ROBBIE SPEED OPENS KOD PRO STOCK SEASON WITH WIN :Racers Guide

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Earns Saratoga Masonry Hard Charger Bonus With Dramatic Last Lap Pass

Story By:ROB HAZER / KOD SERIES MEDIA Photos By:DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM

Malta, NY- June 5, 2016 – To come from 28th place during any race, let alone a King Of Dirt Pro Stock event, one would have to have their drivers seat strapped to a missile. Friday night at Albany-Saratoga that missile just happens to reside in Mellenville and his name is Robbie Speed who used every single lap of the scheduled 30 to win the Pro Stock Series feature event.

Epic is a word often over used, but when you have three wide racing for multiple spots including the lead and one driver determined to storm from deep in the field, epic seems to be fitting as fans were treated to the King Of Dirt Pro Stock Classic at the great race place where Walt Brownell and Rob Yetman led the 32 car field to the green flag.

Brownell would take the early lead leaving defending KOD Pro Stock champion Nick Stone to battle with Yetman, Jimmy Eaton, and Chuck Dumblewski for top five positions.

Albany-Saratoga feature winner this season Brandon Emigh was throwing down for the crown with Dan Older, Bill Smith, and Jason Casey all battling for position inside the top 10.

Couple of early race yellows; one for Ed Thompson who got turned around when drivers checked up and one for a two car accident involving Zack Welch and KOD Pro Stock regular Gus Hollner. Both would be done for the evening with heavy front-end damage.

On the restart Brownell went back to the lead, while Stone and Yetman waged war for the runner up spot. The pair would run door-to-door for a number of laps until Yetman would take possession of 2nd.

Brandon Emigh was closing the gap to make it a four-car race for the top spot and some guys were starting to make their presence known. Dave Bissonnette started 10th and was now knocking on the door of a top five, while right behind him was Mike White who started 14th. Another driver charging hard was the Mellenville missile of Robbie Speed who’s scheduled starting spot was 28th.

Yellow came out close to the mid point of the race for the front running 8J of Jimmy Eaton who slowed on the back stretch. It was a tough end to a promising night for Eaton who returned to Pro Stock racing this season after some time off.

On the restart Yetman applied extreme pressure to Brownell for the top spot, actually taking the lead briefly. At the same time Emigh had made a move to take over 3rd from Stone and Bissonette made a move on Dumblewski at the same time Mike White made a move low making it 3-wide for position number five.

Byron Wescott, Jon Routhier, and Robbie Speed were battling now for a top 10 position. It was Speed’s first appearance in the top 10 after starting deep in the field.

Yellow on lap 23 would slow the field for Dave Depaulo who came to a stop in turn two with a flat right front tire. It would be time to re-stack the field and fire with double file restarts.

Brownell, Stone, Yetman, Emigh, Bissonette, Wescott, Dumblewski, White, Speed, and Routhier were sitting top 10 with just seven laps remaining in the King Of Dirt Pro Stock Classic at the great race place.

On the restart Brownell would take command of the race once again leaving Stone to fend off Yetman for the runner up spot, while at the same time Bissonette was making moves trying to wrestle 4th away from Emigh.

Arguably the story of the race started to unfold when Robbie Speed took over 6th place with just five laps left remaining in the Pro Stock Classic. Speed remember, started 28th on the grid and now found himself one spot out of the top five.

Yellow flag flew on lap 26 for a two-car incident involving Nick Arnold and Josh Rozelle. Both drivers were able to pull away under their own power. This set up a double file restart with just four laps remaining.

On the restart yellow flew immediately for another two-car jingle involving Bill Smith and Terry Ladouceur in turn number four. Both drivers would pull away under their own power and another restart was set.

On the restart Speed turned up the wick just a bit taking away the 5th spot from friend and fellow competitor Dave Bissonnette. One lap later the yellow flew again on lap 27 for Dan Older’s number 97 stopped in turn two.

Double file restart would see Brownell go back to the lead, with Yetman and Stone still door-to-door for the number two spot. Yellow flew again on lap 28 for the Norm Loubier number five stopped in turn two. One more restart to build on the excitement already surrounding an excellent show.

On the restart inadvertent contact between Stone, Yetman, and Emigh would open the door for Bissonnette to take the 5th spot back from Speed heading into turn one. Off turn two Speed would drive back under Bissonnette for the spot, while Emigh was pressuring Yetman for 3rd and right on the back bumper of Stone for 2nd.

While leader Walt Brownell came down the front stretch to take the white flag, Dan Wood had spun in turn two sitting sideways across the track. Yellow was quickly thrown after only about four cars crossed the stripe making the lap incomplete at the time of the yellow. This meant the field would revert back to the last completed lap, which was 28. This would prove to be an important moment to the Pro Stock Classic, which was an already an electrifying battle.

The field would be reset for a double file restart with a green, white, and checkered scenario at hand. Brownell established the race lead once again, as he’d been the car to beat all race long. Stone and Yetman again doing battle for 2nd place, which was a theme throughout the Pro Stock Classic. Robbie Speed was now pressuring Brandon Emigh for the 4th spot, as the field came down to take the white flag.

As Nick Stone and Rob Yetman entered turn one door-to-door with Stone on the bottom they touched ever so slightly resulting in Stone spinning and being struck by Emigh and DePaulo. A very tough break for the defending KOD Pro Stock Series champion who had been solid all night long, but this would bring out the yellow flag with one lap remaining.

This set up an amazing finish with Brownell, Yetman, Speed, White, and Bissonnette the top five with just one lap left in the King Of Dirt Pro Stock Classic.

