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Ruggiero Rallies For 2nd Straight Eastern States Sportsman Victory

Middletown, NY – October 18, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast PR Director

Following in the tire tracks of 358-Modified winner Brett Hearn on Saturday of Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway, Mike Ruggiero scored his second straight Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman win in the 2008 track finale that covered 50 laps around the ‘Hard Clay’ oval.

Unlike last year when the Walden, New York pilot set fast time and led the entire distance to earn the biggest payday of his career, Ruggiero needed 39 laps to make his way to the front and forge the final lead change with near race-long front-runner Rich Coons en route to the convincing win.

“This one feels four thousand times better than anything,” remarked an elated Ruggiero, after becoming just the second driver since the ESW Sportsman event originated in 1988 to capture back-to-back titles. Tom Hall won in 1996-97 while current Big-Block pilots Tim Hindley and Chris Shultz also won two main events but not in consecutive years.

“Last year was awesome to get the first one, we got the pole, got everything. Today we stepped on it a little bit, qualified seventh and ran the heat. I knew the car was good and she came in a hurry,” said Ruggiero, who was crowned Orange County’s Sportsman division champion in September.

Port Colborne, Ontario invader Greg Panunte out-dragged fast time trailer and pole-sitter Rich Coons to set the early pace as the 50-lap feature took it’s first green flag under the lights. Fellow Canadian Justin Sharp slammed the wall exiting turn two to require a rare red flag and on the lap four restart Coons returned to the point as he charged around Panunte in the first corner.

Ruggiero was scored in the front-five after 10 laps with Coons pulling away from Panunte while 14 year-old Anthony Perrego ran third in the biggest race of his budding career. Ruggiero then ducked under Jimmy Spellmon for fourth and when Coons picked up the $300 bonus posted by Murphy’s Speed & Custom for leading at the halfway mark (lap 25), Ruggiero had improved one more position with his no. 4 Galati Home Improvements/TEO entry getting faster as the laps clicked off.

Panunte was the next to fall behind Ruggiero on lap 27, and a handful of laps later he was shadowing the leader with just 15 more to go. Ruggiero took the low line entering turn one and by the time he reached the second corner he had moved past Coons and just a dozen laps later was celebrating his fifth feature wi of the year in Middletown.

“I’ve raced with Richie for awhile now and I knew I couldn’t just show my nose and not get by him,” Ruggiero said. “So I had to do it that lap, that second or maybe not have the chance again. I was happy the lapped cars kinda got out of the way a little bit. Thank God for that (last) caution so we got some clean track ahead.”

“I wasn’t too convinced about these crate motors before we switched over. I have to thank Matt Hitchcock for getting me this motor and letting me use it. They’re definitely good,” Hitchcock pointed out.

Chasing Ruggiero across the line to end day #2 of the 47th Annual Eastern States Weekend at Orange County were Coons, Panunte, Bobby Hentschel and Jimmy Spellmon.

Eastern States Weekend activity continues on Sunday with a full program of DIRTcar UMP Pro Stock action, DIRTcar Big-Block Modified consolation round qualifiers and the 47th running of the Eastern States 200 Modified Championship finale. Pit gates and grandstands are slated to open at 8 am followed by the popular Race Against Drugs Pit Party that runs on the front stretch from 9:30-10:30 am.

Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Race #15 – Orange County Fair Speedway, October 18, 2008 Eastern States 50 Championship Event Summary   

FEATURE 

FIN   STR   CAR#     DRIVER/HOMETOWN                                            

1          7          4r         Mike Ruggiero/Walden,NY

2          1          27        Rich Coons/Montgomery,NY

3          2          99p     Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT

4          6          4SL     Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY

5          3          1s        Jimmy Spellmon/Butler,NJ

6          9          73        John Lieto/Mt.Kisco,NY

7          13        3          Erik Holmgren/Middletown,NY

8          14        14        Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY

9          23        17t       Todd Town/Jordan,NY

10        4          18        Anthony Perrego/Montgomery,NY

11        5          27v      Frank Venezia/Fairfield,NJ

12        8          52        James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

13        17        98        Kevin Ward/Hyde Park,NY

14        11        33        Matt Hitchcock/Stony Point,NY

15        10        51        Cody McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT

16        18        55        Matt Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY

17        21        7          Kyle Cicio/Wantage,NJ

18        30        19w     Justin Wright/Piffard,NY

19        24        50x      Sam Dwy/Pawling,NY

20        26        08        Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT

21        29        6cv      C.V. Elms/North Haverhill,NH

22        27        44x      Shane Jablonka/Stanfordville,NY

23        22        6          Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT

24        28        72        Ray Woodall Jr./Easton,PA

25        19        85        John Pietrowicz/Phoenix,NY

26        12        01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT

27        16        17m    Mark Olmstead Jr./Elbridge,NY

28        20        777     Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT

29        15        37j       Matt Janiak/Warwick,NY

30        25        8s        Justin Sharp/St.Catharines,ONT

EVENT SUMMARY:                                    

LAP LEADERS:   Panunte (1-3), Coons (4-38), Ruggiero (39-50).

