Northeast Vintage club announces 2010 dates

By Ken McMillan | Published: January 15, 2010 | 0 Comments

The Northeast Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club has announced its tentative 2010 schedule. There will be plenty of visits to local race tracks Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, Accord Speedway and Bethel Motor Speedway in White Lake.
Feb. 26-28 — Ledgewood (N.J.) Mall Car Show (show only)
March 19-21 — Middletown Motorsports Show, Orange County Fair Arena (show only)
April 30 — Accord
May 1 — Rhinebeck Antique Auto Show, Dutchess County Fairgrounds (show only)
May 8 — OCFS
May 22 — Bethel
May 28 — Accord
June 5 — OCFS
June 25 — Accord
July 10 — OCFS, third annual Nostalgia Night (race and display)
July 23 — Afton Motor Speedway (race and display)
July 25 — Orange County Antique Auto Show, Montgomery (show only)
July 30 — Penn-Can Speedway, Susquehanna, Pa. (race and display)
Aug. 7 — Fonda Speedway
Aug. 14 — OCFS
Aug. 15 — Thunder Mountain Speedway, Center Lisle
Aug. 21 — Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon
Aug. 27 — Accord
Sept. 11 — OCFS
Sept. 25 — Accord, King of the Catskills
Oct. 8-9 — Five Mile Point Speedway, Kirkwood, N.Y. (displays both days, exhibition on Friday, open race on Saturday)
Oct. 24 — OCFS, Eastern States (race and display)

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Eastern States Sunday show postponed

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 18, 2009 | 0 Comments

The rain that was supposed to make a mess of Eastern States all weekend has finally done so.
The Sunday show, featuring the big-block modified 200-lap championship, has been postponed due to wet weather.
The event has been re-scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, with the racing to start at 11 a.m. The raindate for that event is Sunday, Nov. 8.
The last time the Eastern States had a postponement was 1995, when the Saturday card was rained out and held a week later.

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Make it a dozen for Brett Hearn (updated 9:17 p.m.)

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 17, 2009 | 0 Comments

Brett Hearn extended his Eastern States win record to 12 in the small-block modified division at Orange County Fair Speedway on Saturday afternoon.
Hearn was running third and Michael Storms fourth when both drivers shot by Tommy Meier and Rick Laubach on the 69th lap. Hearn had little trouble holding his lead, Storms didn’t have enough power to overtake him and Meier’s damaged left wheel snapped off on lap 98, dropping him from third to 24th.
Laubach finished third, David Van Horn Jr. was fourth, Tim Hindley was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Andy Bachetti, Pat Ward, Bobby Varin, Billy Decker and Jeremy Markle.
The small block trailers are moving out, and the sportsman trailers are moving in in the pits this afternoon. Race officials are hopeful to resume racing by 4 o’clock, with action in sportsman (time trials, heats, 50 lap championship), both pure stock divisions and the Capital Region Sprint Agency A-Main final.

Eastern States

358 modified

100-lap championship (extended to 104 laps due to cautions): 1. Brett Hearn; 2. Michael Storms; 3. Rick Laubach; 4. David Van Horn Jr.; 5. Tim Hindley; 6. Andy Bachetti; 7. Pat Ward; 8. Bobby Varin; 9. Billy Decker; 10. Jeremy Markle; 11. Danny Creeden; 12. Chuck McKee (103 laps); 13. Donnie Wilson (103); 14. Kirk Horton (103); 15. Mel Schrufer (102); 16. Erik Nelson (102); 17. Justin Holland (102); 18. Tim Bayles (102); 19. Matt Hitchcock (101); 20. John McGill (101); 21. Jimmy Spellmon (101); 22. Rich Coons (99); 23. Chris Stevens (98); 24. Tommy Meier (97); 25. Elmo Reckner (97); 26. Joe Giachinta (96); 27. Billy Eggers (95); 28. C.V. Elms (94); 29. John Ferrier (93); 30. Kyle Armstrong (89); 31. Chris Shultz (87); 32. Tim Fuller (66); 33. Jerry Higbie Jr. (57); 34. Richie Eurich (48); 35. Bobby Hentschel (29); 36. Kevin Ward (28); 37. Kenny Tremont (25); 38. Eddie Burgess (19); 39. Jeff Heotzler Jr. (6); 40. Kolby Schroder (5).

Consolation: 1. Jimmy Spellmon; 2. Bobby Hentschel; 3. Matt Hitchcock; 4. Billy Eggers; 5. Mel Schrufer; 6. Joe Giachinta; 7. Kevin Pettrucci; 8. Sammy Piazza; 9. Doc Young; 10. Billy Lowden Jr.

