Adam Hilton Leads All 30 Laps to Take DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series Win
ELBRIDGE, N. Y. – June 6, 2013 – After a night of history at the Dirt Motorsports Hall of Fame, Rolling Wheels Raceway Park experienced its own night of history in the making for the DIRTcar Hall of Fame 60 Wednesday, June 5. As Tuesday’s Dirt Motorsports Hall of Fame honorees looked upon “The Fast Track,” as Big-Block Modified star Stewart Friesen claimed the coveted Super DIRTcar Series 60-lap victory, the first series points race of the season.
“This is one of the most historic places on the circuit that we go to and to win here, it means so much,” Friesen said. “We had a perfect night. The car unloaded well, we were strong in practice, had a great time trial run, and that set the tone for the rest of the night.”
Friesen placed seventh overall in time trials with a 20.626-second lap, starting him first in his heat group. He won his group’s heat race, but the redraw put him ninth in the starting grid.
“We had to pass some good, tough cars,” said Friesen, who was up for the challenge. “It was just a great race. I was really thankful when we got out front and there were no cautions.”
With a jump-start at the green flag, Friesen passed five cars before lap four, putting him in fourth place. He continued to pilot his way forward while early race leader Steve Paine, of Waterloo, N. Y., grappled with Billy Decker, of Sidney, N. Y., at the front of the pack. Friesen pulled up on the outside of Decker’s Gypsum Wholsalers 91d in lap 14, and the two raced side-by-side until Friesen squeezed ahead at the start-finish line going into lap 15.
Lapped traffic in lap 19 was no match for the two-time NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Big-Block Modified champion. Friesen led the remainder of the caution-free race in his M.R. Burdick 1F TEO, taking home the $6,000 prize.
The adjustments made to the car early in the race night helped him stay strong in the feature, Friesen said.
“We just made small changes to the car all night long – played with the Bilstein shocks a little bit and the Draco springs,” he said. “It’s just a great package. Everything responded really well.”
Now that he’s tackled “The Fast Track,” the Ontario driver is setting his sights on his next big race – round two of the Super DIRTcar Series at New Egypt Speedway Tuesday, June 18. The Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc., “Dirty Jersey 60” marks Friesen’s first foray into race promotion.
“It’s definitely going to be a a star-studded event. We’re going to have the best guys coming from up and down the East coast,” Friesen said of the event, which he promotes in partnership with Brett Deyo as Friesen-Deyo Promotions.
Finishing second in Wednesday’s DIRTcar Hall of Fame 60 was Gary Tomkins, of Clifton Springs, N. Y., whose run was nearly as impressive as Friesen’s. Tomkins started 11th, cracked the top five by lap 15, and passed Billy Decker for second by lap 30.
“For whatever reason I run good at this place. I don’t know what it is. I love the track.” Tomkins said. “Once I got into second, lapped traffic was pretty brutal. It took took a while to get by those guys. But we’re happy, to have started in the center of the field and finish second.”
Three-time defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard, of Waterloo, N. Y., started 17th and finished third, improving by an impressive 14 spots, but not enough to keep up his win streak at Rolling Wheels. Brett Hearn finished fourth after starting 14th and early race leaders Billy Decker and Steve Paine finished fifth and 19th respectively. Rounding out the top ten were Alan Johnson in sixth, Billy Dunn in seventh, Jimmy Phelps in eighth, Dale Planck in ninth, and Pete Britten in tenth.
In the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series race the same night, Adam Hilton led all 30 laps to claim his first-ever win at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.
“The car was really good tonight,” Hilton said. “We haven’t won a race at Rolling Wheels yet, we’re really good here. Now tonight, we finally got that win, and we got the series race win all at once, so it feels very good.”
Late race cautions in laps 25 and 26 slowed the race after running several laps caution-free, but Hilton was able to maintain his edge on the restarts and keep his lead through the checkered flag.
Pro Stock star Joey Ladouceur finished a respectable third in his first Sportsman race at Rolling Wheels Raceway.
“We were hoping to get in the top ten, or top five, and we got third place, so we’re happy with that,” Ladouceur said.
Ladouceur’s accomplishments in a Pro Stock are many, having claimed his hundredth win last year and several series championships to boot. He’s trying out a Sportsman Modified for size, and although his experience in the division is scant, his expertise as a drivers seems to be making up for it.
