Glenn Whritenour and Ray Smith Headline the List of Winners as Woodhull Raceway Fires up the 2009 Season

Woodhull, NY.  Warm weather and 110 race cars greeted the race fans who made their way to the high banks of Woodhull Raceway for the first show of the '09 campaign.  The track surface was smooth and fast and there was action aplenty as everyone was anxious to get the season underway.  A few very familiar faces and at least one first time winner drove into victory lane on Joe Wilcox Performance Automatics night. 

            The NAPA 360 Late Model division was the first to hit the high banks for their first feature event of 2009.  25 of the low-slung race machines paraded around to the drop of the green. Mikey Wonderling and Steve Dixon went to work battling for the lead early, with 2008 track champ Glenn Whritenour closely in tow.  Dixon quickly found speed on the cushion and powered his way into the lead.  A series of caution plagued the early part of the race and kept Dixon from getting too far away from the field and Whritenour soon worked his way past Wonderling and into second.  While Dixon stayed glued to the high side, the rest of the field was slicing and dicing in the low groove.  By mid race, Jason Knowles had worked his way into fourth, with brother Brian Knowles on his heels, and both began to pressure Wonderling for the third position.  Dixon had opened up a four car length lead when he encountered heavy lap traffic, which allowed Whritenour to zoom back up to his back bumper.  Meanwhile Jason Knowles had worked his way into third, with Brian Knowles close behind in fourth, leaving Mikey Wonderling trying to fend off a charging Jeremy Wonderling for fifth.  Jeremy had put on spectacular show, having made his way from the back of the pack twice after checking in pit side twice with fuel pick-up issues.  Whritenour continued chasing Dixon through the barrage of lap cars and on the final lap his perseverance paid off, as Dixon bobbled just enough for Whritenour to slip under him and grab the checkers.  Dixon's dominance fell just one lap short and he settled in for the runner-up position, with Jason Knowles racking up a solid third.  Brian Knowles came across the stripe in fourth; with the persistent Jeremy Wonderling working his way all the way back to fifth.

            Mike Buchanan and Ray Smith led a stacked field of 27 cars to the green for the S&W Awards Crate Sportsman feature.  Smith bolted to the early lead, with Chris Silvers quickly making his way to third, inches from Buchanan's back bumper.  Art Goodier quickly joined the mix, powering into fourth as Silvers snagged the second spot away from Buchanan.  Smith was enjoying a five car length advantage as the lap cars soon began to appear.  In a matter of a few laps, the lap traffic allowed Silvers to draw right back up to Smith's rear bumper, with Goodier now in tow.  Meanwhile, last year's track champion Donnie Lawson was motoring through the field and would soon join the top five pack.   After a caution, Goodier took advantage of the restart to dispose of Silvers and set sail for Smith's lead.  Silvers soon felt the pressure from Lawson for third with Nate Delong running a close fifth.  Another restart put Smith, Goodier and Lawson nose to tail and the three drivers put on an awesome show as the fans were on their feet.  By this time, veteran 358 Modified pilot Don Lawson had worked his way into the top five, squeezing by Delong for fourth and was looking to make it a family affair at the front of the field, racing just a few feet off his son's back bumper.  Despite the constant pressure, Smith held tough and picked up the hard-earned checker, with Donnie Lawson slipping by Goodier to take home second.  Don Lawson capped off his impressive drive in fourth, with Delong staying steady for fifth.

            The Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks were next out, and it was nothing short of the full-fendered frenzy that the fans have come to expect out of this class.  Russell Morseman III quickly powered his way to the lead and appeared to have the field covered in the opening laps.  However, Jared Hill quickly moved his way through traffic and was hot on Morseman's tail piece by mid race.  The two waged a classic battle, trading paint and crowding each other through Woodhull's tight turns.  In the end it was Hill who claimed the victory, his first ever at Woodhull Raceway.  Morseman would have to settle for second, with veteran wheelman Jeff Smith enjoying a solid run for third.  Kurt Stebbins logged a career-best fourth place finish; with two-time track champ Danny Gordon rounding out the top five.

