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Rookie Zack Sutton Picks
Up First Ever Crate Sportsman Feature Win at Woodhull Raceway; Woodhull, NY. 80 degree weather and a table-top smooth racing surface made for some exciting action on the high banks of Woodhull Raceway last Saturday night. 109 cars signed in on Machuga Contractors night and the competition was tough, as winners list only saw one repeat name from last week. The NAPA 360 Late Models were the first class to roll out of the jam-packed pits for their feature event. Jason Knowles and John Waters led the 22 car parade to the green, and Knowles quickly powered his way to the point as Jeremy Wonderling wasted no time challenging Waters for second. By lap three, Wonderling was clear of Waters and was setting sail for Knowles' back bumper. Bryce Davis and Wayne Robertson looked poised to run in the top five and challenge for the lead, but both would fall wayside mid-race with mechanical issues. With Wonderling applying the pressure from the low side, Knowles continued to plant his machine squarely in the middle of the track. On lap six, Wonderling finally muscled his nose under the Knowles machine entering turn three and the two hotrods drag raced down the front stretch for the lead. It was all the real estate that Wonderling needed, as he completed the pass for the lead with a slide job on Knowles exiting turn two. While Knowles and Wonderling began to set sail, Greg Galligan cracked his way into the top five and soon found himself solidly in third. Steve Hartman Jr. had also been methodically picking his way through traffic and was setting the top five in his sights. A few late race cautions bunched the field, but on each restart, Wonderling quickly stretched his margin over Knowles. Galligan rode steady in third as Hartman Jr. and Mikey Wonderling battled for fourth. Last week's feature winner, Glenn Whritenour, was soon lurking in the shadows of the lead pack, the result of patiently weaving his way through the field from his 18th starting position. The first four cars strung out single file in the closing laps, with Wonderling taking a comfortable lead across the stripe for his first feature win of the '09 season. Jason Knowles held steady for second, as Galligan did in third. Hartman Jr. laid claim to fourth and Whritenour snagged fifth away from Brian Knowles. Larry Keegan seized the early lead in the S&W Awards Crate Sportsman division, as 25 hungry competitors gave chase. However, Keegan's lead was short lived as a group of lead cars piled up in the middle of turns one and two. The ensuing restart saw Mike Buchanan bolt to the top spot, with Scott Brown and Casey Pavlick giving chase. Crate Sportsman rookie Zack Sutton rode fourth, but quickly made his move on both Brown and Pavlick, as the three machines came off turn four, skid rail to skid rail. Bill Brewer followed in fifth and Donnie Lawson had closed in quickly on the lead pack and was running sixth. Just as caution slowed the pace, Pavlick had to check in pit side while running third with a flat right rear. The ensuing restart saw Sutton dive under Buchanan entering turn one and the two machines motored off turn two door to door. Buchanan made a valiant attempt to drive back around Sutton, but the rookie would not be denied the lead. Scott Brown moved up to take a shot at Buchanan and used lap traffic to his benefit, ducking under and taking the spot. Lawson was now on Brown's back bumper and took advantage of the opening to squeeze by Buchanan as well. Sutton continued to lead, keeping his Teo chassis firmly in the ditch at the bottom of the speedway, as Lawson wedged his way under Brown for second. Lawson, the '08 track champion, pulled out all the stops, trying to get leverage under Sutton, but the kid wouldn't budge. On the final lap, Lawson made one last attempt by swinging his #11 to the high side, but Sutton's line was too solid and earned him a very popular win. Lawson capped off an impressive drive with the runner-up position, having started 17th. Scott Brown held tight for third as Art Goodier made a late race charge to take fourth. Brewer hung tough to score fifth. Josh Nobriga turned around his bad luck from last week and claimed his first victory of the 2009 season in the Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks. Russell Morseman III laid down another strong run, charging his way from a17th starting position to pick up 2nd place for the second week in a row. Jeff Smith also stayed consistent, logging in his second consecutive third place showing. Cliff Moss led early but had to settle for fourth, with Mike Williams putting last week's DNF behind him to round out the top five. The Signs Plus Mini Stocks ran their only 30 lap special event of the season and the ageless veteran, Brian Grant Sr. won, walking away. Grant took command early, wrestling the lead from Rich Sharpsteen II, and never looked back as the mighty four-bangers ran 30 caution-free laps. Jason Ketrow looked strong, taking home second several car lengths ahead of third place finisher Sharpsteen. Russ Wassner crossed the stripe in fourth, with Ed Mills capping off the top five. Gary Baker appeared to have his first win of the season sewn up, only to have his #B4 machine lose power on the backstretch of the final lap. This opened the door for Baker's teammate, Ron Hill to make it two victories in a row. Carl LeBarron brought home second in his first outing of the '09 campaign, with teammates Cody Baker and Jamie Freeman running third and fourth. Joe Birdsell bounced back from last week's scary crash to earn fifth. Next week the 358 Modifieds kick off their 2009 season as Chuck's General Contracting hosts an action-packed six division show.