 

Modified

Heat 1: 1. Rick Mill; 2. Rick Laubach; 3. Jeff Heotzler Jr.; 4. Gary Edwards Jr.; 5. Jimmy Johnson; 6. Colin Jackson; 7. Mel Schrufer.

Heat 2: 1. Chuck McKee; 2. Pat Ward; 3. Andy Bachetti; 4. Bob McGannon; 5. Donnie Wilson; 6. Billy Lowden Jr.; 7. Erik Holmgren; 8. Butch Tittle.

Heat 3: 1. Tommy Meier; 2. Danny Creeden; 3. Michael Storms; 4. Craig Mitchell; 5. Kirk Horton; 6. Erik Nelson; 7. John Ferrier.

Heat 4: 1. Mitch Gibbs; 2. Kenny Tremont Jr.; 3. Chris Shultz; 4. Mike Kolka; 5. Billy Eggers; 6. Mel Schrufer; 7. Sammy Piazza.

Heat 5: 1. David Van Horn Jr.; 2. Tim Hindley; 3. Bobby Varin; 4. Ric Hill; 5. Jimmy Horton; 6. Kevin Duryea.

Heat 6: 1. Richie Eurich; 2. Steve Dodd; 3. Clinton Mills; 4. Jeremy Markle; 5. Tim Bayles

Starting grid for Sunday’s championship

Championship (200 laps): 1. Tim Fuller; 2. Matt Sheppard; 3. Brett Hearn; 4. Jerry Higbie Jr.; 5. Jimmy Phelps; 6. Billy Decker; 7. Rick Mill; 8. Chuck McKee; 9. Tommy Meier; 10. Mitch Gibbs; 11. David Van Horn Jr.; 12. Richie Eurich; 13. Rick Laubach; 14. Pat Ward; 15. Danny Creeden; 16. Kenny Tremont Jr.; 17. Tim Hindley; 18. Steve Dodd; 19. Jeff Heotzler Jr.; 20. Andy Bachetti; 21. Michael Storms; 22. Chris Shultz; 23. Bobby Varin; 24. Clinton Mills; 25. Gary Edwards Jr.; 26. Bob McGannon; 27. Craig Mitchell; 28. Mike Kolka; 29. Ric Hill; 30. Jeremy Markle (the remaining spots will be determined by Sunday consolation races and the guaranteed starter pool).

Sunday consolation pool: Jimmy Johnson; Colin Jackson; Mel Schrufer; Donnie Wilson; Billy Lowden Jr.; Erik Holmgren; Butch Tittle; Kirk Horton (guaranteed starter); Erik Nelson; John Ferrier; Billy Eggers; Mel Schrufer; Sammy Piazza; Jimmy Horton; Kevin Duryea; Tim Bayles.

 

Sportsman

Championship (50 laps): 1. Matt Hitchcock; 2. Joe Conklin; 3. Mike Ruggiero; 4. Bobby Hentschel; 5. Daryl Ford; 6. Frank Venezia; 7. Erik Holmgren; 8. Anthony Perrego; 9. Sammy Piazza; 10. Jeff Richardson; 11. Dion Naples; 12. Shane Jablonka; 13. Jimmy Spellmon; 14. Randy Sweetman; 15. John Aumick; 16. Kyle Cicio; 17. Kevin Ward (49 laps); 18. John Ferrier (44); 19. Matt Janiak (37); 20. Jake Schlagel (36); 21. Rich Coons (32); 22. Jeff Heotzler Jr. (25); 23. Al Archiere (25); 24. Roger Henion (12); 25. Rob Rowe (12); 26. Eddie Burgess (11); 27. Keith Still (11); 28. Tim Paul (10); 29. Kevin Petrucci (10). Disqualified: Mike Sabia (unsportsmanlike conduct).

Heat 1: 1. Erik Holmgren; 2. Jeff Richardson; 3. Frank Venezia; 4. Matt Janiak; 5. Kevin Petrucci; 6. Chris Stevens; 7. C.V. Elms; 8. Kyle Cicio; 9. Dion Naples; 10. Joe Wilgus.

Heat 2: 1. Eddie Burgess; 2. Kevin Ward; 3. Mike Sabia; 4. Randy Sweetman; 5. Scott Matthews; 6. Jake Schlagel; 7. Tim Paul; 8.Tony Montesi; 9. Joe Giachinta.

