Joe Dgien goes Back To Back in Insinger Performance Modified Competition. Mick Seeley gets first ever Street Stock win and John Hand Jr. bags Mini Stock main for his first of the season. Repeat winners include Kenny Peoples Jr. (Crate Sportsman), Steve LeBarron (RUSH Crate Late Models), Jeredd Dennis (Hobby Stocks), Wes Houghtaling (FWD) and Marshall O’Brian (Warriors).
Photo by Jen Martin / Woodhull Raceway
Story by Kenny Shupp Jr. Promotions and Consulting LLC.
(Woodhull, NY) For the second week in a row, current Insinger Performance Modified high point man, Joe Dgien made short work of the twenty-five lap feature event.
Donnie Lawson would lead the opening seven circuits as fellow front row starter; Cole Youse would give chase. Lining up outside row three, Joe Dgien was moving thru traffic and would take control on lap eight and from there drive away from the field and go onto his third feature win of the season and second in a row all the while extending his point advantage over Cousin Jake Dgien and Lawson. Although not insurmountable, Joe Dgien basically needs to show up and start the feature in next week’s point finale to lock up his first ever Woodhull Track title. For veteran driver Donnie Lawson his second place feature finish was a much needed boost after suffering thru a rash of undesirable finishes over the past month while young gun, Cole Youse continues to impress after early season engine woes find him making a second half of the season rally. Trailing the lead trio across the line was former track champion, Steve Coots who had his best run of the 2022 season as the Bath, NY native continues to impress after dominating the Woodhull action over two decades ago. Rounding out the top five finishers was Brady Fultz who began the event in the sixth spot as he along with Coots and Jake Dgien waged a torrid battle until lap twenty-four when the yellow flag waved for the stalled vehicle of Jake Dgien in turns three and four ending his drive for the night.
Isabel Barron and AJ Costley would lead the NAPA Crate Sportsman field to the opening green with Barron taking immediate control and setting the early pace with Costley and current thigh point man, Stacy Jackson in tow. With Barron extending her lead to nearly a full straight away advantage it was a mid-race caution flag that would change to outcome of the race. Three time 2022 class feature winner, Kenny Peoples was moving thru traffic from his eighth starting position and the yellow bunched the field up allowing Peoples to make a late race surge. Using the outside of the high banked one-third of a mile oval, Peoples was able to quickly dispose of Costley and set his sights on leader Barron and on lap seventeen made the winning move as he would go on to his fourth trip to the Pepsi Victory Lane.
“The outside lane was there tonight and nobody was using it so I went up and the car worked perfectly on the top”, stated Peoples Jr in his victory lane interview and although it may have been disappointed second place finish for Isabel Barron who looked like a sure winner early on, she still sits second in the point standings heading into next Saturday’s final point night where current high point man, Stacy Jackson has only a slim margin with just nineteen points separating the top four competitors.
Following Peoples Jr. and Barron across the line at the double checkered flags was Stacy Jackson in third, Costley hung on for fourth with Blake Lawson completing the top five.
With Brian Knowles having already clinched the Armstrong RUSH Crate Late Model track title, it was cause for a night off for the Painted Post speedster opening the flood gates for potentially a different face to find victory lane on this night. Veteran driver, Joe Layfield and Rookie competitor, Rickie Loucks would lead the field to the opening green for their twenty lap feature. Steve LeBarron who looked strong in his opening night qualifying heat win wasted little time in taking over the top spot and with just a pair of caution flags to slow the pace on laps two and twelve was not going to be stopped on this night. Building a full straight away lead, LeBarron was in a different time zone as he easily picked up the win backing up his opening night victory on April 23. July 30 winner and outside row two starter, Austin Allen put on a steady drive to take the runner-up spot with Rookie of the Year contender and second place point man, Brett Marlatt completing the top three podium spots. Making a rare Woodhull appearance, former track champion and RUSH Crate Late Model Champion, Bryce Davis began the event outside row four and advanced four positions to claim fourth with four time 2022 feature winner, Jason Knowles rounding the top five.
