RPW Column: Lightning To Lead The Field; Larry Wight Takes Eastern States 200 Race To The Pole Win

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Under beautiful partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures, the 59th Eastern States Weekend got underway Friday, It was Gypsum Racing driver Larry Wight that came away with the victory in the Race To The Pole event which will have him starting on the pole position for Saturday’s 200.

Tim Fuller had set fast time in the Modified Time Trials that were held earlier in the afternoon which locked in the fastest 6 drivers into the 20 lap Race For The Pole event. Fuller was followed by Jimmy Phelps, Mat Williamson, Wight, Tim Sears Jr and Max McLaughlin. The rest of the 12 car field was made up from the Modified heat winners. Jeff Heotzler, Tommy Meier, Matt Sheppard, Tyler Dippel, Stewart Friesen and Anthony Perrego with their heat wins filled out the field for the race..

For the 20 lapper, Fuller got the out in front at the start with Wight taking second. As the race moved on, some drivers started testing the high groove which hadn’t been raced on much during the afternoon. Wight took the lead on the 7th lap. Sheppard brought out the only caution when he slowed on the track with 11 laps down and headed to the pits, but returned. Friesen started working the outside lane and worked his way up to 4th from 11th. Coming to the checkers, it was McLaughlin just nipping Fuller at the line to take 2nd and he will have the outside pole for the 200. Following Fuller were Friesen, Sears Jr, Phelps, Meier, Williamson, Sheppard, Perrego, Dippel and Heotzler.

In Small Block Modified qualifying, Phelps led the way with Billy Decker, Sears Jr, Dave Schilling, Rocky Warner and Ben Bushaw rounding out the top six. In the six heat races that followed, winners were Wight, Gary Edwards Jr, Andy Bachetti, Kevin Root, Friesen and Tyler Boniface.

Sportsman had their qualifying on Friday. Alan Fink, in his first ever OCFS appearance, was the fast qualifier Tommy Collins, Zack Zobotka, Tanner VanDoren, Joey Bruning and Kyle Inman completed the top 6. Heat wins went to Jordan Lawrence, Kevin Root, Tyler Murray, Gary Edwards III, Matt Janczuk and Mel Schrufer. Consolation races were won by Joe Toth and Tyler Corcoran. While the Modifieds and Big Blocks still have last chance races on Saturday, the field is set for the Sportsman 50 lapper.

Friday qualifying notes.

Non OCFS regulars dominated the time trial qualifying in the Modifieds and Small Blocks on Friday with all 6 top spots being filled by invading drivers. Joey Bruning and Tanner VanDoren was the only OCFS regulars to crack the top 6 in the Sportsman.

Kevin Root, the defending champion of the Sportsman race, had an excellent day, qualifying for all 3 features.

A very cool moment in the 3rd Sportsman heat. Ryan Walther, in his first ever competitive race, successfully qualified in 4th position, an awesome achievement for the first time racer. Congratulations Ryan!!

Richard Smith in the 16R successfully qualified for the Small Block race and followed it up by qualifying for the 200. He was quite a happy driver as he was pulling into the pits, really had the fist pump going. Good luck with the double tomorrow Richard.

Tough night for 2019 OCFS Sportsman Champion Grant Hilfiger as he was involved in a late consolation caution while running in a qualifying position.

Tanner VanDoren very impressive in his first ride in the Pat Giuliano #51, taking 4th quick in the Sportsman time trials.

The weekend concludes on Saturday with last chance races for the Modifieds and Small Blocks. A 25 lap feature for Street Stocks, 50 lap Sportsman and 75 lap Small Blocks precede the 200, which is scheduled for the green flag around 7:30.