DONNIE LAWSON COASTS FOR FIRST INSINGER MODIFIED FEATURE WIN OF 2022 AT WOODHULL RACEWAY

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Other first- time winners include Brian Knowles in RUSH Crate LM, Josh Nobriga in Crate Sportsman, Rick Amidon in Mini Stocks, Dan Gardner takes Street Feature and Mike Spencer in Hobby Stocks. Ryan Austin and Bradly Morseman remain perfect

Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.

(Woodhull, NY) With clear blue skies and cold temperatures, the Woodhull Raceway was able to get their second consecutive race event into the 2022 record books as the track closed the curtain on the
month of April.

Last Saturday, Donnie Lawson brough out a new machine and suffered mightily with one issue after another. This week he returned to his older tried and true Modified and it paid big dividends as the veteran, Jasper Troupsburg school teacher waxed the field in route to his first $1,200 to win Insinger Performance Modified feature of 2022 at the historic Steuben County speed plant. By the luck of the re-draw, Lawson pulled an upfront starting spot, wrestled the lead away from Bob Silvernail on the opening
lap and cruised to the popular victory. Lawson opened over a full straight away advantage over Silvernail as the battle for third on back was rush hour traffic including the likes of opening night winner, Billy VanPelt, Brady Fultz, Joe Dgien and Russ Morseman. Ironically, the only caution flag of the event waved on white flag lap twenty-four as the third place running machine of Billy VanPelt stopped in turn three, but on the ensuing restart no one had anything for the high -flying Lawson as he held off Silvernail for the win. Jake Dgien began the event in fifth starting row, passed several exceptionally good cars under green flag conditions and was all over Silvernail like a cheap shirt when the double checkered flags waved and had to settle for a well deserved third place finish. Brady Fultz and Joe Dgien ran with the lead pack throughout the entire twenty -five lap grind and the pair would complete the top five finishers.

Standout competitor, Josh Nobriga is still waiting for parts to finish his Modified ride for the 2022 season, so for the second week in a row good friend, Will Wood put him into the seat of his potent Crate Sportsman machine.  Nobriga took full advantage of a good upfront starting spot to lead the entire distance in picking up his first NAPA Crate Sportsman feature event of the season.  Numerous caution flags would slow the pace and keep the field bunched as Blake Lawson was trying desperately to duplicate his dad, Donnie’s earlier evening feature event win.  However, Nobriga was too much to manage with Lawson having to settle for his second runner-up finish in as many weeks.  Veteran wheelman, Stacy Jackson held off Teddy Morseman and lady competitor, Isabel Barron as the trio finished the event nose to tail in claiming third thru fifth.

Pork Chop Brian Knowles looked poised to win the season opener last week in the Armstrong RUSH Crate Late Models, however a broken suspension cost him the win.  But last year’s class Track Champion was not to be denied on this night as he put on a flawless driving performance in nailing his first trip to victory lane during the “22” campaign.  Aaron Miller and Brett Marlatt may be registered as Crate Late Model class Rookies, but the pair have plenty of seat time in other divisions and will not be intimidated by anyone.  Miller dogged Knowles right until the final checkered flag but had to settle for second place while Marlatt came home in fourth.  Clayton Tarabori engaged in a slug fest with Marlatt throughout the entire twenty lap feature and at the double checkered flags was sandwiched in between Miller and Marlatt in claiming the third and final podium spot.  Jason McGregor put on a steady performance in finishing fifth.

Mike Spencer is one of the better liked racers in the Woodhull Raceway pit area and after suffering a late race defeat in last week’s Hobby Stock A Main, Spencer dogged race leader, Brian Austin who looked poised to win his first ever Hobby feature at the track, was able to clear him with the white flag waving and went on to his first win of the 2022 season.  For Austin it was a real heartbreaker after he and Spencer fought tooth and nail for the entire twenty lap affair.  Following Spencer and Austin to the stripe it was opening night feature winner, Jeredd Dennis who had to come from the tail of the field in claiming third, Joe Birdsell was fourth across the line while Kaiden Dgien rounded the top five.

Dan Gardner had a great finish to the 2021 season, and he has picked up right where he left off in nailing his first feature win of the “22” season in the Joe Willcox Performance Street Stock Division.  For Gardner it was total domination of the twenty-lap feature with last week’s feature winner, current high point man and last season’s Street Stock Track Champion, Brett Crawford coming home for second.  Once Crawford cleared traffic, he had to make up a full straight away between himself and Gardner, however with no caution flags to help his cause Crawford had to settle for the runner-up position while Travis Webster took home third place laurels.  Mick the Quick Seeley put on another of his patented steady performances to claim fourth with Brandon Morseman recovering from hot lap mechanical woes which kept him from a qualifying heat race to take home fifth place money.

For the second straight week, Ryan Austin blistered the field in the green to checkered Front Wheel Drive feature event and looks poised to visit victory lane many more time this season.  A pair of Kevin’s in Kevin Doud and Kevin Bacon rounded the top three podium finishing positions with Derrick Evans and Wesley Houghtaling completing the top five finishing order.

