Dave DiPietro Wins Sportsman Feature Friday At Ransomville

Story By: STEVE PETTY / RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Dave DiPietro II from North Tonawanda, NY won his first Investors Service Sportsman feature of the season at the Ransomville Speedway on Friday night, presented by Busch Beer and Stirling Lubricants. The night’s events were also sponsored by Huron Plumbing, Stevenson’s Hardware, Krown Undercoating, Relco Systems, Advanced Demolition Services, and The Wasik Farms.

AJ Custodi and Noah Walker were on the front row for the Investors Service Sportsman 25-lap feature event with Custodi showing the way with Darrell Borkenhagen racing in second with Dave DiPietro moving into third at the end of the opening lap. DiPietro would take second away from Borkenhagen entering turn three on lap three with Derek Wagner and Chris Burek racing inside the top five. The top five cars would check out on the field as current points leader Brett Senek raced up to seventh and challenged early race leader Walker on lap 10 for sixth place.

At the races halfway mark, it continued to be Custodi showing the way over DiPietro, with Wagner and Burek starting to reel in the lead duo. The first caution would come out on lap 15 as Kevin Wills, Justin McKay, and Garrison Krentz all spun in turn three. The lap 15 restart would see DiPietro take the lead away as Burek would challenge Custodi for second place. The caution would fly on lap 17 as Derrick Borkenhagen, Garrison Krentz, Dave Mamo, David Fingerlow, and Dean Scott all collided in turn one. The restart would see DiPietro, Custodi, Burek, Brett Senek, and Wagner racing in the top five with Kyle Inman running in sixth. Custodi would regain second from Burek on lap 19, as DiPietro started to pull away from the field. DiPietro would go on to score the win, his first of the 2018 season. DiPietro was the eighth different winner in the division this year.

NEWS AND NOTES: “From Flipper to Checker” Noah Walker scored a Sportsman qualifying heat win, one week after flipping in turn two in the feature. American Legion Post 873 from Newfane presented the nation’s colors and local performing artist Pete Robinson performed the national anthems as part of the Opening Ceremonies.

Ransomville Speedway will be back in action on Friday, August 3 as Randy’s Smoke Shop and Painters Plus present a full card of racing featuring the Sportsman/Novice Shootout and the inaugural appearance by the Thunder on the Dirt Vintage Series. Pit gates will open at 5 pm. Grandstands opening at 6 pm with racing getting underway at 7:15 pm. Kid’s aged 3-12 are invited to check out the Bailey Brothers Kids Club every race night from 6-7: 15 pm prior to the night’s racing program.

RACE RESULTS –BUSCH BEER NIGHT SUMMARY

Investors Service Sportsman: DAVE DIPIETRO, AJ Custodi, Chris Burek, Derek Wagner, Brett Senek, Kyle Inman, Garrison Krentz, Robbie Johnston, James Henry, Derrick Borkenhagen, Cameron Tuttle, Noah Walker, Darrell Borkenhagen, David Fingerlow, Dave Mamo, Brett Martin, Dean Scott, Justin McKay, Kevin Wills, Dustin Gorhan, Brian Monahan, Austin Susice, Ray Bliss Jr

Qualifying Winners: Dave DiPietro, Chris Burek, Noah Walker