Steve LeBarron Holds Back Jason Knowles To Win First Of 2020 At Woodhull On Pepsi Night
Race Report by: Robert Symonds – August 17th, 2020 – Joe Kaminski Jr. photo –
(WOODHULL, NY) – The High Banks saw the threat of rain all night long but was able to get most of the program completed for Pepsi Night at the Woodhull Raceway. The 270 Micro Sprints were originally scheduled however were postponed until a later date thus the program carried on with a regular show plus the two makeup features from Dgien Trucking night at the first of the month.
First feature on the track was the Johnson’s Auto Supply Front Wheel Drives for their makeup feature. Todd Mclain and Adam Delgrosso led the field to the green. Delgrosso would lead lap one with Scott Lehman Jr and Nate Freeland in close tow. Matt Prescott fires by Todd Mclain to get up to fourth. Lehman able to make the outside work and take the race lead from Delgrosso on lap 3. Problems with Jacob McConnell would subdue his entire evening as his car came to a stop on the exit of turn 4 to draw the first yellow flag on lap 5. On the restart, Freeland was able to make the middle groove work and take away the second spot from Delgrosso. Freeland went to work on Lehman Jr, worked his way through the middle of turns three and four to take the lead. Freeland would get above the cushion on the next lap and lose the lead. McConnell yet again with issues on the 777 would draw the yellow. On the restart, Freeland took the inside groove to take the lead off turn 2. With a much needed change to his driving style, Delgrosso worked by Lehman Jr and was on the back bumper of Freeland for the lead when Lehman Jr’s car went up in smoke. A restart with 4 laps to go was what Delgrosso needed. He was able to make the bottom lane work and sneak by Freeland at the white flag. Freeland with a last ditch effort tried sliding Delgrosso in turn 3 but Delgrosso jammed the brakes, turned it to the bottom, and drove to the checkered flag over Freeland, Prescott, Childs, and Mclain.
Next out was the Big Jims Wicked Tees Woodhull Warriors for the Dgien Trucking Night Makeup Feature. Levi Riley and Ethan Decker led the field to green for 10 laps. Marshall O’Brian quickly picks up the second spot from Decker on the exit of turn 2 but Riley would lead lap one. Jacob Tubbs has made his way up through the field and gets by Ethan Decker for 3rd on lap 2. O’Brian spins in turn 4, collides with the yuke tire which draws the first caution. On the restart, Tubbs worked the low lane on Riley and was side by side for the lead at the half way mark. Riley takes the high side in turn 1 and was able to hold the lead down the backstretch. On the final lap, Riley kept the momentum on the high side and it was enough to hold off Jacob Tubbs for the win. Ethan Decker was able to hold back Keegan Smith for 3rd.
The first feature of Pepsi Night was the Insinger Performance Modifieds. In their heats, Billy Van Pelt and Ajay Potrzebowski II picked up wins. Brian Doolittle and Dayton Brewer led the field to green. Doolittle slipped up on the exit of turn four and that let Brewer and Joe Dgien sneak by for the top 2 positions on lap 1. A broken front end for Brady Fultz would cause a jam in turn 1 bringing out the caution on lap 1. On the restart, Brewer held on to the lead barely over Dgien at the line for lap 2 but the caution would fly again for Ryan Tracy spun on the front stretch. Joe Dgien was able to make the restart work this time as he used the middle groove to power his way by Brewer entering turn 3. Josh Keesey was able to work by Ajay Potrzebowski II for 3rd and Donnie Lawson was up to 5th. Problems with Keesey would see him going to the infield early on lap 3. At the line for lap 4 Lawson powered his way by Potrzebowski II to move into the top 3. Van Pelt was powering his way around Costa going into turn 1 and ended up colliding with the rear bumper of Potrzebowski. The collision sent Van Pelt spinning to the top of turn 1 to draw the yellow on lap 4. On the restart, Lawson took to the bottom lane to try and work his way around Brewer while Costa was pounding the cushion on the top side. Within two laps of the restart, Van Pelt rallied up through the field to put himself into 5th. Brewer fumbles the cushion and lets Lawson sneak by for 2nd while Costa, Brewer, and Van Pelt battle three wide for 3rd. A stopped Sheldon Gardner in turn 2 would draw the yellow. On the restart, the battle resumed for Costa, Brewer, and Van Pelt for third. Costa was on the inside of Van Pelt and grabbed a yuke tire to spin the car on the exit of turn 4 to draw the yellow at the half way mark. Dgien once again on the restart, powers away from the field but this time Lawson and Van Pelt keep in close tow. Brewer still running the top lane gets very tight which allows Potrzebowski to get by for 4th. Van Pelt goes back to the top groove to try and move around Lawson but Lawson was able to stop the advance of the Kid. While the battle continues, both Van Pelt and Lawson close in on the Dgien machine for the lead. Van Pelt on the cushion works by Lawson for 2nd then does the same to Dgien one lap later to grab the lead with 6 laps to go. In the closing laps, Costa works his way back up through the field to 5th and no one is able to catch Van Pelt as he will grab the win over Dgien, Lawson Potrzebowski, and Costa.
