Media Contact: Steven Ovens - woodhullracewaypr@gmail.com or (315) 729-3825 For Immediate Release – July 3rd, 2016 – Greg Mesler photo -
(WOODHULL, NY) – Whites Repair out of Westfield, PA sponsored the racing action on Saturday night with several area NAPA Auto Parts locations sponsoring the Crate Sportsman King of the Ring event. Billy Van Pelt would hold on to win a thriller over his nephew Dillon Groover who was the hard-charger of the night.
Race fans, teams and members of the Bath Cheerleading squad were also on hand to pay tribute to Schylar Hyer who was lost in a tragic accident just one week ago. The Mini Stock drivers asked Ray Hyer to lead them out front in a four-wide salute prior to their feature event. Drivers from the Mini Stocks and other divisions also participated in a pass the helmet collection for the Hyer family which raised $1,513.98.
When the feature racing action kicked off, the Insinger Performance 370 Modifieds would see Russell Morseman and Cory Costa lead the field to Scott Lyon’s green flag for their twenty-five lap feature event.
Morseman’s run at the front would only last to turn one as he got out of shape with contact from behind, to go spinning in front of the field. He would rejoin the tail of the field, but would have more bad luck later in the event to finish seventeenth.
Several caution flags marred the start of the Modified feature, with one incident seeing several cars spin in turn two. Boyd McTavish was one car that was involved in the third caution period. While spinning out, McTavish spun the car in a 360 in the infield in very close proximity to race officials, safety workers and photographers.
Although it did not appear to be directed at race officials, McTavish was asked to return to his trailer for the rest of the event due to the large safety issue that was created in the infield.
When the race returned to green flag conditions, it would only be slowed once more for a spin in turn three on lap seven involving several cars including Morseman and Kevin Chilson. Billy Van Pelt had opened up a commanding lead during the initial seven green flag laps and would do so again on the restart.
Once the green was displayed, the next eighteen laps would go wire-to-wire and set up a thrilling finish. Young sophomore sensation, Dillon Groover, was the fastest car on the racetrack on Saturday night. Groover found the outside cushion to his liking early in the event and used it to pick off car after car on his way to the front.
Groover started in the eighth position and was up to fourth on lap ten. Then Groover would get by Eric Fisher to move into third place on lap fifteen. It took the driver out of Beaver Dams, NY just four more laps to catch Donnie Lawson and work the ‘top shelf’ to get by for the runner-up position.
With just six laps left to try and catch the driver he has looked up to all his life, Groover took to the whip and was driving the BMS Manufacturing, Daugherty Auto Sales, Gary’s Motivation No. 12x for everything it was worth.
Van Pelt had a very strong car out in front in his Grant Hilfiger-owned No. 78, but everyone saw how fast Groover was making his car look on the outside. The question was, could he get there in time to challenge for the lead?
As the white flag flew, it looked as though Groover had run out of laps to make a move. Heading into turns three and four for the final time, Groover backed it in on the cushion harder than he had all night long. The car stuck, and Groover and Van Pelt made it a family affair drag-racing to the double checkered flags.
With fans standing up cheering wildly, Van Pelt would squeak out the win over Groover by mere inches at the line. Groover had to settle for another runner-up finish still looking for that first career Modified win. Lawson watched on from the third spot, Fisher fourth and Costa rounding out the top five.
“It would have been awesome for him to win, hats off to the young man as he’s really doing a great job,” said Van Pelt in Instant Heat Wood Pellets Victory Lane. “First, second- either way I would have taken it, I’m proud of him.”
Van Pelt has finally started to get into a groove here in the middle of the season and another win certainly helps out in the point race.
“It’s definitely going to help, I’m just tickled to be here. We’ve got our new motor back finally and I’ve been waiting to get it into this car. Hopefully we can keep knocking off some top fives and be more competitive.”
