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DUBOIS, CONLEY, SUTTON, NOBRIGA,
MARTIN AND BIRDSALL ALL VISIT WOODHULL RACEWAY’S VICTORY LANE.
(Woodhull, NY) It was a night of firsts at the Woodhull Raceway on July 18 as three names were added to the First Time Winners List. In the NAPA 360 Late Model Division Rookie competitor, Brian Conley was able to put his Stan and Pam Krise owned machine into the early lead of their 30 lap Suzanne Whritenour Memorial feature event and never looked back. Even with a field of drivers like Glen Whritenour, Wayne Robertson, Steve Hartman Jr. and Bob Buono, all veteran competitors with loads of big time experience, Conley was not to be denied his moment in the sun as he led throughout most of the 30 lap grind to etch his name into the books as a Rookie feature winner. For Robertson is was huge disappointment as he was the early race leader and had cleared himself from the rest of the field when suddenly something broke in the rear of the machine entering turn one and his night was finished. From that point on it was all Brian Conley as very few yellow flags slowed the event which saw added funds put into the purse compliments of the Glen Whritenour organization and many of his supporters in memory of his late mother. When the checkered flag waved it was Brian Conley crossing the finish line first chased there by Steve Hartman Jr. who just barely was able to hold off a fast closing Steve Watson with Bob Buono and Glen Whritenour rounding out the top five. For Whritenour it was an uphill battle as an early race flat tire found the 2008 Woodhull Raceway Track Champ in and out of the pits numerous times and was never a threat. For Conley the win puts him into the season ending NAPA 360 Late Model Race of Champions event.
Dave Dubois began his racing career a decade ago in the Super Stock Division. It was in that class that he honed his skills which have prepared him for the task of wheeling a potent 358 Modified against some of the top teams in the northeast. Dubois, who is a Sergeant with the Village of Bath Police Department has visited victory lane on two separate occasions at Woodhull over the past half decade in his Skip Starkey owned 358 Modified, however 2009 has not been very kind to Dubois. “Our problem all year has been in the fact that we just can’t get a good starting spot in the feature. Our luck in the draw has been horrible, but tonight with the top six invert we started on the pole and I new we had a fast car” Those were Dave’s comments as he stood in victory lane after a completely dominating 25 lap feature event performance. Several early race yellow flags slowed the event, but each time Dubois was able to open up a big lead over Frank Dunning who eventually finished in the runner-up spot. All race long most eyes were on a spirited battle for the third thru seventh positions as many of Woodhull’s top L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modified pilots ran side by side and swapped spots back and forth. In the end young gun, Lucas Schroth was able to cross the line in third for his best ever feature finish on the high banks as he was followed there by Dylan Dewert and Rookie sensation, Joe Dgien. Current high point many, Billy VanPelt was never a threat after starting seventeenth and with his night coming to a premature end on lap eight with rear end woes.
Zach Sutton has been a world beater thus far in 2009 in S&W Awards and Photos Crate Sportsman action. The Addison, NY speedster in only his Rookie year has shown the poise of a many year veteran as he cruised to his fourth win at Woodhull in 09. By the luck of the re-draw Sutton started from the point and when the green flag waved never looked back. Numerous yellow flags and one horrifying moment mid race which required a lengthy red flag slowed the 20 lap feature originally scheduled for 25 laps, but was shortened. A front straight a way high speed crash sent Rookie Rod Mullen onto his roof with a fire under the hood ensuing. Mullen was dragged from his burning car by rescue people and the fire quickly extinguished. However, Mullen’s badly mangled machine was not a pretty sight nor were the other half dozen cars that had to be towed from the scene including the likes of Don Lawson, Eric Delong and Brandon Butler all suffering extensive damage. When the race resumed it was all the Zach Sutton show as he drove away to his fourth win and solidified his point lead. Bill Brewer put on a steady drive for second, his best performance of 2009 as he was followed across the line by Kenny Peoples Jr., Casey Pavlick and Ray Smith. The top five all have multiple feature wins over the past three years on the Crate Sportsman Division.
The Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock Class was chuck full of race cars and qualifying was a challenge for many as the class continues to grow in numbers. As the twenty-five car feature event took the opening green flag it was rush hour traffic with the typical three and four abreast competition that the fans have become accustomed to in this highly popular division. It appeared as though Brett Marlatt was going to win his second event of 2009, but as late race challenge by Josh Nobriga found the two in an intense battle for the win. With sparks flying the two made contact numerous times in the closing laps with Nobriga eking out a small advantage. Entering the final corner Marlatt made one last effort to retake the lead, did a half spin and his chances were over. Nobriga then cruised to his fifth feature win of the season as he was followed by invader, Josh Parker, Tony Foth, Rookie sensation, Colton Harrington and current point leader, Russ Morseman.
