Pat Ward Wins Modified Feature At Outlaw Speedway, But It’s Mike Maresca Who Claims The 2025 Modified Track Title
Story By: KENNY SHUPP JR. / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – Entering the decisive point night for the 2025 season at Outlaw Speedway there were no clear-cut drivers who could stake their claim to the track championships in any of their respective classes.
With Double Points on the line, it made things even more interesting as every driver that had any mathematical shot at winning their class title came with their A game hoping to take home a championship.
Twenty of the high-powered Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds checked in for the night as once again a who’s who list of drivers all came looking to take home the winner’s check.
Tommy Paine and Will Shields would bring the thundering pack to the opening green for their thirty-lap feature with Shields getting the jump and leading the first half dozen circuits as he was looking to back up his earlier season feature win on June 13, 2025.
However, Shields lead would be short lived as Dundee native, Brady Fultz would assume control on lap seven after beginning the event in fourth and set the pace for the next five circuits until Bossman Tyler Siri would make an inside pass for the lead coming out of turn two and take control on lap thirteen.
Siri who lined up inside the second starting row would set the pace until the first caution flag of the event would wave on lap seventeen regrouping the field and it was under that caution that second place runner, Fultz would head pit side with a rear shock issue.
On the restart Siri continued to set a blistering pace with Alex Paine now up to second, but unfortunately for the Hopewell, NY driver a flat tire would be his demise as he headed pit side not once but twice for rear tire changes.
Sir would then lead until lap twenty when he too would slow with a flat rear tire bringing out the second yellow flag.
Siri Motorsports hired gun, Pat Ward would inherit the top spot moving Sheilds into second with Mike Maresca beginning to make noise after methodically working his way from starting position twelve into third.
On the lap twenty restart Ward would lead as Maresca disposed of Sheilds and set his sights on the race leader.
For the next eight laps fans were treated to one of the more classic events seen at Outlaw Speedway in quite some time as Maresca would try every imaginable move attempting to pass the veteran, Ward.
Lap after lap Maresca would pull along side The Genoa Giant coming off turn two, but on each occasion, Ward kept his composure and would motor back around the outside of Maresca and with the white flag waving and the crowd on their feet Mike Maresca made one last attempt to clear Ward on the inside exiting turn two, but to no avail as Ward was able to hold on for the highly popular win by less than a car length at the stripe.
For Pat Ward it was his first win at Outlaw since picking up the Hoag Memorial Trophy a few years ago and it got a huge monkey off his back after suffering through a season filled with tough luck and poor finishes since becoming one of the team drivers at Siri Motorsports earlier in the year.
With Maresca’s runner-up finish he did exactly what he had to do in claiming his first ever Modified Track Championship at Outlaw Speedway along with the $10,000 that goes along with the title.
Following Ward and Maresca across the line was Groton, NY native, Tommy Collins who put on yet another one of his masterful driving performances coming from fifteenth to complete the podium.
After leading early Will Shields would race within the lead group throughout the entire distance to claim fourth with The Doctor of Modified Racing, Danny Johnson completing the top five after starting ninth.
The Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Crate Sportsman were up next for their twenty-five-lap feature as the front row was comprised of an up and coming third generation pilot from Bath, NY, Colton Coots in just his rookie season along with a real veteran of many years of both Modified and Sportsman competition, Tim Guild as the pair would bring the field to green.
Guild would get the jump in an event that was littered with caution flags particularly in the early going which saw no less than a quarter of the field eliminated before lap two including championship contender, Karl Comfort who was taken out on lap two ending any chance of him claiming his second Outlaw Sportsman title.
Once things settled down, Guild would set the pace and open a wide margin between himself and the rest of the field as all eyes were on Chris Fisher, Blake Parsons and Dale Welty who all still had a realistic shot at the class title.
Chris Fisher, who entered the event with a slim point margin, was able to clear Welty coming through traffic as he moved from his twelfth starting position into second as Parsons and Welty both were bogged down in traffic.
As the double checkered flags waved over the field, Tim Guild would end his season long dry spell and claim his first win of the season and add his name to a list of ten other drivers claiming feature wins in the tough Crate Sportsman Division at the track.
