Story By: JOE GRABIANOWSKI / DIRTCAR – HUMBERSTONE, ONT / MALTA, NY – Humberstone Speedway, and Albany-Saratoga Speedway hosted two DIRTcar Northeast Sportsman Modified Series races in one night Friday.
Humberstone hosted the West Region for a $1,500-to-win 50-lap Feature and the Albany-Saratoga Speedway brought in the East Region for a clash.
McPherson Rounds Off Rouse For Sportsman West Region Glory At Humberstone
The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series West Region raced for 50 laps at Humberstone Speedway to start the Canadian doubleheader of Series races. James Michael Friesen and Brad Rouse started on the front row. Either of those drivers could have won but Cody McPherson made patient gains and eventually passed for the lead.
Brad Rouse finished second and James Michael Friesen hung on for third.
“I felt really confident going into tonight,” said McPherson. “Even when we drew 12th to start I said don’t worry about it. With 50 laps I could do it. It seemed that James and Brad didn’t know exactly where to run. I knew where to go so when I cleared them so I didn’t show them the line and it worked out.”
McPherson’s car was hooked up.
“I took it over to my buddy Mat Williamson and we scaled it. I haven’t touched a thing since. I could bury this thing in Turns Three and Four and it would stop on a dime.”
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series West Region Results (50 laps)
1. Cody McPherson 2. Brad Rouse 3. James Friesen 4. Adam Leslie 5. Greg Panunte 6. Jay Mallory 7. Justin Sharp 8. Ryan Ferri 9. Dave Flannigan Jr 10. Taylor Vanderzanden 11. Luke Carleton 12. Jessica Power 13. Matt Sharpe 14. Jordan Cosco 15. Terry Smith 16. Curtis Friesen 17. John Babion 18. Daniel McKay 19. Noah Mamo 20. Jeff Panunte 21. Bill Bleich 22. Greg Brinklow 23. Tony Cowell
Andrew Buff Wins First DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series East Region Feature At Albany-Saratoga
The Great Race Place lived up to its name as Andrew Buff won an exciting East Region Feature holding off Scott Duell and Tim Hartman Jr. for the win. Buff was locked in a battle for most of the Feature and chased leader Chad Edwards. Unfortunately, for Edwards, a mechanical issue ended his run at the front and Buff inherited the lead.
“It took a little bit to get going,” said Buff of his Feature efforts. “I knew they [Duell and Hartman] were close to us.”
“That sucks for Chad Edwards. I would have liked to race that out.”
Buff started mid-pack and took advantage of other drivers’ mistakes to get into striking distance of the lead.
“There was a jam up early in the race so I kept her going and kept my track position which turned out to be really important.”
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series East Region Results (50 laps)
1. Andrew Buff 2. Tim Hartman Jr. 3. Scott Duell 4. Brian Calabrese 5. Robert Bublak 6. Jim Nagle 7. Connor Cleveland 8. Jason Reome 9. Mike Ballestero 10. Jason Gray 11. Robert Tucker 12. Todd Buckwold 13. AJ Miller 14. Travis Whitbeck 15. Tyler Rapp 16. Jim Osgood 17. Matt Lashua 18. Michael Wright 19. Brandon Gibbons 20. Chad Edwards 21. Dick Bisson 22. Kevin Chaffee 23. Jeff Washburn 24. Bill August 25. Pat Jones 26. Dan Grignon 27. Travis Bruno 28. David Boisclair 29. Michae Wagner Fitzgerland 30, Darrl Nutting