In the Signs Plus of Kanona Mini Stock Division a full 24 car field took the opening green and like the Crate Sportsman Division before them numerous yellow flags slowed the event in the early going. After the field finally sorted out and got into the groove great racing would follow. Rookie competitor, Brandon Martin had struggled through a two year drought in the Front Wheel Drive Division. He made the move into the Mini Stock Class at the start of 09 and everyone could see a steady progression of his racing talents. Martin was not going to be denied his chance at victory lane on this night as he lead throughout most of the event and not even a last lap yellow flag that bunched the field could stop him from his first eve trip to victory lane. Martin was able to hold off Chris Woodard in a spirited green, white, checkered finish that saw Brian Grant cross the line third followed by Ed Mills and Lynn Burrell.
In the LaBarron Brothers Repair and Parts Front Wheel Drive Division it was yet another first time feature winner as Joe Birdsall was able to keep the B-Boys out of victory land for only the second time in 2009 as “The Bird” had the dominate car all race long and led the entire twenty-five lap feature. With very few if any yellow flags to slow the pace it was Birdsall holding off Gary Baker the entire distance to stand proudly in the Woodhull Raceway Victory Lane. Tom McGlynn bounced back from last weeks set back to claim third chased there by Randy Graham and Cody Baker WOODHULL RACEWAY QUICK RESULTS 07/18/09 L.J. Kennedy Trucking Night
Napa 360 Late Models (15 cars) Suzanne Whritenour Memorial
Heats: Glenn Whritenour, Wayne Robertson
10 lap Dash for Cash: Bob Buono
30 lap feature: Brian Conley, Steve Hartman, Jr., Steve Watson, Bob Buono, Glenn Whritenour, Greg Young, Wally Wade, Sparky Hills, Fred Amann, Mick Seeley, Jeredd Dennis, Wayne Robertson, Scott Plank, Brandon Smith; DNS: Jaye McConnell
L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds (30 cars)
Heats: Ron White, Mike Jackson, Frank Dunning
Consi: Brian Doolittle
25 lap feature: Dave Dubois, Frank Dunning, Lucas Schroth, Dylan Dewert, Joe Dgien, Kevin Chilson, Ron White, Dale Welty, Roger Williams, Stacy Jackson, Bob Davis, Ray Bliss, Chris Clark, Brooks Leach, Ray Dann, Mike Bills, Steve Hartman, Jr., Tim Guild, Brent Boyer, Mike Jackson, Lee Bills, Brian Doolittle, Ryan Gordner, Bob Silvernail, Ken Peoples, Sr., Billy VanPelt DNQ: Nick Gaylada, Steve Babacek, Mark Richmond, Eric Williams
S&W Awards and Photos Crate Modifieds (25 cars)
Heats: Ray Smith, Zack Sutton, Art Goodier
20 lap feature: Zack Sutton (4), Bill Brewer, Kenny Peoples, Jr., Casey Pavlick, Ray Smith, Scott Brown, Larry Keegan, Mike Buchanan, Grant Hilfiger, Cale Paul, Kreg Crooker, Tony Hooker, Bob Johnson, Greg Crooker, Bill VanEtten, Chris Silvers, Art Goodier, Brandon Butler, Eric DeLong, Ron Mullen, Ryan Tracy, Don Lawson, Aaron Carl, Larry Mott; DNF: Nate DeLong
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks (25 cars)
Heats: Brett Marlatt, Mike Williams, Colton Herrington
20 lap feature: Josh Nobriga (5), Josh Parker, Tony Foth, Colton Herrington, Russell Morseman, Cliff Moss, Jared Hill, Mike Williams, Mike Kerr, Chuck Pruden, Butch Dibble, Jeff Smith, Brett Marlatt, Darrin Miles, Glenn Helfrich, Kurt Stebbins, Mike Warren, Dan Gordon, Mark Guinup, Shane Smith, Brian Butler, Steve Moshier, Harry Vosburg, Josh White, Scott Austin
Signs Plus Mini Stocks (24 cars)
Heats: Ted Morseman, Jr., Brian Grant, Sr., Jeff Brown
20 lap feature: Brandon Martin, Chris Woodard, Brian Grant, Ed Mills, Lynn Burrell, Jeff Brown, Ted Morseman, Jr., William Gardner, Brett Crawford, Jason Ketrow, Tracy Dunn, Randy Dunn, Ron Dailey, Jr., John Hand, Jr., Rick McDaniels, Rich Sharpsteen, Robert Symonds, Jason Warner, Cody Morehouse, Aaron Bartas, Bryan Wilson, JR Hoppe, Brandon Morseman; DNS: Jeff Evingham
LaBarron Brothers Repair & Parts FWD (17 cars)
Heats: Mark Schenck, Billy Joe Birdsell
25 lap feature: Joe Birdsell, Gary Baker, Tom McGlynn, Randy Graham, Cody Baker, Colby Brewer, Mark Schenck, James Howard, Matt Prescott, Billy Joe Birdsell, Shane Rogers, Tim Steffey, Lynn Richmond, Ron Hill, Allison Pierce, Jamie Freeman, Steve Gee
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