Media Contact: Steven Ovens - woodhullracewaypr@gmail.com For Immediate Release – September 30th, 2017 – Joe Kaminski photo -
(WOODHULL, NY) – Jake Dgien did all he had to do on Friday night to win the Grit Series Qualifier at Woodhull Raceway to kick off the 8th Annual Bullring Challenge Weekend- survive.
Dgien started in the sixth spot for the 25-lap feature event, and would tuck into line third in the opening laps behind polesitter Ajay Potrzebowski Sr. and Brett Buono. The race was marred with several caution flags scattered throughout the event.
But it was a mid-race restart that changed the game for Dgien. Dgien restarted on the outside of row two due to a Delaware double-file restart and was able to use the outside lane to get by Buono for position to move into second.
It looked like Potrzebowski had the car to beat on this night, but he hit the moisture on the bottom ditch line with roughly a handful of laps remaining. The Ted Christopher tribute car skated up turn four and opened the door for Dgien to sneak by and take command of the event.
Dgien had to survive a one-lap dash after the caution came out with one lap to go, but he was up to the task. Potrzebowski, Buono and Brandon Butler were all right there ready to pounce if Dgien had suffered the same issue as Potrzebowski had in the money corner.
Dgien would take the Kim Lattimore C.P.A. HigFab to Instant Heat Wood Pellets Victory Lane.
“Every single time (we win), there’s always two or three cautions in the last five laps,” said a relieved Dgien.
“I don’t think I would have gotten by (Ajay) tonight if he didn’t mess up there off the bottom.”
Dgien earned a guaranteed starting spot for Saturday’s Grit Racing Series show at Woodhull, as well as a guaranteed starting spot in Five Mile Point’s National Quarter Mile Dirt Track Championship’s $2,000-to-win show next weekend.
Steve LeBarron put an old fashioned shellacking on the Crate Late Model field in their 25-lap feature event. LeBarron cruised to victory and lapped up to the third place car before the checkered flag. Only two cars finished on the lead lap.
LeBarron had to survive a late race restart from Kurt Stebbins, after his lead of over half a track was evaporated with the caution. Stebbins tried to make a last ditch effort on the restart, but LeBarron was on the money to hold on for the win. Stebbins beat out Darin Horton, Jamie Freeman and Jason McGregor to the line.
An equally dominant performance was put in by 2017 Street Stock track champion Dylan Cecce. The only caution came out early for Kurt Stebbins, who jumped the cushion in turns three and four.
From that point, Cecce turned on the afterburners and did not look back in a race that went the rest of the way under the green flag. Gene Balmer made his way from fifth to second, but that would be as far as he would advance ahead of Dan Gardner, Brett Marlatt and Stebbins.
Cecce earned a guaranteed starting spot for the Fight Night Series show at Five Mile Point Speedway next weekend.
Tim Bush hadn’t raced at Woodhull Raceway in three or four years, but he made a rousing return to pick up the win in the Open Mini Stocks Friday night. He battled door-to-door with Karl Born for the lead in the 20-lap race.
Born got out of shape late in the going while second, third, fourth and fifth were battling in the closing laps. Rick Amidon got by Born for the runner up spot and that is where he would finish. Scott Lehman, Born and Puryear would round out the top five.
Shawn Gleason finished second to Ryan Austin last weekend during the Full Fender Frenzy night, but it would be the exact opposite on Friday night. Austin led early off the drop of the green, but would bobble on the cushion in turns three and four to allow Gleason to get by.
From there, Gleason would check out and pull out to at least an eight car length lead at one point prior to the checkered flag coming out. Austin, Rich Wagner and Josh Stebbins rounded out the four car field.
Saturday September 30 will see the Big Block/Small Block Modifieds race for $3,000-to-win for 40 laps. Weight will be 2,400 pounds across the board and any tire 92” or less will be allowed. They will be joined by the American Racer Grit Racing Series for a $1,000-to-win show, along with Open Street Stocks and Open Four Cylinders (RWD/FWD). General Admission Saturday is $15 with a 5:30PM start time.
Race fans are encouraged to sign up for the fastest alerts from Woodhull Raceway’s Rained Out Alert system by sending the text message “WoodhullAlert” to 84483, message and data rates may apply.
For more information race over to www.woodhullraceway.com, Like Woodhull Raceway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway or Follow Woodhull on Twitter @WoodhullPR.
Woodhull Raceway is located in Woodhull, NY, just 30 minutes West of Corning, NY and competes weekly on Saturday nights from mid-April through Labor Day Weekend. The track offers several special events including the Patriot Sprint Tour 360 Sprints and the Short Track Super Series Modifieds in late-August.
Costy’s Energy Services Bullring Challenge Night1 Official Results September 30th, 2017
CRATE SPORTSMAN, 25 cars (25 laps): JAKE DGIEN, Ajay Potrzebowski Sr., Brett Buono, Brandon Butler, Dale Welty, Bobby Peoples, Stacy Jackson, Tim Guild, Ray Bliss, Chris Fisher, Jordan Bacon, Dalton Martin, David DuBois, Donnie Lawson, Blake Lawson, Adam Taft, John Austin, Cole Youse, Mike Denning, Kirk Reynolds, Stevie Hartman III, Bryce Martin, Mike Buchanan, AJ Costley DNS: Andrew Smith
H1: Tim Guild
H2: Stevie Hartman III
H3: Ajay Potrzebowski Sr.
H4: Chris Fisher
CRATE LATE MODELS, 6 cars (25 laps): STEVE LEBARRON, Kurt Stebbins, Darin Horton, Jamie Freeman, Jason McGregor, Brad Smith
H1: Kurt Stebbins
STREET STOCKS, 14 cars (20 laps): DYLAN CECCE, Gene Balmer, Dan Gardner, Brett Marlatt, Kurt Stebbins, Jared Hill, Mick Seeley, Dave Matwiejow, Tracy Dunn, Glenn Whritenour, Jeredd Dennis, Teddy Morseman, Brett Crawford, Roland Duell
H1: Glenn Whritenour
H2: Dylan Cecce
OPEN MINI STOCKS, 11 cars (20 laps): TIM BUSH, Rick Amidon, Scott Lehman, Karl Born, Derrick Puryear, Dakohta Button, Danielle Thomas, Kendra Stebbins, ShiAnn Labar, Noah Talada DNS: Wayne Shillingburg
H1: Tim Bush
H2: Dylan Cecce
OPEN FRONT WHEEL DRIVES, 4 cars (15 laps): SHAWN GLEASON, Ryan Austin, Rich Wagner Jr., Josh Stebbins
H1: Shawn Gleason