Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Leto/Dickerman Kingpins come back alive where it all started, Lebanon Valley Speedway.
COLUMN BY: Laurie Fallis/ MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE DIRT SERIES – WEST LEBANON, N.Y. – With excitement in the air with Tommy Corellis returning back behind the wheel of the #50 Joe Leto who was an eight time Modified Champion, along with Marty Kelly Jr in the Austin Dickerman #357 replica put a show on for the ages. The rivalry was back, and it would be the Dickerman #357 that would see the checkered flag.
With the MVVDMS invasion at the “High Banks”, the fans were treated with 29 beautiful cars and stars with five divisions representing the many era’s of our racings past.
First feature of the night would be the Modified and Sportsman Division of the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Series. Flagger Ken Marshall dropped the green flag to the 2026 season and it would be Darral Hulbert taking the early lead. Hulbert would lead as a three car battle would take place with Hulbert and two time Lebanon Valley Modified Champion John Flach and Jack Miller.
Flach would over take the lead and go on to claim victory in the MVVDMS Modified Division with Miller, Hulbert, Dan Colvin and Pete Nowicki Jr would round out the top 5.
MVVDMS Sportsman action seen Don Briggs jump out to the early lead as pole sitter Greg Perron Jr had mechanical issues coming to the green with the field bunched behind him as he retired to the pits.
Merv Blackwell would settle in to second with a hard charging Jimmy Fugel was now in the mix coming from the back of the field. The top three were nose to tail as Blackwell and Fugel was waiting for Brigg to make a mistake. The top 3 shadowed each for ten laps and Briggs would never make a mistake and would go on to claim his first Victory in the MVVDMS Sportsman Division.
Blackwell would have to settle for second then Fugel Mike Rouse was forth then Gary Reynolds, Jon Trudeau and Greg Perron Jr.
Next up would be the first leg of the MVVDMS Leto Dickerman Mystique Challenge and the Antique and Late Model Division.
Pole Sitter Scot Straight in the Mystique division would show the field that he was the driver to beat as he jumped out to a dominant lead, with forth place starter in the Leto #50,Tommy Corellis falling into second and Kelly into third.
Things would change on lap two as the field came out of turn four, the CD Coville #61 was not there, unfortunately he had backed her into the “high banks” of three and four ending his night.
Corellis would take the lead with Tom LaBarr jumping into second. Kelly would take over the runner up position and would get side by side with the veteran at times. Cory Briggs was looking to make his presence know in the fight.
With three laps to go with Corellis had a slight advantage as he entered turns three and four, the car went out from under him and looped the #50 with cars scrambling to miss.
On the restart, as the green was dropped and Kelly would be your leader but Cory Briggs gave a great performance challenging for the lead.
Briggs threw everything at the #357 but would have to settle for second as Marty Kelly Jr would take the Austin Dickerman #357 to the checkers. Briggs had a great run in the runner up position along with Tom LaBarr who was in the mix for top spot settled for third.
Mark Anatriello would bring his #23 into 4th with a great run with Ray Kilmer Butch Jelly #X in fifth folled My MVVDMS rookie Matt Sergen, Sixth. With few laps left Corellis would have to settle for seventh and Scot Straight misfortunes had him scored eighth.
Dave Madej would return back to Lebanon Valley Speedway after a 30 year absent and would claim the Late Model division victory.
Antique Division had Mike Wheeler get out to the lead at the drop of the green flag and his steady pace held off all challenges by Willow, New York driver, Mike Reynolds. With Wheeler leading green to checker.
John Wood put in a strong third place finish and he was followed by John Orsini, Stephen King, Jimmy Glass, Gus Kamburelis and rounding out the final position Tim Blake.
MVVDMS next event will take place a Fonda Speedway for the Don Gras Memorial and NYSSCA night. This will be the series first points race.