Second feature on the night was the Cummings Trucking RUSH Late Models. Picking up heat wins was John Waters and Jason Knowles. Steve LeBarron and Kurt Stebbins led the field to green. LeBarron would lead lap one as Stebbins gets up and over the cushion but is able to keep the second spot. Chris Fleming runs in third while Jason Knowles sneaks by Jim Buck and Darin Horton for fourth at the line. Knowles gets up alongside Fleming through the middle and was not able to make a pass until lap 4. Stebbins seems to lose ground on LeBarron for the lead and falls to the clutches of Knowles in the early going. Waters worked his way from the back of the pack up to 5th at this time and starts to battle Fleming for fourth. Stebbins goes above the cushion yet again in turns 3 and 4 which allows Knowles, Fleming, and Waters to get by. On the restart, Fleming goes high and allows Waters to get by for third. During the last green flag stretch, Waters tried to work by Knowles but it was to no avail. Steve LeBarron would pick up his first checkered flag of the year over Knowles, Waters, Fleming, and Stebbins.
Next out on to the track was the NAPA Crate Sportsmans. The heat events were dominated by AJ Costley, Bobby Peoples, and Kenny Peoples Jr. Bobby Peoples and Bob Butcher would lead the 25 car field to the green flag. On the start, Butcher nearly spins but was pointed back in the right direction after coming in contact with Cole Youse’s right side door. Bobby Peoples would lead lap one over Dale Welty, Cole Youse, and Reese Hackett. Art Goodier and Ajay Potrzebowski work by Butcher for 5th and 6th in the early laps. Both cars were able to also get by Hackett in the next set of corners to move them up another set of positions. The yellow lights come on to slow the field for the first time. On the restart, Potrzebowski goes to the top and gets by Goodier for 4th then starts to work by Youse for 3rd but Youse able to hold off the challenge in the meantime. Dale Welty challenged Peoples for the lead on the bottom but was unable to make the pass. Just as Kreg Crooker rallied his way from 12th starting spot and way up to 6th, the yellow would come out to slow the field at the half way mark. The restart would be fruitful for Potrzebowski as he worked by Youse and Welty to put himself up to second and would start to work the topside of Peoples for the lead. Potrzebowski ran through the middle groove to take the lead over Peoples on lap 14. Kenny Peoples Jr started to make his presence more known as he works by Goodier for sixth. In the final laps, Goodier tried to make some ground on the restarts and put himself up to fifth but it was stopped short as Costley gets around him for the top 5 spot. Youse was able to make the bottom groove work and get by Bobby Peoples for second. Potrzebowski though would be the one to run away with the win.
The fourth division to take to the track was the Joe Willcox Performance Automatics Street Stocks. Kurt Stebbins and Glenn Whritenour picked up heat race wins while Dan Gardner and Mick Seeley led the field to green. The yellow flag would come out rather quickly as Luke Boom and Glenn Whritenour battled too hard for the third spot which collected Kurt Stebbins and Austin Allen. On the restart, Whritenour would pick off Seeley for second and would start to work on Gardner for the lead. Dylan Cecce would work the bottom on Seeley to take away 3rd in the opening laps. It would only take a few laps and Whritenour would take the lead while the rest of the field fights for second. Mike Williams and Teddy Morseman make a three car battle with Seeley for fourth but the yellow flag would fly to slow the field again. Williams would get jammed up top on the restart and that allowed Morseman to get by Seeley and Cecce to put him up to third. Brett Marlatt rallied from his 12th starting spot to move up to sixth. Marlatt was able to make the bottom lane work to get by Seeley at the half way mark. Brandon Birdsall collided with Williams’s left rear and would spin the car to draw the yellow. The restart comes out and Marlatt fights on the bottom to get by Cecce for fourth. Kane Stebbins worked his way from the back and battled by Mick Seeley for sixth. Morseman works by Gardner for second at the white flag. Whritenour gets the win over Morseman, Marlatt worked by Gardner at the line for third.
The Big Jims Wicked Tees Mini Stocks made it on to the track for their 20 lap feature. Travis Webster picked up the heat race win and would start alongside Dylon Morseman to bring the field to green. Webster would grab the early lead while Ray Hyer, Josh Webster, and Scott Lehman get by the Morseman machine off turn 2. Jason Warner gets by both Brody Amidon and Dylon Morseman to move himself up to fifth however the first yellow would stop that run. Josh Webster would work his way by Ray Hyer on the restart but the field would slow again for 3 cars around in turn 4. The restart saw progress for Brody Amidon has he was able to work by Warner and Scott Lehman then work by Hyer on the bottom to take over third. Problems with Ray Hyer would end his run early. The battle for fourth would heat up between Lehman, Warner, and Ketrow. Ketrow first works by Warner on the bottom then sets his sights on Lehman. Ketrow is able to work by Lehman with only one lap to go. Travis Webster would sweep the night over his brother Josh Webster, Brody Amidon, Jason Ketrow, and Scott Lehman.