On the restart Brownell and Yetman entered turn one side-by-side and the Brownell 87 pushed up just enough opening the door for guess who? The Mellenville Missile Robbie Speed from the 28th starting position tucked to the bottom drove under Brownell making it 3-wide for the race lead on the final lap.

Turn three Brownell tried a hard crossover making slight contact with Speeds 24 and Yetman try as he might on the topside couldn’t take the race lead, but grabbed the runner up spot. Robbie Speed picked up the win, Yetman 2nd, and Brownell 3rd. Rounding out the top 10 were Mike White, Chuck Dumblewski, Dave Bissonnette, Jason Casey, Dean Charbonneau, Luke Horning, and Terry Ladouceur.

“I was a little disappointed after the heat race, but my crew got to work hard on the car and gave me a fast hot rod. I kept my head clean, tried to run a clean race, and we did what we could to get here,” said Robbie Speed in Redline Graphics victory lane.

“First I’d like to thank Scott. He gives me a fast hot rod every week in and out. Rob Hazer for this whole KOD deal. I think it’s great that the Pro Stocks get to race for some extra laps and extra money, I really appreciate it. Lyle for a great track, this thing was a rocket tonight. The staff here is great, it’s like being at home every week. Mom and dad for putting up with me when I need to get the car done,” Speed concluded.

Next up for King Of Dirt Racing is a trip to the action track of the east Utica Rome Speedway for the highly anticipated first ever appearance of both the KOD Crate Sportsman and KOD Pro Stocks at the Vernon, NY speedway. Sunday June 12th both KOD divisions will be in action.

NOTES: 32 full-fender drivers checked in for the Pro Stock Classic, which was the 1st of two visits at the great race place for KOD Pro Stocks in 2016. This was the highest count to date for the Pro Stock division at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. Saratoga Masonry Hard Charger award was well earned as Robbie Speed started 28th and pulled off a dramatic last lap pass on both Rob Yetman and Walt Brownell to win. Mike White normally calls Utica Rome home on Sunday nights, but made his first trip to Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday June 3rd to compete in the King Of Dirt Pro Stock Series. White started 14th and worked his way to a solid 4th place run.

DIRTcar Pro Stock Tour standouts Dave “Bulldog” Bissonnette and Terry Ladouceur made the journey from Canada to join the KOD Pro Stock fold starting in Malta, NY. Their night started off eventful with a flat tire on their hauler and ended with solid finishes for both with Bissonnette 6th and Ladouceur 10th. Jason Casey started 12th and was involved in an early race jingle suffering a little body damage.

That didn’t slow Casey, as he restarted last and drove his way to a solid 7th place finish. Dean Charbonneau started 15th on the grid and patiently worked his way to a top 10 finish respectively crossing the line in 8th. Lebanon Valley regular Jon Routhier made the trip to Malta on Friday night for the KOD Pro Stock Tour. He started 17th and moved up to finish 11th respectively. Finally Luke Horning started 13th on Friday night and had a quiet, but productive night moving into the top 10 and finishing 9th.

For more information on the King Of Dirt Racing Series visit on the web at www.speedzoneonline.org.

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JUNE 3, 2016 LAZZARO’S AUTO BODY KING OF DIRT PRO STOCK SERIES PRESENTED BY SPEED’S GARAGE, STONE MOTORSPORTS, & A1-INSTALLERS PRO STOCK CLASSIC

FEATURE RESULTS (30 LAPS) – 1) ROBBIE SPEED, 2) Rob Yetman, 3) Walt Brownell, 4) Mike White, 5) Chuck Dumblewski, 6) Dave Bissonnette, 7) Jason Casey, 8) Dean Charbonneau, 9) Luke Horning, 10) Terry Ladouceur, 11) Jon Routhier, 12) Byron Wescott, 13) Dan Madigan, 14) Norm Loubier, 15) Devon Camenga, 16) Nick Stone, 17) Brandon Emigh, 18) Dan Older, 19) Dave DePaulo, 20) Danny Wood, 21) Pete Porter, 22) Josh Rozelle, 23) Bill Smith, 24) Chad Arsenault, 25) Nick Arnold, 26) Jimmy Eaton, 27) Kevin Loomis, 28) Kim Duell, 29) Zack Welch, 30) Gus Hollner, 31) Jay Casey, 32) Ed Thompson.

J-Tees KOD Pro Stock Heat Race #1 Results (8 Laps) – 1) WALT BROWNELL, 2) Bill Smith, 3) Jay Casey, 4) Nick Stone, 5) Luke Horning, 6) Zack Welch, 7) Norm Loubier, 8) Terry Ladouceur, 9) Dave DePaulo, 10) Robbie Speed, 11) Nick Arnold.

J-Tees KOD Pro Stock Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps) – 1) DAN OLDER, 2) Ed Thompson, 3) Brandon Emigh, 4) Jimmy Eaton, 5) Mike White, 6) Jon Routhier, 7) Gus Hollner, 8) Byron Wescott, 9) Kim Duell, 10) Kevin Loomis, 11) Chad Arsenault.

J-Tees KOD Pro Stock Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps) – 1) CHUCK DUMBLEWSKI, 2) Jason Casey, 3) Rob Yetman, 4) Dave Bissonnette, 5) Dean Charbonneau, 6) Danny Wood, 7) Pete Porter, 8) Dan Madigan, 9) Devon Camenga, 10) Josh Rozelle.

Saratoga Masonry Hard Charger ($100 Bonus) – Robbie Speed (28th To 1st)

Lap Leaders: Walt Brownell (1-14), Rob Yetman (15-17), Walt Brownell (18-29), Robbie Speed (30).
King Of Dirt Crate Sportsman Tour Schedule

06/12/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘602 Spring Fling’