Media Contact: Steven Ovens - woodhullracewaypr@gmail.com or (315) 729-3825 For Immediate Release – December 7th, 2016 – SWL Awards photo -
(WOODHULL, NY) – For several seasons over the last decade and a half, Woodhull Raceway has offered a youth mini stock division that offers youngsters exiting the go-karting ranks a step up in pursuit of racing on the High Banks. Daugherty Auto Sales has graciously stepped up for the past several seasons as the division sponsor and would see a talented crop of new drivers compete on “New York’s Toughest Bullring” during the 2016 season.
The Daugherty Auto Sales Warriors ushered in a new generation of Potrzebowski, as AJ Potrzebowski Jr. would claim the track championship with his five regular season victories. Potrzebowski and sister Kayley both claimed victories during the 2016 season, as Kayley would save her victory for Championship Night in thrilling fashion.
But it was Western New York pilot Cole Youse who guided his blue and yellow No. 8 around the Steuben County oval for two regular season wins and two non-points victories. On nights that the entire division competed, many of those races came down to AJ and Cole battling it out with each driver pushing the other to improve all year long. Potrzebowski and Youse fought it out for the championship, but it was the infamous black, baby blue and pink No. 72 that claimed supremacy for 2016.
The 2016 season schedule had the Warriors on a one week on, one week off schedule. But with several drivers wanting to race more throughout the year, it was deemed necessary to make the additional races non-point events. Youse and newcomer Brody Amidon took full advantage of the non-point shows with Amidon garnering much-needed seat time.
While Youse mastered his craft in those non-point events, Amidon became more and more comfortable with his bright orange No. 2 machine. Amidon was impressive in 2016, considering the fact that his Warrior Mini Stock was the first race vehicle he had ever competed in! Amidon took all of those incremental improvements throughout the year and was half a lap away from turning it into his first career win on Championship Night.
Trevor Hamilton was the only ‘veteran’ of the division this season, but he didn’t have a huge head start on his fellow competitors. Hamilton competed in two races in 2015, in preparation for a full schedule of competition in 2016. The young driver of car number sixty was a weekly threat to compete for top fives and victories, as he too fine-tuned his driving skills behind the wheel of a full-sized car.
Two other drivers competed in points races in the Warrior division in 2016 that included Bradley Groover and Noah Talada. Groover competed in only one race on May 7th and took his front wheel drive machine all the way to Instant Heat Wood Pellets Victory Lane. Talada competed in both point shows in August and looks to be a strong contender for a run at a potential full schedule on the High Banks in 2017.
All of Woodhull Raceway’s track champions will be crowned on Saturday night at the Watson Homestead & Conference Center in Painted Post, New York. Cocktail Hour kicks off at 5:30PM, with dinner and awards taking place immediately afterwards. Turn 5 Live on the Performance Motorsports Network will be recording a LIVE episode of their weekly dirt track racing program throughout the event and will interview all of the champions and many other drivers and special guests.
For more information visit www.woodhullraceway.com or visit Woodhull Raceway on their Facebook and Twitter pages.