Column By: TOBY LAGRANGE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The Super DIRTcar Series for Big Block Modifieds made their return visit to the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York Wednesday evening for the completion of the 75-lap event that was rain postponed from the month of May.
In addition to the Super DIRTcar Series event, the Sportsman division would also be on the card as part of the held-over program.
As you can read elsewhere here on Race Pro Weekly, Matt Sheppard won the Super DIRTcar Series event over Brett Hearn and Larry Wight. Hearn and Wight waged an entertaining war for the race lead over much of the first half of the event.
The same could not be said for the Sportsman division as one driver dominated the 20-lap distance around the five eighths mile oval. That driver was front row starter and current track points leader Brian Krummel.
Middletown’s Krummel is a long time regular at the track and used that knowledge to dominate the event, winning by nearly the length of a long, Middletown straightaway.
“It was really good tonight,” Krummel said. “I have got to thank Matt and Bobby (Hearn) down at Teo. I have gotten into a few jingles this year and I have needed their help for sure. They have been getting the car back together for me.”
With tougher than normal track conditions during the Sportsman feature event, Krummel relied on his experience on the Hard Clay to secure the win.
“I have got a lot of laps around here, so I feel quite comfortable,” Krummel continued. “We will see what happens the rest of the night here. It’s a little bit treacherous out there but hopefully everybody stays safe.”
Fifth place starter Grant Hilfiger moved past Tyler Peet on lap 12 to take over the runner up position. The Coudersport, Pennsylvania driver would finish second with Peet in third. Kevin Stevens finished in the fourth position after charging from his starting spot outside the seventh row and third generation driver Cody Higbie finished fifth.
A pair of caution flags slowed the event with the first coming on lap five for John Bockhorn who came to a stop on the front stretch with apparent rear end damage and the second around lap nine for an incident between Troy Arnold and Tyler Tracy in turn one.
The Orange County Fair Speedway is back in action with another stock car program on Saturday July 15th when the United Racing Club (URC) Sprint Cars join the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds and the Sportsman division.