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Curt VanPelt Returns to Victory Lane at Woodhull Raceway as
Pavlick, Smith, Sutton, Grant and Schenk All Claim Checkers
Woodhull, NY. It had been three weeks since someone with the last name of VanPelt had stood in victory lane in the LJ Kennedy 358 Modified division, but that all changed last Saturday night as Curt VanPelt returned to his winning ways by claiming his 5th feature win in 2008. VanPelt lined up on the pole with Ray Bliss Jr. to his right as the flagman dropped the green flag. It was Bliss, however, that jumped to the early lead, with VanPelt and Steve Hartman Jr. closely in tow. Throughout the early portion of the race, VanPelt kept Bliss in his sights as his brother Billy was working his way through traffic and moving in to the top five. Curt's patience paid off as he finally found the opening he was looking for and shot by Bliss for the lead. As soon as he found the lead, Curt quickly opened up an eight car length advantage, while his brother Billy worked hard on Bliss for second. Hartman was still close behind with Stacy Jackson racing hard off his rear bumper. As Curt stretched the margin to ten car lengths, Billy made a last ditch move to get by Bliss on the last lap. Curt crossed the stripe with the dominating win, but Bliss was able to edge Billy out for the runner-up spot by a mere bumper. Hartman Jr. motored across the line for fourth as Jackson held off last week's feature winner Kevin Chilson for fifth.
Bill Shea and Casey Pavlick paced the 24 car S&W Awards Crate Sportsman field to the start of the feature event. Shea bolted to the point at the wave of the green, but it didn't take long for 2007 co-champion Kenny Peoples Jr. to charge past Shea and Pavlick to claim the top spot. While Peoples led the way over Pavlick and Shea, Mike Jackson and Joe Dgien waged a fierce battle for the last two spots in the top five. Donnie Lawson, who started 11th, also was making his way to the front, picking off one spot after another. Just as Peoples appeared to be setting sail for an easy victory, he bobbled in turns one and two and opened the door for Pavlick to snag the lead and allowed Lawson to follow along and take over second. Peoples was able to gather up his composure and hold back the advances of Jackson in the closing laps. Pavlick, the young gun, was able to fend off the veteran Lawson in the closing laps to pick up his second feature win of the season. Peoples made the best of his mistake to bring home third, with Jackson crossing the stripe in fourth. Despite sliding back early, Shea held tough to claim the last spot in the top five.
The NAPA 360 Late Models saw a new winner for 2008 as Mike Smith took advantage of his front row starting spot to carry his Chuck McGregor-owner number 1-star to his first ever feature win in the division. Smith moved to the 360 Late Model class this season after a successful career in the IMCA Modified division and it was only a matter of time before he found his way to victory lane. Veteran Larry Knowles gave chase the entire race, but could do no better than second, with Mikey Wonderling crossing the line in third. Bob Buono posted another solid run on the high banks by gathering up fourth, with Jeremy Wonderling motoring home for fifth.
Addison, NY youngster Zack Sutton took advantage of his outside front row starting spot to power his way to his second win of the year. It did not come easy as Tony Foth made his way from deep in the field to put the pressure on Sutton late in the race. Foth gave Sutton several looks in the late stages, but had to settle for second, with Russell Morseman III following closely behind in third. Two-time track champion Mike Williams also came from deep in the starting order to claim the fourth position as Cliff Moss edged out point leader Brian Knowles for fifth.
Brian Grant Sr. put a temporary stop to Ted Morseman Jr.'s dominance in the Signs Plus Mini Stock division, as he took his Mustang to the winner's circle for the second time in '08. Chris Woodard logged in another solid run for the runner-up position as Russ Wassner made a rare visit to the high banks and ran off with third place honors. Chris McCann tallied up another top five by finishing fourth and Ted Morseman Jr. rounded out the top five.
The LaBarron Brothers Front Wheel Drive division put on another exciting show, with the top five cars dicing back and forth for the entire feature event. At the drop of the checkers it was Mark Schenck barely edging out teammate Ron Hill for his third win of the season. Cody Baker put together a solid run for third, with Tom McGlynn checking in for fourth. Jacob Clarke rounded out the top five.