The Woodhull Auto Supply Hobby Stocks had a 17 car field with teammates Leo Eldridge and Jeredd Dennis taking heat race wins. Mike Carapella and Zach Kriner led the field to green. AJ Neidermaier was hot to trot taking second from Kriner as Carter Dennis and Eldridge would follow suit on the bottom. Mike Spencer would quickly make his way to the top and start to work on Eldridge and Dennis for a top 3 spot. However his run would be stopped due to the first caution flag flying. On the restart, Dennis would challenge Neidermaier for the 2nd spot while Spencer tries the top side of Eldridge, both are able to advance to second and fourth respectively. Chris Woodard works his way through the field, gets by Bill Williams for sixth. The yellow would fall for an issue on the Bill Williams machine in turn 3 and a problem with Mike Carapella would give the race lead to Carter Dennis for the restart. Spencer gets a great restart to work by Neidermaier for second and starts to challenge Dennis for the lead. Meanwhile Jeredd Dennis worked his way from 12th and starts a 3 wide battle for fourth with Chris Woodard and Leo Eldridge. Woodard got by both Dennis and Eldridge however was not able to get a good run in turn 1 which allowed Dennis to get by Woodard and work by Neidermaier for third. Scott Brown started to make his presence known as he worked by Woodard and Neidermaier as well for fourth. Jeredd Dennis started to work by Mike Spencer for second and the rain would fall on lap 9 to cancel the remainder of the evening.
The Woodhull Auto Supply Hobby Stocks will pick up on lap 9 and the Johnson’s Auto Supply Front Wheel Drives along with the Big Jims Wicked Tees Woodhull Warriors will also be made up in upcoming date(s).
Woodhull Raceway Results – August 15, 2020 – Pepsi Night
Insinger Performance Modifieds (16 cars) Heats: Billy Van Pelt, Ajay Potrzebowski Feature (25 laps): BILLY VAN PELT, Joe Dgien, Donnie Lawson, Ajay Potrzebowski II, Cory Costa, Dayton Brewer, Ryan Tracy, Brian Doolittle, Ken Titus, Sheldon Gardner, Josh Keesey, Sam Allen, Brady Fultz DNS – Tony Pangrazio, Frank Dunning, Mike Bills
Cummings Trucking RUSH Late Models (14 cars) Heats: John Waters, Jason Knowles Feature (20 laps): STEVE LEBARRON, Jason Knowles, John Waters, Chris Fleming, Kurt Stebbins, Joe Layfield, John Haggerty, Darin Horton, Jim Buck, Jason McGregor, Judd Carney, Brian Knowles, Clayton Tarabori DNS- Chuck LaFleur
Woodhull Auto Supply Hobby Stocks (17 cars) Heats: Leo Eldridge, Jeredd Dennis Feature (20 laps): MAKEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED.
Joe Willcox Performance Automatics Street Stocks (15 cars) Heats: Kurt Stebbins, Glenn Whritenour Feature (20 laps): GLENN WHRITENOUR, Teddy Morseman, Brett Marlatt, Dan Gardner, Dylan Cecce, Kane Stebbins, Mick Seeley, Kurt Stebbins, Mike Williams, Brett Crawford, Joe Birdsall, Austin Allen, Luke Boom, Brandon Birdsall
Big Jim’s Wicked Tees Woodhull Warriors (8 cars) 8/1 Dgien Trucking Night Makeup Feature (10 Laps): LEVI RILEY, Jacob Tubbs, Ethan Decker, Keegan Smith, Bradly Morseman, Jordan Costley, Marshall O’Brian Heat: Jacob Tubbs Feature (10 laps): MAKEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED
NAPA Crate Sportsman (25 cars) Heats: AJ Costley, Bobby Peoples, Kenny Peoples Jr Feature (25 laps): AJAY POTRZEBOWSKI, Cole Youse, Bobby Peoples, Kreg Crooker, AJ Costley, Kenny Peoples Jr, Art Goodier, Blake Lawson, Nicole Hoag, Aiden Grover, David Mayo, Carter Crooker, Isabel Barron, Cayden Lawson, Bob Butcher, Dale Welty, Kamdin Maby, Reese Hackett, Dylan Gilbert, Greg Crooker, Christian Zschoche, John Austin, Chris Clemens, Adam Taft, Teddy Morseman DNS- Noah Talada
Johnson’s Auto Supply Front Wheel Drives (12 cars) 8/1 Dgien Trucking Night Makeup Feature (20 Laps): ADAM DELGROSSO, Nate Freeland, Matt Prescott, Tom Childs, Todd Mclain, Travis Southard, Scott Lehman Jr, Jacob McConnell, Garrett Wilson DNS- Richard Moore, Rob Gardner Heats: Adam Delgrosso, Codie Baker Feature (20 laps): MAKEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED
Big Jim’s Wicked Tees Mini Stocks (8 cars) Heats: Travis Webster Feature (20 laps): TRAVIS WEBSTER, Josh Webster, Brody Amidon, Jason Ketrow, Scott Lehman, Jason Warner, Dylon Morseman, Ray Hyer, Dana Stevens