"Mr. Excitement" Jeremy Wonderling Wins 5^th Annual Scott Dennison Memorial for 360 Late Models at Woodhull Raceway

Woodhull, NY.  It was a windy night up on the hill at the high banks of Woodhull Raceway, but the gusts could have very easily been attributed to the vortex effect of 139 racing machines blazing around the 1/3 mile clay oval.  It was a full-fendered frenzy as some of the best 360 Late Model pilots in the area converged to run the 5^th annual Scott Dennison Memorial, which put a cool $1000 into the pocket of the winner as well as dispersing lap money and contingency awards among various competitors.  Dennison's former employer, Doug Gross Construction, was on hand as one of the nightly sponsors, along with soft drink bottler, Mountain Dew. 

            With the crowd on their feet, the NAPA 360 Late Model feature paraded four-wide with the pole position empty in tribute to their fallen fellow competitor, Scott Dennison.  As the field strung back out to two-by-two, the front row was occupied by Bryce Davis and Brian Knowles.  At the drop of the green Davis got the edge on Knowles and moved to the point.  Third place starter Jeremy Wonderling quickly dove to the low side of Knowles to challenge for the runner-up spot.  While the battle for second was waging, Dale Welty and Jason Knowles were hot on their trail in the fourth and fifth positions.  Welty soon shuffled the Brian Knowles machine back and picked up third as Wonderling was setting sail for Davis's spot.  Wonderling then wheeled his #3J machine to the high side and powered around Davis for the lead, a lead which he would never relinquish.  The man on the move however, was Genesee Speedway regular Dave Dubois, who had been methodically slicing his way through the field and found himself firmly in the top five by mid-race.  Mikey Wonderling was also making his way forward, as the handle on the Welty machine began to fade and drifted back in the pack.  With his left side tires planted deep in the ditch, Dubois muscled under Jason Knowles and Mikey Wonderling, making it three-wide, and laid claim to second.  In the closing stages of the race, Dubois got a few glimpses of Jeremy Wonderling's rear deck lid, but "Mr. Excitement" was not to be denied the victory in this most prestigious race.  Dubois capped off his impressive run to the front with second place honors.  Jason Knowles ran in the top five the entire 30 laps and logged in a solid third.  Mikey Wonderling laid claim to fourth as Davis held tough for fifth.    

            In only his second career start in the LJ Kennedy 358 Modified division, rookie Joe Dgien led the field of 24 cars to the drop of the green.  Dgien got the early jump on fellow front row starter Roger Williams and Ray Bliss Jr. quickly moved under Williams to challenge for second.  An early caution doubled the field up for the restart and Bliss sued this opportunity to power into the lead as the green waved once again.  As Bliss began to build a five car length advantage, last week's feature winner Billy VanPelt had his right rear planted on the cushion of the speedway and was powering his way toward the front.  By the time Bliss' lead was up to ten lengths, VanPelt had cracked the top five and then motored around both Stacy Jackson and Roger Williams to move into third.  A timely yellow bunched the field and VanPelt used the ensuing restart to motor around Dgien and set sail for Bliss' back bumper.  As Bliss and VanPelt began to run away from the field, Steve Hartman Jr. and Curt VanPelt were both working their way into the top five.  VanPelt was clinging to Bliss' rear bumper as the two encountered a large group of lap machines.  The two leaders fearlessly sliced in and out of lap traffic, and with one lap remaining a caution flag froze the field, putting one lap car between Bliss and VanPelt for the green to checker restart.  Even though the lap machine quickly yielded racing room to VanPelt at the drop of the green, Bliss bolted to a two car length lead as they screamed down the backstretch.  VanPelt was relentless however, and made one last charge to the high side of Bliss as they entered turn three.  Bliss was solid in his line and had just enough power to drag race VanPelt to the double checkers and pick up a very popular win by a mere half-car length.  Hartman's dazzling drive gained him third place honors, with Joe Dgien earning an impressive fourth place finish over veteran Curt VanPelt.

            The S&W Awards Crate Sportsman feature event started out with a bang as a first lap pile-up in turns 1&2 took out some of the cars slated to start up front.  Veteran wheelman Don Lawson safely avoided the melee and found himself at the head of the field by lap three.  Doug Kline enjoyed an early run up front, with another ageless veteran, Bob Paul, running third.  Paul's stay at the front was short lived however, as he was swept up in an accident, which sent him pit side.  This allowed Bob Johnson and Scott Brown to crack the top five and join Lawson and Grant Hilfiger, who was behind the wheel of the Wesley Campbell machine.  While Lawson continued to pace the field, his son Donnie Lawson was methodically picking his way through the field using the extreme low side of the banking to gain real estate.  With six laps remaining, the younger Lawson was knocking on the door of the top five, muscling first under Brown and then Johnson to set himself firmly in third.  As the elder Lawson held a 3 car edge, Donnie again went to the ditch to squeeze past Hilfiger and set his sights on his dad's lead.  At the white flag, Donnie had closed to within a car length of senior's lead, but father knew best not to give up the low line to his son and picked up a very emotional win.  Don Lawson dedicated his victory to his own father, who is very ill and not expected to live, while the younger Lawson joined him in victory lane to celebrate what is sure to be a most memorable night for the Lawson family.  Hilfiger held tight for third place as Johnson enjoyed a career-best fourth place finish.  Scott Brown fended off a charging Zack Sutton to round out the top five.