With Fisher’s runner-up finish he successfully claimed his fifth Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Sportsman Track Championship with AJ Lloyd advancing one spot from fourth to finish third.
Darly Krebs would finish fourth with Beaver Dams native, Bryan Rhoads having one of his best runs of the season completing the top five after racing within the lead pack through the entire event.
In the Swarthout Recycling Street Stock Division a handful of drivers had a chance at picking up the track title, but realistically it came down to the top three in points entering the twenty-lap feature.
With many times Outlaw Speedway Street Stock Track Champion, Glenn Whrietnour entering the event with a slim margin over Jimmy Grant and last year’s champion, Gene Sharpsteen all eyes were on the trio.
Unfortunately for Jimmy Grant his night would end early on lap eight, ending his hopes for the title.
With Whritenour in front and Sharpsteen in second place it would come down to the pair of titans as to who would take home the championship. However, like he had done eight times previously this season, Whritenour was just too tough to manage once again and would go on to pick up his ninth feature win of the year by a two second margin along with the 2025 Track Championship.
Sharpsteen would hold on for second with Joe Giardina finishing right where he started in third, another solid finish for the Beaver Dams native.
Willy Easling, also from Beaver Dams, capped off a great 2025-point season finishing fourth with Tracy Dunn filling in for Jared Hill rounding the top five.
Addison, Corning, Hornell and Wellsville NAPA Hobby Stocks had the tightest point battle of all weekly classes entering the Double Point Finale as Danny Kerrick held the slightest advantage over many times Outlaw Speedway and Land of Legends Hobby and Street Stock Track Champ, Marc Minutolo.
Mike Charette of Himrod along with Dundee’s Jared Hill would lead the ten car field to the opening green flag for their twenty-lap feature, but it was Mr. Smooth, Marc Minutolo getting the jump from his inside row two starting position and leading the way bringing along with him Danny Kerrick who started alongside Minutolo in row two.
Going in both Minutolo and Kerrick knew where each would have to finish should the other have problems, but that was not the case as Minutolo would go on to win four on the campaign, but with Kerrick’s second place finish he would pick-up his first ever Outlaw Speedway Track Championship by just two markers over Minutolo with both competitors recording four trips to victory lane during the season.
Crossing the line in third and also a threat of winning the overall championship was Jered Hill, but unfortunately in a post-race inspection he was found with an infraction ending his night with a disqualification.
Like Hill, Jesse Balance also had a mathematical chance at winning the title should all the stars align properly, but his bid came up a bit shy as he finished fourth in the feature chased across the line by Mike Charette.
Zach Daugherty had the most breathing room of any championship contender entering the night as the Winner’s Circle Deli Mini Stock Rookie of the Year hopeful needed just a good finish to claim the title.
Connor Erick along with Marvin Jenkins would bring the twenty-one-car field to the opening green flag for the classes twenty-five lap feature with Daugherty lining up ninth on the grid.
The other two drivers who had a shot at Daugherty, Mike Stone, would begin the event in seventy alongside the other contender, Jayson Smart who started eighth.
Smart wasted no time in moving through traffic assuming command and go on to win five on the year with Stone nailing second place, however their efforts would come up short as Zach Daugherty’s fourth place finish would crown him 2025 Mini Stock Track Champion.
Sandwiched in between Stone and Daugherty at the checkered flag was two-time 2025 feature winner, Craig DeCamp who finished third.
Completing the top five was Kenneth Evans who maintained his position from start to finish beginning the feature inside the third starting row.
For Daugherty, who is an Elmira High School Senior as well as a standout football player, it was a double win. In addition to claiming the overall class title he also was the Rookie of the Year making it a rare feat indeed after claiming the 2024 Youth Bandit Championship and moving into the Adult 4 Cylinder Mini Stock Division in “25”.
Earlier in the evening the five car Fritz Masonry Youth Bandit Division took to the Fast 4/10 of a Mile Oval for their final ten lap feature of the season.
Heading into the Double Point Finale, Kolston DeCamp was riding a perfect six for six in feature wins, however his point advantage was not commanding meaning he would have to play it smart in order to claim his first ever title and that is just what he did with a solid third place finish in route to the championship.