CAUTIONS:   6 (lap 5, lap 17, lap 43, lap 43, lap 45, lap 46); 1 RED FLAG (lap 3).

MURPHY'S SPEED & CUSTOM HALFWAY LEADER ($300):   Rich Coons.

HOLLEY HARD LUCK:   Chris Raabe.

HEAT WINNERS:   Ruggiero, Friesen, Lieto, C.McPherson, Hitchcock.

CONSI WINNERS:   Williamson, Town.

POLE WINNER:   Rich Coons (22.574sec/99.672mph).

OUTSIDE-POLE WINNER:   Greg Panunte (22.615sec/99.491mph).

CARS ENTERED:   57.

QUALIFYING

TIME TRIALS  

            FAST              AVE

            TIME               MPH               CAR# DRIVER

1          22.574            99.672            27        Rich Coons/Montgomery,NY

$125 – Pole Award

2          22.615            99.491            99p     Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT

$75 – Outside Pole Award

3          22.702            99.110            1s        Jimmy Spellmon/Butler,NJ

4          22.708            99.084            18        Anthony Perrego/Montgomery,NY

5          22.757            98.871            27v      Frank Venezia/Fairfield,NJ

6          22.763            98.845            4SL     Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY

7          22.843            98.498            4r         Mike Ruggiero/Walden,NY

8          22.864            98.408            52        James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT

9          22.874            98.365            73        John Lieto/Mt.Kisco,NY

10        22.907            98.223            37j       Matt Janiak/Warwick,NY

11        22.934            98.108            33        Matt Hitchcock/Stony Point,NY

12        22.987            97.881            01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT

13        23.029            97.703            3          Erik Holmgren/Middletown,NY

14        23.112            97.352            14        Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY

15        23.126            97.293            51        Cody McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT

16        23.141            97.230            7          Kyle Cicio/Wantage,NJ

17        23.145            97.213            98        Kevin Ward/Hyde Park,NY

18        23.150            97.192            2x        Ed Burgess/Wallkill,NY

            23.150            97.192            55        Matt Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY

20        23.158            97.159            777     Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT

21        23.184            97.050            17m    Mark Olmstead Jr./Elbridge,NY

22        23.193            97.012            424     Jake Schlagel/Wanaque,NJ

23        23.202            96.974            17t       Todd Town/Jordan,NY

24        23.212            96.933            6          Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT

25        23.243            96.803            8s        Justin Sharp/St.Catharines,ONT

26        23.274            96.674            38        John Aumick/Highland Lakes,NJ

27        23.293            96.596            50x      Sam Dwy/Pawling,NY

28        23.321            96.480            08        Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT

            23.321            96.480            13        Al Archiere/Newtown,CT

30        23.343            96.389            11        Ben Wheeler/Genoa,NY

31        23.360            96.318            7L        Mel Lewis/Maybrook,NY

32        23.394            96.179            111     Art Liedl/Flemington,NJ

33        23.396            96.170            88        Dion Naples/Bloomingdale,NJ

34        23.437            96.002            72        Ray Woodall Jr./Easton,PA

            23.437            96.002            85        John Pietrowicz/Phoenix,NY

36        23.441            95.986            97        Steve Savoie/Acton Vale,QUE

37        23.453            95.937            44x      Shane Jablonka/Stanfordville,NY

38        23.470            95.867            12k      Kenny Hinsch/Pleasant Valley,NY

39        23.477            95.838            6cv      C.V. Elms/North Haverhill,NH

40        23.511            95.700            69k      Ken Boniface/Pine Bush,NY

41        23.520            95.663            1          John Odendahl/Pine Bush,NY

42        23.587            95.392            h2o     Danny Hedges/Harriman,NY

43        23.627            95.230            19w     Justin Wright/Piffard,NY

44        23.635            95.198            706     Mark Sasso/Highland Lakes,NJ

45        23.682            95.009            17f      Alan Fink/Pennellville,NY

46        23.717            94.869            12        Dave Hinsch/Pleasant Valley,NY

47        23.819            94.462            213     Mike VanTassel/Hamburg,NJ

48        23.889            94.186            69        Tyler Boniface/Pine Bush,NY

49        23.921            94.060            93b     Brian Papiez/Bellemead,NJ

50        24.514            91.784            93j       Randy Davis/Voorheesville,NY

51        24.532            91.717            1a        John Alimurat/Haskell,NJ

52        24.802            90.718            44        Tony Suozzo/New Paltz,NY

53        25.152            89.456            12x      A.J. Williams/Port Jervis,NY

54        25.395            88.600            17        Marcus Dinkins/Watkins Glen,NY

55         -NT-               -----                17k      Brian Krummel/Middletown,NY

56         -NT-               -----                j73       Joe Conklin/Warwick,NY

57         -NT-               -----                827     John Harnage/Smithtown,NY

*Top-6 locked into feature race starting positions.                                 