Heat 3: 1. John Ferrier; 2. Bobby Hentschel; 3. Jeff Heotzler Jr.; 4. John Aumick; 5. Keith Still; 6. Steve Pinto; 7. Rich Eggers; 8. Doc Young; 9. Mike VanTassel.

Heat 4: 1. Mike Ruggiero; 2. Rich Coons; 3. Anthony Perrego; 4. Justin Holland; 5. Al Archieri; 6. Robbie Knipe; 7. Shane Jablonka; 8. Rob Rowe; 9. Bobby Hassenmayer.

Consolation 1: 1. Keith Still; 2. Kevin Petrucci; 3. Kyle Cicio; 4. Dion Naples; 5. Steve Pinto; 6. Justin Holland; 7. Chris Stevens; 8. Mike VanTassel; 9. C.V. Elms; 10. Rich Eggers.

Consolation 2: 1. Jake Schlagel; 2. Tim Paul; 3. Rob Rowe; 4. Shane Jablonka; 5. Tony Montesi; 6. Scott Matthews; 7. Robbie Knipe; 8. Joe Wilgus; 9. Bobby Hassenmayer.

Time trials: 1. Joe Conklin 22.039 seconds (102.092 mph); 2. Sammy Piazza 22.163 (101.521); 3. Matt Hitchcock 22.177 (101.456); 4. Daryl Ford 22.217 (101.274); 5. Roger Henion 22.278 (100.996); 6. Jimmy Spellmon 22.337 (100.730); 7. Erik Holmgren 22.357 (100.640); 8. Eddie Burgess 22.359 (100.631); 9. Bobby Hentschel 22.377 (100.550); 10. Anthony Perrego 22.383 (100.523); 11. Frank Venezia 22.406 (100.420); 12. Kevin Ward 22.447 (100.236); 13. John Ferrier 22.452 (100.214); 14. Mike Ruggiero 22.458 (100.187); 15. Jeff Richardson 22.517; 16. Jake Schlagel 22.631; 17. John Aumick 22.632; 18. Rich Coons 22.635; 19. Matt Janiak 22.693; 20. Mike Sabia 22.699; 21. Jeff Heotzler Jr.; 22.775; 22. Shane Jablonka 22.795; 23. Kevin Petrucci 22.831; 24. Doc Young 22.836; 25. Justin Holland 22.871; 26. Chris Stevens 22.898; 27. Randy Sweetman 22.908; 28. Keith Still 22.909; 29. Robbie Knipe 23.003; 30. C.V. Elms 23.014; 31. Tim Paul 23.093; 32. Steve Pinto 23.097; 33. Al Archieri 23.124; 34. Dion Naples 23.137; 35. Tony Montesi 23.161; 36. Mike VanTassel 23.176; 37. Rob Rowe 23.290; 38. Kyle Cicio 23.327; 39. Scott Matthews 23.330; 40. Rich Eggers 23.800; 41. Bobby Hassenmayer 23.872; 42. Joe Wilgus 25.046; 43. Joe Giachinta no time.

 

Veteran pure stock

Championship (20 laps): 1. John Hechinger; 2. Emerson Cargain Sr.; 3. Ray Hall Sr.; 4. Bob Palmer; 5. Ray Hall Jr.; 6. Marty Van Neuiwland; 7. Chris Streeter; 8. Mike Vigiletti; 9. Joey Morey; 10. Stan Vishinski Sr.; 11. Ray Tarantino; 12. Chad Arsenault.

 

Amateur pure stock

Championship (20 laps): 1. Dave Van Sise; 2. Charles Donald; 3. Stan Vishinski Jr.; 4. Kyle Pepin; 5. Mike Consales; 6. Jim Maher; 7. Joe Paino; 8. Tom Shortway; 9. Tom Talamini Sr.; 10. Harry Shortway; 11. Stephen Kammer; 12. Frank Thissen; 13. Matt Burke; 14. Michael Jones; 15. Ron Constable.

 

Capital Region Sprint Agency

Championship (25 laps); 1. Dylan Swiernik; 2. John Matrafailo; 3. Jeff VanSteenburg; 4. John Lodini; 5. Chad King; 6. Matt Tanner; 7. Craig Rochelle; 8. Tyler Rice; 9. John Cunningham; 10. Bill Jaycox; 11. Jimmy McCaffrey; 12. Tim Damiani (24 laps); 13. Bruno Leombruno (23); 14. John Leombruno (23); 15. Dan Hennessy (18); 16. Jeremy Quick (13); 17. Chuck Alessi (4).

