RPW Column: Nick Stone Keeps Rolling; Solid As A Rock On Father’s Day At The Ridge

RPW Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – Nick Stone took advantage of his good starting position Sunday at the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and set his car on cruise control, winning back-to-back Pro Stock features at the speedway.

By winning his heat race, Stone fired off from the pole with Justin Knight in tow. As the driver of the number 27 put his car on auto pilot, the battle was hot and heavy behind last week’s winner.

Knight, Luke Horning and Andy Graves went three-wide with Graves taking over the runner-up spot with a power move on the inside.

Horning settled into third at the moment but was knocking on Graves’ door. Knight, stuck on the outside, was shuffled back to the sixth position.

Ivan Joslin also looked to join the party with a fast number 49. However, on a restart trying to make a pass down low, Joslin spn in turn one and was forced to go to the back of the field.

The halfway point saw Stone in command but the car on the move was Horning, who through a series of restarts had moved to the second spot. Graves was now the car stuck on the outside as he backslid to the sixth running position.

In the late stages of the race, the action was furious as drivers were looking to gain as man positions as possible. Joslin tried to get a run on the inside of Knight coming out of four as the two battled for third. Contact was made and the 49 received right front suspension damage. He went pitside and was unable to return.

One last shot was made by Horning to see if he had anything for Stone, but it was for naught as Stone crossed the checkers first and parked his 27 in victory lane.

Horning settled for second with Knight holding on for third. Beau Ballard came away with fourth and Graves, who had a strong car. rounded out the top five.

“The starting positions really was the key to tonight victory,” Stone said. “My game plan was just to stay low and slow. I have a great crew in the garage and at the track and can not thank them enough.”

Allstar Slingshots had another great field of cars with 17 signed in ready to go. Three heats were needed to line the starting field and the winners were Jim Gage, rookie Connor Hill and Dan Ballard.

In the feature, early leader was Jim Gage but he slowed on the backstretch sending the field scrambling out of harm’s way. When the dust settled it was Hill taking point.

Hill’s father, Mike, challenged his son and took the top spot on lap four. Ballard and Brett Putman also tried to mix it up, making runs at the leader, but to no avail.

In the end it was Mike Hill capturing the victory over Ballard, Putman, Tyler Vadney and rookie driver Darryn Fallis.

Jr. Slingsots had Lucus Duncan take the lead early. Brock Pinkerous challenged him and contact was made, turning Duncan around.

In trying to avoid the incident, Ryan McCoy got upside down in the second turn. In talking with hs father, Sportsman racer Scott McCoy, I am able to report that Ryan was okay.

At the finish, it was Pinkerous who crossed the line first to see checkers. However, he would not get the win as the came up light on the scales. That handed the victory to Duncan who backed up his win of a week ago.

Second was Sloan Cherko with Gordon Smith, Frank Twing Jr. and Corky Warner completing the top five.

The Limited Sportsman feature saw Troy Zilles go green-to-checkers for the win with young gun Stephen Gray, who moved up from the Go-Kart ranks, coming into second. Issac Walker, Garrett Poland and Pete Lorenzo rounded out the top five.

The Street Stock main event had Damon Anderson take the victory over Adam Tranka, Jesse Murphy, Chris Murphy and Ken Allen.

The Mini Stocks took the green with two classes combined. It was Josh Kane taking the Dual Cam while Wayne Russell Jr. took home Single Cam in his first trip to the Ridge in 2020.

Catch the full racing action every Sunday night at the fastest 1/4 mile track that sets on the hill!