- 57 Entries.                                                               

Heat Races (8 laps, top-3 transferred to feature)

#1: Ruggiero, Raabe, Ward, Dwy, Jablonka, Hedges, Liedl, VanTassel, Suozzo, Schlagel.

#2: Friesen, Holmgren, Hulsizer, Town, D’Ilario, Naples, Wright, K.Hinsch, T.Boniface, Williams.

#3: Lieto, Pitcher, Pietrowicz, Williamson, Elms, Papiez, Sasso, Burgess, Archiere, Dinkins.

#4: C.McPherson, Janiak, T.McPherson, Sharp, Woodall, Wheeler, Fink, K.Boniface, Davis.

#5: Hitchcock, Olmstead, Cicio, Lewis, Odendahl, Conklin, D.Hinsch, Savoie, Aumick, Krummel, Alimurat (DNS).

Consolation Round (8 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to feature)

#1: Williamson, Dwy, D’Ilario, Woodall, Fink, Hedges, VanTassel, Conklin, Wright, Savoie, T.Boniface, Dinkins, Lewis, Papiez, Burgess, Davis (DNS), Schlagel (DNS).

#2: Town, Sharp, Jablonka, Elms, Liedl, Wheeler, Williams, Suozzo, Alimurat, K.Boniface, Naples, Sasso, Odendahl, D.Hibsch, K.Hinsch, Archiere (DNS), Aumick (DNS), Krummel (DNS). 

Guaranteed: Wright.

DID NOT QUALIFY (27)

1-John Odendahl/Pine Bush,NY

1a-John Alimurat/Haskell,NJ

2x-Ed Burgess/Wallkill,NY

h2o-Danny Hedges/Harriman,NY

7L-Mel Lewis/Maybrook,NY

11-Ben Wheeler/Genoa,NY

12-Dave Hinsch/Pleasant Valley,NY

12k-Kenny Hinsch/Pleasant Valley,NY

12x-A.J. Williams/Port Jervis,NY

13-Al Archiere/Newtown,CT

17-Marcus Dinkins/Watkins Glen,NY

17f-Alan Fink/Pennellville,NY

17k-Brian Krummel/Middletown,NY

38-John Aumick/Highland Lakes,NJ

44-Tony Suozzo/New Paltz,NY

69-Tyler Boniface/Pine Bush,NY

69k-Ken Boniface/Pine Bush,NY

j73-Joe Conklin/Warwick,NY

88-Dion Naples/Bloomingdale,NJ

93b-Brian Papiez/Bellemead,NJ

93j-Randy Davis/Voorheesville,NY

97-Steve Savoie/Acton Vale,QUE

111-Art Liedl/Flemington,NJ

213-Mike VanTassel/Hamburg,NJ

424-Jake Schlagel/Wanaque,NJ

706-Mark Sasso/Highland Lakes,NJ

827-John Harnage/Smithtown,NY

Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Point Standings (Through Oct. 18, 2008)
1. Chris Raabe   1,304
2. Greg Panunte  1,258
3. Mark D'Ilario   1,232
4. Jeremy Pitcher  1,188
5. Tyler McPherson 1,158
6. Mat Williamson  1,153
7. John Pietrowicz 1,148
8. Mike Bowman   1,106
9. Justin Wright        1,091
10. James Friesen 1,061


FINAL EVENT: The 19th Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series comes to a close on Saturday, October 25 as Can-Am Motorsports Park hosts the F.X. Caprara Car Companies 30. A finish of 13th or better at Can-Am locks up the coveted Mr. DIRTcar title for teenager Chris Raabe, yet if points runner-up Greg Panunte wins at Can-Am and Raabe is forced to settle for 14th-place then Panunte would steal away the trophy by two markers.

2008 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE    LAPS  TRACK                                  LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 5         50      Black Rock Speedway        Larry Wight
Mon-May 26    30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Dan Wiesner
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mark D’Ilario
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Todd Town
Fri-Jul 4           30      Brewerton Speedway          Chris Hile
Thr-Jul 10        30      Brockville Ont. Speedway  Chris Raabe
Mon-Sep 1      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mike Ruggiero
Sat-Sep 6        50      Merrittville Speedway          Brad Rouse
Fri-Sep 12       50      Ransomville Speedway     Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 13      30      Genesee Speedway            Rain-Cancelled
Fri-Sep 19       50      Humberstone Speedway   Greg Panunte
Sat-Sep 20      45      Canandaigua Speedway   Kevin Ridley
Sat-Sep 27      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Greg Panunte
Fri-Oct 4          30      Fulton Speedway                Jeremy Wilder
Fri-Oct 10         30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Steve Gray
Sat-Oct 11       30      New York State Fairgrounds Erick Rudolph
Sat-Oct 18       50      Orange Co. Fair Speedway Mike Ruggiero
Sat-Oct 25       30      Can-Am Motorsports Park  LaFargeville,NY

2008 EASTERN STATES WEEKEND EVENTS SCHEDULE

*All times/events subject to change.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

Pit Gates & Grandstand Gates open, 8:00 am;

Race Against Drugs Eastern States Pit Party, 9:30-10:30 am;

Pro Stock Hot Laps, 11:00 am;

Big-Block Modified Hot Laps;

Pro Stock heat races, 12noon;

Big-Block Modified consolation races-2 (8 more qualify), 12:30 pm;

Pro Stock consolation race, 12:50 pm

Big-Block Modified consolation races-2 (8 more qualify), 1:00 pm;

Eastern States 25, Mr. DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship Series event, 1:30 pm;

47th Eastern States 200, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series event (44 cars to start), 2:30 pm.