            Ted Morseman Jr. picked up in 2009 where he left off at the end of '08, dominating the field of 22 Signs Plus Mini Stocks.  Morseman grabbed the lead early and won with a full straight-stretch advantage over runner-up Eddie Mills.  Rich Sharpsteen II had a fast Mustang, but could get no better than third at the drop of the checkers.  Brandon Morseman put together an impressive run to claim fourth, with Chris Woodard crossing the line in fifth.

            In the LaBarron Brothers FWD division, Ron Hill was victorious, continuing the string of dominance by the race team known as the "B-Boys".  Steve Gee wheeled his Neon across the stripe for second, with another "B-Boy", Gary Baker closely in tow for third.  Jamie Freeman and Matt Prescott started the season out right by logging in fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively.

            Next week another five-star show hits the clay as the Signs Plus Mini Stocks are slated for their first special event of the season on Machuga Contractors night.

Woodhull Raceway Quick Results

4/18/09

Joe Wilcox Performance Automatics

S&W Awards & Photos Crate Sportsman (20 laps) 27 Cars 

Heats:  Art Goodier, Hollywood Chris Silvers, Brad Confer 

Feature:  Ray Smith, Donnie Lawson, Art Goodier, Don Lawson, Nate DeLong, Bill Brewer, Scott Brown, Zack Sutton, Casey Pavlick, Kreg Crooker, Greg Crooker, Tony Hooker, Larry Keegan, Bob Paul, Bob Johnson, Gary Lampman, Bill VanEtten, Rick Willsey, Chris Silvers, Brandon Butler, Jeff Kline, Aaron Carl, Bill McKelvey, Jr., Doug Kline, Mike Buchanan, Brad Confer, Kenny Peoples, Jr.

Napa 360 Late Model (25 laps) 25 Cars 

Heats: Mikey Wonderling, Steve Dixon, Glenn Whritenour 

Feature:  Glenn Whritenour, Steve Dixon, Jason Knowles, Brian Knowles, Jeremy Wonderling, Mikey Wonderling, Steve Hartman, Jr., John Waters, Bryce Davis, Larry Knowles, Steve Watson, Sparky Hills, Jay McConnell Sr., Brian Conley, Tracy Rhodes, Jaredd Dennis, Mick Seeley, Greg Galligan, Bob Buono, Brady Wonderling, Greg Young, Wayne Robertson, Josh Smith, Chad Dickerson, Wally Wade

Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks (20 laps) 20  Cars 

Heats: Jared Hill, Russell Morseman III 

Feature:  Jared Hill, Russell Morseman III, Jeff Smith, Kurt Stebbins, Cliff Moss, Dan Gordon, Butch Dibble, Joe Layfield, Harry Vosburg, Chuck Pruden, Rich Sharpsteen, Colton Herrington, Brett Marlatt, Brian Butler, Michael Kerr, Tony Foth, Shane Smith, Josh Nobriga DNS: Brandon Ameigh, Mike Williams

Signs Plus Mini Stocks (20 laps) 22 Cars
 

Heats: Ed Mills, Rich Sharpsteen III 

Feature:  Teddy Morseman Jr, Eddie Mills, Rich Sharpsteen II, Brandon Morseman, Chris Woodard, Ron Daily, Jr, Brian Grant Sr, Jason Ketrow, Tracy Dunn, Ray Spicher, Lynn Burrell, Jeff Brown, Brian Freese, Jason Warner, Thomas Dailey, Aaron Bartas, Bill Gardner, Rick McDaniels, John Hand, John Hand Jr, Brett Crawford, DNS Randy Dunn

LaBarron Brothers Repair & Parts FWD (20 laps) 16 Cars
 

Heats:  Ron Hill, Gary Baker

 Feature:  Ron Hill, Steve Gee, Gary Baker, Jamie Freeman, Matt Prescott, Randy Graham, Jacob Clarke, Tim Steffey, Mark Sullivan, Joe Birdsell, 01, James Howard, Allison Pierce, Tom McGlynn, Shane Rogers, Cody Baker