|
(Woodhull, NY) Perhaps the most successful 358 Modified driver in the past two decades along with his high powered Ted White Race Team showed that they could be down, but never out of a championship as Billy VanPelt picked-up his second T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds feature event last Saturday at the Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, NY. To make things even sweeter the Harrison Valley, Pa. speedster kept in tact his perfect record as being the only champion of the T3 Series presented by Troyer Race Cars. For VanPelt it capped off yet another dream season as he once again proved to be just too much to handle for many other top flight northeast race teams. “We had trouble early in the season and fell way behind in the points. We knew we were in trouble with the likes of Ray Bliss Jr. and Dylan Dewert in front of us in the points so we dug deep and kept plugging along and here we are with our third T3 Championship. I owe everything to my wife, Susan, my car owner, Ted White and my crew chief, Duane Groover. It was a real tricky race track tonight, I had to hit my mark perfect on every lap and Duane put the right set-up under the car or else we wouldn’t be standing here in victory lane.”
With Bliss and Dewert sharing the front row for the start of the35 lap feature event, VanPelt was easily in striking distance with an outside second row starting position and at the drop of the green he wasted little time in disposing of both Bliss and Dewert to take over the top spot. Several yellow flags slowed the pace in the early going mostly for minor spins, however a bone jarring crash entering turn three sent both Dave Dubois and Herb Wright home on the hook and for Dubois it was a night he would like to forget as a heat race collision with the inside turn three concrete left both his pit crew and several others thrashing just to get the car into the feature event. With that, Dubois was credited with the nights Lias American Racer Tire Hard Luck Award.
With VanPelt at the point and a freight train of top names nipping at his rear bumper Bliss, Dewert, Ron Cartwright Jr. and Mike Mahaney stayed within striking distance. Near the half way mark of the event, Black Rock regular and former two time Track Champion, Brian Swarthout joined the party as he found some real speed on the top of the banking. With Swarthout charging hard he was up to third and looked poised to drive right by both VanPelt and the second place machine of Cartwright. Unfortunately for Swarthout his brilliant drive toward the top spot ended near the three quarter mark of the feature when entering turn three. As he was charging hard on the outside of Cartwright the two made contact sending Swarthout off the turn three banking and out of contention. From there on VanPelt had to keep a fast closing Cartwright at bay as on lap 28 he jumped to the outside of VanPelt between turns three and four and nearly took the lead. From that point on Billy V. kicked in the afterburners and cruised to his second T3 All Star Series event of 2007 and with that the championship. Both Ray Bliss Jr. and Dylan Dewert drove very steady races to claim third and fourth behind Cartwright with Rookie second generation pilot Mike Mahaney rounding the top five. Both Mahaney and Dewert put on the best show of the night as the two were glued together on the bottom of the speedway for entire 35 lap main. When Scott Hixson’s double checker flags waved it was Dale Welty claiming sixth and the Hard Charger Award as he was followed by Bryan Terwilliger, Eric Fisher, Tim Sebring and Brent Wilcox. It was a tough track to pass on tonight claimed Welty as he accepted his Addison Farm Supply Hard Charger Award. With all the racing that went on before our feature the track was real tight and slick. If we could just qualify better at these events we probably wouldn’t have won so many Hard Charger Awards this year.”
And with that the 2007 season came to a close for most of the competitors with the only item of business remaining being the Annual T3 All Star Series for 358 Modifieds presented by Troyer Race Cars Awards Banquet which is scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2007 at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center in Horseheads. The top ten in the final point tally will all share in hardware and point fund money. For more information including a complete list of the final point standings as well as an audio cast simply go to www.t3allstarseries.com.
The 2008 schedule of events is already in the works with several of the existing tracks that the series travels to expressing interest in a date. In addition another major player in the northeast racing industry will join the series as a Marketing Partner in 2008. Details will be released at the upcoming banquet.
BLACK ROCK SPEEDWAY EVENT #10 OCTOBER 20, 2007
Cars entered: 26
Swarthout Recycling Heats: Ray Bliss Jr., Billy VanPelt, Ron Cartwright Jr.
L.J. Kennedy Trucking 35 lap feature: Billy VanPelt (2), Ron Cartwright Jr., Ray Bliss Jr. Dylan Dewert, Mike Mahaney, Dale Welty, Bryan Terwilliger, Eric Fisher, Tim Sebring, Brent Wilcox, Ron White, Stacy Jackson, Dave Calaman, Donnie Lawson, Mark Frankhouser, Brian Swarthout, Trevor Sutherland, Craig Gardiner, Serenity Sutherland, Scott Boudinot, Mike Jackson, Ray Dann, Ray Hyer, Herb Wright, Scott Conover, Dave Dubois
Special Awards:
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Red Cat Pole Position: Ray Bliss Jr.
SUZUKI Motorcycles and Atv’s E-Z Up Tent: Ron Cartwright Jr.
Leaf Racewear Award: Mike Mahaney
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Best Looking Move Award: Eric Fisher
VP Racing Fuels Award: Ron Cartwright Jr.
Lias American Racer Tire Hard Luck Award: Dave Dubois
Addison Farm Supply Hard Charger Award: Dale Welty
Dewert Speed Award: Eric Fisher
Red’s Speed Shop Award: Donnie Lawson
Sunoco Racing Gasoline Awards: Stacy Jackson. Mark Frankhouser
D.J. Beardsley and Son’s Inc. Lap 17 Leader Award: Billy VanPelt
Genesis Shocks Qualifiers: Brian Swarthout, Herb Wright
Point Fund Contributors include Swarthout Recycling , L.J. Kennedy Trucking and Wilkins R.V.
Signs Plus of Kanona is the Official Sign and Graphic Arts supplier of the series. S&W Awards and Photos is the Official Photographer, Trophy and Plaque Supplier of the Series.
ISC Racers Tape is the Official Racers Tape of the T3 Series.
|
|