-end- 

WOODHULL RACEWAY WINDS UP 2008 SEASON WITH ONE NEW WINNER AND SEVERAL FAMILIAR FACES IN VICTORY LANE.

(Woodhull, NY)  On a cold and blustery Saturday evening, the Woodhull Raceway capped off its longest race season it the tracks 44 year history.  Having opened the year in mid-April the 28 event schedule was by far the most races ever run on the high banked one-third of a mile clay oval.  Roger Williams, veteran Woodhull Raceway competitor and grandson of Woodhull’s founding father, George Williams has used the post season to bounce back and forth from the Open Sportsman to the 358 Modifieds back to the Open Sportsman.  In both classes he has shown great consistency in running at or near the top in each special event.  With numerous runner-up and top five feature finishes everyone knew it was just a matter of time before “Rocket Roger” would find victory lane.  At the start of the 35 lap season finale for the S&W Awards and Photos Open Sportsman Division, Williams wasted little time and asserting himself to the top of the running order.  Very few cautions slowed the event, however an early feature altercation involving Donnie Lawson and Dale Welty put the pair of Williams top rivals on the trailer for the night.  From that point on all Williams had to do was keep his nose clean and hold off a late race rally by new comer, Jeff Crambo who nearly passed Williams coming to the checkered flag.  For Williams it was a popular win as he had been shut out of victory lane for several years and for Crambo it must have seemed like a win having tamed the high banked oval in only his first ever trip.  Ray Bliss drove his usually steady race to claim third at the checkered followed by Steve Watson, Scott Brown, Bob Buono, Bill Spoonhower, Frank Kline, Zach Sutton and Chris Silvers.  Qualifying heats went to Brown and Williams.

The NAPA 360 Late Model Division had some great events over the course of the 2008 season.  They also had their of struggles and this week was  definitely an off night for the full fendered brigade as ten cautions and one long red flag period slowed the pace.  The racing at the top of the field was tremendous throughout the entire 35 lap grind; however numerous spins and a 30 minute delay red flag to uncouple the hooked machines of Bruce Miller and Wayne Robertson marred any chance of this being a stellar feature event.  By the time it was completed over half the original starting field was gone, but Glenn Whritenour will take them any way he can as he bolted into the lead after a fierce battle with Bob Buono  Once in the lead Whritenour then opened up an insurmountable lead and withstood numerous restarts to claim the win.  Jeff Chesebro who started last on the grid after qualifying heat problems was able to stay out of trouble and claimed the runner-up position at the finish followed by Mike Wonderling, Jason Knowles, John Waters, Fred Amann, Greg Young, Jason McGregor, Dan Guild and Jay McConnell. Larry Knowles, Jason Knowles and Wayne Robertson all won heat events.

The 2008 race season at Woodhull is now complete and the 2009 schedule of events is currently in the works with tentative plans posted on the track web site by January 1, 2009

WOODHULL RACEWAY RESULTS 

 10/18/08

Sportsman 35 lap feature:   Roger Williams, Jeff Crambo, Ray Bliss Jr, Steve Watson, Scott Brown, Bob Buono, Bill Spoonhower, Frank Kline, Zack Sutton, Chris Silvers, Larry Keegan, Joe Dgien, Kreg Crooker, Tim Guild, Brandon Butler, Jamie Grammes, Tony Harris, Dale Welty, Donnie Lawson

NAPA 360 Late Models 35 lap feature:  Glenn Whritenour, Jeff Chesebro, Mike Wonderling, Jason Knowles, John Waters, Fred Amann, Greg Young, Jason McGregor, Dan Guild, Jay McConnell, Dale Welty, Bob Buono, Jay McConnell II, Bryce Davis, Joe Buck, Larry Knowles, Wally Wade, Robert Stilson, Ron Baker, Bob Babbitt, Jeremy Wonderling, Bruce Miller, Wayne Robertson, Brandon Smith 

Gray Earns Thrilling Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Win At Rolling Wheels

Elbridge, NY – October 10, 2008 – By Chris Dolack, DIRTcar VP Public Relations

Steve Gray and Mark D’Ilario waged an epic duel for 30 laps on Friday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.