Keeping it in the family in the NAPA Crate Sportsman, Stacy Jackson and Tim Guild would take their RealtyUSA.com cars from the front row for the twenty-five lap feature event. Jackson would lead the opening lap and set the No. 22J to cruise control as he would dominate the early portion of the event.
The caution flag would not come out until lap fourteen as Billy Williams found himself backwards on the backstretch. That allowed Josh Keesey, AJ Costley and company to pull up to the back bumper of Jackson for the restart.
Keesey had worked his way from the fifth starting spot up to third on lap seven and then by Guild for second on lap ten. Costley started deep in the pack at tenth and found himself third after passing Guild on lap thirteen.
On the restart, Jackson pulled away but Costley took after Keesey hard for the second spot. Costley in the Ridge Runner Café No. 40 was using Groover’s line on the top side and using it well as he would race around Keesey on lap eighteen and set his sights on the leader Jackson.
As the leaders worked turns one and two on lap twenty-three, Costley got underneath Jackson and would be scored the leader as Scott Lyon waved the white silk. Costley would hold on to pick up his first victory of the season over Jackson, Keesey, Dayton Brewer and Guild.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” said Costley in Instant Heat Wood Pellets Victory Lane. “Jackson let me have the bottom a little bit and I just took it and ran away with it.”
Costley has had a frustrating season as bad luck and figuring the set up out on the car has seen early season struggles.
“The last two weeks have been kind of ‘gimmes’ as we started up front, but tonight we started tenth and had to work our way to the front and it feels awesome.”
In the SWL Awards 360 Late Models, Glenn Whritenour and Jason McGregor would lead the field to green for their twenty-lap feature event. McGregor would lead the opening two circuits, but Whritenour was on a mission just one week after suffering a big blow in the point race.
Whritenour would wrestle the lead from McGregor and look to run away from the field enroute to his second late model victory of the season. But point leader Bruce Miller had other thoughts, as the driver of the family-owned No. 80 reeled Whritenour in to make it an interesting race to the end.
Unfortunately for Miller, that race would only last until just past the halfway mark when something broke on Miller’s car. A flat right front was noted as he exited the speedway, but the possibility of something more serious was suspected as Miller did not return or finish the event.
Whritenour would then fend off several advances from the Troups Creek Auto Parts No. 29 of Steve LaBarron. But it would not be enough as Whritenour picked up a much-needed late model win over LaBarron, McGregor, Carl Hughes and Kurt Stebbins the top five.
“We had a rough week last week, regrouped and here we are tonight,” said Whritenour. “That’s what it takes (regrouping).”
The Joe Willcox Performance Automatics Street Stocks had one last tune up before next Saturday’s 50-lap $750-to-win special and they saw a first-time winner in victory lane for the 2016 season.
South Canisteo, NY pilot Brett Marlatt has had an incredibly frustrating season behind the wheel. The two-time past champion of the division just has had a terrible season of either bad luck or just not having the speed they have had over the past several seasons. But on an early July Saturday night, Marlatt and his team broke out a brand new Nitro chassis and parked it in ‘the lane.’
Marlatt started in the third position as Trevor Tompkins and Zane King Jr. led the field to green. While Tompkins would lead the first lap and have one of his best finishes of the season in sixth, Marlatt was not going to be denied as he took the lead on lap two.
With Marlatt out front, Street Stock dominators Teddy Morseman, Glenn Whritenour, Dylan Cecce and Kurt Stebbins made their way to the front. Whritenour battled with Marlatt for the lead while also trying to fend off challenges from Morseman and Cecce.
The caution flag would fall for a spin at the same time that Morseman and Cecce made contact on the front stretch. Cecce got the worst end of it, as he suffered minor damage and a flat tire. He would return, but could only recover for a tenth place finish that is sure to shake up the point standings this week.
Out front, Marlatt gave it everything the RLB Trucking No. 99 would give and held off every advance thrown his way. Morseman made his way by Whritenour to collect the second spot at the finish, Whritenour finished third ahead of Kurt Stebbins and Jeredd Dennis.
