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Woodhull, NY 5/10/2008 – Wayne Robertson, defending champion in the Napa 360 Late Model division at Woodhull Raceway in 2007 visited Victory Lane in the Scott Dennison Memorial on Saturday night. This victory had Robertson speechless in victory lane ceremonies when Kenny Shupp was congratulating him.
“Thanks, kind of lost my voice here, but first of all, I would like to thank Doug Gross Construction for putting up all the contingency awards and for putting some ponies under the hood.”
“I have wanted to win this race for a long time, Scotty was a close friend, ah, this means the world to me; I told my guys if I wanted to win one race this year, this was it, it feels so good.”
I can’t describe the emotion that was coming through Robertson’s voice, but this win absolutely meant the world to him and the race team.
Robertson told me about the race and the events leading up to his big victory, and a few changes that he made throughout the night. I asked him what the main key was for taking the checkers;
“A lot of it had to do with the crew busting a**, after the heat race, we were horrible in the heat race, we changed the whole rear suspension and it was perfect, it definitely was a team effort.”
I asked him how much the track changed from the heat to the feature.
“With the cold temperatures, it seemed to get a little bit of bite on the bottom, I felt better, but my car changed so drastically that it didn’t change a lot, it might have gotten a little bit of grip up top, but it was still pretty slick.”
“This is the third year running this race and I have been in the top 5 each year, last year I kind of made a mistake and took myself out of it. I have been close enough to win it, and just maybe not enough experience or enough car, I knew all day that I wanted to win it.”
Wayne also told me about how Scott Dennison was as a friend, a racer and just a good guy.
“I used to race street stocks here in the late nineties, and Scott would be here every night, not racing, but turning wrenches and helping out. I used to go to car shows with him. He had an old Firebird, he’s just a great guy to hang around with, he had a lot of energy.”
Wayne went on to thank his sponsors,
“I want to thank the crew, and the following sponsors who helped me get to victory lane.
Wilkins R.V., Levi T.V., Wades Building Supply, Bridges Financial Services, Dancing on Edge, Southern Tier Coal, Knapp’s Construction, S.Krise Landscaping, Breezy Point Farm, and Haughy Funeral Home. Family does a lot for me, without them we would be a lot further away from where we are now. We are going to run the full BRP Can Am Late Model Series, we are real competitive with it, and it’s a luck thing with having everything go right. We are looking to be stronger this year; we are “packing a bigger punch” so to speak.”
Wayne had some engine problems on opening night at Woodhull and with that meant he had to find an engine to compete. Continuing with Kenny’s interview, Wayne mentions;
“Yeah, another bad start to the year like last year, Larry (Knowles) graciously called us up and said come get it (engine), he is a stand up guy, you really can’t say anything bad about him, I can’t thank him enough, without him I would be sitting up there with the fans tonight.”
For those of you who want to check out Wayne’s website you can do so by checking it out here; http://www.waynerobertsonracing.com/mainpg.html .
For those that don’t know, Doug Gross Construction is owned by Larry and Janice Knowles, and Larry just loves the racing that the 360 Late Models put on for the fans.
Doug Gross Construction put in many contingency awards in the overall purse of the Scott Dennison Memorial.
Larry would mention in victory lane while handing over the $400 that Doug Gross Construction put in extra for the winner. Larry himself wound up finishing in third place in the feature and was close by and Kenny interviewed him;
“Yeah, he is a great guy (Wayne Robertson), probably not a lot of people realized it that if I couldn’t win, my motor won tonight, that is my backup motor that I loaned him , as they had motor problems. That’s why I called them up and offered the motor to ‘em because they are good people, good competitors and a lot of people don’t know Wayne had a bad start this year and I knew without a motor to go he would be out of it here, so we said, hey, come and get it and its good to see him win this big race because they are a great asset to the sport, him and his whole team.”
