Brett Tonkin’s Misfortune Gives Afton Modified Win To Rusty Smith

Story By: JR KENNERUP / AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK – AFTON, NY – The second week of racing at the Afton Motorsports Park saw three new feature winners in the Modified and both Sportsman divisions. While in the Street Stock, IMCA Modified, and Four Cylinder Truck divisions there were repeat feature winners.

The ZMK Construction Modified feature saw Rusty Smith inherit the lead when leader Brett Tonkin broke a rear end with nine laps to go. Smith went on to the popular win over JR Hurlburt, Mitch Gibbs, Jeremy Smith, and Darwin R. Greene.

The Chambers & O’ Hara Open Sportsman feature was all Brian Mady who won his first ever Afton feature. Mady led flag to flag over Tyler Hart, Brandon Kuhn, Steve Andersen, and Bill Spoonhower.

The Butler Auto Sales Crate Sportsman feature saw defending track champion Cody Clark take the win over Corey Cormier, Gary Smith, Matt Roberts, and Tyler Ward.

The Rinker Insurance Agency Street Stocks for the second week in a row the win went to Butch Green in the Holcomb Racing entry over Dustin Harris, Jerry Lobdell, Jr., Shawn Boynton, and Dave Cronk.

The Trophy Guy IMCA Modifieds saw James Cornell take the feature win for the second week in a row over Tyler Stoddard, Beau Ballard, Tim Vandemark, and Bill Nichols.

The Four Cylinder Truck feature also for the second week in a row was captured by Ralph Cuozzo over Bob Crandall, Jeff Young, Brandon Loucks, and Pete Christensen.

Rusty Smith and Brett Tonkin brought the Modified 30 lap feature field to green with Tonkin grabbing the lead over Smith, Paul Jensen, JR Hurlburt, and Nick Nye. Hurlburt got past Jensen for third on lap six and set sail after the leading duo.

With the race staying under green flag conditions the Smith car was becoming quicker and quicker each passing lap and on lap ten he got past Tonkin for the lead. Smith entered heavy lap traffic one lap later but he sliced through these cars with ease to keep a comfortable lead.

The first yellow of the race came out on lap 13 as Jensen and Nye both got tangled up with a lap car to end both of their nights.

On the double file restart Tonkin once again was able to get the jump on Smith to grab the lead over Hurlburt, Mitch Gibbs, and Jeremy Smith.

The action behind the top five was hotly contested to say the least with a gaggle of cars all racing for positions sixth through tenth.

Tonkin’s great run ended on lap 21 as the rear end broke entering turn one to bring out the caution. Rusty Smith was now handed the lead over Hurlburt, Gibbs, Jeremy Smith, and Darwin R. Greene.

On the lap 21 restart Hurlburt tried to sneak under Smith for the lead but Smith would have nothing of it. Despite one final restart with six laps to go Rusty Smith in for the popular win over Hurlburt, Gibbs, Jeremy Smith, and Greene.

Qualifying for the 24 car field saw heat wins go to Rusty Smith, Tonkin, and Jensen.

Brian Mady and Brandon Kuhn brought the Open Sportsman 20 lap feature to green with Mady grabbing the lead over Kuhn, Tyler Hart, Claude Hutchings, Jr., and Butch Klinger.

On a lap four restart Hutchings jumped the birm in turn two and this allowed Steve Andersen to go to fourth and Bill Deckleman to fifth.

With Mady opening up his lead even more lap after lap all eyes turned to the great racing taking place for second between Kuhn and Hart. Behind them more great racing was taking place for positions five, six, seven, and eight with Deckleman, Hutchings, Bill Spoonhower, and Klinger all doing battle.

With eight laps to go Mady entered heavy lap traffic but that didn’t phase him one bit as he raced through it with ease. With Mady way out in front a blanket could have been tossed over the next seven positions.

With the white flag waving Kuhn slipped up the track and this allowed Hart to take second and at the same time Spoonhower went from eighth to fifth.

Mady in for the win over Hart, Kuhn, Andersen, and Spoonhower.

Qualifying for the 20 car field saw heat wins won by Mady, Kuhn, and Hart

Tyler Ward and Matt Roberts brought the Crate Sportsman 20 lap feature to green with Ward getting the lead over Cody Clark, Roberts, Gary Smith, and Rob Loucks.

Last weeks feature winner Corey Cormier moved into fifth on lap two.

Clark was able to wrestle the lead away from Ward on a lap three restart with Cormier going from fifth to third and Blaine Klinger going from eighth to fifth. Klinger got past Roberts for fourth on lap four and set his sights on the top running trio of Clark, Ward, and Cormier.

With the remainder of the feature staying under green flag conditions and racing in lap traffic made things interesting at times for a majority of the top five.

With four laps to go Cormier was able to slip under Ward for second and one lap later Klinger who was in fourth slipped out of the groove and this allowed Gary Smith to go from seventh to fourth and Roberts moved back into fifth.

Veteran driver Smith continued his charge to the front as he took third from Ward with two laps to go.

Clark in for the win over Cormier, Smith, Roberts, and Ward.

Qualifying heats for the 19 car field were captured by Ward, Roberts, and Clark.

Jerry Lobdell, Jr. and Jonathon Fowlston brought the Street Stock feature to green with Lobdell getting the lead over Butch Green, Dustin Harris, Shawn Boynton, and Fowlston.

The top four cars pulled away from the rest of the field while Dave Cronk moved into fifth on lap four.

Green applied relentless pressure on Lobdell for the lead and it paid off as he took the lead on lap nine.

Harris was able to move into second on lap 12 as Lobdell slipped out of the groove.

With the feature going caution free, Green in for the win over Harris, Lobdell, Boynton, and Cronk.

