Photo By Joe Kaminski - JGK Motorsports
BVP back in Mod feature after a two -week layoff. Brian Knowles in RUSH LM, Joe Birdsall takes Hobby Stock feature as does Jason Warner in Mini Stocks. Other winners include Ryan Austin in FWD and Marshall O’Brian in Warriors.
Story by Kenny Shupp JR. Promotions and Consulting LLC
(Woodhull, NY) After a late afternoon downpour that threatened the Nikk L Brew Sponsored Great 8 Show at the Woodhull Raceway, the skies cleared and with the assistance of a multitude of drivers the high banked one-third of a mile clay oval was made ready for race competition and albeit the program started a couple hours late it was run off in a timely manner.
Isabel Barron has steadily shown significant improvement since becoming a regular in the NAPA Crate Sportsman Division several seasons ago. The young, long blonde-haired competitor from Corning, NY made another huge stride in her racing career as she picked up the win in a division that provides some of the toughest competition anywhere. In a field that is littered with many former Modified competitors that can no longer afford the excessive cost of fielding a competitive Modified ride, many now reside in the NAPA Crate Sportsman Class where they can run with a much smaller budget. For Barron, her win did not come easy by any means as she had to move thru traffic, make a late race pass of then race leader and 2022 Woodhull Raceway feature winner, Dave Mayo and if that wasn’t enough had hold off the likes of veterans Stacy Jackson and Josh Nobriga to claim her first win in 2022. For the Isabel Barron team it is common place to see her become a more common threat and her father lead effort has a marketing program that will rival any Modified team with backing from many major corporation in the Southern Tier Region. To the delight of the crowd that stuck it out thru the rain delay, Barron’s win was well received as she flashed by the double checkered flags holding off a late race charge by Stacy Jackson who had to settle for second place while Dave Mayo would drift to third after leading early and completing the third- place podium finishing spot. Like Jackson, Josh Nobriga continues his consistent year in finishing fourth as he was chased across the line by fifth place finisher, Teddy Morseman. For Barron, she now becomes the seventh different feature winner in seven weeks of action at Woodhull in 2022 with no repeat feature winners thus far.
Billy VanPelt had made the point clear at the beginning of 2022 season that any perfect attendance for the twenty-three-time Modified Champion as not going to happen. After a career that has spanned some thirty-five-seasons and having rarely missed an event at Woodhull, the veteran Potter Brooke, Pa. speedster stated that, “It is time to start taking time to enjoy other things in life”. After not competing the past two Saturday’s, VanPelt made his return to the track and with a tacky and fast one third of a mile clay oval, made short work of the twenty-five lap Insinger Performance Modified feature event. With multiple grooves to choose from BVP made his way to the front and was never really challenged once in control and cruised to his third feature in of the season. Donnie Lawson, who had previously picked up a feature win in April had another solid run to claim second at the finish. Equally impressive were Joe Dgien, Bob Silvernail and Brian Doolittle who have all been rock solid all season as they completed the top five finishers. Over the past decade, Lawson has been the only driver to end the Billy VanPelt reign of terror in Woodhull Raceway Track Championships having won the title numerous seasons ago and is in advantageous position to challenge for the 2022 championship.
In RUSH Crate Late Model feature action, Brian “Pork Chop” Knowles continues his hot streak as he visited victory lane for the fourth time this season. Steve LeBarron, who won the highly touted King of the Ring one on one elimination event earlier in the evening came up just one spot shy of making it two wins on the season after picking up the “W” on opening night. Try as he might, LeBarron had to settle for a solid second place finish as Clayton Tarabori had perhaps one of his better runs of the season in claiming third as he continues to run in a limited schedule capacity. Chasing the lead trio across the line at the end of the twenty- lap affair was two-time 2022 feature winner, Jason Knowles and Rookie of the Year contender, Aaron Miller who was able to hold off another Rookie in Brett Marlatt to claim fifth.
It was a real heartbreaker for Mike Carapella as the veteran driver from nearby Addison, NY appeared to pickup his first Hobby Stock feature win of the season. However, in post- race inspection and infraction was found relegating Carapella to the DQ category and with that handing the win to Joe Birdsall. For “The Bird” it was his third consecutive win of “22” as he now has momentum on his side in a class that provides tough competition from top to bottom. 2021 class track champ, Jeredd Dennis had another consistent run finishing second while Paul Dgien rounded the top three. Scott Brown chased across the lead trio across the line nailing fourth while Mike Spencer claimed fifth. Of the top five, Brown is the only non-feature winner thus far showing the tight competition in the Hobby Stock Division at Woodhull which has produced four different faces in victory lane in the first seven events.
Branden Morseman is no stranger to the Joe Willcox Performance Street Stock Division having competed for years in the popular class after graduating from Mini Stock action. With several consistent finishes thus far, he was finally able to put things all in place to claim his first win of the 2022 season as he was able to hold off April 30 feature winner, Dan Gardner who finished second. 2021 Track Champion and three-time 2022 feature winner, Brett Crawford has been a picture of consistency thus far and rode home to claim third place money as he was followed across the line by Travis Webster who has a pair of class feature wins while veteran wheelman, Ray Hyer completed the top five.
