August 1, 2008

Sheppard is Class of The Field Friday Night at Brewerton Speedway!!!

Brewerton, NY - Matt Sheppard started off the month of August on a winning note. Sheppard held off a late charge by Billy Decker to win his second 35-Lap DIRTcar Modified Feature of the year Friday night at the Brewerton Speedway.

Also picking up wins were, Dale Caswell, IMCA Modifieds, Dan Williams, ESDCA Mod Lites, Matt Wetterer, Four Cylinder Super Stocks and Josh Herbert, Four Cylinder Enduro.

Mike Bowman took off from his front row starting position to led the opening laps of the 35-Lap Modified feature being closely pursued by Tommy Sears Jr.. After a quick yellow Sears found bite on the top of the speedway to grab the lead away from Bowman on the restart, Kevin Bates also got around Bowman to run second.

When the race hit the Lap-6 mark Bates got a run on Sears to take the top spot away, Bates started opening distance on Sears. Jeremy Smith, Matt Sheppard and Mike Bowman ran in the top five.

With Ten-Laps in the books Bates still held onto a slight advantage over Sears and Sheppard. At this point Jimmy Phelps and Billy Decker were in the top five trying to run down the leaders.

Matt Sheppard got around Sears and started to track down Bates for the top spot by Lap-15, Decker, Phelps and Sears were still in the hunt.

At the halfway point Sheppard found speed at the top of one and two and was able to get around Bates and take command of the race.

With ten to go Sheppard used lapped traffic to open a half straightaway lead on point leader Decker. Sheppards car looked like it was starting to go away and a handful to drive. On Lap-28 the yellow flew putting Decker right on the leaders back bumper setting up a battle to the finish.

Over the remaining laps Decker showed his front end to the inside of Sheppard a couple times, but Sheppard somehow was able to man-handle his car to the win. Decker, Bates, Phelps and Alan Johnson completed the top five.

"My car didn’t really feel that good tonight, I found a little something up top and was able to get to the lead," Said Sheppard after parking his Advanced Lubrication Specialties, No.9s in Victory Lane. " I was able to sneak by Kevin (Bates) in lapped traffic, I was pretty much just trying to hold on. Luckily the bottom went away, I was able to cruise around up top." He finished up by relating, " I saw Billy (Decker) a couple times there at the end. I knew if I kept it straight I could probably hold him off."

Tony Buffa led the opening four circuits of the IMCA Modified 20-Lap feature before Dale Caswell took over the top spot from his twelfth starting position. The most serious incident of the race took place on lap six. A competitor laid fluid down on the front straight causing a three car incident involving, Les Hubbard, Bill Anderson and Dave Talbot. Talbot got on his roof, all drivers were okay.

When the race resumed and got to the halfway point Caswell held a ten car advantage over the field but the race wasn’t over yet. Over the remaining laps Rob Keller could get to Caswell and apply pressure to the leader but in the end Caswell was first under the checkers for his tenth win of 2008. Rob Keller, Kevan Cook, JJ Courcy and Rich Keller rounded out the top five.

"They’re getting faster, I can feel them behind me," said caswell about the rest of the IMCA drivers. "There are coming, it’s getting tougher." With the win Caswell leads the season points coming down the home stretch of the 2008 season by six over Rob Keller.

Ken Gamlen led the opening Eight-Laps of the ESDCA Mod Lite 20-Lap feature before Dan Williams was able to get around Gamlen and take command of the race. One lap later Gary Jeffries found the speed he needed to go to the top spot. Williams, Joe Gwilt, Gamlen and Lowell Zerh were the top five at the halfway point.

On Lap-17 Jeffries was way out front and looked to be heading to his second win of the year. Going into turn one Jeffries suddenly looped his car ending his run for the victory. This handed the lead back to Williams who held onto to the lead and the win by a few car lengths over Joe Gwilt. Lowell Zehr, Frank Sobotka and Tim Devendorf completed the top five.
"I got lucky, very lucky," related Williams about Jeffries spin and his win. "I didn’t have the best car tonight, but oh well," finished up the winner.

Claude Hutchings Jr. started deep in the pack but charged through the field taking the lead early in the race. Most everyone in attendance figured the race was over, every one but Matt Wetterer. Wetterer was able to do what nobody else has done this season, run down Hutchings and get by him for the lead and the win. After losing the lead to Wetterer, Hutchings headed pit side one lap later with a front flat. Chuck Powelczyk pressured the winner late in the going but had to settle for the runner up spot. Randy Knight, Lorraine Powelczyk and Sam Curcie rounded out the top five.

Josh Herbert parked his No. 17h in victory lane in the Four Cylinder Enduro. Jon Shumway, Ben Rabin, Chris Bonoffski and Ray Herzog chased the winner across the line.
Mark you calender for next Friday night August 8th as the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series come to town on Canake Insurance Night. Joining the Big Block Modifieds will be a IMCA Modified Empire Series event and the Mod Lites. Admission Prices will be - Adults 15 and over $20, Children 10 to 14 $10 and Children 9 and under Free. Pit Admisson- DIRT Members $25 and Non Members $30. For more information contact the Speedway office at 315-668-6906 or visit www.brewertonspeedway.com.

(DIRT MODIFIEDS 35-LAPS) - Matt Sheppard, Billy Decker, Kevin Bates, Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Tom Sears Jr., Chuck Bower, Bob Henry Jr., Jeremy Smith, Steve Hulsizer, Pat O’Brien, Chad Phelps, Willy Decker, Johnny Hill, Jim Witko, Kyle Lewis, Pat Ward, Tont Steiner, Tim Sears Bob Bennett, Terry Knoblock, Mike Bowman, Tim Harris, John Ramsey. DNS- Matt Fink, Brian Murphy, Ryan Phelps.

(IMCA MODIFIEDS 20-LAPS) - Dale Caswell, Rob Keller, Kevan Cook, JJ Courcy, Rich Keller, Tony Buffa, Bill Anderson, Bryan Scott, Tony Finch, Jerry Beck, Calvin Painter, Les Hubbard, Mike Jones, Greg Kimball, Brian Evenden, Larry Bezner, Rich Townsend, Dave Talbot, Pete Anderson, Jason Amidon, Jeff Amidon, Art Wilson,

(ESDCA MOD LITES 20-LAPS) - Dan Williams, Joe Gwilt, Lowell Zehr, Joe Sobotka, Tim Devendorf, Rocco Leone, Jason Broedel, Rick Donovan, Jeff Barker, Joe Garafolo, Ken Gamlen, Matt Magner, Andrew Schartner, Terry Lapham, Mike Mullen, Gary Jeffries, Bob Garafolo, Tommy Felicia, Lisa Thomas, Mike Virginia, Dave Trytek, Bruce Ackley, Mike Bruce, Jeff Blackburn, Matt Virginia, Sam Morse, Jeff Herbert, Doug Williams, Kelly Skinner, Justin Crisafulli. (DIG SAFELY NEW YORK B-MAIN WINNER) - Mike Mullen

(FOUR CYLINDER SUPER STOCKS 15-LAPS) - Matt Wetterer, Chuck Powelczyk, Randy Knight, Lorraine Powelczyk, Sam Curcie, Jerry Curcie Jr., Michelle Britton, Jessica Herbert, Claude Hutchings Jr., Matt Fay, Jody Curcie, Glenn Erwin, Jerry Curcie Sr., Bill Tice, Wendall Washington, Sam Carista, John Goldman.

(FOUR CYLINDER ENDURO) - Josh Herbert, Jon Shumway, Ben Rabin, Chris Bonoffski, Ray Herzog.