Story By: DAWN MAYNARD / AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK – AFTON, NY – The evening’s racing program found a night for very enjoyable competition. The Factory Stock and Round 1 for the Open Racing Challenge Series were part of the show.
Due to a low car count, the Factory Stock and 600cc Modifieds ran only features. Two new race teams made their way into victory lane.
The ZMK Construction Modified has twenty two teams all looking to bring home the checkered flag on their division sponsors night. Alissa Cody and Kenny Titus brought the field to the green. Kenny grabbed the early lead until lap two when Mike Ward developed an issue bringing out the caution. On the restart once again Titus grabbed the lead with Brian Puckett on his rear bumper. Puckett took the lead, until another caution came out. The teams got bunched up in turn three leaving four cars spinning with two getting locked together. All four cars were able to continue after making a pit stop. Lap four found two cautions in the same lap. That meant the next restart would be single file. The battle behind the top two teams was heating up. Third through fifth the teams were using the outside and inside. Starting in seventh Justin Holland was now in third. Justin has been working through mechanical woes with his new car. He recorded the qualifying race win, hoping he had finally got it all figured out. Coming from the eighth position was Brandon Loucks. This is his second season in the modified division. He was one of the drivers using the high side now in fourth. Shawn Walker and Brett Tonkin were also using the high groove making their way to the front. With one more caution the field went back to double file. That put Justin Holland and Kenny Titus in the front row. They raced side by side with Holland eventually getting the lead. Holland chose the inside groove to keep his momentum going. Unfortunately Brandon Loucks had other ideas. Using the high side and lap traffic he was able to make the move into the lead. He went on to win his very first modified feature event. Rounding out the top five were Justin Holland, Shaun Walker, Brett Tonkin,and Kenny Titus.
The Crate Sportsman were making their way onto the track. Kyle Smith and Craig Pope were in the front row. Smith took the early lead until lap three when Dustin Harris made his way by. Jared Green was now on Smith’s bumper hoping to make it into second. Tough break for Kyle as he got too high coming off turn three and spun. Avoiding him Eric Winsor also spun bringing out the caution. Both drivers were able to continue, but they ended early for Todd Titus as he went pit side. On the restart Harris and Green battled hard for first. Green made his way around the Harris car to take the lead. As Jared opened up a small lead, Dustin battled with Matt Brewer for the second position. Brewer made his move into second with sights set on the Green machine. Gary Smith was using the high side and lifting the left front hoping to make up ground. One final caution came out after Gary made contact with Jim Cummings. That also cost Gary a position for the contact made. On the restart Rookie Jared Green opened up a three quarter of a track lead. Harris who was now looking to take back second from Brewer were battling. That did not matter to Jared as he was looking to the checkered flag for his first win. That flag finally fell and he grabbed his first win in a Crate Sportsman. Finishing in second was Matt Brewer, third was Dustin Harris, fourth coming from eleventh was Dale Welty and in fifth was Gary Smith.
The popular 4 Cylinder division came to the track with Andy Bolles and Tim Vandemark looking for the green. Both drivers have earned feature wins and were hoping for another. Tim grabbed the lead, with Andy on his bumper. Looking inside of the number 107 he took the lead. Many time feature winner Collin Mills was now setting his sights on the top two. Mills was working on the rear bumper when the only caution came out. John Maynards right rear wheel came off the sixty-nine and went into the pit area off turn two. On the restart Bolles and Mills again battled for the top spot. Bolles got the lead only to have Mills steal it away. Bryant Beach was now looking to grab second from Andy. Bryant was able to get second, but Collin had a lead and Bryant was not able to catch him. Collin grabbed another win with Bryant Beach in second, Andy Bolles in third, Tim Vandemark in fourth and Jeff Sterling in fifth.
The Limited Sportsman came out with Derrick Shaffer and Tom Davey in the front row. Shaffer grabbed the early lead until he got into the high groove, losing many positions. He continued until the next lap when something broke in the front end bringing out the caution. That gave Tom Davey the lead and Dylan in second. On the restart, Dylan grabbed the lead. Garrett Zacharias who was in the 17z was using the inside for second. He was now looking to catch Dylan for the lead. Devon Green who started in sixth was now in third hoping he could catch the Nichols machine. In the closing laps two cautions tightened up the field. The final restart all and went on to capture another win. Garrett Zacharias, Devon Green, Tom Davey, and Stephen Winsor rounded out the top five.