The sixth caution of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman event set up a thrilling two-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Gray charged hard into the first corner on the final restart, D’Ilario stayed with him. The two pulled away from the field, Gray’s momentum carried him high into the second corner, D’Ilario powered through a groove lower. They shot down the backstretch nose-to-tail and repeated the same line on the final lap. D’Ilario looked for any chance to pounce. Gray was near perfect, driving it into the corners so hard D’Ilario had no chance to get a wheel under him. They came off the final corner and rolled to the checkered flag, with Gray ahead by three tenths of a second for his first Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman victory at the 5/8-mile oval in Elbridge, N.Y.

“I expected him to be right there,” said Gray, of Rushville, N.Y. “When I came across the line with one to go I could have swore I heard him right behind me. If I hadn’t got him on that restart I think he would have pulled away and the race would have been his. I think whoever got out front first was going to get it. The kid is a great driver.”

The two started on the front row, with Gray grabbing the initial lead before D’Ilario charged to the front on a restart with two laps complete. On another restart with five laps down, Gray went back in front and held off D’Ilario to the finish.

“I was hard on the wheel the whole race, real close the whole time, but I just couldn’t get the momentum to go by him,” said D’Ilario, of Smithville, Ontario. “I was counting on another double-file restart to try to get by him on the outside like I had done earlier. A little bit of a different gear change and I think we would have had him coming off the corner.”

Gray clearly was excited to be in victory lane after such a dramatic victory in front of a huge crowd.

“It’s awesome to win here,” he said. “I was pushing extremely hard. I didn’t want to let up the slightest bit. I thought for sure he was going to be right there. I was almost flat-footing it all the way around here. This is my first win here at Rolling Wheels so it really comes as a surprise. Mark is wicked fast and he runs an awesome line. It was a crazy one. Restarts were really critical. If I didn’t get the jump on him he was going to be out front.”

Matt Williamson, Jim LaRock and Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series leader Chris Raabe rounded out the top five. Raabe used those six cautions and some hard driving to advance from 11th on the grid to a top five that not only strengthened his position atop the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman championship standings but also should be good enough to clinch the Rolling Wheels Raceway Sportsman crown.

Following Saturday’s event at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, the next event in the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series is slated for Friday, Oct. 17, at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y.

Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Race #13 – Rolling Wheels Raceway; October 10, 2008; “Super DIRT Week 30” Event Summary 

Feature
FIN      STR    CAR# DRIVER
1          1          1F       Steve Gray/Rushville, NY
2          2          08        Mark D’Ilario/Smithville, ONT
3          6          6          Matt Williamson/St. Catharines, ONT
4          7          58L     Jim LaRock/Seneca Falls, NY
5          11        01        Chris Raabe/Napanee, ONT
6          4          38s      Chris Susice/Ransomville, NY
7          8          5          Don Spatorico/Ransomville, NY
8          5          18        Brad Rouse/St. Catharines, ONT
9          20        0          Jipp Ortiz/Ransomville, NY
10        3          JV1     Jim Spano/Skaneateles, NY
11        16        54x      Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton, NY
12                    99p     Greg Panunte/Port Colborne, ONT
13        21        24        Brandon Sweet/Watertown, NY
14        25        85        John Pietrowicz/Phoenix, NY
15        19        67G     Eric Gugiere/Waterloo, NY
16        22        777     Tyler MacPherson/St. Catharines, NY
17                    71        Mike Bowman/St. Catharines, NY
18        18        3k        A.J. Kingsley/Fulton, NY
19                    17D     Tom Juhl/Weedsport, NY
20        9          6R       Nate Reynolds/Newfane, NY
21        10        85H     Robert Humphreys/Elbridge, NY
22        26        90        Ken Bearup/Redwood, NY
23        12        4SL     Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush, NY
24        17        21J      Jimmy Johnstone/Niagara-on-the-Lake, ONT
25                    11J      Justin Wright/Piffard, NY
26        14        11X     Anthony Fiorentino/Watertown, NY
27        24        26h     Luke Carleton/Port Colborne, NY
28        23        52        James Friesen/St. Catharines, ONT
29        17        2L        Loren Lincoln/South Bristol, NY
30        13        M1       Dave Marcuccilli/Cayuga, NY
31                    172     Bryan Davis/Voorheesville, NY

EVENT SUMMARY

LAP LEADERS: Gray (1-2, 6-30), D'lario (3-5).   

CAUTIONS: 6 (lap 2, lap 4, lap 6, lap 10, lap 16, lap 28).

HEAT WINNERS: Spatorico, Spano, D’Ilario, Gray and Rouse.

CONSI WINNERS: Sweet, MacPherson.            

CARS ENTERED: 50.         

NEXT EVENTS: New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 11.Thunder Mountain Speedway Center, Lisle, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 17.

