RPW Column: Cory Costa Wins Drag Race To Checkers With Billy Van Pelt Saturday At Woodhull

RPW Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WOODHULL, NY – With five laps to go Saturday night at the Woodhull Raceway, Billy Van Pelt had the lead and the victory pretty much in hand. Two laps to go, same thing as well as at the white flag.

However, as the checkered flag flew, the veteran had to deal with last week’s winner, Cory Costa, sneaking up on the bottom. Costa, who started the feature from the 12th position, had worked his way to the bottom of the number 2 off of turn four.

In a drag race to the finish, it was Costa at the line, taking the win, even as the transponders had Van Pelt ahead by .007.

Officials made the determination that at the finish line, Costa was the car out front so the driver from Corning, NY drove to victory lane.

No matter where he wanted to put his HigFab Chassis, high or low on the Woodhull surface, the car just seemed to work.

“The speedway was very fast tonight,” Costa said. “They put a lot of moisture in this track and it showed. It was quick all over the place.”

Even with a winning run, his third of the 2020 season on the high banks and third in the last four races, Costa still feels like his car could be better.

“I was fortunate to have this thing pretty good tonight,” he said. “We could have been a little bit better. I probably needed a little bit more to get Billy though. I got him at the end but I still know we need more.”

Van Pelt, who started in the third position, had to settle for the runner-up position in an extremely close finish. He was ever so close to taking home his sixth win of the year but it wasn’t meant to be.

Donnie Lawson, Ajay Potrezbowski Jr. and Dayton Brewer completed the top five.