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Fuller brushes to big block trials triumph

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Tim Fuller has earned the starting pole position for Sunday’s Eastern States 200 big block modified championship. Fuller was the lead time trialer on Friday afternoon at Orange County Fair Speedway.
Fuller, Matt Sheppard, Brett Hearn, Jerry Higbie Jr., Jimmy Phelps and Billy Decker secured the top six starting spots.
Fuller went out in the second group of trialers and posted a fast lap of 20.721 seconds on his second circuit.

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Syracuse champ Sheppard finally shows up

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Super DIRT Week modified champion Matt Sheppard is a late arrival to Orange County Fair Speedway, but better late than never.
Sheppard’s white tractor trailer entered the infield shortly before 3 p.m., but after the modified cars had taken hot laps practice. We’ll see if track officials will let Sheppard shake down his car before the upcoming time trials.

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Meier earns pole position for 358 finale

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Orange County Fair Speedway multiple-division champion Tommy Meier earned the pole position for Saturday’s Eastern States 100 small-block modified championship by posting the fastest time trial on Friday afternoon. Rounding out the top six starting spots are Rick Laubach, Billy Decker, Michael Storms, Brett Hearn and David Van Horn Jr.
Banished to the qualifying heats were Nos. 7-10 trialers Tim Fuller, Kenny Tremont, Tim Hindley and Danny Creeden. They were followed by Andy Bachetti, Jerry Higbie Jr., Chris Shultz, Pat Ward and Richie Eurich.
Meier was the 12th driver to take turns on Friday. He posted a time of 21.529 seconds around the 5/8ths-mile on his first circuit and a 21.158 on his second lap.

Unofficial results (I have not received the timing sheets yet)
Time trials: 1. Tommy Meier 21.158 seconds; 2. Rick Laubach 21.306; 3. Billy Decker 21.545; 4. Michael Storms 21.577; 5. Brett Hearn 21.590; 6. David Van Horn Jr. 21.610; 7. Tim Fuller 21.721; 8. Kenny Tremont 21.772; 9. Tim Hindley 21.955; 10. Danny Creeden 22.005; 11. Andy Bachetti 22.039; 12. Jerry Higbie Jr. 22.051; 13. Chris Shultz 22.061; 14. Pat Ward 22.152; 15. Richie Eurich 22.340

Bobby Varin 22.413; Billy Eggers 22.465; Kirk Horton 22.483; Donnie Wilson 22.519; Elmo Reckner 22.531; Mel Schrufer 22.577; Chuck McKee 22.787; John Ferrier 23.068; Tim Bayles 23.287; John McGill 23.385; Erik Nelson 23.460; Jeremy Markle 23.530; Eddie Burgess 23.569; Justin Holland 23.613; Rich Coons 23.665; Kevin Petrucci 23.694; Jeff Heotzler Jr. 24.105; Billy Lowden Jr. 24.429; Chris Stevens 24.447; C.V. Elms 24.576; Doc Young 25.053

 

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It’s a green flag for Friday racing

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

The time trials for the 358 modifieds is set to begin at Orange County Fair Speedway, and it doesn’t appear there will be any weather issues the remainder of the day.
Only 42 cars signed up for small-block modiifeds and just 48 for the modified division — this is a bit down from what race organizers had counted on, but the weather forecast surely kept some drivers away. Plus, DIRT MotorSports is running a 358 modified event in Ontario this weekend.

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You can’t always trust the weatherman

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

It’s Friday morning at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, and the weather is rather nice, considering the awful forecasts for the weekend. It’s partly cloudy, the sun is poking through the clouds to the south and it’s chilly, temps in the low 40s. There are gray clouds to the west, and that’s where the next round of storms may be coming from but not for a couple hours at least. A futurecast shows Middletown escaping two small rain cells to the north and the south around 2 p.m., so the Speedway may be spared for opening day.
There is already a bustle of activity in the pits area with hot laps practice scheduled to go off around noon. If they hustle, perhaps they can get most of the time trials and heats in before any more rain arrives.
Will keep you posted …

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Middletown weather not so promising for racing

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

No matter the weather website, the forecast for this weekend’s Eastern States is dismal at best. These are some forecasts as of 8 p.m. Thursday:

FRIDAY
AccuWeather: Temperatures in the upper 30s; rain forecast for the hours of 10 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 4-7 p.m., 10 p.m.
Intellicast: Rain, snow and light rain forecast throughout the day, 60-80 percent chance through 6 p.m., a dip to 30 percent and raising in late evening
Weather Underground: Chance of precipitation (rain-snow) 90-100 percent from early morning until late at night, temps in mid 30s

