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Weedsport, NY – July 27, 2008 – By Dan Kapuscinski, Canandaigua Speedway PR and Promotions Coordinator
Not even a nearly two hour rain delay could slow down Canandaigua’s Todd Henderson on his way to his third win of the season in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified ranks at Canandaigua Speedway. The win marked Henderson’s 20th career Sportsman victory at the ‘Land of Legends’, putting him in a tie for second on the all-time win list with 2-time track champion Mike Button.
The driver of the no. 18h pocketed the lion’s share of the winner’s purse, including a $100 victory bonus from Benedict Performance.
“We probably should have had got one last week,” said Henderson . “We were in the wrong place at the wrong time, picking up the flat but we made up for it tonight. It always helps to start up front like we did, but the car was right on. The track came in perfect; the guys really did a nice job to get this track back in racing condition.”
Dan Wiesner, Daryl Hilkert, Anthony Rizzardo, and Tom Juhl filled out the top five runners in the Sportsman main event.
Adam Depuy took the checkered flags in the DIRTcar Street Stocks, while Marc Minutolo grabbed a second win in a row in the PureStox and Timex Morgan stole the 15-lap New York Modified Midget A-Main.
After two brief rain showers slowed the racing action at around 7:30pm after the three NYMM heat races, the racing program had to be shortened in order to try and get the rest of the schedule in ahead of the 11pm curfew. As a result only the Sportsman Modified heats were run, all other divisions besides the NYMM ran features only.
Unfortunately, the Sportsman Trifecta 45 also had to be shortened to a regular 25-lap main event in the interest of time.
Gary Hoteling and Marcus Dinkins started the 25-lapSportsman finale from the front row leading the 22-car field to the green flag. Driving the Dash Racewear no. 17, Dinkins snagged the early race lead before a multiple car incident occurred in the second turn on lap-2.
The incident began when the no. 11 of Ben Wheeler, the no. 20x of Kevin Ridley, and the no. 29g of Steve Gray bottled up between turns one and two. Gray and Ridley then made contact sending Ridley around which collected several cars including Nick Guererri, Eric Giguere, Tim Currier, Ryan Susice, Fran Hilton, and Joe Cook Jr.
Most cars were able to continue with the exception of last week’s feature winner, Currier, and Guererri. Ridley made it back on track for the restart but would head pit side after just a few laps finishing the night in 20th position. It marked the first time all season that Ridley had not finished in the top five.
When the field came back to green Dinkins led Hoteling, Henderson, Hilkert, and Phil LaVare down the front straight. Dinkins would lead two more circuits before Henderson, who had won his heat race earlier in the night by over a full straightaway, blasted into the race lead to lead lap-4.
Henderson took command of the field, racing to a 2-second advantage on his competitors before the race’s next caution flag would come out on lap-7. Kyle LaVare lost the handle on the no. 88 in turn four, slowing the field one more time.
With Henderson the race leader, the field doubled-up for another restart. Dinkins restarted to the outside of row one, but got a slow start going in for the restart in turn three. As the cars rounded through the apex of turns three and four, Dinkins got sideways and came down the racetrack making contact with the no. 44 of Hoteling who re-started in third.
Hoteling ran into the inside burm in the fourth turn bouncing back into Dinkins, sending both cars across the racetrack in front of the rest of the field. With the two cars sliding across the track, Phil LaVare and Rob Bussey had no place to go. LaVare tried to slow his momentum, but the no. 8L bit into the racetrack causing the machine to tumble at least once into the outside catch fence.
Bussey, Dinkins, and Hoteling would all be collected ending top five runs for each driver. When it was all said and done, all drivers were just fine after this multi-car collision.
After two cautions on the 7th circuit, Henderson was able to rattle of several green flag laps in front of the field. By lap-19 Henderson held a comfortable lead on Hilkert, Wiesner, Rizzardo, and Juhl in the top five.
By this time Henderson had approached lapped traffic, including the no. 11nz of Peter Gordon. As the passing flag was displayed Henderson and Hilkert were able to make their way by safely. However, Wiesner had a tougher time in the Monroe Wheelchair no. 66.