            It was a two hotrod show in the Morgan's Auto Street Stocks as Josh Nobriga and Russell Morseman III ran away from the rest of the field, with Nobriga picking up the victory.  Two time track champ Mike Williams put up another solid run for third, with Jared Hill rebounding from a bad wreck on Friday night at Black Rock to rally for fourth.  Cliff Moss crossed the stripe in fifth.

            Ted Morseman Jr. made it three wins in four weeks, as he once again charged his way through the Signs Plus Mini Stock field to take the win.  It didn't come easy however, as Brian Grant Jr. gave chase only to come up one spot short.  Chris Woodard, Jason Ketrow and Ray Spiecher all enjoyed top five performances as well.

            Mark Schenck bested teammate Gary Baker for the win in the LaBarron Brothers FWD division.  Jamie Freeman gave it all he had, leading early, but had to settle for third.  Ron Hill edged Tom McGlynn for fourth as the entire field ran in one big pack for most of the event.

            Next week the NAPA 360 late Models have the night off as the BRP CanAm tour heads to the Merritville Speedway.  Griffith Energy products will welcome the remaining five classes back to the high banks for another exciting night of action.

Woodhull Raceway Quick Results

5/9/09

Doug Gross Construction & Mt. Dew Night

L.J. Kennedy 358 Modifieds (25 laps)   29 Cars

 Heats:  Billy VanPelt, Roger Williams, Ray Bliss, Jr

 Consi: Ray Dann

 Feature:  Ray Bliss, Jr., Bill VanPelt, Steve Hartman, Jr., Joe Dgien, Curt VanPelt, Stacy Jackson, Dylan Dewert, Dave Dubois, Roger Williams, Ron White, Frank Dunning, Chris Clark, Ryan Gordner, Mike Bills, Marc Benson, Ray Dann, Brooks Leach, Brian Doolittle, Lucas Schroth, Ken Peoples, Sr., Dale Welty, Ron Cartwright, Mike Jackson, Dan Vauter  DNQ: Tim Guild, Mark Richmond, Eric Williams, Kevin Chilson

 Napa 360 Late Model Scott Dennison Memorial (30 laps)   29 Cars

 Heats: Greg Galligan, Jason Knowles, Dale Welty

 Consi: Steve Hartman Jr.

 Feature:  Jeremy Wonderling (2), Dave Dubois, Jason Knowles, Mikey Wonderling, Bryce Davis, Brady Wonderling, Steve Hartman, Jr, Wayne Robertson, Glenn Whritenour, Greg Young, Dale Welty, Steve Watson, Bob Buono, Greg Galligan, Jeredd Dennis, Mick Seeley, John Rivers, Brian Knowles, Jim Johnson, John Waters, Josh Smith, Jeff Cheeseboro, Larry Knowles, Brian Conley.  DNQ: Wally Wade, Jay McConnell, Sparky Hills, Don Clemons, Quinn Sutherland

 S&W Awards & Photos Crate Sportsman (20 laps) 22 Cars

 Heats: Donnie Lawson, Nate DeLong, Art Goodier

 Feature:  Don Lawson, Donnie Lawson, Grant Hilfiger, Bob Johnson, Scott Brown, Zack Sutton, Casey Pavlick, Nate DeLong, Doug Kline, Art Goodier, Tony Hooker, Kreg Crooker, Greg Crooker, Larry Keegan, Mike Buchanan, Frank Kline, Chris Silvers, Bill McKelvey, Bob Paul, Aaron Carl, Bill VanEtten, Ray Smith

 Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks (20 laps) 18 Cars

 Heats: Russell Morseman, Josh Nobriga

 Feature:  Josh Nobriga (2), Russell Morseman, Mike Williams, Jared Hill,  Cliff Moss, Dan Gordon, Mike Warren, Chuck Pruden, Harry Vosburg, Brian Butler, Jeff Smith, Butch Dibble, Mike Kerr, Kurt Stebbins, Brett Marlatt, Colton Herrington, Shane Smith DNS: Mark Guinup

 Signs Plus Mini Stocks (20 laps) 21 Cars

 Heats: Rich Sharpsteen, Ted Morseman  

 Feature:  Ted Morseman (3), Brian Grant, Sr., Chris Woodard, Jason Ketrow, Ray Spiecher, Brandon Morseman, Russ Wassner, Tracy Dunn, Randy Bauman, Ed Mills Jr., Jeff Brown, Aaron Bartas, Lynn Burrell, Travis Keim, Jason Warner, Brian Freese, Randy Dunn, Ron Dailey, Rich Sharpsteen  DNS: Brandon Martin, William Gardner

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

 Heats:  Gary Baker, Ron Hill

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