Like Ryan Austin before him, Bradly Morseman kept his perfect season alive with a runaway win in the Wicked Tee’s Warrior Division.  For Morseman it was clear sailing throughout the event with last week’s runner-up Marshall O’Brian once again chasing Morseman to victory lane while Keyley Bacon placed third, Courtney Morseman fourth and Jayden Stone taking fifth place.

Last but certainly not least, the Wicked Tee’s Mini Stock wrapped up the Great 8 Show with veteran class wheelman, Rick Amidon claiming his first feature of the season.  For Amidon it was an incredibly special and emotional victory lane as he dedicated the win to his late Grandfather, Paul on what would be his birthday.  The history of the Amidon Family runs deep in Southern Tier Racing as Paul Amidon was the designer, builder and owner of the Hornell Speedway which was a hot spot for local racers from the late 50’s thru the mid 60’s.  Many of the top pilots of that time were regulars at the facility and the Amidon presence continues today with both Rick and his son, Brody Amidon begin key players in the Woodhull Raceway Wicked Tee’s Mini Stock Division with Brody, now a college student claiming the 2021 track title.  Jason Warner kept up the pressure on Rick Amidon throughout the entire fifteen lap feature but came up just a few car lengths shy in claiming second with former Crate Sportsman lady competitor, Danielle Thomas holding off her significant other, Travis Southard as the pair would take home third and fourth at the finish.  New-comer, Caleb Heintzenrater put on a steady run in chasing the top four across the line to claim fifth.

Congratulations to all competitors!

Up next at Woodhull on Saturday, May 7, 2022 it will be the first of two 2022 appearances on the high banked one-third of a mile red clay oval for the Patriot Sprint Tour as the Wonderful Winged 360 Sprints will be on the card as Alfred State College will present the night of exciting race action. 

Gates open at 4:30 with racing at 6:30 pm.

For updates including a look at the local weather forecast and race day agenda go to www.Facebook.com/WoodhullRaceway/.

The complete 2022 schedule of events, points, rules and more is just a click away at www.woodhullraceway.com.

WOODHULL RACEWAY QUICK RESULTS.  4/30/2022 UNOFFICIAL!

Kickin’ Country 105.3 FM, Hornell, NY Night.

Car counts based on opening night draw and sign in.  Not on how many cars start features. 

INSINGER PERFORMANCE MODIFIEDS.  (14 cars)

25 lap feature.  DONNIE LAWSON, Bob Silvernail, Jake Dgien, Brady Fultz, Joe Dgien, Russell Morseman, Brian Doolittle, Billy VanPelt, Dayton Brewer, Aiden Groover, Steve Coots, Greg Turner, Tony Harris, Mike Bills.

NAPA CRATE SPORTSMAN.   (15 cars)

25 lap feature.  JOSH NOBRIGA, Blake Lawson, Stacy Jackson, Teddy Morseman, Isabel Barron, David Mayo, Tim Guild, Cayden Lawson, Josh Makatura, Levi Riley, Kenny Peoples Jr., Art Goodier, AJ Costley, Hunter Stoddard. 

ARMSTRONG RUSH CRATE LATE MODELS.  (12 cars)

20 lap feature.  BRIAN KNOWLES, Aaron Miller, Clayton Tarabori, Brett Marlatt, Jason McGregor, John Haggerty, Joe Layfield, Austin Allen, Jacob Tubbs, Jim Buck, Ricky Loucks, Jason Knowles. 

JOE WILLCOX PERFORMANCE STREET STOCKS.  (10 cars)

20 lap feature.  DAN GARDNER, Brett Crawford, Travis Webster, Mick Seeley, Brandon Morseman, Luke Boom, Mike Williams, Roland Duell, Jesse Tuthill, Dennis Loucks. 

HOBBY STOCKS.  (15 cars)

20 lap feature.  MIKE SPENCER, Brian Austin, Jeredd Dennis, Joe Birdsall, Kaiden Dgien, Paul Dgien, Scott Brown, Brandon Conklin, Mike Carapella, Greg Young, Brent Williams, Keegan Smith, Meadow Dgien, Dillon Phillip, Wayne Robertson,

BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S MINI STOCKS.  (8 cars)

15 lap feature.  RICK AMIDON, Jason Warner, Danielle Thomas, Travis Southard, Caleb Heintzenrater, Brian Grant, Ryan Stone, Dillon Morseman

FWD.  (5 cars)

15 lap feature.  RYAN AUSTIN (2), Kevin Doud, Kevin Bacon, Derrick Evans.  Wesley Houghtaling

BIG JIM’S WICKED TEE’S WARRIORS.  (6 cars)

10 lap feature.  BRADLY MORSEMAN (2), Marshall O’Brien, Kayley Bacon, Courtney Morseman, Jayden Stone, Kayleigh Morseman

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