News Director 
Story By: KENNY SHUPP / WOODHULL RACEWAY – WOODHULL, NY – It was an emotional night at the Woodhull Raceway as the track celebrated the Independence Day Weekend with an Art Goodier tribute at the beginning of the event as the drivers in the pit area stood in solidarity along with the fans in attendance for a moment of silence for their deceased friend and fellow racer.
A trio of marketing partners joined forces to sponsor the July 2 event as representatives of the participating NAPA Stores from across the Twin Tiers along with Hatfield Real Estate of Elmira and S & D Pool Specialists of Avoca teamed up to present the Great 8 Show and NAPA Crate Sportsman King of the Ring Event.
Dayton Brewer of Jasper, NY has struggled a bit after picking up his first feature win of the season on June 21, however he was able to put it all together in nailing win two on the season and it did not come easy having to start mired inside the fourth starting row at the start of the twenty-five lap Insinger Performance Modified feature event. Russ Morseman and Ryan Tracy would bring the stacked eighteen car field to the opening green flag. Brewer would methodically begin his march to the front right off the drop of the opening green flag bringing current high point man, Joe Dgien along with him. Dgien, who lined up inside row six had to dispose of a multitude of good drivers and equipment all the while trying to track down Brewer. But at the finish, second generation pilot, Brewer was just too much to manage and cruised to the popular win. For Joe Dgien it was yet another solid finish and although he still looks for his first feature win on the season, his consistency and runner up finish will find him stretching his point advantage. Following Brewer and Dgien across the line was Brayden Bills in third for his second consecutive top five while Jake Dgien who lined up ninth and Brady Fultz who started eleventh would round the top five finishers.
Like so many others, Bryce Davis began his career in go-karts and the Woodhull Warrior Division prior to moving into full fender racing including 360 Late Models, Crate Late Models and Super Lates. After finding success in every class he has ever competed, the high expense of fielding a Super Late Model found Davis and his team making the off-season decision to step back into the RUSH Crate Late Model Division. His arrival back to the Woodhull Raceway was met with much fan appreciation as the Canisteo, NY native is still extremely popular at the Steuben County oval and his return did not disappoint as he would line up eighth in the eleven- car starting field and passed four 2022 class feature winners in his charge to the front and first win of the year, no easy task. For the second- generation pilot it was an extremely popular victory as he was able to hold off two-time 2022 feature winner, Jason Knowles to nail the win as last week’s feature winner and last place starter on the opening grid, Brett Marlatt would complete the top three podium finishers. Like Marlatt in front of him, Rookie of the Year contender, Jacob Tubbs had yet another solid effort in finishing fourth after beginning outside row one. June 18 feature winner, Jason McGregor would complete the top five finishers. Like Davis, Marlatt and McGregor also hail from Canisteo, NY.
Third gen driver, local high school student and 2021 King of the Ring winner, Cayden Lawson took full advantage of his pole position starting spot and go onto his second win of the season in NAPA Crate Sportsman action. Since his May 21 victory it has been a struggle for Lawson, but he was able to put all the bad luck behind him in route to the victory. Last weeks winner, Kenny Peoples Jr. would put on the drive of the night, beginning the twenty-five-lap affair in the fourteenth starting spot and drove thru a loaded field to claim second. Stacy Jackson, who earlier in the evening found victory in the Sportsman King of the Ring event would start the feature in row two, race within the lead pack all throughout and come home for third as May 28 winner, AJ Costley would finish fourth with current high point man and opening night victor, Josh Nobriga rounding the top five.
Travis Webster made short work of the Joe Willcox Performance Street Stock Division picking up his third feature event of 2022 backing up earlier season wins on May 14 and 28. Webster, who began the twenty-lap A Main inside row three made his way to the lead passing front row starters Dennis Loucks and Mike Williams and from there went on to the win. Williams put on another good drive but the grandson of original Woodhull Raceway founder, George Williams is still looking for his first win of the year and had to settle for second. Mick Seeley, Dan Gardner and Branden Morseman all began the event buried in the last starting rows and drove their way to third, fourth and fifth in that order.
Kaiden Dgien was able to back up last week’s Hobby Stock feature win and in doing so made it three on the year. Dgien, a former Sportsman competitor has now found a home in the far less expensive yet still highly competitive Hobby Stock Division. After purchasing the former, Carter Dennis machine at the start of the year, Dgien has been a force to be reckoned with each week and on this night would have his work cut out lining up eighth in the sixteen-car starting field. Dillon Phillip and Jason Ketrow would lead the field to the opening green, but Dgien would immediately begin his march to the front having to pass no less than three 2022 feature winners in the process. At the finish, Dgien would take home the “W” over two- time 2022 class winner and current point leader, Mike Spencer who would claim second. Third went to June 18 winner, Brandon Conklin with tenth and twelfth place starters, Greg Young and Scott Brown each putting on a masterful performance in completing the top five.