For decades, Mick Seeley has competed at the Woodhull Raceway and is considered the nicest guy in the pit area. His happy demeanor and willingness to help other competitors makes him not only a fan favorite, but he also has the respect of his fellow drivers. With a feature win over a decade ago in the now defunct 360 Late Model Division, Mick the Quick has found a home in the popular Joe Willcox Performance Street Stock Division. Having without question the best appearing car in the class which is always immaculately prepared, he had no wins to his credit in the competitive class, however that would all change on this night as Seeley would take the lead off the drop of the opening green and go on to his first ever in the division after years of trying. However, his victory did not come easy as four time 2022 feature winner, Travis Webster would dog Seeley throughout the entire twenty lap distance. Lap after lap Seeley would continue to hit his marks to perfection with Webster in tow as the event would go green for the first nineteen laps, however a pesky yellow would make for a one lap dash for the checkered flag with Seeley holding off Webster by a car length to claim the “W” and becomes the seventh different class winner this season. Webster continues his stellar season with yet another good run in finishing second and with the third place finish by Brett Crawford putting him solidly in a position to claim the 2022 class championship. For the second week in a row, Willy Easling was behind the wheel of the 3j machine. Lining up fifth on the opening grid, Easling would advance one position to claim fourth with July 16 winner, Ted Morseman rounding the top five. To say the least it was an emotional victory lane for Seeley and his family as a huge crowd of well wishers cheered him into the Pepsi Victory Lane and in his post-race interview, he could not stop thanking all his family, crew, sponsors, and fans for his success
2021 Hobby Stock Track Champion, Jeredd Dennis continues his second half of the season surge as he would begin the twenty lap feature inside row four. Brandon Conklin would lead the opening six circuits from his front row starting spot, but on lap seven Dennis was able to overhaul the race leader and go onto his third win of the season and extend his point advantage in his quest to back up last years title. Several caution flags would slow the event, but in every case, Dennis was able to hold Conklin at bay and go onto the win. Chasing the lead duo across the line was August 13 winner, Dillon Philip while veteran competitor Scott Brown would finish fourth. Paul Dgien would begin the event in the sixth slot and advance one position to complete the top five. For Dennis it was back to back victories after his opening night win, and he extends his point advantage heading into next weeks finale. However, Dennis has only a twenty point advantage over Paul Dgien heading into the September 3 event which will determine the top point finishers.
Prior to the start of the twenty-lap Wicked Tee’s Mini Stock feature, Rick Amidon announced that this start would be his last. For the Canisteo, NY native and grandson of former Hornell Speedway owner, Paul Amidon it pulls the curtain on a career that has spanned nearly two decades. Now residing in Painted Post, NY Amidon began his career in the Mini Stock Class and that is where he will end it having only competed in the Mini’s his entire career. “I have had a great run and someone else is interested in buying my car. Now is the time to step aside and spend more time away from racing.” That according to Amidon.
A pair of 2022 feature winners in Ryan Stone and Travis Southard would bring the field to green, but it was outside row two stater, John Hand Jr. assuming control early on and after withstanding numerous challenges by current high point may, Jason Warner was able to go on to his first win of the year. Hand did not compete the first half of the season but has been a factor each race event since joining the Mini Stock field. With Warner’s second place finish coupled with a disappointing DNF by second place point lady competitor, Danielle Thomas it all but assures Warner his first ever track title. Chasing Hand and Warner across the line was Bradly Morseman who last week made the jump from the Warriors into the Mini Stocks with Michael Dickerson and Tony Dickerson completing the top five.
Wesley Houghtaling would begin the Front Wheel Drive fifteen lap feature outside row two and after disposing of front row starters Kayley Bacon and Preston Cobb would go on to his tenth feature win of the season and in doing so puts himself in great position to win the track title. An early event caution would keep the field bunched but Houghtaling was not going to be denied another dominating performance. Last weeks feature winner and current second place point getter, Kevin Doud put on another steady drive to claim second while Kayley Bacon, Nate Freeland and Preston Cobb would complete the top five.