As Wiesner and Gordon rounded out of turn four, the two made contact. Wiesner, who was on the extreme low side trying to make the pass, was able to keep control but Gordon lost it and found himself sitting sideways on the front straight. Cars tried to find a way by on the high and low side of the Speedway , with all but one succeeding.
The no. 2L of Loren Lincoln was in a battle on the Speedway and did not see the no. 11nz until the last moment. Lincoln locked his brakes and slid directly into Gordon just before the start finish line. Both cars were inflicted with heavy damage, resulting in the hook treatment for each.
When the track was cleared, Henderson restarted as the leader with 5-laps to go. Hilkert, Wiesner, Rizzardo, and Juhl lined up single file behind the no. 18h, throwing everything they had at the race leader.
Henderson proved to be too touch though over the final five circuits, racing to his 20th career Sportsman Modified win at Canandaigua Speedway.
Wiesner managed to edge Hilkert at the line for the runner-up spot with Rizzardo, Juhl, Steve Gray, AJ Lewis, Ryan Susice, Ben Wheeler, and Fran Hilton finishing the top ten.
Ridley, who had a 70-point lead coming into the night, will undoubtedly take a hit in the Championship standings as his closest competitors, Wiesner and Gray, each had top six finishes.
The 20-lap DIRTcar Street Stock feature saw Kevin Collins and Leroy Lewis pace the field out front. For the second week in a row, Lewis would emerge as the early race leader in the no. 07. All eyes however were on the no. 57b of Bubba Burnell, as he quickly powered into the runner-up spot from his fourth starting position.
After grabbing second, it wouldn’t take long for Burnell to claim the race lead. The no. 57b dove under Lewis for the top spot on the low side to lead lap-4. Burnell paced the field until the event’s first caution flag on lap-9.
Front row starter Kevin Collins lost his right rear wheel out of turn four, causing the car to spin to the inside of the Speedway. The no. 16 of Mike Schultz collected the wheel forcing him pit side. Schultz would return to the track for a brief time before retiring for good on lap-11.
At the same time that Collins brought out the caution in turn four, top five runner Mike Rasbeck also spun in turn two. The no. 00R of Rasbeck had to be towed into the pit area ending his day.
When the field was ready for green Burnell led Depuy, Blane Smith, Welch, and Fisher across the stripe. Depuy, who started 5th and managed to close on Burnell before the yellow, slid his car to the outside of the Speedway on the restart. The no. 99 found the bite he was looking for as he powered to the outside of Burnell in turns three and four, and took the lead coming down to complete lap-10.
The outside pass proved to be the winning move, as Depuy was never again challenged for the win. It was Depuy’s 18th career win at the ‘Land of Legends’, and third win of 2008.
“We may only have nine or ten cars, but you never know who is going to win this thing,” said Depuy. “I really wasn’t looking forward to having to restart to the outside of Bubba, but somehow I was able to make it work and get by. The track was fast, and the car just stuck out there. I pulled it back to the bottom though as soon as I was able to get by.”
Burnell, Blane Smith, Fisher, and Welch completed the top five at the finish. Point leader Andy Fisk had a terrible night, twice spinning and finishing one lap behind the leaders in 8th position.
The 10-lap PureStox main event saw three different race leaders, and a green-to-checkered finish. Chris Guererri started the race from the point, but the car immediately broke out of turn two handing the lead over to Bryan Faulkner.
Faulkner would come around to lead lap-1, but fourth place starter Roger Bush was on the move. Bush moved to the outside of Faulkner in turn four and grabbed the lead on the second circuit. Bush paced the field for 2-laps before Minutolo made his charge in the no. 25b.
Minutolo wasted little time dropping Bush back to the runner-up spot just before halfway on lap-4. From there Minutolo ran away from the field for his second PureStox win in a row and 5th of 2008.
“Not much to say tonight, the car ran great once again,” said Minutolo, who celebrated with a couple of victory donuts in the back straight infield. “We didn’t have too many cars tonight, but I’ll take the win. My team really has the car working good right now.”
Bush hung on for a great runner-up finish ahead of Faulkner in the top three.
The New York Modified Midget A-Main turned into a two car show. Heat race winners Timex Morgan and Eric Rudolph were the class of the field, jumping out front right from the drop of the green.
