Story By: DAWN MAYNARD / AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK – AFTON, NY – This past Saturday night Afton Motorsport Park held “Remembering Our Heroes” racing event. All veterans got a special entrance fee. Five division and the IMCA modifieds were on hand, with over 100 race teams in the pit area.
The Pit Stop Auto Crate Sportsman were the first feature event. Bringing the field to the green wereTravis Smith and Jared Green. The first three laps went off without a hitch. However lap three was not a good one. Multiply cautions on that lap with a red flag after Josh Akshar, Dale Welty and Jim Cummings came together. The Akshar barrel rolled his machine several time. All invovled were uninjured, but none of the cars were able to continue. On the restart the field went single file. Travis regained the lead with Jared right on his bumper trying to get around the thirty-three.
Behind the top two Cody Higbie and Dustin Harris were battling for the third position. The racing was still intense up front as Travis Smith was working lap traffic while Jared Green was still there. When the checkered flag fell Travis Smith found victory lane. Rounding out the top five were Jared Green, Cody Higbie, Dustin Harris and Ryan Stortini.
Front Wheel Drive 4 Cyclinder sponsored by Carquest of Unadilla made their way to the track. Randy Lane and Josh Wilder made up the front row. Wilder jumped into the lead with Tim Vandermark moving into second. In the third position, Collin Mills was looking to get around both for the lead. This division ran their event without a single caution flag. This allowed Collin Mills the win. Finishing in second was Tim Vandermark, Andy Bolles in third, fourth to Josh Wilder and in the fifth to Randy Lane.
The ZMK Construction mighty modifieds came to the track twenty-six strong. Thirty-five race teams filled the pit area. Rookie Tyler Yeagle and Darwin Greene made up the front row. Yeagle who has been working the bugs out of his new car. He jumped into the lead only for the first lap. Darwin stole the lead away on lap two. Behind the leader the battle was heating up. Making their way through the field were Danny Creeden and Shaun Walker. These two drivers were working hard to get to the front. As the laps wound down both drivers exhanged the lead back and forth. Danny made one more attempt to get around the Walker twenty-one. He was successful, going on to win the feature event. The remainder of the top five were Shaun Walker, Brandon Loucks, Brett Tonkin and Ken Titus.
Gary’s U-Pull It 600 modifieds were up next with Aiden Miller and John Hoover came to the green. Miller grabbed the lead, with Ryan Jordan hoping to get around the six-zero-seven. Ryan made a quick jump for the lead. Jordan who has won here before opened up a huge lead until lap seven when a caution came out for the Miller machine. A double file restart now put the number one of Charlie Towner into second. Jordan regained the lead on the start, but Charlie was there hoping to take it away. When the checkered flag flew Ryan Jordan once again was in victory. Charlie Towner who finished in second was driving this machine for the first time. Tyler Smith, Ryan David-Kadaronak and Caleb Lacey rounded out the top five.
Rinker Insurance IMCA modified is on of the by-weekly divisions Heat winner Jake Maynard and Gary Roberts were the front row. Jake jumped into the lead with both Stoddard cars behind him. This race was cut to fifteen laps. After a long red flag early in the night the last two features were shortened. Maynard continued to lead with Eddie Sites making his way into second. Both drivers ran a clean race with side by side action. As the laps decreased Sites was trying the inside and outside of the Maynard sixty-nine. On the white flag lap Eddie once again tried the outside of Jake. Held kept his car low and held off the five S going down the back stretch. In turn three Sites again gained on the Maynard machine. At the checkered flag it was Jake Maynard grabbing the win by a bumper. Third went to Tyler Stoddard, fourth to Matt Roberts and fifth to Gary Roberts.
The final event of the evening was E’s Shed Sleddin & Sales Limited Sportsman. Dominick Amato and Derrick Shaffer made up the front row. Shaffer picked up the lead from the green. The Amato machine caused a slight backup going into turn one. Lap two Derrick spun in the second turn, with the full field coming to him. Everyone made it by the car without problems. On the restart Dylan Nichols got the lead. He never looked back working lap traffic and making his way into victory lane for the third time. Coming from the rear of the field Devon Green raced each driver with respect. He made his way into second, but was a few laps short of stealing the lead. Third went Derrick Shaffer, fourth to Wayne Devantoy, and Tom Davey in fifth.
Great night of racing with awesome car counts. Something for everyone to watch and cheer for. Next Saturday, June 3rd, the Slingshots return to the track. It will be a night of regular features along with a Meet & Greet for the FWD 4 Cylinders and 600cc Modifieds brought to you by Curtis Lumber. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar to see another great night of fast and exciting racing.
The Afton Motorsports Park
Honoring Our Hero’s Night
Racing Results
Saturday,May 27th, 2023
ZMK Construction Modifieds: Danny Creeden, Shaun Walker, Brandon Loucks, Brett Tonkin, Ken Titus, Randy Green, JR Hurlburt, Mike Kolka, Darwin R. Greene, Justin Holland, Tyler Yeagle, Dennis Clappeeton, Brad Alger, Brian Puckett, Jim Introne Jr, Shane Jablonka, Dan Vauter, Chris Ostrowsky, Brian Mady, Dave Rosa, Bobby Puckett, Nick Mady, Alissa Cody, Mike Ward, Leonard Miller, Geoff Quackenbush, Doug Polhaumus, Seth Zacharias.
Did Not Qualify: Joe Eisenhauee, Derek Cornish, Billy Fiske, James Christ, Jerry Higbie, Cole Youse, Dan Fassett.
Pit Stop Auto and Towing 602 Crate Sportsman: Travis Smith, Jared Green, Cody Higbie, Dustin Harris, Ryan Stortini, Travis Green, Gary Smith, Todd Titus, Scott Torbitt, Phil Recchio, Bill Davey Jr, Trey Palmer, Darrell Quackenbush, Nate DeGraw, Kyle Smith, Fred Christ, Brandon Christ, Danielle Smith, Josh Akshar, Mike Nagel Jr, Matt Brewer, Dale Welty, Jim Cummings, Tighe Sherlock, Joe Buchanan, Craig Pope.
Big E’s Shed Sleddin’ & Sales Limited Sportsmans: Dylan Nichols, Devon Green, Derrick Shaffer, Wayne Devantoy, Tom Davey, Derrick Roe, Buck Bown, Dominick Amato, Jason Shedd, Dave Stanton, Avery Decker.
Rinker Insurance Agency 600 Modifieds: Ryan Jordan, Charlie Towner, Tyler Smith, Ryan David-Kadaronak, Caleb Lacey, John Hoover, Chris Carmen, Darwin R. Greene Jr, Phil Burns, Aiden Miller, John Dinney.
Carquest of Unadilla FWD 4 Cylinders: Collin Mills, Tim Vandermark, Andy Bolles, Josh Wilder, Randy Lane, John Maynard.
Garys-U-Pull It IMCA Modifieds: Jake Maynard, Eddie Sites, Tyler Stoddard, Matt Roberts, Gary Roberts, Jacob M, Michael Owen,JT Roe.