Mike Bills and Billy VanPelt Headline the List of Winners on an Action Packed Night of Racing at Woodhull Raceway

 

Woodhull, NY.  It was a jammed packed seven division show at the high banks of Woodhull Raceway as the weather forecast was finally clean of the green on Austin Construction and RLB Trucking night.  The Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club was on hand to add to the festivities of the annual Legends of Woodhull reunion.  Fans had the opportunity to chat with some of the heroes of the high banks that helped carve out the track's rich 45 year history.  Two make-up features from the rained out August 8^th show added to the evening's schedule to make it a night full of non-stop racing action.

            The first item on the card had the LJ Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds out for their 25 lap make-up feature.  Rookie pilot Mike Bills took advantage of a front row starting spot to lay claim to his first-ever victory.  It didn't come easy, however, as Bills put on a spirited battle early on with veteran Roger Williams.  After several side-by-side laps, Bills finally took command and never looked back.  Bills' Starkey Motorsports teammate, Dave Dubois, made it a Starkey sweep by crossing the line in second.

            In their regularly scheduled main event, the king of the 358 Modifieds returned to his throne as Billy VanPelt cruised to his seventh feature win of the season.  Chris Clark, who held the lead for several laps, had his best run of the season, bringing home runner-up honors.  Curt VanPelt made it a solid night for the Ted White Racing team as he dropped back early but then made a late race charge to pick up the third spot.  Frank Dunning nipped Ken Peoples Sr. for fourth as both drivers raced solidly in the top five all race long.

            Nineteen of the NAPA 360 Late Models took the drop of the green with defending track champ Glenn Whritenour promptly leaping to the lead from his front row starting position.  Whritenour led a handful of circuits before a charging Dave Miller dove low and took the lead.  Once out front, Miller proved too strong for Whritenour and powered his way to his first win at Woodhull in the '09 season.  Whritenour held tight for second, with Bob Buono putting together sharp drive in third.  Dick Karlnoski made his first appearance at the high banks this year and drove home with fourth.  Rookie Steve Watson continues to improve and impress as he rounded out the top five.

            It took three heat races and a consolation race to sort out the 28 car S&W Awards Crate Sportsman division.  Veteran open-wheeler Don Lawson took to the point immediately and set the pace for several laps.  The action was momentarily halted as a pile-up on the front stretch sent Mike Buchanan airborne and on his top.  Buchanan was able to walk away from the flip unharmed and the dog fight resumed.  Rookie wheelman Rod Mullen battled Lawson for a few laps, but the man on the move was Grant Hilfiger.  Hilfiger methodically sliced his way through the pack and eventually overtook Lawson to grab the victory, his second of the year.  Nate Delong gave chase, but was only able to get as far as second when the checkers fell.  Lawson capped of a good night, edging his son Donnie Lawson out for third.  Art Goodier made a late race slide job on Mullen to cap off the top five.

            The Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks put on a racing clinic, going fender to fender for 20 laps without drawing one caution flag.  Bath, NY's Jeff Smith motored to the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back, earning his first win of the season.  Rookie Colton Herrington gave the veteran Smith all he could handle, but came up one spot short at the finish line.  Mike Kerr put forth his best effort of the season, besting Mike Williams for third. 

            The Signs Plus Mini Stocks ran double features due to the rainout of last week's show.  In the first A-Main, defending track champ Ted Morseman Jr. got his season back on track by carving his way through the field and taking the trip to victory lane.  Brian Grant Sr. also turned around his recent bad luck to follow along in second.  Chris Woodard led early and stayed solid for third over point leader Ed Mills.

            The second Mini Stock feature saw Ron Dailey Jr. take home his first ever win in the division.  Chris Woodard capped off a great night by finishing second.  Morseman also logged in a good double effort by cruising through the field from his 18^th starting position to get third.  Ed Mills held steady with another fourth place showing.

            Ron Hill padded his point lead by earning the "W" in the LaBarron Brothers FWD division.  Teammate Mark Schenck held off a hard charge from Jamie Freeman to claim second.  Freeman's teammate Cody Baker bested Hill and Schenck's teammate Gary Baker for fourth.

            The Midstate Vintage Stock Car club thrilled the crowd with the sights and sounds of yesteryear, with Shirley Morden, Larry Doolittle and Rob Casti all picking up wins in their respective divisions.

            Next week the Xcel 600 Modifieds make their first ever appearance at Woodhull on Swarthout Recycling and WETM TV 18 night.  The Signs Plus Mini Stocks will have a well-deserved night off as the Street Stocks and the Crate Sportsmen will both make up their rained out feature events from August 8^th.   