The feature event started with the no.121 car of Jared Dennis start on the pole. While eventual feature winner Wayne Robertson started outside pole. At the start of the race, without completely a lap, the no. 64b of Brett Buono spins and the race was started over with the original lineup. When the race got restarted, and with 3 laps complete, the late models came out of turn four, FOUR WIDE, and the end results was the inside car of Jeff Brown in the no. 7x spun out bringing out the caution. The field would get another lap complete and coming to the line the caution would fly again as Mick Seeley would tap the right rear quarter panel of Jason Knowles and make contact. Following closely, Josh Sawyer got collected into the mix and spins. Mick Seeley would go to the pits to see if the sheet metal was rubbing the tire, he would make it back out in time for the green. On lap five, Jeff Brown and Mick Seeley tangled in turns one and two while at the same time Bryce Davis spins out on the backstretch bringing out yet another caution. By this time the car of Jeff Cheesebro who won the consolation race to get into the show was charging hard through the field. Wayne Robertson was maintaining the lead while battling off charges from Mikey Wonderling. Jeremy Wonderling who started in the seventh spot was charging hard as well and by lap 9 was running in third behind his brother. The following lap as they were entering turns three and four, the two would make contact and both would come to a stop leaving an opening for current fourth place runner Glen Whritenour
to gain second position. The crowd was going crazy as the two brothers actually took each other out, but from what I could see it was just a racing incident. (I could not reach them for comment) Both cars were able to move on, however they would have to start at the tail of the field, it was mounting up to be a great show to see with these fast machines charging to the front. By lap eighteen, you could see Jeff Chessbro running the high groove and using up most of the race track to hold his position and he was up to sixth at this time. Robertson was getting into lap traffic by lap 21 and then the yellow came out for Brandon Smith who spun out in turn 4. The car of Scott Dixon was running a solid third place going to the flag stand for one to go green and all of a sudden went pit side and would not return. In my opinion, this was some tough luck for him as he was running very well. The green would fly and Robertson was still holding off charging Whritenour who was right on his bumper as they both were running the low groove. Another exciting moment was the show that the Wonderling brothers put on, on lap 22 Mikey made the pass over Jeremy going into turn three on the back stretch, which now put him in sixth place. Whritenour had one last chance to make a charge trying to get around Robertson while they caught up with some lap traffic on lap 26. The last caution of the night would fly on lap 27 for Jeff Brown whose car had come to a stop. This would set it up for the finish, but the order would stay the same and Robertson went on to take the checkers.
Following him was Glen Whritenour in second and Larry Knowles in third. Fourth place went to the consolation winner Jeff Cheesbro. Mikey Wonderling who started the night in fourth place would end up in fifth place after charging through the field after the incident on lap 10 that sent him to the rear of the field. Bob Buono took home sixth place and was awarded the Dirt Track Digest.com Hard Charger of the race ($25), passing 19 cars. He started 23rd.
I finally got to speak with the runner-up finisher Glenn Whritenour so see what he had to say about the race.
“He (Robertson) was coming off the corner a little bit better than I was tonight, we just didn’t have the car adjusted up enough. We should have put a little bit more J-bar into it or something. We’ll get them next week. It’s just one of those types of tracks where who ever has a little bit better car and starting position would prevail. The track slowed down a lot, it didn’t change 180 degrees, but it just kept getting slippery and slick. I was just trying to save my tires because I knew we had the distance to run, I was just binding my time I figured I would start pouring it on with ten laps to go, I was actually kind of pleased to see them (Wonderling Brothers) get tangled up as I went right the rear of Robertson’s bumper.”
Larry Knowles finished third and just was overjoyed with the overall outcome of the race and the class in general.
“We were off just a tad there, the way the track slickened up real hard. We had tightened the car up quite a bit, but we probably should have just went that little bit more again. The car is leaking when it gets a long race like that, the tires get harder and the air pressure comes up and the track slickens up. Nobody was really making any moves at the end of the race; the tires usually equal themselves out.”
Larry goes on to tell me why he has put the extra money into the race from his business Doug Gross Construction and what racing really means to him.
“Basically the reason why we put the money in is to draw some good cars, as Scott drove this type of car/class, we put the money up to get these guys to show up, it promotes Woodhull; this class; and gives the fans a chance to see different drivers race. Without these types of things they (Fans) never have an opportunity to see other people race and put on the show. There are a lot of great drivers out there in this series and this class and I do it just for the love of the sport. If I try to keep Scott’s memory going, down the road, this is something that is important to us here at Woodhull, because he was a local boy.”
I mentioned Woodhull is a family oriented track and Larry tells me,
“Exactly, that’s basically the number one reason why we come out.”
Big props go out to Larry and the whole Doug Gross Construction staff that was on hand at the raceway thanks for supporting a great race in memory of a Great person, Scott Dennison.
I did get to talk with the Dirt Track Digest.com hard charger winner Bob Buono, who finished sixth. I asked him how he was able to pass so many cars,
“It was a pretty fast car, and it was just basically stay out of the wrecks and just suck the bottom it seemed the bottom was the best for me tonight anyway. Patient is the word for any longer race, the car has always been a good fast car on the bottom anyways, and it was just too bad that I had to start from the rear, but that is the way it worked out. We had to switch cars because this one I’m used to and the other one we just haven’t figured out.”
His son Brett is also racing this year, so what Bob was saying is that they him and his son switched cars before the feature. Both of them are going to run as many BRP Can Am Late Model Series races as they can, it depends on how they do.
In other racing at the speedway, Donnie Lawson took the win in the S&W awards and Photos Crate Sportsman. Brett Marlatt in just his second start in the Morgans Auto Repair Street Stock division took the checkered and was very excited about being in victory lane.
Brett mentioned in victory lane while being interview by Morgan Colegrove,
“I’ll be smiling all week long, the car was excellent in the heat, it ran good and hooked up well you just had to hit your marks and stay low and just ease in to the throttle instead of flat-footing it all the way around. I got to thank everybody, Mom, Happy Mothers Day, this one is for you. I have to thank Cliff and Debbie Moss for letting me drive the car, Moss Family Farms, Barry Payne for letting me drive the car, my dad; my good buddy Jim Haulsworth, Dave Bailey, Paynes Trailer Sales.”
