52ND MODIFIED HEATH MEMORIAL 40 ON SUNDAY TO DECIDE TRACK TITLE AND SUMMER SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP.
Story By: ANDREW HARPELL / FMP SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
KIRKWOOD, NY.- August 25, 2016-The third time will be the charm this Sunday as Five Mile Point Speedway will try for the third time to hold the 52nd Heath Memorial for Modifieds. This Saturday and Sunday is Season Championship Weekend. Track Championships will be decided in all classes over two days. Racing on Saturday begins at 7 p.m. with racing set for 6 p.m. this Sunday. This Sunday will also serve as the title race for the Summer Slam Series.
On Saturday evening Season Championship events will be held for the Crate Sportsman, Factory Stocks, Lightning Cat Experts and Novices as well as the Slingshots. All of the 2016 Track Championships will be decided in those events on Saturday. Racing on Saturday begins at 7 p.m. with all kids 12 years old and younger being admitted FREE of charge.
On Sunday, racing will begin at 6 p.m. for the 52nd edition of the Heath Memorial for Modifieds. The 40 lap race will pay $2,500 to win, $1,000 for second and $160 to take the green. The race will be the Season Championship title race as well as the title race for the Sunday Summer Slam Series. The IMCA Modifieds will be racing for their 2016 Track Championship as well on Sunday with twin events. The FWD Four Cylinders, Factory Stocks and Xcel 600 Mods will round out the card on Sunday. Drivers from the past will also be recognized with the Former Racer’s Reunion.
Saturday Track Championship events will see a lot on the line as the Track Titles have yet to be decided. Six-time Crate Sportsman feature winner Kyle Rohner will be looking to wrap up his first title at the speedway as he currently leads the standings. Ryan Brockner is the current point leader in the Factory Stock division entering Season Championship night. Lightning Cat competition this season has been intense. Currently Adam Gilbert is the Expert point leader entering the final point race on Saturday. Jimmy DiFulvio is the current point leader in the Novice division. In the Slingshots, defending Track Champion Dalton Maynard leads the standings. All of those track titles will be decided on Saturday.
On Sunday the Modified Track Championship will be decided. Defending Modified Track Champion Shaun Walker currently leads the point standings over Mike Colsten who won the previous two Track Championships in the division. The 40 lap Heath Memorial will settle the track title for the first time in the 52 years that the race has been held. The Sunday Modified 40 lapper will also settle the score in the Summer Slam Series. Currently Danny Johnson leads the points over Jerry Higbie, Jr.
Two-time IMCA Modfiied Track Champion Matt Cole is the current point leader entering their championship event on Sunday. He currently leads the standings over James Cornell. Two feature events for the division will settle the championship battle. The Xcel 600 Modifieds will be in competition on Sunday for their final Summer Slam Series event for this season. The Series for the 600 Modifieds will only be two races due to rain-outs but nonetheless a title will be decided on Sunday for the small car stars. FWD 4 Cylinders and Factory Stocks will round out the program. Driver’s from the past will be recognized as part of the Former Racer’s Reunion.
Be a part of the two days of excitement for Season Championship weekend this Saturday and Sunday at Five Mile Point Speedway. The teams worked all winter long on their machines and have raced throughout the summer months looking for Championship Titles. This weekend will decide all of it. Racing on Saturday begins at 7 p.m. with racing set for a 6 p.m. start on Sunday.
For additional information please log on to www.5milepointspeedway.com or phone the speedway offices at 607-775-5555. Free weekend camping and parking and kids 12 and younger are always admitted free at Five Mile Point Speedway.
PAST HEATH MEMORIAL WINNERS: (1965 DeForest Chalker, 1966 Larry Groover, 1967 Red Harrington, 1968 Lester Greene, 1969 Norm Norton, 1970 Stan Ploski, 1971 Dave Kneisel, 1972 Chuck Akulis, 1973 Dave Kneisel, 1974 Dave Kneisel, 1975 Kenny Moore, 1976 Carl Nagel, 1977 Norm Norton, 1978 Don Slack, 1979 Kerry Schloder, 1980 Bernie Griffin and Carl Reynolds, 1981 Chuck Akulis, 1982 Chuck Akulis, 1983 Don Slack, 1984 Carl Nagel, 1985 Chuck Akulis, 1986 Carl Nagel, 1987 Dick Sundgren, 1988 Mark Terry, 1989 Dave Doig, 1990 Mike Colsten, 1991 Mike Colsten, 1992 Chuck Akulis, 1993 Doug Worthing, 1994 Mike Colsten, 1995 Chuck Akulis, 1996 Chuck Akulis, 1997 Mike Clapperton, 1998 Jim Crawn, 1999 Tim French, 2000 Eddie White, 2001 Mitch Gibbs, 2002 Mitch Gibbs, 2003 Dan Vauter, 2004 Don Hart Jr., 2005 Gary Griffin, 2006 Mitch Gibbs, 2007 Stewart Friesen, 2008 Joey Grammes, 2009 Jerry Higbie Jr., 2010 Stewart Friesen, 2011, 2012 Brian Weaver, 2013 Pat Ward, 2014 Mike Colsten, 2015 Tyler Siri.
* Twin 30 races were run in 1980 – Chuck Akulis was the overall winner of the two events.