2008 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE    LAPS  TRACK                                  LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 5         50      Black Rock Speedway        Larry Wight 
Mon-May 26    30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Dan Wiesner
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mark D’Ilario
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Todd Town 
Fri-Jul 4           30      Brewerton Speedway          Chris Hile     
Thr-Jul 10        30      Brockville Ont. Speedway  Chris Raabe
Mon-Sep 1      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mike Ruggiero
Sat-Sep 6        50      Merrittville Speedway          Brad Rouse
Fri-Sep 12       50      Ransomville Speedway     Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 13      30      Genesee Speedway            Rain-Cancelled
Fri-Sep 19       50      Humberstone Speedway   Greg Panunte
Sat-Sep 20      45      Canandaigua Speedway   Kevin Ridley           
Sat-Sep 27      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   G. Panunte/Sammy Reakes IV
Fri-Oct 4           30      Fulton Speedway                Jeremy Wilder                    
Wed-Oct 8       30      Can-Am Motorsports Park  Rain
Fri-Oct 10         30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Steve Gray
Sat-Oct 11       30      N.Y. State Fairgrounds       Syracuse, NY
Fri-Oct 17         40      Thunder Mountain Speedway Center Lisle, NY
Sat-Oct 18       50      Orange Co. Fair Speedway Middletown, NY

-end-  

Rookie Rudolph Races To SDW Town Mechanical 30 Sportsman Riches

Syracuse, NY – October 11, 2008 – By Dave Medler, DIRTcar Racing NorthEast Series Correspondent

High School Honor Roll student and third-generation racer Erick Rudolph out of Ransomville, New York had never turned a lap at the Syracuse Mile coming into Super DIRT Week XXXVII. By time he left he turned in one of the most dominating performances ever seen in the Town Mechanical 30-lap Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series event. The win was worth $4,000 and Rudolph padded his pocket by claiming Blue Moon Potatoes Rookie of the Race and Dig Safely New York Halfway Race Leader bonuses.

Rudolph took advantage of a miscue by early leader Matt Hulsizer coming out of turn four to complete lap five to forge the lone lead change. From there, even with a pair of caution periods and lapped traffic, Rudolph, in the Jipp Ortiz-owned no. 0 Pizza Logs-Lee-Heil-Ed’s Garage entry, put the car in overdrive winning by a half-mile at the checkers.

"That was amazing, I never expected this," said the excited Rudolph. “I really have to thank Jipp (Ortiz) for putting me in his car. The crew worked their butts off all week to get this car ready, I can’t thank them enough."

Fellow race rookie Hulsizer out-raced pole-sitter and 2007 TWI Super DIRT Week champion Sammy Reakes IV to the first turn to lead the opening lap of the 30-mile grind. Rudolph also slipped by Reakes and set his sights on Hulsizer by the time one lap was completed.

With three in the books, Hulsizer and Rudolph ran nose-to-tail, opening a two-second lead on the rest of the field. Reakes ran alone in third while Kevin Ridley and Mike Ruggiero fought it out in the top-five.

With Hulsizer running a steady pace and Rudolph in tow, the Street Wise No.55 of the runner-up suddenly exited turn four and got into the cinders losing traction as Hulsizer slid up the track. That was all Rudolph needed as he blasted by to be scored the leader on lap five.

By lap 10 Rudolph had opened up a full straightaway lead on the "Moody Mile" as Hulsizer and Ridley contested bumper-to-bumper and side-by-side for the runner-up spot. Reakes, Mike Ruggiero and Mark D’Ilario waged their own battle in the front-five.

At the halfway point, lap 15, Rudolph was making easy work out of lapped traffic while cruising out front by 3.0-seconds. Hulsizer and Ridley were still having a tight race for second with Ruggiero right there lap after lap. On lap 17 Ruggiero made contact with the back straight wall bringing out the first yellow of the race.

On the restart, James Friesen got into John McAuliffe’s mount going into turn one and the contact turned McAuliffe, forcing him into the turn one outside wall hard which resulted in heavy damage to his machine.

When the green came back out, Rudolph sprinted away to open up a 1.5 second lead on the field. Hulsizer and Ridley resumed their battle with D’Ilario still in the hunt.

With starter Dave Farney showing the field the 10 to go sign, Rudolph was on the hammer opening up the biggest lead during the race. Hulsizer was able to open some distance on Ridley for second as D’Ilario and Reakes ran a distant fourth and fifth.

On lap 22 Ridley closed the distance on Hulsizer, setting up on his back bumper and making this the tightest battle at the front of the pack. Three laps later Rudolph was cruising all alone on the track with his motor running almost wide-open even in the tricky and narrow Syracuse turns. 

With four to go trouble suddenly struck current Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series points leader Chris Raabe as he pulled his car onto the cinder track on the back straight and out of harms way. Raabe would be scored with a 21st-place finish.

With no yellows the rest of the way to tighten up the field, Rudolph was first under the checkers winning by almost a half a mile (13 seconds) at the finish. Hulsizer, Ridley, D’Ilario and Reakes complete dthe top five. The second five included Mat Williamson, Todd Town, Eric Gugiere, Ryan Forte and Corey Anderson. Rookie of the race Jean Boissonneault came home 11th after the Frenchman rallied from 30th on the original 32-car grid.