Wesley Houghtaling was able to capture his third feature in of the season in the Front Wheel Drive Division. After the lap twelve departure of seven-time 2022 winner, Ryan Austin it was clear sailing for Houghtaling as he made it back-to-back wins in the class. Kayley Bacon would finish in the runner up spot followed by Austin and Kevin Doud.
As the checkered flag waved in the twenty lap Wicked Tee’s Mini Stock feature it appeared as though Ray Hyer had picked up his second win of the season. However, in post-race tech Hyer and second place finisher, Willie Easling were both found not to be in compliance and were DQ’d handing the win to third place runner, Ryan Stone. For Stone it was his first ever win in the class as he was chased across the line by April 30 winner, Rick Amidon who would claim second. Third went to Kurt Babcock while Danielle Thomas bettered her boyfriend, Travis Southard to round the top five and she will have the bragging rights for the week.
Bradly Morseman would continue his dominance in the Wicked Tee’s Youth Warrior Division as he cruised to win eight on the season. With the departure of his number one nemesis, Marshall O’Brian on lap ten it was smooth sailing as Bradly made it an all-Morseman podium finish as he held off Kayleigh Morseman who would wind up second with third going to Izabella Morseman. Courtney Thomas would go on to pick-up fourth with O’Brian and Jaden Stone completing the field.
Earlier in the evening the NAPA Auto Parts Stores of Addison, Bath, Corning, Hornell, Lawrenceville and Wellsville joined forces in promoting the NAPA Crate Sportsman King of the Ring one-one elimination event. It came down to a nailbiter in the finale as Stacy Jackson took on AJ Costley with Jackson taking home the $300 winners check from NAPA and in an emotional victory lane, Jackson in his Art Goodier Tribute Car was joined by Goodier’s widow, Lindy. Not a dry eye in the house.
Thoughts and prayers continue for Woodhull Raceway corner worker, Neil Stoddard for a speedy recovery from a multitude of injuries sustained when struck by the Goodier machine on June 28. Stoddard is now home and recovering from broken ribs, shoulder and hip injuries in addition to extensive bruising.
Congratulations to all competitors!
Up next at Woodhull it will be the Annual Christmas in July Bicycle Give Away with the NY 600 Sprint Tour making their lone appearance of the season. The night of action sponsored by the Addison Eagles.
WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS. July 2, 2022. UNOFFICIAL
Hatfield Real Estate, S & D Pool Specialists and NAPA Auto Parts Night
INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS. (18 cars)
25 lap feature. DAYTON BREWER (2), Joe Dgien, Brayden Bills, Jake Dgien, Brady Fultz, Russ Morseman, Gregg Turner, Mike Bills, Donnie Lawson, Steve Coots, Ryan Tracy, Brian Doolittle, Alex Payne, Bob Silvernail, Sheldon Gardner, Alex Hoag, Cole Youse, Hunter Hess.
NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN. (15 cars)
King of the Ring. STACY JACKSON
25 lap feature. CAYDEN LAWSON (2), Kenny Peoples Jr., Stacy Jackson, AJ Costley, Josh Nobriga, Isabel Barron, Tim Guild, Tony Harris, David Mayo, Levi Riley, Jordan Bacon, Matt Strauss, Connor Brown, Josh Makatura, Blake Lawson.
ARMSTRONG RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS. (11 CARS)
20 lap feature. BRYCE DAVIS, Jason Knowles, Brett Marlatt, Jacob Tubbs, Jason McGregor, Brian Knowles, Steve LeBarron, Joe Layfield, Rickie Loucks, Jim Buck, Austin Allen.
JOE WILLCOX PERFORMANCE STREET STOCKS. (12 cars)
20 lap feature. TRAVIS WEBSTER (3), Mike Williams, Mick Seeley, Dan Gardner, Branden Morseman, Ray Hyer, Jesse Tuthill, Tyler Belchar, Luke Boom, Brett Crawford, Dennis Loucks, Ted Morseman.
HOBBY STOCKS. (16 cars)
20 lap feature. KAIDEN DGIEN (3), Mike Spencer, Brandon Conklin, Greg Young, Scott Brown, Mike Carapella, Jeredd Dennis, Paul Dgien, Brandon Birdsall, Keegan Smith, Adam Leubner, Joe Birdsall, Dillon Phillip, Jason Ketrow, Craig Potter, Brian Austin.
WICKED TEE’S MINI STOCKS. (9 cars)
20 lap feature. RYAN STONE, Rick Amidon, Kurt Babcock, Danielle Thomas, Travis Southard, Jason Warner, Jordan Costley. DQ, Ray Hyer, Willie Easling.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVES. (4 cars)
15 lap feature. WESLEY HOUGHTALING (3), Kayley Bacon, Ryan Austin, Kevin Doud.
WICKED TEE’S WARRIORS. (6 cars)
15 lap feature. BRADLY MORSEMAN (8), Kayleigh Morseman, Izabella Morseman, Courtney Thomas, Marshall O’Brian, Jaden Stone.
