Wayne Robertson Victorious in Scott Dennison Memorial for 360 Late Models at Woodhull Raceway

WOODHULL, NY…  Woodhull Raceway’s defending NAPA 360 Late Model track champion Wayne Robertson took advantage of an outside pole starting spot to run off with the annual Scott Dennison Memorial race on Doug Gross Construction and Insinger Race Fuels night.  Robertson had been having a rocky start to the 2008 season, losing an engine on practice night and then shearing a drive shaft while racing for the lead in Woodhull’s season opener.  All of that was about to change with the luck of the redraw and a quick jump to the lead at the initial green flag.  Mikey Wonderling locked in on Robertson’s bumper early, as the two machines stayed glued to the bottom line of the smooth, clay oval.  The race was held up by several early cautions, which continually negated any lead that Robertson had worked to build.  This also allowed Jeremy Wonderling to work his way up and challenge brother Mikey for the 2^nd position.  Jeremy kept peeking to the low side as Mikey worked hard to keep the bottom groove locked down tight.  Just as Robertson began to pull away from the two Wonderlings, the brotherly battle came to a halt as Jeremy drove in hard under Mikey in turns 3 & 4, which sent both cars spinning.  The resulting caution put the opening night feature winner Glenn Whritenour on Robertson’s tail, with BRP tour regular Steve Dixon in tow.  Dixon’s good run came to a sudden end as he headed pit side a few laps later.  As the race began to wind down, Robertson and Whritenour started to encounter heavy lap traffic, with Larry Knowles now running a tight third.  The lap car of Jeff Brown gave the lead pack a scare as he looped coming out of turn two just as Robertson was bearing down on him, with just two laps to go.  Some crafty driving saved the front runners from getting caught up in the accident and Robertson cruised home from the final restart for his first victory of the season.  Whritenour stayed locked to his rear deck lid for 2^nd, with Knowles hanging tight for third.  Consi winner Jeff Cheesebro methodically worked his way up to a fourth place showing, and Mikey Wonderling rebounded from his earlier altercation to grab fifth.

            It was the first contest of the season for the L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds and 2007 track champion Curt VanPelt picked up where he left off by running away with the feature victory, leading from green to checker.  Curt’s brother Billy made it another very familiar one-two punch for Ted White racing by dogging his elder sibling in the closing laps as the two sliced through a maze of lap traffic.  Ray Bliss put together a fine effort for fourth place, followed by Mike Jackson, who faded slightly from his pole starting position to finish fifth.

            Former 358 Modified pilot Donnie Lawson proved that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the S&W Awards Crate Sportsman class by gathering up his first feature win after switching classes.  Lawson used his years of open wheel experience to best fellow veteran Dave Yehl across the stripe.  AJ Costly logged in his best ever finish in a Sportsman race by taking home third.  Larry Keegan showed early season muscle as he claimed fourth over opening night feature winner Art Goodier, who drove to fifth all the way from his 18^th starting position. 

            In just his 2nd start in a Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stock, rookie Brett Marlatt showed the savvy of a veteran as he navigated the dry slick surface to perfection and claimed his first ever feature win in an adult division.  Marlatt, who is the son of former Street Stock track champion Rich Marlatt, got to the point early and then held off a charging Zack Sutton, who finished a close second.  Marlatt’s team mate Cliff Moss came close to making it a one-two sweep, as he followed Sutton across the line for third.  Opening night feature winner Brian Knowles put on the drive of the night, taking home a hard-earned fourth place, after being relegated to 18^th on the start due to Woodhull’s new handicapping procedure.  Todd Burgess, subbing for the injured Charly ReSue, claimed fifth.

            In the Signs Plus Mini Stocks, Mike Smith picked up his first feature win of the season by besting veterans Brian Grant Sr. and Ed Mills.  Opening night feature winner Ted Morseman Jr. drove hard from his 18^th place starting spot to claim fourth and retain the point lead.  Chris Woodard rounded out the top five.

            Team mates filled three of the top five finishing spots in the LaBarron Brothers FWD division.  Gary Baker II out dueled garage mate Mark Schenk for the feature win, with a third team member, Ron Hill finishing fourth.  Sandwiched in between Schenk and Hill was 2007 track champion Ron Daily Jr., who put on another steady drive for third.  Carl LaBarron held of the opening night winner Brian Grant Jr. for fifth.

            Next week the 360 Late Models have the night off as the ASCS Patriot Sprints storm the high banks with their thunderous winged warriors.