"My dad (Charlie Rudolph, 1986r Mr. DIRT Big-Block Champion) is such a big influence on my life both on the track and off,” added Rudolph, after a most successful maiden voyage on the Moody Mile. “I’m so glad he could be here to see this.”

Round number 15 of the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series is slated for Thunder Mountain Speedway on October 17 before teams close out the trail the next night in the Eastern States finale at Orange County Fair Speedway.

Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series Race #14 – New York State Fairgrounds, Oct. 11, 20011 “Town Mechanical Inc. Super DIRT Week Sportsman Championship” Event Summary
FIN      STR    CAR# DRIVER                                                                    
1          3          0          Erick Rudolph/Ransomville,NY®
2          2          55        Matt Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY®
3          5          20X     Kevin Ridley/Penn Yan,NY
4          6          08        Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT
5          1          17K     Sammy Reakes IV/Fulton,NY
6          8          6          Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT®
7          7          17T     Todd Town/Jordan,NY
8          10        67G     Eric Giguere/Waterloo,NY®
9          9          B40     Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ®
10        21        96        Corey Andersen/Mullica Hill,NJ®
11        30        61X     Jean Boissonneault/Granby,QUE®
12        17        44        John McClelland/Martinsville,NJ
13        15        17M    Mark Olmstead Jr./Elbridge,NY®
14        25        10        Tim Currier/Auburn,NY
15        20        85        John Pietrowicz Jr./Phoenix,NY®
16        28        99$     Anthony Rizzardo/Jordan Station,ONT®
17        12        52        James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT®
18        11        16A     Aaron Jacobs/Frankfort,NY®
19        19        44V     John Venuto/Elba,NY®
20        23        05        Anthony Marro/Saratoga Springs,NY®
21        18        01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT®
22        24        2K       Rob Knapp/St.Catharines,ONT
23        13        23        John McAuliffe/Ballston Lake,NY
24        4          4R       Mike Ruggiero/Newburgh,NY®
25        31        18R     Brad Rouse/St.Catharines,ONT®
26        32        19W    Justin Wright/Piffard,NY®
27        14        71        Mike Bowman/St.Catharines,ONT®
28        29        29G     Steve Gray/Middlesex,NY
29        22        3P       Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT
30        27        777     Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
31        16        14P     Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY
32        26        7          Gino Postrivo/Mantua,NJ®
DNS   33        18H     Todd Henderson/Canandaigua,NY

EVENT SUMMARY: 

LAP LEADERS:   Hulsizer (1-4), Rudolph (5-30).

CAUTIONS:  2 (lap 17, lap 17).

ELAPSED TIME:  30 mins. 36 secs.

AVERAGE SPEED:   58.808 mph

MARGIN OF VICTORY:   13.027 secs. 

ROOKIE OF THE RACE:   Erick Rudolph.

HALFWAY LEADER:   Erick Rudolph.

HARD CHARGER:   Jean Boissonneault. 

BEST APPEARING CAR:   #17T - Town Town. 

NYSSCA 'TOP MEMBER' AWARD:   Aaron Jacobs.

HARD LUCK AWARD:   John McAuliffe. 

P&M FABRICATION POLE WINNER:   Sammy Reakes IV (33.508 sec/107.437 mph). 

MOTORSPORTS SAFETY SYSTEMS OUTSIDE POLE WINNER:   Matt Hulsizer (33.639 sec/107.437 mph).

DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE QUALIFIERS:   Tim Currier, Gino Postrivo.

RACE ROOKIES®:   20.

CARS ENTERED:   56.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Action during the 19th Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series continues in October with the final two races scheduled back-to-back at Thunder Mountain Speedway and Orange County Fair Speedway, Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18.

2008 Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series Schedule
*All events subject to change.
DAY-DATE    LAPS  TRACK                                  LOCATION/WINNER
Sat-Apr 5         50      Black Rock Speedway        Larry Wight  
Mon-May 26    30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Dan Wiesner
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mark D’Ilario
Thr-Jul 3          20      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Todd Town  
Fri-Jul 4           30      Brewerton Speedway          Chris Hile    
Thr-Jul 10        30      Brockville Ont. Speedway  Chris Raabe           
Mon-Sep 1      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Mike Ruggiero
Sat-Sep 6        50      Merrittville Speedway          Brad Rouse
Fri-Sep 12       50      Ransomville Speedway     Rain-Cancelled
Sat-Sep 13      30      Genesee Speedway            Rain-Cancelled
Fri-Sep 19       50      Humberstone Speedway   Greg Panunte
Sat-Sep 20      45      Canandaigua Speedway   Kevin Ridley           
Sat-Sep 27      30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Greg Panunte
Fri-Oct 4           30      Fulton Speedway                Jeremy Wilder
Wed-Oct 8       30      Can-Am Motorsports Park  Rain
Fri-Oct 10         30      Rolling Wheels Raceway   Steve Gray
Sat-Oct 11       30      New York State Fairgrounds Erick Rudolph
Fri-Oct 17         40      Thunder Mountain Speedway Center Lisle,NY
Sat-Oct 18       50      Orange Co. Fair Speedway Middletown,NY