However, the real story was Dodge Smith of Bath who was competing in only his third official start of the year as he would blast into the lead from his pole position starting spot and from there go onto a one second victory over a fast-closing Courtney Thomas who started the event in the last starting position.
Thomas used her experience of racing regularly in the Warrior Class at The Woodhull Raceway to her advantage as she put on an impressive drive in her first appearance at Outlaw this season.
With Kolston DeCamp’s solid third place finish he would claim his first Bandit Championship with Danica Hall and Kassitie Clugstone completing the field.
For Dodge Smith it was a jubilant victory lane filled with his huge family and friends including father, Brandon Smith who is a former IMCA Modified Champion at the track.
Congratulations to all competitors including feature winners and 2025 Track Champions.
Outlaw Speedway will shutter as scheduled on Friday, September 5, however the popular Yates County Oval will come roaring back to life in a huge way on September 12 as the ULMS Super Late Model’s will make their lone appearance at the track for the year with a hefty $10,000 awaiting the feature winner.
Joining ULMS on MacMillian Memorial Night will be the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds as they will be supported by the Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Crate Sportsman, Swarthout Recycling Street Stocks along with Winner’s Circle Deli Mini’s.
REGULAR SEASON DOUBLE POINT FINALE AT OUTLAW SPEEDWAY.
Friday, August 29, 2025.
FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MODIFIEDS. (20 cars)
30 lap feature. PAT WARD, Mike Maresca, Tommy Collins, Will Shields, Danny Johnson, Jeff Daugherty, Bobby Varin, Ron Cartwright Jr., Alex Payne, Justin Wright, Kreg Crooker, Steve Paine, Jim LaRock, Tommy Paine, Derrick Podsaidlo, Tyler Siri, Brady Fultz, Adam Coots, Christian Thompson, Billy Paine.
2025 Track Champion. MIKE MARESCA
KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER CRATE SPORTSMAN. (25 cars)
25 lap feature. TIM GUILD, Chris Fisher, AJ Lloyd, Daryl Krebs, Bryan Rhoads, Dale Welty, Blake Parsons, Donnie Lawson, Cayden Lawson, Brett Deyo, Scott Torbitt, Josh Nobriga, George Schweigart, Brent Ayers, Quintin Buchanon, Mikenna Buchanon, Chris Darling, Colton Coots, Karl Comfort, Chris Hall, Justice Mayo, Collin Brown, Kevin DeCamp, Jim Rushman. DNS, Andrew Clark
2025 Track Champion. CHRIS FISHER
SWARTHOUT RECYCLING STREET STOCKS. (13 cars)
20 lap feature. GLENN WHRITENOUR (9), Gene Sharpsteen, Joe Giardina, Willy Easling, Tracy Dunn, John Burritt, Zach Teed, Carl Cleveland, Bradley Morseman, Tim Grady, Brett Crawford, Jimmy Grant, Ely Mangiarelli
2025 Track Champion. GLENN WHRITENOUR
ADDISON, CORNING, HORNELL, WELLSVILLE NAPA HOBBY STOCKS. (10 cars)
20 lap feature. MARC MINUTOLO (4), Danny Kerrick, Jared Hill (DQ), Jesse Ballance, Mike Charette, Rich Rider, Michael Dickerson, William Bradley, Jake Karlnoski. DNS, Meadow Dgien.
2025 Track Champion. DANNY KERRICK
WINNER’S CIRCLE DELI MINI STOCKS. (21 cars)
20 lap feature. JAYSON SMART (5), Mike Stone, Craig DeCamp, Zach Daugherty, Kenneth Evans, Austyn Diaz, Jeff Moore, Jack Ormsby, Connor Erick, Parker Cunningham, Mike Ayers, Ralph Teeter, Justin Wilson, Ricky Vanzile, Jacob Stone, Gavin Hall, Danielle Thomas, Glenn Vancise, Bob Doolittle, Marvin Jenkins, Matthew Sampson.
2025 Track Champion. ZACH DAUGHERTY
FRITZ MASONRY YOUTH BANDITS. (5 cars)
10 lap feature. DODGE SMITH, Courtney Thomas, Kolston DeCamp, Danica Hall, Kassitie Clugstone.
2025 Track Champion. KOLSTON DECAMP