The two final divisions of the regular program ran features only due to low car count. The first one was 600cc Modifieds, with Ryan Jordan and Madyson Beach coming to the green. Ryan grabbed the early lead and never looked back. A couple of cautions for the Beach car as she has only been in that car for a short time. Tough break for the Ryan David-Kadarona team as a flat tire sent him to the pit area early in the event. When the checkers flew it was Ryan Jordan grabbing another win with Madyson Beach in second and Ryan David-Kardarona in third.
The Bi-Weekly division the Factory Stocks were the other class to run a feature only. Luke Mills and Mahlon Shoemaker saw the green flag. Mahlon grabbed the lead while being challenged by Mills. Kurtis Stickle in his sharp looking number ten was trying to get around Luke. Coming from sixth starting position was Rich Green. The past feature winner was now in second looking to take the lead away. He used the high side on a restart to take control. The battle behind Rich for second was hot. Kurtis Stickle and Mahlon Shoemaked battled for the honor. They raced side by side with Stickle eventually taking second position. The checkers flew with Rich Green grabbing his second feature. Following behind was Kurtis Stickle, Mahlon Shoemaker, Justin Slezack and Billy Shoemaker.
The final event of the night was Round 1 of the Open Racing Challenge Series. Five race teams were present to grab the series event. Steven Deinhardt and Alecia Towner made up the front row. When the green fell it was Deinhardt who grabbed the lead. He opened up a huge lead over the other competitors. He managed to lap each of the teams he was competing against. After winning the qualifying event he went on to capture the Round 1 of the series. Rounding out the top five were Jordan Towner, Doug Polhamus, Alecia Towner and Butch Green.
It was a great night of racing for all. Coming up next week the racing will be brought to you by the Afton Fair. No modifieds will be racing, but the rest of the normal program will be on hand. Bi-Weekly will be the IMCA modifieds. Be sure to come check out the fair and the racing.
ZMK Construction Modified Feature Finish: BRANDON LOUCKS, Justin Holland, Shaun Walker, Brett Tonkin, Ken Titus, Dennis Clapperton, JR Hurlburt, Darwin R. Greene, Alissa Cody, Brian Puckett, Jim Introne Jr, Tyler Yeagle, Nick Mady, Bobby Puckett, Billy Fiske, Fred Christ, Chris Ostrowsky, Seth Zacharias, Daniel Morgiewicz, Leonard Miller, Mike Ward, Doug Polhaumus
Pit Stop Auto Crate Sportsman Feature Finish: JARED GREEN, Matt Brewer, Dustin Harris, Dale Welty, Gary Smith, Brandon Christ, Jim Cummings, Craig Pope, Nate DeGraw, Bill Davey Jr, Scot Torbitt, Eric Winsor, Kyle Smith, Joe Buchanan, Todd Titus
Big E’s Shed Sleddin’ & Sales Limited Sportsman Feature Finish: DYLAN NICHOLS, Garrett Zacharias, Devon Green, Tom Davey, Stephen Winsor, Buck Brown, Carson Rothwell, Brad Hurlburt, Derrick Shaffer, Jason Shedd (DNS)
Rinker Insurance Agency 600cc Modified Feature Finish: RYAN JORDAN, Madyson Beach, Ryan David-Kadarona
Carquest of Unadilla FWD 4-Cylinder Feature Finish: COLLIN MILLS, Bryan Beach, Andy Bolles, Tim Vandermark, Jeff Sterling, Dave Nixon, Tanner Milliron, Randy Lane, John Mason, John Maynard
Lil’ Dave Excavating & Stanton Cattle Co Factory Stock Feature Finish: RICH GREEN, Kurtis Stickle, Mahlon Shoemaker, Justin Slezack, Billy Shoemaker, Luke Mills