“I got a lot of laps here with a Pro Stock, so I guess that didn’t hurt at all,” Ladouceur said. “We got a good time trial, we got a good draw, and we were racing with a lot of good, clean drivers so we stayed out of ant messes.”
Boyd MacTavish started second and held on to that spot until the end. Rounding out the top five were Nick Guererri in fourth and Tyler Dippel in fifth.
The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series continues Monday, July 1, at Cornwall Motor Speedway where it will join the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and the DIRTcar Pro Stock Series for a Canada Day special.
The season continues at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Central New York’s “Fast Track,” with the Sprint Car Summer Shootout Wednesday, July 3. The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints will join 305 Sprint Cars and DIRTcar Stock Cars to celebrate Independence Day.
For the latest news and updates about DIRTcar Racing Northeast Region traveling series, follow the DIRTcar Racing Facebook page and @DIRTcarNE and @SuperDIRTcar on Twitter.
Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
A-Main (60 laps): 1. 1F Stewart Friesen; 2. 84 Gary Tomkins; 3. 9s Matt Sheppard; 4. 20 Brett Hearn; 5. 91d Billy Decker; 6. 10J Alan Johnson; 7. 49 Billy Dunn; 8. 98H Jimmy Phelps; 9. 7z Dale Planck; 10. 21a Pete Britten; 11. 99L Larry Wight; 12. 3 Justin Haers; 13. 77J Keith Flach; 14. 26 Ryan Godown; 15. 8 Rich Scagliotta; 16. 66 Bobby Varin; 17. 74 Matt Billings; 18. 5* Danny Johnson; 19. 7x Steve Paine; 20. 4 Mike Mahaney; 21. 10c Tim Currier; 22. 16 Mike Bowman; 23. 91 Chad Homan; 24. 48R Rob Bellinger; 25. 66x Carey Terrance; 26. 48T Dave Rauscher; 27. 115 Kenny Tremont, Jr.; 28. 56 Vince Vitale; 29. 83 Brian Swartzlander; 30. 2J Ronnie Johnson. Did not qualify: 17 Marcus Dinkins; 6 Mat Williamson; 21 Derrick Podsiadlo; 10V Billy VanInwegen; 62s Tom Sears, Jr.; 3b Chad Brachmann; 88 Dave Allen; 29 Chris Ostrowsky
B-Features – 10 laps, top 3 qualify
B-Main 1: 1. 48T Dave Rauscher; 2. 83 Brian Swartzlander; 3. 99L Larry Wight; 4. 115 Kenny Tremont, Jr.; 5. 3b Chad Brachmann; 6. 21 Derrick Podsiadlo; 7. 48R Rob Bellinger; 8. 62s Tom Sears, Jr.; 9. 88 Dave Allen; 10. 6 Mat Williamson; 11. 17 Marcus Dinkins; 12. 29 Chris Ostrowsky. DNS: 10V Billy VanInwegen
B-Main 2: 1. 3 Justin Haers; 2. 91 Chad Homan; 3. 16 Mike Bowman; 4. 34 Andy Bachetti; 5. 42P Pat Ward; 6. 66x Carey Terrance; 7. 21k Randy Chrysler; 8. 44 Lance Willix II; 9. 323 Neal Williams; 10. 19w Justin Wright; 11. 21T Roger Chrysler; 12. 5* Danny Johnson; 13. 22J Jeremy Wilder
