May 25, 2007

ALAN JOHNSON FINALLY BAGS BREWERTON DIRT MODIFIED VICTORY
 

BREWERTON, NY – Defending DIRTcar Modified track champion Alan Johnson of Phelps finally won his first feature event of the 2007 season at Brewerton Speedway last Friday night after being locked out of victory lane in the first three events. Johnson came from the ninth starting position and survived a mid race battle with invader Vic Coffey enroute to the $1,500 victory behind the wheel of the Bully’s Truck Stop, Bicknell No. 14j. Also winning their features were Dan Williams in the ESDCA Mod Lites, Nathan Peckham in the UMP Street Stocks, Claude Hutchings Jr. in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, and Josh Herbert in the 4-Cylinder Enduros.

            Alan Johnson has struggled at every track he has been to in 2007, including Brewerton, where he is the defending champion. On Friday, Johnson won his first race of the year at the D-Shaped DIRT Demon in thrilling fashion over Vic Coffey in a race that saw five different leaders and seven lead changes. Johnson had to work hard to regain the lead on lap 25 for the final time after losing the lead to a hard charging Coffey on lap 21.

Johnny Hill led the opening three circuits, with Mike Bowman leading laps 4 through 8. Tim Sears led momentarily on lap 9, with Bowman in control for the next three laps. Sears led laps 13 and 14, when Johnson took the top spot for the first time on lap 15.

            Following Johnson at the finish, it was a disappointed Coffey in second, Tim Sears in third, Dan Vauter in fourth, and Kevin Bates in fifth. Completing the top ten, it was Willy Decker, Chuck Bower, Mike Bowman, Jim Witko Jr, and Kenny Stafford. The win for Johnson was the 53^rd of his career over 14 winning seasons.

            In ESDCA Mod Lite action, Dan Williams of Pennellville won his fourth straight 20-lap feature following a controversial last lap with brother Doug, who finished second. Justin Crisafulli was third, followed by Ken Gamlen, and Joe Garafolo. Dan Williams, who remains undefeated, came from the fifteenth starting position to take the lead from Andrew Schartner on lap 5. Jamie King led the first two laps of the affair.

            Young Claude Hutchings Jr. of Sauquoit won his third straight 4-Cylinder Super Stock feature of the young season, this time from the tenth starting position. Chuck Powelczyk, Matt Wetterer, Lorraine Powelczyk, and Chris Kranz completed the top five finishers. Chris Kranz led the opening lap, while Lorraine Powelczyk led the second. Hutchings took command on lap 3 and led the remainder of the 15-lap distance.

            Nathan Peckham won his first ever feature at Brewerton Speedway in the 15-lap UMP Street Stock North vs. South Shootout from the pole starting position after leading every lap. Dave Pope, Dan Hofmann Jr., Dan Hofmann Sr., and Van Grant completed the top five finishers.

            Josh Herbert won the 20-lap 4-Cylinder Enduro feature over Jerry Curcie Jr., Jerry Herbert, Devin Rookey, and Jay Elhage. The win for Herbert was his second of the season.

            Coming up this Friday June 1 at Brewerton Speedway is Bradco Supply Night. Scheduled to compete are the DIRTcar Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites, 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, and 4-Cylinder Enduros. Racing will begin at 7:30pm. For more information, contact the track office at (315) 668-6906, the raceline at (315) 668-RACE, or visit www.brewertonspeedway.com.

BREWERTON PIT NOTES…. Much talk was going around the pit area at Brewerton in regard to a column in Area Auto Racing News by columnist Mike Mallett, who interviewed Chuck Bower last Friday night. Bower, a journeyman racer who races on his own budget and no real major sponsor, was originally totally against the CNY purse issue. However, after being a whole month into the 2007 season, Bower is in favor as he now can contend for more wins and more $$$ than he ever has before. Willy Decker has purchased the Promotion Speed Supply business and will be providing that service at Brewerton and Fulton Speedways. Talk was still going around about the Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series event at Fulton on Tuesday, and what a whale of a show it was. The Victoria 200 Rules Modified Mini-Series will visit Brewerton on Tuesday June 26 and will mark the return of the sail panels at the D-Shaped DIRT Demon. Big Block Modified rookies Mike Bowman and Kyle Lewis continue to impress with heat race victories. Ironically, the night was Military Appreciation Night.. and Street Stock driver Tim Wood was heading to Iraq Saturday morning.

BREWERTON SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
RACE DATE: MAY 25, 2007

DIRTcar MODIFIEDS (35-Laps) – ALAN JOHNSON, Vic Coffey, Tim Sears, Dan Vauter, Kevin Bates, Willy Decker, Chuck Bower, Mike Bowman, Jim Witko Jr., Kenny Stafford, Roy Bresnahan, Sean Beardsley, Scott Prentice, Tom Juhl Jr., Johnny Hill, Matt Fink, Tommy Scheetz Sr., Robbie Vormwald, Kyle Lewis, Jeff Isabell, Terry Knoblock, Rick Rogala, Tommy Scheetz Jr., Tom Sears Jr.

ESDCA MOD LITES (20-Laps) – DAN WILLIAMS, Doug Williams, Justin Crisafulli, Ken Gamlen, Joe Garafolo, Lowell Zehr, Barry Virts, Jeff Williams, Rich Rainville, Joe Gwilt, Jeff Barker, Mike Virginia, Luke Lonergan, Andrew Schartner, Chuck DeMott, Brenda Rice, Jeff Blackburn, Kelly Skinner, Lorrie Herbert, Tim Devendorf, Mike Mullen, Rocco Leone, Jamie King, Matt Magner, Mike Isabell, Matt Rainville, Tommy Felicia, Dave Trytek, Jeff Herbert, Terry Latham.

UMP STREET STOCK NORTH VS. SOUTH SHOOTOUT – NATHAN PECKHAM, Dave Pope, Dan Hofmann Jr., Dan Hofmann Sr., Van Grant, Ron Hawker, Quentin Burton, Jim Wallace, Tim Wood, Steve Woodworth.

4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (15-Laps) – CLAUDE HUTCHINGS JR., Chuck Powelczyk, Matt Wetterer, Lorraine Powelczyk, Chris Kranz, Wendall Washington, Matt Fay, Steve Randall, Sam Carista, Andy Kieffer, Chad Dupra, Eric Kranz, Aron Backus, John West, Jessica Herbert.

4-CYLINDER ENDURO – JOSH HERBERT, Jerry Curcie Jr., Jerry Herbert, Devin Rookey, Jay Elhage.