“Last week we had a pretty fast car with the old car and obviously this one got a little hot,” said Marlatt as the car steamed out the passenger side of his No. 99. “With the luck I’ve been having, I just had to keep going.”
Marlatt had a dominant car on this night, but he was asked just how frustrating this season has been for him and his team?
“It’s been pretty frustrating. You have two years when you first start and win two championships, and everything you throw at the car works. Then you sit here and put a little more money in it and you go the other way. It’s just hard to understand.”
With Ray Hyer leading the field in a four-wide salute in memory of Hyer’s daughter, the Daugherty Auto Sales Mini Stocks prepared to do battle for twenty laps on the High Banks. Mike Stone and Chip Warner led the field to green, but leading the first lap would be Chris Woodard who started in the third position.
Woodard would have the dominant car, but with six laps to go it was last week’s winner Ron Dailey Jr. that would give Woodard his only challenge of the event. Dailey snuck by for the lead on lap fourteen, but Woodard crossed over and came back to take the lead on lap fifteen.
Woodard would race away to his division-leading fourth checkered flag of 2016. Dailey Jr. finished second over Brian Grant Jr. who recovered from an early spin, Rick Amidon and Karl Born.
“After letting him get by on the bottom last week, I had to shut that down,” said Woodard.
It was just one week ago that Dailey snuck by Woodard on the inside of turn 4 on the final lap to get the victory in a drag race to the line. When asked how good it felt to get past the heartbreaker of a week ago?
“It was, it’s last week and we proved that it was just a fluke.”
Shawn Gleason hadn’t won a Woodhull Auto Supply Front Wheel Drive feature since May 28th. He would not let that streak go past Saturday July 2nd.
Gleason clawed at Dave Richmond for the entire race, trying to get by for the lead and potentially his third feature win of 2016. Richmond held off Gleason lap after lap, but could not hold him off any longer as Gleason got by and was scored the leader on lap number 16.
Once in front, Gleason ran the bottom and never faltered from the line that he has used all season long to win races and score top five finishes. Gleason was relieved to finally be standing back in Instant Heat Wood Pellets Victory Lane.
“It’s always fun to race with those guys (Richmond and Baker),” said Gleason. “We’ve been struggling for three weeks and we finally figured out what was going on.”
Next week at Woodhull Raceway, we will celebrate Christmas in July! Several bicycle giveaways will take place along with something fun for the fans- an ugly Christmas sweater contest with prizes for the top three. The Street Stocks will also compete in a 50 lap race paying $750-to-win.
The Insinger Performance 370 Modifieds will be joined by the NAPA Crate Sportsman, SWL Awards 360 Late Models, Joe Willcox Performance Automatics Street Stocks, Daugherty Auto Sales Mini Stocks, Woodhull Auto Supply Front Wheel Drives and Daugherty Auto Sales Warriors.
Pit gates will open at 3:30PM with Scott Lyon’s first green flag of the night waving promptly at 6:30PM. General admission gates open at 4:30PM with admission just $11 for adults 13 and up, $6 for Seniors and ages 8-12 with children 7 and under always free at Woodhull Raceway. There is also plenty of free camping on location at Woodhull Raceway.
Race fans are encouraged to sign up for the fastest alerts from Woodhull Raceway’s Rained Out Alert system by sending the text message “WoodhullAlert” to 84483, message and data rates may apply.
For more information race over to www.woodhullraceway.com, Like Woodhull Raceway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway or Follow Woodhull on Twitter @WoodhullPR.
Woodhull Raceway is located in Woodhull, NY, just 30 minutes West of Corning, NY and competes weekly on Saturday nights from mid-April through Labor Day Weekend. The track offers several special events including the Patriot Sprint Tour 360 Sprints and the Short Track Super Series Modifieds in mid-August.
