travis Back/Hogansburg,NY
23        36.957            97.411            42        Tim Paul/Stony Point,NY
24        37.192            96.795            42p     Jason Occhino/Fulton,NY
25        37.242            96.665            21b     John Wilber/Fulton,NY
26        37.483            96.044            2          Jenna David/Akwesasne,QUE
27        38.944            92.440            81        Christine Martin/Wellesley Island,NY
28        69.106            52.094            5          Tom Keyes/Fairport,NY
29          -NT-                 -----               3d        Dean Patterson/Philadelphia,NY
30          -NT-                 -----               7          Tom Benedict/Akwesasne,QUE
31          -NT-                 -----               24        Brandon Sweet/Watertown,NY
32          -NT-                 -----               44        Steve Hankle/Averill Park,NY

SKIDMARKS
The ‘King of the Mile’ Dash field has been set for Friday, Oct. 8 at the Syracuse Mile with Jason Sides, Lucas Wolfe, Chad Kemenah, Kerry Madsen and Keith Dempster participating in the unique World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series exhibition. As an added treat, Work’N Woody, the Official Push Truck & Safety Vehicle of the Outlaws, which has pushed countless cars at Syracuse over the years, will return to the Moody Mile as well and help push off the drivers for the dash which starts at 3:30pm.