The championship races heat up in the next few weeks on the high banks as only two points-paying races remain on the 2008 schedule.
L.J. Kennedy Trucking 358 Modifieds (26 cars)
Heats- Curt VanPelt, Ray Bliss Jr., Steve Hartman Jr.
25 Lap Feature: Curt VanPelt (5), Ray Bliss Jr., Billy VanPelt, Steve Hartman Jr., Stacy Jackson, Kevin Chilson, Frank Dunning, Greg Galligan, Bryan Terwilliger, Ray Dann, Ken Peoples Sr., Don Lawson, Lee Bills, Brent Boyer, Scott Conover, Bob Silvernail, Don Potter, Marc Benson, Roger Williams, Dale Welty, Greg Young, Lucas Schroth, Ron White, Tim Guild, Brooks Leach, Joe Buck, DNS: Brian Doolittle
S&W Awards and Photos Crate Sportsman (24 cars)
Heats: Larry Keegan, Donnie Lawson, Art Goodier
20 lap feature: Casey Pavlick (2), Donnie Lawson, Ken Peoples Jr., Mike Jackson, Bill Shea, Art Goodier, Joe Dgien, Bill VanEtten, Mike Buchanan, Ray Smith, Wesley Campbell, Tony Hooker, Kreg Crooker, Bill Brewer, Scott Brown, AJ Costley, Frank Kline, Bob Paul, Kevin McPherson, Don Knowles, Nick Galayda, Larry Keegan, Gary Lampman, Dave Youse
NAPA 360 Late Models (17 cars)
Heats. Glen Whritenour, Jeremy Wonderling
25 lap feature: Mike Smith, Larry Knowles, Mike Wonderling, Bob Buono, Jeremy Wonderling, Sparky Hills, John Waters, Fred Amann, Jared Dennis, Bob Lubberts, Dan Guild, Wayne Robertson, Jay McConnell, Mick Seeley, Glen Whritenour, Scott McConnell, Wally Wade, Clint Button
Morgan's Auto Repair Street Stocks (25 cars)
Heats. Cliff Moss, Mike Williams, Jared Hill
20 lap feature: Zack Sutton (2), Tony Foth, Russell Morseman, Mike Williams, Cliff Moss, Brian Knowles, Brian Butler, Todd Burgess, Jeff Smith, Jared Hill, LaVern Knickerbocker, Butch Dibble, Rod Mullen, Kevin Patton, Brett Marlatt, Josh Nobriga, Kurt Stebbins, Brett Crawford, Jeff Ameigh, Cory McConnell, 72, Mark Guinup, Mike Kerr, DNS: Jim Buck, Dan Gordon
Signs Plus Mini Stocks (25 cars)
Heats: Mike Smith, Ted Morseman Jr., Chris Woodard
20 lap feature: Brian Grant Sr. (2), Chris Woodard, Russ Wassner, Chris McCann, Teddy Morseman, Dennis Erdman, Tom Kleintop, Jeff Brown, Jason Ketrow, Randy Bauman, Rich Sharpstein, Rick McDaniels, Marty Vanderhoof, Jason Warner, Tracy Dunn, Jeff Erdman, Lynn Burrell, Ed Mills, Aaron Bartas, John Hand, William Gardner, Shane Smith, Brandon Morseman, Brian Freese. Post Race DQ. Mike Smith
LaBarron Brothers Repair and Parts FWD (18 cars)
Heats: Randy Smith, Mark Schenck
20 lap feature: Mark Schenck (3), Ron Hill, Cody Baker, Tom McGlynn, Jacob Clarke, Matt Prescott, Carl LaBarron, Robert Symonds, Lynn Richmond, John Heidrick, James Howard, Gary Baker, Steve Gee, Ron Daily Jr., Allison Pierce BF. Nick Morsehouse. Post Race DQ. Brian Grant Jr., Randy Smith
Central New York Mini Sprints
20 lap feature: Art Kiser
Moe's Karting World Dash for Cash events
Mini Stocks: Lynn Burrell
FWD: Randy Smith
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