With the biggest week of DIRTcar racing now in the books as Super DIRT Week XLII has come and gone, I would like to take a moment and reflect back on a very exciting week of racing that may go down in history as one of the most exciting DIRT Week events that I have been a part of.
My Week began at Weedsport Speedway on Tuesday night as the track hosted the first scheduled events to kick off Super DIRT Week. Matt Sheppard claimed victory in the 358 Modified DIRTcar Series race, while Danny Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Brett Hearn and Mike Mahaney rounded out the top five. The new track ownership team of Al Heinke and Jimmy Phelps did a fantastic job preparing the track, and I look forward to even better things for this place in 2014 after hosting just one event each of the past two seasons.
DIRT Week continued on Thursday evening for the $10000 to win Hurricane 100 at Brewerton Speedway. This race was another round of the 358 Modified DIRTcar Series, and it was one of the best races of the entire week. It was a very exciting battle between several top stars including the previous night’s winner Matt Sheppard, Dale Planck and both Alan and Danny Johnson, Mario Clair and Tim McCreadie who fell out of contention late in the race. In the end, it was Danny Johnson taking the win, charging from his 26th place starting spot, with Ward, Sheppard, Britten and Planck rounding out the top five.
Friday night was spent under the lights at the New York State Fairgrounds for qualifying heat races for the Modifieds, 358 Modifieds and Sportsman. Stewart Friesen, Brett Hearn and Larry Wight claimed wins in the Big Block Modified Qualifiers, while Carey Terrance and Mark Johnson won 358 Modified twin 20 qualifiers. For the first time ever, the Sportsman division was part of the Friday night program with Triple 10 qualifiers with Brett Wright, Jeremy Pitts and Mathieu Desjardins taking the wins. We had some great qualifying results from our local drivers with Chris Herbison (Sportsman) and Chris Raabe (358 Modifieds) claiming outside pole awards for their respective divisions during time trials the day before.
Saturday afternoon featured the Salute to the Troops 150 for the 358 Modifieds and the 30 lap championship race for the Sportsman division. The 358 Modified race was a heart-breaker for Watertown, New York race Billy Dunn who appeared to have the race won as they took the white flag on lap 149. Just as they entered turn one, the car sputtered as the fuel cell ran dry, opening the door for Brett Hearn to take the win. Fuel mileage caused problems in the last segment of the race, and drivers did everything they could to conserve fuel over the final few laps of the event. Tim Fuller crossed the finish line in second, with Alain Boisvert posting an impressive third place result. Jimmy Horton and Matt Billings rounded out the top five. Billings sure has had some great results at Syracuse, winning the Sportsman race in 2009, and finishing the Syracuse 150 in the top 10 every year since then. The 30 lap Sportsman race ended the day on Saturday, and at the checkered flag it was Brad Rouse taking home the win over Jeremy Pitts, Steve Barber, pole-sitter Brett Wright, and second place starter Chris Herbison. Congratulations to Rouse on the win, and to local racers Barber and Herbison for their great Super DIRT Week finishes.
Sunday was the final day of Super DIRT Week as the Big Block Modifieds participated in the NAPA 200 paying more than $50000 to win. Just one day after running out of gas in the 358 race, Billy Dunn came home the winner as several other drivers came up empty in the fuel mileage game in the late stages of the race. Hats off to the DIRTcar Series officials who implemented a rule change this year that the caution laps don’t count in the final 25 laps, and doing away with the mandated pit stops, leaving it into the hands of the drivers as to when they need to make a pit stop during the race. It really made for an exciting end to the event. Congratulations to Billy and Norm Dunn and the entire Number One Speed race team on their biggest career win. Rob Yetman won the Pro Stock main event earlier in the day, while Dave Bissonnette claimed the Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock championship.
The 2013 season will come to an end for me this coming weekend at Brockville Speedway for the 1000 Islands RV DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals. The DIRTcar Sportsman Series highlights Friday’s program with the 4cylinder Rookies and Vintage Modifieds also on hand, plus a $500 to win and guaranteed starter bonus for the fastest 358 Modified team that takes time on Friday night. Saturday afternoon is the final 358 Modified DIRTcar Series race of the season as well as an open 360 Sprint Car Challenge. Sunday will be the Big Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series, plus the Go Nuclear Late Models. Race time is 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more details visit BrockvilleSpeedway.com.
For those of you that are attending the 1000 Islands RV Fall Nationals this weekend, be sure to stop by the Finish Line Web Design Merchandise trailer located behind the main grandstands. ALL merchandise will be on sale priced to sell. We are looking to clear out remaining inventory to make room for 2014.
As always, any comments or suggestions can be sent to crevelle@ripnet.com. You can also visit me online at www.finishlinewebdesign.ca, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crevelle, and on twitter at www.twitter.com/finishlineweb17.