 

 

Woodhull Raceway     Quick Results      August 15, 2009

 

Austin Construction & RLB Trucking Night

 

 

L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds Make-up sponsored by Multi Media Services and Elmira Jackals      

 

 

25 lap feature:  Mike Bills, Dave Dubois, Ray Bliss, Jr., Billy VanPelt, Roger Williams, Stacy Jackson, Ron White, Joe Dgien, Lucas Scroth, Brian Doolittle, Ray Dann, Tim Guild, Kevin Chilson, Ken Peoples, Sr., Brooks Leach, Marc Benson, Steve Hartman, Jr., Lee Bills, Bobby Davis, Dan Vauter, Mike Jackson, Ryan Gordnor, Jim Corcoran, Dylan Dewert DNS: Dale Welty

 

 

Signs Plus Mini Stock Make-up sponsored by Multi Media Services and Elmira Jackals

 

25 lap feature: Ted Morseman, Jr., Brian Grant, Chris Woodard, Ed Mills, Lynn Burrell, Ron Dailey, Jr., Jeff Brown, Jason Ketrow, William Gardner, Brandon Martin, Rich Powell, Aaron Bartas, Rich Sharpsteen III, Tracy Dunn, Randy Dunn, Jake Evenigham, JR Hoppe, Jason Warner, Joe Buck, Robert Symonds, Brandon Morseman, Brett Crawford, John Hand Jr. DNS: Travis Kern, Chad Roberts, Rick McDaniels

 

L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds   25 cars

 

Heats:  Mike Jackson, Kevin Chilson, Billy VanPelt

 

25 lap feature:  Billy VanPelt (7), Chris Clark, Curt VanPelt, Frank Dunning, Ken Peoples, Sr., Brooks Leach, Tim Guild, Kevin Chilson, Lucas Schroth, Ray Bliss, Bob Davis, Mike Jackson, Ron White, Dave Dubois, Roger Williams, Steve Hartman, Jr., Marc Benson, Brian Doolittle, Ray Dann, Joe Dgien, Lee Bills, Serenity Sutherland, Mike Bills, Stacy Jackson, Dan Vauter

 

 

 

Napa 360 Late Model   19 cars

 

Heats: Bob Buono, Dave Miller

 

25 lap feature:  Dave Miller, GlennWhritenour, Bob Buono, Dick Karlnoski, Steve Watson, Fred Amann, Bob Lubberts, Bill Williams, Shane Hunt, Jeredd Dennis, Wally Wade, Josh Smith, Jaye McConnell, Brian Conley, Cecil LaBarron, Scott Plank, Dan Cobb, Mick Seeley DNS: Shane Smith

 

 

S&WAwards and Photos Crate Sportsman   28 cars

 

Heats:  Art Goodier, Casey Pavlick, Nate DeLong

 

Consi: Zack Sutton

 

 

20 lap feature:  Grant Hilfiger (2), Nate DeLong, Don Lawson, Donnie Lawson, Art Goodier, Rod Mullen, Casey Pavlick, Zack Sutton, Doug Kline, Chris Silvers, Bob Johnson, Tony Hooker, Donnie Knowles, Ray Smith, Ryan Tracy, Rick Willsey, Aaron Carl, Allen Crooker, AJ Costly, Larry Keegan, Steve Hartman, Sr., Ken Peoples, Jr., Mike Buchanan, Cale Paul DNS: Scott Brown  DNQ: Brandon Butler, Kreg Crooker, Eric DeLong

 

 

Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock:    22 cars

 

Heats:   Colton Herrington, Brian Butler, Mike Kerr

20 lap feature:  Jeff Smith, Colton Herrington, Mike Kerr, Mike Williams, Jared Hill, Cliff Moss, Russell Morseman, Corey McConnell, Brian Butler, Mark Guinnup, Chuck Pruden, Josh Nobriga, Harry Vosburg, Mike Warren, Kane Stebbins, Marc Richmond, Glen Helfrich, Toby Hilliard, Butch Dibble, Kurt Stebbins, Dean Stebbins, Daryl Miles, Scott Austin  DNS: Dan Gordon

 

 

 

 

Signs Plus Mini Stocks       24 cars

 

Heats: Teddy Morseman, Ed Mills, Rich Powell  

 

25 lap feature:  Ron Dailey, Jr., Chris Woodard, Ted Morseman, Ed Mills, Rich Sharpsteen III, Lynn Burrell, William Gardner, Brian Grant, Rich Powell, Jason Ketrow, JR Hoppe, Robert Symonds, Brandon Martin, Jeff Brown, Brandon Morseman, Randy Dunn, Tracy Dunn, Jason Warner, Aaron Bartas, Brett Crawford, John Hand, Sr., Jake Eveningham, John Hard, Jr. DNS: Rick McDaniels

 

LaBarron Brothers Parts & Repair   20  cars

 

Heats:  Gary Baker, Ron Hill

 

25 lap feature:  Ron Hill, Mark Schenck, Jamie Freeman, Cody Baker, Gary Baker, Steve Gee, Matt Prescott, Tom McGlynn, Colby Brewer, Allison Pierce, Jacob Clarke, Shane Rogers, Tim Steffey, Lynn Richmond, Tyler Bucher, Billy Joe Birdsall, Adam DelGrosso, James Howard, Joseph Birdsall, Wesley Houghtaling

 

 

Mid-State Vintage Cars.

 

 

Vintage Hobby:  Shirley Morden

 

Vintage Sportsman:  Larry Doolittle

 

Vintage Modified:  Rob Casti