Qualifying Heats (8 laps, top 4 qualify, top 2 to redraw)
Heat 1: 1. 66 Bobby Varin; 2. 10J Alan Johnson; 3. 84 Gary Tomkins; 4. 74 Matt Billings; 5. 83 Brian Swartzlander; 6. 16 Mike Bowman; 7. 6 Mat Williamson; 8. 44 Lance Willix II; 9. 3b Chad Brachmann
Heat 2: 1. 91d Billy Decker; 2. 7z Dale Planck; 3. 8 Pete Britten; 4. 9s Matt Sheppard; 5. 3 Justin Haers; 6. 99L Larry Wight; 7. 66x Carey Terrance; 8. 62s Tom Sears, Jr.; 9. 323 Neal Williams; 10. 21T Roger Chrysler
Heat 3: 1. 8 Rich Scagliotta; 2. 7x Steve Paine; 3. 56 Vince Vitale; 4. 26 Ryan Godown; 5. 48T Dave Rauscher; 6. 42P Pat Ward; 7. 21 Derrick Podsiadlo; 8. 34 Andy Bachetti; 9. 88 Dave Allen
Heat 4: 1. 1F Stewart Friesen; 2. 77J Keith Flach; 3. 20 Brett Hearn; 4. 49 Billy Dunn; 5. 91 Chad Homan; 6. 17 Marcus Dinkins; 7. 21k Randy Chrysler; 8. 48R Rob Bellinger. DNS: 5* Danny Johnson
Heat 5: 1. 98H Jimmy Phelps; 2. 2J Ronnie Johnson; 3. 4 Mike Mahaney; 4. 10c Tim Currier; 5. 115 Kenny Tremont, Jr.; 6. 19w Justin Wright; 7. 10V Billy VanInwegen; 8. 22J Jeremy Wilder; 9. 29 Chris Ostrowsky
Time Trials: 1. 91d Billy Decker, 20.144; 2. 7z Dale Planck, 20.303; 3. 21a Pete Britten, 20.452; 4. 66 Bobby Varin, 20.453; 5. 66x Carey Terrance, 20.484; 6. 9s Matt Sheppard, 20.520; 7. 1F Stewart Friesen, 20.626; 8. 10J Alan Johnson, 20.658; 9. 77J Keith Flach, 20.680; 10. 8 Rich Scagliotta, 20.667; 11. 6 Mat Williamson, 20.704; 12. 20 Brett Hearn, 20.740; 13. 74 Matt Billings, 20.764; 14. 7x Steve Paine, 20.788; 15. 99x Larry Wight, 20.802; 16. 84 Gary Tomkins, 20.809; 17. 26 Ryan Godown, 20.856; 18. 3b Chad Brachmann, 20.858; 19. 48T Dave Rauscher, 20.883; 20. 83 Brian Swartzlander, 20.893; 21. 16 Mike Bowman, 20.966; 22. 56 Vince Vitale, 20.979; 23. 21k Randy Chrysler, 20.980; 24. 98H Jimmy Phelps, 20.980; 25. 91 Chad Homan, 20.981; 26. 62s Tom Sears, Jr.; 27. 4 Mike Mahaney, 21.020; 28. 3 Justin Haers, 21.036; 29. 48R Rob Bellinger, 21.076; 30. 2J Ronnie Johnson, 21.088; 31. 42P Pat Ward, 21.161; 32. 17 Marcus Dinkins, 21.214; 33. 21 Derrick Podsiadlo, 21.252; 32. 88 Dave Allen, 21.338; 33. 10c Tim Currier, 21.355; 34. 34 Andy Bachetti, 21.538; 35. 5* Danny Johnson, 21.556; 36. 323 Neal Williams, 21.623; 37. 115 Kenny Tremont, Jr., 21.700; 38. 44 Lance Willix II, 21.741; 39. 10V Billy VanInwegen, 21.820; 40. 29 Chris Ostrowsky, 21.920; 41. 19w Justin Wright, 21.932; 42. 22J Jeremy Wilder, 21.955; 21T Roger Chrysler, 22.272. Time trial not available for Billy Dunn.
DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
A-Main (30 laps): 1. 3a Adam Hilton; 2. 41 Boyd MacTavish; 3. 92J Joey Ladouceur; 4. 25g Nick Guererri; 5. 1T Tyler Dippel; 6. 79 Rocky Warner; 7. 18 Brad Rouse; 8. 54 Mark Chiddy; 9. 5 Don Spatorico; 10. 8s Justin Sharp; 11. 7 Cody McPherson; 12. 4G Greg Martin; 13. 32R Ron Davis III; 14. 80 Steve Barber; 15. 67g Eric Giguere; 16. 1m Mathieu Desjardins; 17. 1 Bill Mullin; 18. 16 Earl Rudy; 19. 14 Brett Wright; 20. 92 Martin Pelletier; 21. 42 Daryl Nuttig; 22. 57b Frank Burnell; 23. 66 Dan Wiesner; 24. 0 Shane Pecore; 25. m1 Dave Marcuccilli; 26. 20x Kevin Ridley; 27. 52 Jessica Powers; 28. 1Rx Kyle Rohmer; 29. 2J Jenna David; 30. c21 Jeff Devolli. Did not qualify: 22 Travis Miller; 85h Robert Humphreys; 18Jr Louie Jackson, Jr.; 21 Robert Delormier; 23 Mike Stacey; 1R Ricky Thompson; 33 Corey Winters
B-Features
B-Main 1: 1. 4G Greg Martin; 2. 1 Bill Mullin; 3. 2J Jenna David; 4. 52 Jessica Powers; 5. c21 Jeff Devolli; 6. 33 Corey Winters; 7. 1R Ricky Thompson; 8. 23 Mike Stacey
B-Main 2: 1. 1m Mathieu Desjardins; 2. 32R Ron Davis III; 3. 80 Steve Barber; 4. 67g Eric Giguere; 5. 1Rx Kyle Rohmer; 6. 22 Travis Miller; 7. 18Jr Louie Jackson, Jr.; 8. 21 Robert Delormier; 9. 85h Robert Humphreys
Qualifying Heats
Heat 1: 1. 25g Nick Guererri; 2. 5 Don Spatorico; 3. 7 Cody McPherson; 4. 92 Martin Pelletier; 5. 1T Tyler Dippel; 6. 1 Bill Mullin; 7. 4G Greg Martin; 8. 1R Ricky Thompson; 9. 52 Jessica Power
Heat 2: 1. 18 Brad Rouse; 2. 92J Joey Ladouceur; 3. 41 Boyd MacTavish; 4. 57b Frank Burnell; 5. 14 Brett Wright; 6. 2J Jenna David; 7. 23 Mike Stacey; 8. c21 Jeff Devolli; 9. 33 Corey Winters
Heat 3: 1. m1 Dave Marcuccilli; 2. 66 Dan Wiesner; 3. 79 Rocky Warner; 4. 0 Shane Pecore; 5. 8s Justin Sharp; 6. 1m Mathieu Desjardins; 7. 32R Ron Davis III; 8. 80 Steve Barber; 9. 85h Robert Humphreys; 10. 21 Robert Delormier
Heat 4: 1. 3a Adam Hilton; 2. 20x Kevin Ridley; 3. 54 Mark Chiddy; 4. 42 Daryl Nuttig; 5. 15 Earl Rudy; 6. 1Rx Kyle Rohmer; 7. 67g Eric Giguere; 8. 22 Travis Miller; 9. 18Jr Louie Jackson Jr.
Time Trials: 1. m1 Dave Marcuccilli, 22.242; 2. 3a Adam Hilton, 22.394; 3. 3 Don Spatorico, 22.411; 4. 66 Dan Wiesner, 22.412; 5. 25g Nick Guererri, 22.493; 6. 20x Kevin Ridley, 22.588; 7. 18 Brad Rouse, 22.605; 8. 92J Joey Ladouceur, 22.635; 9. 92 Martin Pelletier, 22.640; 10. 4G Greg Martin, 22.681; 11. 54 Mark Chiddy, 22.754; 12. 79 Rocky Warner, 22.771; 13. 7 Cody McPherson, 22.781; 14. 1T Tyler Dippel, 22.796; 15. 41 Boyd MacTavish, 22.801; 16. 57b Frank Burnell, 22.845; 17. 16 Earl Rudy, 22.861; 18. 8s Justin Sharp, 22.871; 19. 1Rx Kyle Rohmer, 22.986; 20. 80 Steve Barber, 22.997; 21. 0 Shane Pecore, 23.013; 22. 32R Ron Davis II, 23.015; 23. 42 Daryl Nuttig, 23.067; 24. 52 Jessica Power, 23.067; 25. 1m Mathieu Desjardins, 23.067; 26. 2J Jenna David, 23.123; 27. c21 Jeff Devolli, 23.132; 28. 1 Bill Mullin, 23.160; 29. 67g Eric Giguere, 23.217; 30. 33 Corey Winters, 23.280; 31. 14 Brett Wright, 23.313; 32. 85h Robert Humphreys, 23.499; 33. 18Jr Louie Jackson, Jr., 23.506; 34. 1R Ricky Thompson, 23.549; 35. 21 Robert Delormier, 23.630; 36. 23 Mike Stacey, 23.779; 37. 22 Travis Miller, 23.978
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region are brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Beyea Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow, TNT Rescue, and Wrisco Industries.