Woodhull Raceway Whites Repair Night Official Results July 2nd, 2016
INSINGER PERFORMANCE 370 MODIFIEDS, 18 cars (25 Laps): BILLY VAN PELT (2), Dillon Groover, Donnie Lawson, Eric Fisher, Cory Costa, Mike Bills, Frank Dunning, Brady Fultz, Kenny Peoples Jr., Bob Davis, Josh Nobriga, Ryan Tracy, Art Goodier, Brian Doolittle, Kevin Chilson, Dave DuBois, Russell Morseman DQ: Boyd McTavish
Lap Leaders: Van Pelt 1-25
H1: Billy Van Pelt, Mike Bills, Art Goodier
H2: Josh Nobriga, Cory Costa, Donnie Lawson
H3: Kenny Peoples Jr., Dillon Groover, Brady Fultz
NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN, 22 cars (25 Laps): AJ COSTLEY (1), Stacy Jackson, Josh Keesey, Dayton Brewer, Tim Guild, Brandon Martin, Mike Jackson, Scott Lehman, Chris Daugherty, Collin Brown, Jake Dgien, Brandon Butler, Mickey Wilbur, Billy Williams, Jerry Aldrich, Scott Tubbs, Tracy Stanford, John Austin, Bobby Peoples
Lap Leaders: Jackson 1-23, Costley 24-25
H1: AJ Costley, Brandon Martin, Dayton Brewer
H2: Brandon Butler, Jerry Aldrich, Stacy Jackson
H3: Collin Brown, Chris Daugherty, Tim Guild
SWL AWARDS 360 LATE MODELS, 11 cars (20 Laps): GLENN WHRITENOUR (2), Steve LaBarron, Jason McGregor, Carl Hughes, Kurt Stebbins, Wally Wade, Rick Loucks, Mick Seeley, Jacob McConnell, Bruce Miller DNS: Mike Jackson
Lap Leaders: McGregor 1-2, Whritenour 3-20
H1: Carl Hughes, Kurt Stebbins, Glenn Whritenour
H2: Bruce Miller, Jason McGregor, Steve LaBarron
JOE WILLCOX PERFORMANCE AUTOMATICS STREET STOCKS, 16 cars (20 Laps): BRETT MARLATT (1), Teddy Morseman, Glenn Whritenour, Kurt Stebbins, Jeredd Dennis, Trevor Tompkins, Tracy Dunn, Zane King Jr., Dan Gardener, Dylan Cecce, Matt Hamilton, Branden Morseman, Allison Pierce, Ron Butler, Glenn Vancise DNS: Bill Tompkins
Lap Leaders: Trevor Tompkins 1, Marlatt 2-20
H1- Glenn Whritenour, Teddy Morseman, Brett Marlatt
H2- Kurt Stebbins, Jeredd Dennis, Tracy Dunn
DAUGHERTY AUTO SALES MINI STOCKS, 17 cars (20 Laps): CHRIS WOODARD (4), Ron Dailey Jr., Brian Grant Jr., Rick Amidon, Karl Born, Jeffery Daugherty, Mike Stone, John Hand Jr., Corky Grant, Chip Warner, Jason Warner, Scott Lehman, Mike Navone, Chris Hand, Ray Hyer, Dan Roe, Derrick Puryear
Lap Leaders: Woodard 1-13, Dailey Jr. 14, Woodard 15-20
H1- Brian Grant Jr., Mike Stone, Ron Dailey Jr.
H2- Karl Born, Ray Hyer, Chip Warner
WOODHULL AUTO SUPPLY FRONT WHEEL DRIVES, 13 cars (20 Laps): SHAWN GLEASON (3), Codie Baker, Dave Richmond, Matt Prescott, Ron Hill, Adam DelGrosso, Jay McConnell, Jordan Keefer, Robert Haynes, Joe Gillespie, Nick Brown, Nate Freeland, Ryan Austin
Lap Leaders: Hill 1, Richmond 2-15, Gleason 16-20
H1- Matt Prescott, Shawn Gleason, Nick Brown
H2- Codie Baker, Nate Freeland, Ron Hill