-end- 

Reakes Starts Where He Left Off With Fastest SDW Sportsman Qualifying

SUPER DIRT WEEK XXXVII SPORTSMAN TIME TRIALS 
            FAST              AVE
            TIME               MPH               CAR# DRIVER                             

1          33.508            107.437          17K     Sammy Reakes IV/Fulton,NY
$500 - P & M Fabrication Pole

2          33.639            107.019          55        Matt Hulsizer/Bridgeport,NY
$250 - Motorsports Safety Systems Outside Pole

3         33.645            107.000          0          Eric Rudolph/Ransomville,NY
4         33.655            106.968          4R       Mike Ruggiero/Newburgh,NY
5         33.798            106.515          20X     Kevin Ridley/Penn Yan,NY
6         33.963            105.998          08        Mark D'Ilario/Smithville,ONT
7         34.010            105.851          17T     Todd Town/Jordan,NY
8         34.052            105.721          6          Mat Williamson/St.Catharines,ONT
9         34.078            105.640          B40     Ryan Forte/Blue Anchor,NJ
10        34.099            105.575          67G     Eric Giguere/Waterloo,NY
11        34.152            105.411          16A     Aaron Jacobs/Frankfort,NY
12        34.153            105.408          23        John McAuliffe/Ballston Lake,NY
          34.153            105.408          52        James Friesen/St.Catharines,ONT
14        34.166            105.368          71        Mike Bowman/St.Catharines,ONT
15        34.172            105.349          17M    Mark Olmstead Jr./Elbridge,NY
16        34.298            104.962          14P     Jeremy Pitcher/Fulton,NY
17        34.328            104.871          44        John McClelland/Martinsville,NJ
18        34.343            104.825          01        Chris Raabe/Napanee,ONT
19        34.356            104.785          44V     John Venuto/Elba,NY
20        34.392            104.676          85        John Pietrowicz Jr./Phoenix,NY
21        34.394            104.669          96        Corey Andersen/Mullica Hill,NJ
22        34.396            104.663          3P       Greg Panunte/Port Colborne,ONT
23        34.401            104.648          05        Anthony Marro/Saratoga Springs,NY
24        34.409            104.624          2K       Rob Knapp/St.Catharines,ONT
25        34.411            104.618          777     Tyler McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
26        34.440            104.530          7          Gino Postrivo/Mantua,NJ
27        34.450            104.499          88        Phil LaVare/Clifton Springs,NY
28        34.472            104.433          99$     Anthony Rizzardo/Jordan,ONT
29        34.480            104.408          10        Tim Currier/Auburn,NY
30        34.522            104.281          10        Dean Patterson/Watertown,NY
31        34.531            104.254          51        Cody McPherson/St.Catharines,ONT
32        34.596            104.058          61X     Jean Boissonneault/Granby,QUE
33        34.712            103.711          74        Matt Billings/Brockville,ONT
34        34.781            103.505          14        Scott Duell/Ballston Spa,NY
35        34.809            103.422          1/64th   Andy Miller/Orwigsburg,PA
36        34.814            103.407          33        Matt Hitchcock/Stony Point,NY
37        34.826            103.371          22Z     Zach Amo/Ogdensburg,NY
38        34.932            103.057          MR18    Brad Rouse/St.Catharines,ONT
39        35.026            102.781          2          Matt Smith/Canandaigua,NY
40        35.091            102.590          18H     Todd Henderson/Canandaigua,NY
41        35.164            102.377          29G     Steve Gray/Middlesex,NY
42        35.216            102.226          11M    Christine Martin/Wellesley Island,NY
43        35.331            101.894          24        Brandon Sweet/Watertown,NY
44        35.338            101.873          4SL     Bob Hentschel/Pine Bush,NY
45        35.348            101.845          M1       David Marcuccilli/Cayuga,NY
46        35.530            101.323          28W    Sandy Pembleton/Lewiston,NY
47        35.541            101.291          84        Richard Quick/Scotia,NY
48        35.745            100.713          81        Shawn Cassidy/Bethel,VT
49        35.763            100.663          4          Daryl Hilkert/Middlesex,NY
50        35.829            100.477          11J      Alan Fink/Pennellville,NY
51        36.230            99.365            20        Jack Gentile/Ballston Lake,NY
52        36.895            97.574            93J      Randy Davis/Voorheesville,NY
53        38.505            93.494            44        Rick McCready/Watertown,NY
54         -NT-                -----          17        Marcus Dinkins/Watkins Glen,NY
55         -NT-                -----          19W    Justin Wright/Piffard,NY
56         -NT-                -----         26        Derrick McGrew/Ballston Spa,NY

*Top-24 locked into front 12 rows; 56 Cars Entered.    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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