Morgan was joking along with him about the sponsors or the thank you’s that he might have forgot, but seeing it was his first time in victory lane, Im sure he will get better at it next time out… Congrats Brett!!
In the Signs Plus Mini Stocks, Mike Smith took the victory. In the LaBarron Brothers Repair & Parts Front Wheel Drive Enduros Gary Baker II would take the checkers.
Overall, the night of racing was a very successful show, and I got to witness some great racing action. I am normally a modified guy, but if you ever get a chance to see the 360 late models run, don’t hesitate as they put on a great show!
Well that’s it for the report from Woodhull Raceway, see you all next week as the ASCS Patriot Sprint Cars will be on hand as the late models will have the night off due to the series race in Merrittville.
For any and/or comments or suggestions, be sure to let me know, you can reach me at tomames@dirttrackdigest.com . Until next time, Keep it in the dirt and on “The Write Track”
Full Results Below.
Woodhull Raceway Quick Results
5/10/08
Scott Dennison Memorial Race
Doug Gross Construction and Insinger Race Fuels Night
L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds (25 laps) 29 Cars
Heats: Ray Bliss, Dave DuBois, Roger Williams
Consi: Stacy Jackson
Feature: Curt VanPelt, Billy VanPelt, Ray Bliss, Mike Jackson, Dale Welty, Ron White, Kevin Chilson, Steve Hartman Jr, Frank Dunning, Kenny Peoples Sr, Greg Galligan, Dave Dubois, Ryan Gordner, Roger Williams, Don Lawson, Chris Clark, Josh Pursell, Marc Benson, Ray Dann, Herb Wright, Stacy Jackson, Joe Buck, Ray Pursell, Brooks Leach
S&W Awards & Photos Crate Sportsman (20 laps) 28 Cars
Heats: Gary Lampman, Larry Keegan, Dave Youse
Consi: Kenny Peoples Jr
Feature: Donnie Lawson, Dave Yehl, AJ Costly, Donnie Knowles, Larry Keegan, Art Goodier, Scott Brown, Kenny Peoples Jr, Wesley Campbell, Bill Brewer, Nate DeLong, Joe Dgien, Bob Johnson, Cale Paul, Chris Silvers, Ray Smith, Bill Shea, Tony Hooker, Casey Pavlick, Charlie Winchell, Bill VanEtten, Bob Paul, Dave Youse, Gary Lampman
Napa 360 Late Model (30 laps) 28 Cars
Heats: Glenn Whritenour, Jeremy Wonderling, Larry Knowles
Consi: Jeff Cheesebro
Feature: Wayne Robertson, Glenn Whritenour, Larry Knowles, Jeff Cheesebro, Mikey Wonderling, Bob Buono, Jeremy Wonderling, John Waters, Tim Schram, Dan Cobb, Jason Knowles, Mike Smith, Mick Seeley, Dave Miller, Steve Williams, Sparky Hill, Jeff Brown, Jared Dennis, Steve Dixon, Brett Buono, Brandon Smith, Tim Dunham, Bryce Davis, Josh Sawyer
Morgan’s Auto Repair Street Stocks (20 laps) 22 Cars
Heats: Brian Knowles, Rod Mullen, Zack Sutton
Feature: Brett Marlatt, Zack Sutton, Cliff Moss, Brian Knowles, Todd Burgess, Jared Hill, Rod Mullen, Brian Butler, Butch Dibble, Tony Foth, Brett Crawford, Dave Decker, Kevin Patton, Josh Nobriga, Jeff Smith, Jim Buck, Russell Morseman, Dan Gordon
Signs Plus Mini Stocks (20 laps) 25 Cars
Heats: Mike Smith, Tom Kleintop, Ted Morseman Jr
Feature: Mike Smith, Brian Grant Sr, Ed Mills, Ted Morseman Jr, Chris Woodard, Lynn Burrell, John Hand, Tom Kleintop, Jeff Brown, Jason Ketrow, Marty VanderHouf, William Gardner, Dennis Erdmann, Mike Nebbone, Rich Sharpsteen, Aaron Bartas, Brandon Morseman, Randy Bauman, Chris McCann, Tracy Dunn, Rick McDaniels, Randy Dunn, Chuck Leisure, Brian Freese, Jeff Erdmann
LaBarron Brothers Repair & Parts FWD (15 laps) 28 Cars
Heats: Gary Baker II, Carl LaBarron, Ron Daily Jr
Feature: Gary Baker II, Marc Schenck, Ron Daily Jr, Ron Hill, Carl LaBarron, Brian Grant Jr, R.T. Mosher, G.W. Rogers, Billy Joe Birdsell, Cody Baker, Tom McGlynn, Andrew Mathieu, Jacob Clarke, Matt Prescott, Steve Gee, Robert Symonds, James Howard, Gary Baker I, Allison Pierce, Lynn Richmond, Brandon Martin, Shane Rogers, Roger Taft, James Malburg, Joe Birdsell, Brandon Birdsell
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