Due to a small number of entries, eight, no qualifying heat races were conducted.

Tim Vandemark and Bill Nichols brought the IMCA Modified 20 lap feature to green with Vandemark taking the lead over Tyler Stoddard, James Cornell, Jake Maynard, and Gary Roberts.

Second generation racer Stoddard took the lead on lap two and at the same time Maynard slipped past Cornell for third.

Maynard continued his charge to the front as he motored around Vandemark for second on lap three, but one lap later got into the loose stuff and lost two spots.

Stoddard was in full control of the race on lap five, Cornell got past Vandemark for second on this lap and set sail after Stoddard.

Cornell was able to catch and pass Stoddard for the lead on lap eight. Meanwhile Beau Ballard moved into third with Maynard and Vandemark rounding out the top five.

Just like a week ago when Cornell got the lead he was pressured for the lead, as Stoddard stayed right on the back bumper of the Cornell machine. Meanwhile Ballard and Maynard were swapping paint for third and the resulting contact by both forced both of them to spin out on lap 17.

Cornell in for the win over Stoddard, Ballard, Vandemark, and Nichols.

Stoddard won the qualifying event for the eight car field.

Jerry Lanfair and Derrick Brundege brought the Four Cylinder Truck 15 lap feature to green with Lanfair grabbing the lead over Bob Crandall, Ralph Cuozzo, Brandon Loucks, and Pete Christensen.

Cuozzo who started seventh made quick work of the field as he moved into the lead on lap two with a three wide inside turn two pass for the lead.

With Cuozzo out in front and Crandall chasing him a good race for third was taking place between Lanfair, Loucks, and Jeff Young. The good run of Lanfair was sidelined with a flat right rear tire sending him pit side.

Cuozzo in for his second consecutive win over Crandall, Young, Loucks, and Pete Christensen.

No qualifying events were held for the field of nine.

NOTES; despite the extra work during the week put in by the track maintenance crew in removing the new surface, the track still did end up being soft and rough in spots. Track promoter Ron Ford and his staff vowed to once again put in many long hours to get the track straightened out, plus Mother Nature needs to co – operate too. For the second consecutive week Craig Hanson claimed the Consla Stone Products Hard Charger Award in the Modifieds worth $100 and this award will be a weekly award. The Trophy Guy has signed on to be the division sponsor for the IMCA Modifieds. Tired Iron Repair of Saquoit, NY came on board as the Kids Club sponsor this past week. Once again the inside track marking uke tires took a beating on this night. Track management would like to thank all of the Modifieds and IMCA Modifieds who brought their car over to the midway at intermission for Fan Appreciation Night, which was very popular with the fans.

Next week a big seven division show, with no increase in admission will kick off the Memorial Day Weekend as the Lightening Sprints join the card and it will be their Fan Appreciation Night. Also on the card are the ZMKConstruction Modifieds, Chambers & O’ Hara Open Sportsman, Butler Auto Sales Crate Sportsman, Rinker Insurance Agency Street Stocks, The Trophy Guy IMCA Modifieds, and the Four Cylinder Trucks. Pit gates open at 4, grandstand gates open at 4:30, hot laps are at 6 pm, and the first heat goes green at 7 pm sharp. Pit admission is $30 with no license required, grandstand admission is $12, senior citizens age 62 and up are $10, youth aged 9 to 14 are $5, and 8 and under are free with a adult admission.

For more information on Afton Motorsports Park you can go to www.aftonmotorsportspark.com or call 607 – 639 – DIRT or 607 – 624 – 3772.

Afton Motorsports Park is fast, fun, and furious … come check us out!

ZMK Construction Modifieds Finish; Rusty Smith, JR Hurlburt, Mitch Gibbs, Jeremy Smith, Darwin R. Greene, Craig Hanson, Kenny Titus, Chad Cook, Kevin Jordan, Andy Bachetti, Jeff Sheeley, T.J. Lilly, Brandon Walters, Alan Barker, Brett Tonkin, Harold Humphrey, Damon Decker, Paul Jensen, Nick Nye, Chance Spoonhower, Steve Babicek, Tim Mayne, Travis Smith. DNS; Jim Cummings.

Chambers & O’Hara Open Sportsman Finish; Brian Mady, Tyler Hart, Brandon Kuhn, Steve Andersen, Bill Spoonhower, Claude Hutchings, Jr., Bill Deckleman, Butch Klinger, Jim Gould, Dennis Clapperton, Dan Burman, Skip Pickwick, Nick Mady, Tom Velez, Dayton Coney, Craig Pritchard, Lisa Williams, Dave Rosa, Craig Pope. DNS; Tom Eiklor.

Butler Auto Sales Crate Sportsman Finish; Cody Clark, Corey Cormier, Gary Smith, Matt Roberts, Tyler Ward, Blaine Klinger, Rob Loucks, AJ Digsby, Fred Christ, Rich Coons, Duane Knapp, Wade Anderson, Tim French, II, Aaron Shelton, Tyler Keeney, Allan Hodge, Mike Grover, Craig Monroe, Michael Robinson.

Rinker Insurance Agency Street Stocks Finish; Butch Green, Dustin Harris, Jerry Lobdell, Jr., Shawn Boynton, Dave Cronk, Jake Fowlston, Jonathon Fowlston, Ralph Cuozzo.

The Trophy Guy IMCA Modifieds Finish; James Cornell, Tyler Stoddard, Beau Ballard, Tim Vandemark, Bill Nichols, Jake Maynard, Gary Roberts, Eric Stumpf.

Four Cylinder Trucks; Ralph Cuozzo, Bob Crandall, Jeff Young, Brandon Loucks, Pete Christensen, Stephen Candiloro, Jerry Lanfair, Dylan Nichols, Derrick Brundege.