Ryan Austin continues his dominance in the FWD Division as he easily nailed win six on the campaign in the fifteen-lap feature event. Weekly regular, Wesley Houghtaling is the only other feature winner this season and once again had to settle for second place as other track regulars Kevin Doud and Kayley Bacon follow in tow.
Jason Warner made it back-to-back feature wins in the Wicked Tee’s sponsored Mini Stock Division in an event that was run off with out much incident. Rick Amidon was surrounded by an onslaught of Morseman machines in claiming third as Dillon Morseman was second, Danielle (Morseman) Thomas came home fourth as she was one spot better than her boyfriend, Travis Southard in fifth.
Winning breeds winning and that was the case in the Wicked Tee’s Youth Warrior fifteen lap feature only event as last weeks winner, Marshall O’Brian was able to hold off five time “22” feature winner, Bradly Morseman in making it back-to-back features for the Addison High School student. Chasing the top two across the line were Jaden Stone in third, Izzabella Morseman finished fourth, Courtney Thomas fifth as Desaray Miles would complete the finishing order. For O’Brian it has been a great past two weeks as he had not ever visited victory lane in the past three seasons of action until last week’s first ever followed up with this weeks win.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Woodhull Shorts.
Without the assistance of most every car in the pit area the show would have never gotten off the ground due to the dousing of late afternoon rain the area received, however third year track owners, Terry and Niki Brewer dug in their heels and were able to get the show in the books. Modified competitor and third generation pilot, Brayden Bills received an added $20 and a burger for being the first car to help pack the track. With a heavy and tacky surface, the racing grove was wide and fast providing for great action and most feature events were run off with little incident as very few if any yellow flags slowed the pace throughout the entire race program. With the new victory lane ceremonies now being held at the rear of the grandstand seating area the show was kept moving along and was completed in less than four hours even with the late start. Special thanks to the Nikk L Brew Restaurant of Canisteo for their continued marketing support of the track as they were the nightly event sponsor.
Up next at Woodhull on Saturday, June 18 it will be Race of Remembrance Night presented by RLB Trucking of Jasper and Southern Tier Customs of Woodhull. The event is to honor all the former drivers, car owners, sponsors, fans and track employees that have fallen over the fifty-seven-year history of the historic Steuben County Speedway. An added $200 to the feature winners in each division will be dished out in memory of all those that we have lost.
Gates for both pit and grandstand entry open at 4:30 with racing at 6:30 pm.
Continual updates throughout the week regarding the June 18 event will be posted at www.Facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway/
For a complete look at the points, rules, 2022 schedule which includes ticket prices, sponsors and more log on at www.woodhullraceway.com.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS. JUNE 11, 2022. UNOFFICIAL.
Car counts are based on opening night sign in. Not on how many race in feature events.
Nikk L Brew Restaurant Night.
INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS. (17 cars)
25 lap feature. BILLY VANPELT (3), Donnie Lawson, Joe Dgien, Bob Silvernail, Brian Doolittle, Jake Dgien, Dayton Brewer, Steve Coots, Gregg Turner, Ryan Tracy, Hunter Hess, Eric Grice, Brayden Bills, Russell Morseman, Brady Fultz, Ron Cartwright, Cole Youse.
NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN. (15 cars)
25 lap feature. ISABEL BARRON, Stacy Jackson, David Mayo, Josh Nobriga, Ted Morseman, Tim Guild, Cayden Lawson, Blake Lawson, Connor Brown, AJ Costley, Levi Riley, Adam Taft, Steve Schrader, Art Goodier, Matt Strauss.
ARMSTRONG RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS. (13 cars)
King of the Ring. Steve LeBarron.
20 lap feature. BRIAN KNOWLES (4), Steve LeBarron, Clayton Tarabori, Jason Knowles, Aaron Miller, Brett Marlatt, Austin Allen, Jason McGregor, Rickie Loucks, Jim Buck, Tony Kelley, Jacob Tubbs, Joe Layfield.
JOE WILLCOX PERFORMANCE STREET STOCKS. (13 cars)
20 lap feature. BRANDEN MORSEMAN, Dan Gardner, Brett Crawford, Travis Webster, Ray Hyer, Mick Seeley, Luke Boom, Willy Easling, Jesse Tuthill, Roland Duell, Jared Hill, Mike Williams, Dennis Loucks.
HOBBY STOCKS. (13 cars)
20 lap feature. JOE BIRDSALL (3), Jeredd Dennis, Paul Dgien, Scott Brown, Mike Spencer, Brandon Birdsall, Kaiden Dgien, Greg Young, Dillon Phillip, Jason Ketrow, Meadow Dgien, Brandon Conklin. Mike Carapella, DQ post- race tech.
WICKED TEE’S MINI STOCKS. (8 cars)
20 lap feature. JASON WARNER (2), Dillon Morseman, Rick Amidon, Danielle Thomas, Travis Southard, Craig Decame, Ryan Stone, Brian Grant.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVES. (4 cars)
15 lap feature. RYAN AUSTIN (6), Wesley Houghtaling, Kevin Doud, Kayley Bacon
WICKED TEE’S WARRIORS. (7 cars)
15 lap feature. MARSHALL O’BRIAN (2), Bradly Morseman, Jaden Stone, Izzabella Morseman, Courtney Thomas, Desaray Miles.