Story By: FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY – KIRKWOOD, NY – After two consecutive weeks of rainouts Five Mile Point Speedway just beat the rain on Sunday to complete the afternoon racing card.
Ray Leonard emerged victorious in the 25 lap Crate Sportsman victory. The win netted him $1,250. Dominik Albanese has now won the first two Factory Stock races of 2023 with his victory on Sunday.
As rain began to approach on Sunday the Crate Sportsman field came to the line and ran a caution free 25 lap feature event. The caution free event could not have worked out better as the checkers flew the rain moved in for the evening. Ray Leonard led wire to wire for the $1,250 victory over Seth Zacharias. Zacharias was a runner-up in the opening day event back on April 16th as well. Last season’s regular season and fall series champion, Gary Smith finished third. Brad Weaver wound up fourth with Dale Welty finishing fifth at the wire.
Dominik Albanese won his second straight Factory Stock victory of the season. Albanese, the fall series champion at the speedway took the lead on lap number 2 and held off numerous challenges from runner-up Kevin McDonald. Justin Slezak and Buck Mills, Jr. ran in the top five during the first half of the race only to see both drivers sidelined with mechanical issues by race end. Rich Sharpsteen, the final race winner of 2022 finished third with Chris Woodard and Luke Mills completing the top five.
Doug Newbigging won his first 600 Modified feature at Five Mile Point Speedway. Newbigging was a former FWD Four Cylinder Champion before making the move to the 600 Modified ranks in 2022. Newbigging and opening day winner Justin Ladue had a spirited battle for the race lead throughout the 20 lap event. Kyle Percy, Logan Ladue and Gaege Higley completed the top five.
Lance Hill has now won his last three Futures Sportsman races at the speedway dating back to last year. Kenny Underwood was the FWD Four Cylinder Expert race winner with Bruce Illenberg winning his second straight FWD Four Cylinder Novice feature.
CRATE SPORTSMAN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (25 LAPS): RAY LEONARD ($1,250), Seth Zacharias, Gary Smith, Brad Weaver, Dale Welty, Charlie Towner, Tom Groover.
FACTORY STOCK OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (25 LAPS): DOMINK ALBANESE ($500), Kevin McDonald, Rich Sharspteen, Chris Woodard, Luke Mills, Justin Lovejoy, Buck Mills Jr., Justin Slezak, Nick Stark.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOUR CYLINDER EXPERT OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): KENNY UNDERWOOD ($400), Bryant Beach, Brian Salmini, Mike Ferris, John Maynard, Mike Giriatowicz, Dave Simms, Jason Colwell Sr., DNS – Colin Mills.
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FOUR CYLINDER NOVICE OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (15 LAPS): BRUCE ILLENBERG, Ed Reichenbaugh, Scott Young. DNS – Jesse Lovejoy.
FUTURE SPORTSMAN OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): LANCE HILL, Avery Decker, Cameron Reichenbaugh.
GRIT 600 MODIFIED OFFICIAL FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): DOUG NEWBIGGING, Justin Ladue, Kyle Percy, Logan Ladue, Gaege Higley.