July 6, 2007

ALAN FINK WINS SPORTSMAN SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES OPENER AT BREWERTON SPEEDWAY
 

BREWERTON, NY – Alan Fink took advantage of a late race restart tangle between leaders Mark D’Ilario and Jeremy Pitcher to pick up the 30-lap Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series victory on Friday at Brewerton Speedway. Also winning on Horner Automotive Night were Dale Caswell in the IMCA Modifieds, Dan Williams in the ESDCA Mod Lites, and Chuck Powelczyk in the 4-Cylinder Super Stocks.

"Never having won a race before I didn’t expect my first win to be a series race," said an excited Fink in victory lane. After the contact between the two leaders handed the lead over to Fink he related what was going through his mind over the final laps. "It was my race to win or lose. With a clear track ahead of me I just had to keep hitting my marks and not make a mistake." Fink couldn’t thank car owner Jeff Isabell and the whole JIR Motorsports team for the car they put under him for his memorable win.

Pitcher and D’Ilario took off from their front row starting spots and set the early pace of the race. Canadian D’Ilario was able to maintain the lead despite yellow flag fever that dictated the first half of the main event. On every restart D’Ilario was able to open an 8-10 car length lead over the rest of the field. As the race hit the midway point with D’Ilario leading, Pitcher, Chris Raabe, Chris Hile , Joe Williams and Fink raced for the top spots, changing positions on every lap.

With seven laps to go a yellow flag changed the whole complexion of the race. On the restart leader D’Ilario seemed to slip up the track in turns three and four allowing Pitcher to dive underneath trying to grab the lead away. When it appeared that Pitcher was going to lead, contact was made sending the top two sideways to bring out the yellow.

Track officials made the call to send Pitcher to the rear of the field for rough driving. Fink, who had methodically worked his way to the front, found himself the new leader in the JIR Motorsports no.6j. Running the bottom of the speedway, Fink was able to hold off everyone else to grab his first ever Series win. Chris Hile, Joe Williams, Shawn Donath and Chris Raabe completed the front-five while John Pietrowicz, Loren Lincoln, Tyler McPherson, Matt Hulsizer and Greg Carner rounded out the final top-ten. Forty-two DIRT Sportsman cars signed into the pits at the ‘D-Shaped DIRT Demon’ and it took five heats and two consis to set the starting field.

Dale Caswell extended his own record with his seventh straight IMCA Modified 20-lap feature victory after another hard fought battle with point leader Kevan Cook, who settled for second. Caswell came from the eleventh starting position to take the lead from Cook on lap 14. Rich Townsend was third in his best finish of the season, followed by Dave Talbot, and Tim Hearn. Townsend led the opening two circuits with veteran Larry Bezner leading until Cook took command on lap 5.

In the ESDCA Mod Lite 20-lap main, point leader Dan Williams started third and made short work of the field, taking the lead from early leader Andrew Schartner on lap 3. Williams led the remainder of the 20-lap distance unchallenged for his eighth victory of the 2007 season. Tim Devendorf was second, followed by Tod Simons, Jeff Barker, and Schartner.

The 15-lap 4-Cylinder Super Stock feature was exciting as ever with winner Chuck Powelczyk winning on three wheels after losing a left rear tire with two laps to go. Claude Hutchings made a move on the final lap but had to settle for second at the line. Jessica Herbert, Aron Backus, and Matt Fay completed the top five finishers. Powelczyk started eighth and took the lead on the third circuit from early leader Matt Fay enroute to the win, his fourth of the season.

Coming up this Friday July 13 at Brewerton Speedway is Nice N’ Easy Grocery Shoppes Night. In race action will be the mighty DIRTcar Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds, ESDCA Mod Lites, and 4-Cylinder Super Stocks, and the 4-Cylinder Enduros. Gates will open at 5:30pm, with racing 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 SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY
HORNER AUTOMOTIVE NIGHT
RACE DATE: TUESDAY JULY 6, 2007
 

MR. DIRTcar SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RACE #1 (30-laps): ALAN FINK, Chris Hile, Joe Williams Jr., Shawn Donath, Chris Raabe, John Pietrowicz, Loren Lincoln, Tyler McPherson, Matt Hulszier, Greg Carner, Rob Pratt, Jipp Ortiz, Dan Weisner, John Juhl, Eric VanSkiver, Rob Hile, Dan Sellen, Jack Meeks, Daryl Hilkert, Mark D’Ilario, Tony Steiner, Tim Currier, John Behron, Larry Wight, Dave Yehl, Jeremy Pitcher, Chris Higgins, Rob Knapp, Jimmy Johnstone, Sammy Reakes IV, Brandon Sweet. DNQ – Jeff Isabell Jr., Jesse Pontello, Brad Townsend, Roger West, John Juhl II, Amanda Whitney, Tyler Rand, Mike Bowman, Curt Prevo, Beth Schneider.

IMCA MODIFIEDS (20-Laps) – DALE CASWELL, Kevan Cook, Rich Townsend, Dave Talbot, Tim Hearne, Steve Coit, J.J. Courcy, Rich Riggs, Greg Kimball, Les Hubbard, Bill Anderson Jr., Tony Finch, Ricky Orton, Calvin Painter, Pete Anderson, Larry Bezner, Rob Keller Jr., Mike Jones, Coleen Finch, Bill Anderson.

ESDCA MOD LITES (20-Laps) – DAN WILLIAMS, Tim Devendorf, Tod Simons, Jeff Barker, Andrew Schartner, Joe Garafolo, Barry Virts, Mike Mullen, Matt Magner, Ken Gamlen, Joe Abbass, Doug Williams, Luke Lonergan, Justin Crisafulli, Mike Rainville, Jeff Herbert, Sam Morse, Lowell Zehr, Michael Occhipinti, Ricky Yelle, Rocco Leone, Kelly Skinner, Lisa Thomas, Brenda Rice, Matt Rainville, Mike Virginia, Jamie King, Rich Rainville, Jeff Blackburn. DNS – Adam Murphy, Terry Lapham, Lorrie Herbert, Jeff Williams.

4-CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS (15-Laps) – CHUCK POWELCZYK, Claude Hutchings Jr. Jessica Herbert, Aron Backus, Matt Fay, Chris Kranz, Chad Dupra, Lorraine Powelczyk, Sam Curcie, Sam Carista, Andy Kieffer, Eric Kranz, Matt Wetterer, Wendall Washington.