SATURDAY
AccuWeather: Temperatures in the upper 30s in the morning, lower 40s in the afternoon; upper 30s in the evening; rain forecast from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday, then 3 a.m. through 6 a.m.
Intellicast: Showers throughout morning, then rain; chance of precip above 50 percent forst most of day, rising in the afternoon
Weather Underground: FIfty percent chance of precipitation (rain-snow) from overnight until late morning, rising to 70 percent, temps from mid to upper 30s

SUNDAY
AccuWeather: Cold, with a high of 44 degrees; chance for rain or snow shower in morning, and a bit of rain in the afternoon
Weather Underground: Chance of precipitation (rain-snow) 80 percent the entire day, temps from low 30s in morning to 40 by 2 p.m. before falling again

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OCFS Thursday afternoon update

By Ken McMillan | Published: October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Mike Gurda glanced outside the window of his offices at Orange County Fair Speedway and had to laugh. A wet snow was falling outside on Thursday afternoon, some 18 hours before the opening of the 48th annual Eastern States. The vaunted “hard clay’’ on the track resembled more of a slick, gooey mud.
Gurda, the Fairgrounds owner and co-promoter of the Speedway, said his staff has pondered many scenarios to enact given the wet weather and forecast for more over the next three days. The worst-case scenario would be a complete postponement, and one option calls for just Sunday racing.
One thing is for sure: Eastern States will not be postponed to the Oct. 23-25 weekend, nor the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 weekend due to racing events at other tracks in the Northeast. The earliest consideration for a re-schedule would be Nov. 6-8, and the event might be squeezed into two days rather than three.
The Friday schedule calls for time trials and heat races for big-block and small-block modifieds starting at noon, plus heat races and a B-Main final for the visiting Capital Region Sprint Agency. OCFS general manager Kenny Sands said the program could be pushed into the evening as necessary.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 31 modified entries, 26 for small block, 22 sportsman, eight pro stock, 18 pure stock and 53 sprint cars. Many drivers will sign up on Friday and Saturday. Nineteen-time champion Brett Hearn is expected to appear, as will top DIRT standouts Billy Decker, Pat Ward and Matt Sheppard.
Guaranteed starters for the modified race include OCFS co-champions Jerry Higbie Jr. and Chuck McKee, Decker and any top-10 points finisher at OCFS. In 358s, McKee and Kirk Horton have spots in the field, plus any top-5 points finisher at OCFS. Frank Venezia and OCFS champ Mike Ruggiero will join any top-10 OCFS finisher in the sportsman field. OCFS champ Bill Pascual has a spot in the pro stock final.

Entries as of 4 p.m. Thursday (some drivers will sign up upon arrival Friday and Saturday):
Modified — Jimmy Johnson (1J); Billy Lowden Jr. (1L); Butch Tittle (Z); Rick Laubach (5); Donnie Wilson (7); Kirk Horton (7K); Rich Eurich (10); Chuck McKee (19); Craig Hanson (20C); Clinton Mills (21); Randy Chrysler (21K); Bob McGannon (21M); Roger Chrysler (T21); Chris Shultz (24); Mike Kolka (25); Matt Hitchcock (33); Tommy Meier (33 1/3); Andy Bachetti (34); Frank Cozze (44); Ric Hill (53); Jerry Higbie Jr. (66); David Van Horn Jr. (71); Rick Mill (73); Mel Schrufer (84); Steve Dodd (88); Craig Mitchell (93x); Jimmy Phelps (98H); Billy Eggers (157); John Ferrier (220); Mitch Gibbs (673); Colin Jackson (923)
358 modified — Billy Lowden Jr. (1L); Eddie Burgess (2X); Donnie Wilson (4B); Bobby Henstchel (4SL); C.V. Elms (6); Kirk Horton (7K); Rich Eurich (10); Jeff Heotzler Jr. (J17); Roger Chrysler (T21); Randy Chrysler (21K); Doc Young (22); Chris Shultz (24); Kevin Petrucci (24); Rich Coons (27); Frank Venezia (27); Jimmy Spellmon (28); Tommy Meier (33 1/3); Matt Hitchcock (33); Andy Bachetti (34); John McGill (62); David Van Horn Jr. (71); Mel Schrufer (84); Kevin Duryea (99K); Billy Eggers (157); Chuck McKee (211); John Ferrier (220)

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