Rudolph, the young son of 17-time Canandaigua Speedway Modified feature winner Charlie Rudolph, hounded Morgan for the entire 15-lap distance but was unable to do anything with the all-black no. 2 Lafler Chassis.
Morgan would lead wire-to-wire on his way to sweeping the night in the NYMM main. Rudolph finished a very strong runner-up well ahead of the rest of the top five including Doug Etue, Frank Jarkiewicz, and Darryl Ruggles.
“Lafler Chassis is the only way to go,” said Morgan. “They have won some 80% of 600cc Sprint races in New York State , and tonight was another example of that with us getting the win and Eric riding in second. I knew he was close, on that last restart he gave me a little sign to let me know he was there. It was great running here tonight at Canandaigua.”
Next Saturday night at Canandaigua Speedway, Star Headlight presents the Drivers vs. Kids Ice Cream race. The DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds will make their return along with the Sportsman, Street Stocks, PureStox, and the ESDCA Mod Lites at 7pm.
For more information call the DIRTcar NE Headquarters at 315/834-6606 or visit www.canandaiguaspeedway.com.
Ontario Fair Week Event Summary (7-26-08):
New York Modified Midgets
Heat #1: Rudolph, Jordan, Z. Morgan, Radney, Gray, Groescup
Heat #2: T. Morgan, Jarkiewicz, Miller, Ruggles, E. Morgan, Heater
Heat #3: Smith, Lafler, Etue, Dombroski, Scott, Holliday
Feature (15-laps): 1) 2- TIMEX MORGAN, 2) 72- Eric Rudolph, 3) 01- Doug Etue, 4) 48J- Frank Jarkiewicz, 5) 48JR- Darryl Ruggles, 6) 17k- Kirsten Dombroski, 7) 22- Ryan Jordan, 8) 95- Jim Radney, 9) 47- Keith Heater, 10) 44- Amy Scott, 11) 48JRS- Steve Gray, 12) 32- Jim Lafler, 13) 20c- George Holliday, 14) 15B- Chad Groescup, 15) 5- Ethan Morgan, 16) 7- Zack Morgan, 17) 17- Dan Miller, 18) 23- John Smith
PureStox
Feature (10-laps): 1) 25b- MARC MINUTOLO, 2) 9R- Roger Bush, 3) 83- Bryan Faulkner, 4) 6- George LaVare Jr., 5) 10- Chris Gingerich, 6) CJ1- Chris Guererri
$50 Benedict Performance Bonus: 25b- Marc Minutolo
DIRTcar Street Stocks
Feature (20-laps): 1) 99- ADAM DEPUY, 2) 57b- Bubba Burnell, 3) 55b- Blane Smith, 4) 37- Chris Fisher, 5) 00- Mike Welch, 6) 07- Leroy Lewis, 7) 742- Vance Vanderwall, 8) 33- Andy Fisk, 9) 16- Mike Schultz, 10) 00r- Mike Rasbeck, 11) 70- Kevin Collins
$50 Benedict Performance Bonus: 99- Adam Depuy
DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
Heat #1: P. LaVare, Hoteling, Hilkert, Wheeler, K. LaVare, Guererri, Gordon, DeMallie
Heat #2: Henderson, Dinkins, Lewis, Wiesner, Gray, Giguere, Hilton
Heat #3: Ridley, Rizzardo, Bussey, Currier, Lincoln, Juhl, Cook Jr., Susice
Feature (25-laps): 1) 18h- TODD HENDERSON, 2) 66- Dan Wiesner, 3) 4- Daryl Hilkert, 4) 99$- Anthony Rizzardo, 5) 17d- Tom Juhl, 6) 29g- Steve Gray, 7) 24a- AJ Lewis, 8) 38- Ryan Susice, 9) 11- Ben Wheeler, 10) 3- Fran Hilton, 11) 67g- Eric Giguere, 12) 8- Joe Cook Jr., 13) 2L- Loren Lincoln, 14) 11nz- Peter Gordon, 15) 17- Marcus Dinkins, 16) 44- Gary Hoteling, 17) 8L- Phil LaVare, 18) 76- Rob Bussey, 19) 88- Kyle LaVare, 20) 20x- Kevin Ridley, 21) 25g- Nick Guererri, 22) 10- Tim Currier
$100 Benedict Performance Bonus: 18h- Todd Henderson
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