The Vintage Cars made their lone appearance of the 2022 season at Woodhull and did not disappoint the fans in attendance. Providing the sight and sounds of an era gone by the Sportsman Division was won by Tom Church with Mark Schenck of Dundee taking home the Modified feature win. Local favorite, Roger Williams backed up his 2021 triumph in the Vintage category and congratulations goes out to all eleven competitors many of which made extremely long hauls to compete at the historic Steuben County oval.
Last but certainly not least in the Wicked Tee’s Warriors, Marshall O’Brian would begin the feature in the last starting spot and after methodically working his way thru traffic would take over the top spot. Brandon Feenaughty would lead the opening circuit before Jaden Stone would take command and lead laps two thru four. O’Brian would take away the top spot on lap five and go onto the win, his fourth of the season and solidifies his second place in the point standings. Chasing O’Brian across the line was a pair of Morseman’s in Kayleigh Morseman who would take home the runner up spot with Izzabella Morseman completing the top three podium positions. Fourth and fifth across the line were early event leaders in Jaden Stone and Brandon Feenaughty with Desaray Miles and Courtney Thomas completing the field.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Up next at Woodhull it will be Championship Night on Saturday, September 3 where all class champions will be crowned. The night of competition sponsored by Griffith Energy of Woodhull along with the Nikk L Brew Restaurant in Canisteo, NY.
For updates leading to the Sept. 3 event follow along at www.Facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway/.
The complete point standings are posted at www.woodhullraceway.com.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS. UNOFFICIAL August 27, 2022
High Up Trucking Night.
INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS. (14 cars)
25 lap feature. JOE DGIEN (3), Donnie Lawson, Cole Youse, Steve Coots, Brady Fultz, Mike Bills, Dayton Brewer, Cory Costa, Russell Morseman, Brayden Bills, Brian Doolittle, Jake Dgien, Ken Wade, Gregg Turner.
NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN. (10 cars)
25 lap feature. KENNY PEOPLES JR. (4), Isabel Barron, Stacy Jackson, AJ Costley, Blake Lawson, Tim Guild, David Mayo, Matt Strauss, Cayden Lawson. DQ, Levi Riley.
ARMSTRONG RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS. (13 cars)
20 lap feature. STEVE LEBARRON (2), Austin Allen, Brett Marlatt, Bryce Davis, Jason Knowles, Aaron Miller, Clayton Tarabori, Joe Layfield, Rickie Loucks, Jason McGregor, Noah Talada, Jacob Tubbs. DNS, Dennis Loucks.
JOE WILLCOX PERFORMANCE STREET STOCKS. (11 cars)
20 lap feature. MICK SEELEY, Travis Webster, Brett Crawford, Willy Easling, Ted Morseman, Dan Gardner, Luke Boom, Randy Taylor, Jim Buck, Mike Williams, Jesse Tuthill.
HOBBY STOCKS. (15 cars)
20 lap feature. JEREDD DENNIS (3), Brandon Conklin, Dillon Philip, Scott Brown, Paul Dgien, Brandon Birdsall, Jason Ketrow, Scooter Brown, Meadow Dgien, Dale Houghtaling, Hunter Williams, Brent Williams, Kaiden Dgien, Brian Austin, Greg Young.
WICKED TEE’S MINI STOCKS. (14 cars)
20 lap feature. JOHN HAND JR., Jason Warner, Bradly Morseman, Michael Dickerson, Tony Dickerson, Travis Southard, Craig Decame, Ryan Stone, Dillon Morseman, Caleb Heintzenrater, Rick Amidon, Chris Hand, Jordan Costley, Danielle Thomas.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVES. (9 cars)
15 lap feature. WESLEY HOUGHTALING (10), Kevin Doud, Kayley Bacon, Nate Freeland, Preston Cobb, Ridge Cobb, Carl O’Dell, Kevin Williams. DNS, Ryan Austin.
WICKED TEE’S WARRIORS. (7 cars)
15 lap feature. MARSHALL O’BRIAN (4), Kayleigh Morseman, Izzabella Morseman, Jaden Stone, Brayden Feenaughty, Desaray Miles, Courtney Thomas
VINTAGE RACE CARS. (3 divisions)
Modifieds. Mark Schenck
Sportsman. Tom Church
Vintage. Roger Williams.