Press Box  >  Columns  >  Mike Mallett

BREWERTON, NY – On Friday night at Brewerton Speedway, Kevin Bates had the fans on their feet as he passed Chuck Bower and then Dan Vauter with one lap remaining to claim his first ever Modified win in the 35-lap DIRTcar feature event.

“This has been a long time coming,” stated the 21-year-old. “I’ve had a lot of Sportsman wins in my career but I would give all of those wins up for this one.”

As the race went green, Matt Fink took control of the event from his pole starting position. Fink led the way for the first four laps until Chad Phelps took his car to the high-side of turn four to grab the top spot away.

Phelps, of Mexico, N.Y., paced the field until Dan Vauter was able to his inside on the ninth circuit from the fifth starting position. As the pair continued to duel for the top spot, Bates was working his way from ninth inside the top five.

“My car was really good early on the bottom,” said the Lake Ariel, Pa. driver. “But as I got farther to the front everyone was huddled together down on the bottom so I tried the top and it worked.”

Bates continued to work the top lane in turns three and four as he moved closer to the front of the field and by using that lane he was able to scoot by Bower for the runner-up position on lap 31.

Upon taking second, Bates closed rapidly on Vauter. Vauter, utilizing an Enders powered Teo Pro coil car, continued to run the bottom of the speedway forcing Bates to continue to search for away around.

On lap 34 Bates finally got the opening he was looking for. As Vauter raced into turn three he missed the inside lane allowing Bates to start high and shoot of the turn low to take the lead of the fourth turn with his Murray powered Bicknell.

“I’m not really sure what happened to him (Vauter),” said Bates. “There was lapped cars there that may have messed him up but I don’t know.

“I drove it in on the top and I was able to come across the track and drive by him on the inside.”

After taking the lead, Bates was able to hold on and lead the final lap to become the first Pennsylvania driver to win at the speedway since 1994.

Bower, of Lancing, N.Y., finished in second after challenging Vauter much of the race for the top spot.

“This is really disappointing for me,” said Bower. “I won some races here a few years ago but it has been over a year since I’ve been able to get a win one.”

Bower attempted to work the outside but he was unable to get his Teo Pro car powered by a Finger Lakes engine hooked up enough to take the lead.

“He (Vauter) did a good job protecting the bottom of the racetrack,” stated Bower. “I needed him to make a mistake and open the bottom but he never did.”

After leading much of the race, Vauter, of Forest City, Pa., settled for a third place finish.

“This is really bittersweet for me,” stated Vauter. “I led most of the race but had the best finish I’ve ever had here. Things should only get better from here.”

Jimmy Phelps battled from the 15th starting position to finish in fourth with his Troyer mount while Vernon, N.Y., driver, Willy Decker completed the top five in his Cullen racing no. 1x.

In other action, Dale Caswell won his second IMCA Modified feature of the season as he won the Dean Hubbs Memorial 25-lap event, Rich Keller won the dash for cash; Dan Williams captured his third EDSCA Mod-Lite feature of the season; The 15-lap UMP Street/Pure Stock feature went to Dave Mannise; Claude Hutchings Jr. won the 15-lap 4-Cylinder Super Stock event.

Brewerton Bits
Heat races were won by Mike Bowman, Matt Fink, and the C. Phelps.

Steve Hulsizer is still looking for the form that brought him a runner-up finish on opening night as a flat tire on lap 12 forced him to work back through the field. He finished 12th.

Problems continued for Kenny Stafford he brought out the caution on lap 14 of the feature event and was taken pit-side by a wrecker.

DIRTcar Modifieds (35-Laps) – KEVIN BATES, Chuck Bower, Dan Vauter, Jimmy Phelps, Willy Decker, Chad Phelps, Jim Witko Jr., Alan Johnson, Mike Bowman, Tom Sears Jr., Scott Prentice, Steve Hulsizer, Roy Bresnahan, Johnny Hill, Kyle Lewis, Tony Buffa Jr., Matt Fink, Rick Rogala, Tom Juhl Jr., Tim Sears, Kenny Stafford.

IMCA Modified Dean Hubbs Memorial (25-Laps) – DALE CASWELL, Kevan Cook, Rob Keller Jr., Greg Kimball, Pete Anderson, Steve Coit, Dave Talbot, Bill Anderson, J.J. Courcy, Rich Riggs, Calvin Painter, Larry Bezner, Coleen Finch, Jeff Cardinale, Bill Anderson Jr., Mike Jones, Les Hubbard, Rich Keller, Tony Finch, Dale Jewett, Bob Ridgeway, Ricky Orton.

IMCA Modified Keller Insurance Agency Dash for Cash (4-Laps) – RICH KELLER, Larry Bezner, Jeff Cardinale, Johnny Bell, Bob Ridgeway, Ricky Orton.

ESDCA Mod Lites (20-Laps) – DAN WILLIAMS, Doug Williams, Tim Devendorf, Rocco Leone, Lowell Zehr, Justin Crisafulli, Mike Isabell, Jeff Barker, Rich Rainville, Dave Trytek, John Byrnes, Barry Virts, Sam Morse, Joe Garafolo, Luke Lonergan, Mike Mullen, Joe Abbass, Jeff Hays, Lisa Thomas, Jeff Blackburn, Tommy Felicia, Jeff Herbert, Matt Magner, Jamie King, Mike Virginia, Andrew Schartner, Gary Schug, Tim Schneider Jr., Chuck DeMott, Matt Rainville.

UMP Street/Pure Stocks – DAVE MANNISE, Steve Woodworth, Ron Hawker, Gary Barton, Jim Lewis, Mike Watkins, Dan Hofmann Jr., Adam Guilds, Lee Hartzog, Scott Smith, Bobby Boynton, Jay McGillicuddy.

4-Cylinder Super Stocks (15-Laps) – CLAUDE HUTCHINGS JR., Chuck Powelczyk, Matt Fay, Matt Wetterer, Ed Granoski, Chris Kranz, Lorraine Powelczyk, Sam Carista, John West, Wendell Washington, Andy Kieffer, Eric Kranz, Chad Dupra, Steve Randall, Aron Backus, Ray Herzog Jr.

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