Woodhull Raceway Quick Results 4/25/09 Machuga Contractors
Napa 360 Late Model (25 laps) 22 Cars
Heats: Mikey Wonderling, Wayne Robertson, Glen Whritenour
Feature: Jeremy Wonderling, Jason Knowles, Greg Galligan, Steve Hartman, Jr, Glenn Whritenour, Brian Knowles, Mike Wonderling, Jeredd Dennis, Greg Young, Brady Wonderling, Josh Smith, Tracy Rhodes, Jay McConnell, Mick Seeley, Wayne Robertson, Brian Conley, Sparky Hills, Bryce Davis, Wally Wade, Steve Dixon, John Waters DNS: Donnie Clemons
S&W Awards & Photos Crate Sportsman (20 laps) 26 Cars
Heats: Donnie Lawson, Bill VanEtten, Ray Smith
Dash for Cash: Bill Brewer, Kenny Peoples Jr., Bob Paul, Jeff Kline, Aaron Carl, Chris Silvers
Feature: Zack Sutton, Donnie Lawson, Scott Brown, Art Goodier, Bill Brewer, Mike Buchanan, Ray Smith, Frank Kline, Chris Silvers, Larry Keegan, Donny Knowles, Nate DeLong, Tony Hooker, Josh Butler, Aaron Carl, Don Lawson, Bob Paul, Casey Pavlick, Brad Confer, Kenny Peoples, Jr, Bill McKelvey, Kreg Crooker, Greg Crooker, Grant Hilfiger, Brandon Butler DNS: Doug Kline
Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks (20 laps) 19 Cars
Heats: Josh Nobriga, Tony Foth
Feature: Josh Nobriga, Russell Morseman, Jeff Smith, Cliff Moss, Mike Williams, Brett Marlatt, Kurt Stebbins, Tony Foth, Chuck Pruden, Cory McConnell, Mike Warren, Butch Dibble, Brandon Ameigh, Colton Herrington, Mark Guinup, Mike Kerr, Jared Hill, Dan Gordon DNS: Brian Butler, Shane Smith
Signs Plus Mini Stocks (30 laps) 23 Cars
Heats: Rich Sharpstein II, Ed Mills
Feature: Brian Grant, Sr, Jason Ketrow, Rich Sharpsteen, Russ Wassner, Ed (Chuck) Mills, Lynn Burrell, Chris Woodard, Ron Dailey, Ted Morseman, Brandon Morseman, Ray Speicher, Aaron Bartas, Tom Dailey, John Hand, Sr., Jason Warner, William Gardner, Rick McDaniels, Tracy Dunn, Brandon Martin, Randy Bauman, Brian Freese DNS: John Agnew, Brett Crawford
LaBarron Brothers Repair & Parts FWD (20 laps) 19 Cars
Heats: Ron Hill, Carl Labarron
Feature: Ron Hill (2), Carl LeBarron, Cody Baker, Jamie Freeman, Joe Birdsell, Gary Baker, Steve Gee, Tim Steffey, Kurt Baker, Randy Graham, Allison Pierce, Lynn Richmond, Jacob Clarke, Mark Schenck, Tom McGlynn, James Howard, Colby Brewer DNS: Shane Rogers, Brian Grant Jr
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