Late Restart Helps Billy Decker Nab Opening Night Win At Brewerton Speedway

Story By: DAVE MEDLER / BREWERTON SPEEDWAY – An enthusiastic crowd and race teams filled the pits making the first race since 2019 at the Brewerton Speedway a big success.

The Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modified feature was an instant classic that will have fans talking for a longtime. Billy Decker came from the 13th starting spot and would make a late race pass to grab his 68th win at the speedway.

Other winners on Ingles Performance night were, Alan Fink (Sportsman) Kyle Demo (Mod Lites) and Chuck Powelczyk (4-Cylinders).

Chris Hile and Larry Wight would lead the modified field down to the green with Hile grabbing the early advantage in the 35-lap feature.

With 5 laps showing on the lap counter Hile led by six-car lengths over Wight with Jimmy Phelps, Mike Maresca and Tim Sears Jr. battling in the top-five.

A yellow and restart on lap 11 would see Wight and Maresca blast by Hile to take over the top-two spots.

At the halfway point Wight, Maresca and Phelps were still setting a fast pace out front with Hile and Sears showing in the top-five on the scoring tower.

With 10 to go Wight, Phelps and Maresca were still racing hard up front, Hile and now Billy Decker who started 13th was quickly making a late run to the front.

On lap 28 Maresca suddenly slowed, pulling in the infield while the yellow waved for an on-track incident setting up a 7-lap battle to the checkers.

Over the final laps, Wight would run the top of the speedway with Phelps trying to find a way by running the middle groove with Decker glued to the bottom. With one lap to go Decker would be the new leader by inches as you could have thrown a blanket over the top-three on the final lap. Decker, Wight, Phelps, Hile and Sears were the top-five at the checkers.

In the 25-lap DOT Foods DIRTcar Sportsman feature Zach Sobotka would grab the lead at the drop of the green and would lead by ten-car lengths by lap 5 with Alan Fink, Chris Mackey, Tim Devendorf and Jeff Prentice fighting for second through fifth.

Fink went to the top of the speedway and found the speed he needed to drive by Sobotka on lap 9 to be scored the new leader.

With 10 laps remaining Fink was still running the top of the speedway building up a big lead. Behind Fink, Sobotka and Mackey were in a tight battle for second with Amy Holland and Mark Yorker running fourth and fifth.

Over the final laps and no yellows there was no catching Fink as he cruised under the checkers as opening night winner. Zach Sobotka, Chris Mackey, Amy Holland and Mark Yorker came across the line second through fifth.

Zach Sobotka’s second place finish is on hold for further tech inspection.

In the 20-lap AmeriCU Credit Union Mod Lite feature, Tom Mackey would grab the lead at the drop of the green and dart out to a straightaway lead by lap 5 with Kyle Demo, Mike Mullen and Clayton Brewer chasing Mackey.

By halfway in the feature Mackey was still on rails building a four-second lead, leaving Demo, Justin Williams, Brewer and Mullen to race for top-five positions.

Misfortune would strike leader Mackey on lap 12 when he suddenly broke pulling into the infield giving the lead to Demo.

Over the final laps Demo would outrun the field for the win. Clayton Brewer, Hunter Lawton, Joe Garafolo and Mike Mullen completed the top-five.

Jamie Radley would lead the 15-lap Fleet Repair Four-Cylinder feature at the drop of the green before Chuck Powelczyk would drive by Radley on lap 3 taking over the top-spot. Once out front there was no stopping Powelczyk as he drove away from the field for the win. Jamie Radley, Damien Bechler, Brian Evenden, and Sophia DeNova finished second through fifth.

This coming Friday, May 21 will see a night of fast, affordable, family fun racing presented by Ferris Mowers. Racing on the ‘D-Shaped Dirt Demon’ will be the Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, DOT Foods DIRTcar Sportsman, AmeriCU Credit Union Mod Lites and Fleet Repair 4-Cylinders.

Each week, the three top finishing 358-Modifieds will receive $300, $200 and $100 respectively in addition to their base purse.

Adult grandstand admission will be $15 with everyone 18 years old and younger, free. Pit admission is $35. Grandstands will open at 5:30 pm with racing at 7:30 pm.

(Tracey Road Equipment DIRTcar Modifieds 35 Laps) – BILLY DECKER, Larry Wight, Jimmy Phelps, Chris Hile, Tim Sears Jr., Tom Sears Jr., Pat Ward, Chad Phelps, Jeff Taylor, Joe August, Dave Marcuccilli, Jim Witko, Adam Roberts, Ron Davis III, Tyler Trump, Kevin Root, Ben Bushaw, Torrey Stoughtenger, Tim Harris, Michael Maresca, Nick Krause, Bob Henry Jr., Roy Bresnahan, Shayne Spoonhower.

(Small Block Bonus $300 $200 $100) – Ben Bushaw, Nick Krause, Shayne Spoonhower.

(DOT Foods DIRTcar Sportsman 25 Laps) – ALAN FINK, Zach Sobotka, Chris Mackey, Amy Holland, Mark Yorker, Tim Devendorf, Tyler Murray, Bailey Groves, Joe Sobotka, Zach Payne, Tony Finch Jr., Rich Townsend, Dale Caswell, Earl Rudy, JJ Courcy, Ryan Dolbear, Quinn Wallis, Max Hill, Matt Kitts, Buckey Hayes, Jeff Prentice, Riley Rogala, Colby Herzog, Brandon Chretien, Mike Button.

(NAPA Auto Parts Chase Elliot Award) – Joe Sobotka.

(AmeriCU Credit Union Mod Lites 20 Laps) – KYLE DEMO, Clayton Brewer, Hunter Lawton, Joe Garafolo, Mike Mullen, Roger Olschewske, Brad Harris, Mike LaRose, Billy Applebee, Travis Hewitt, Justin Williams, Tom Mackey, Darik Van Epps, Sam Usborne, Tucker Halliday, DNS Pete Siravolo.

(Fleet Repair 4-Cylinders 15 Laps) – CHUCK POWELCZYK, Jamie Radley, Damien Bechler, Brian Evenden, Sophia DeNova, Jack Taskey, Dakota Spicer, Sam Curcie, Brian Murphy, Quinn Wallis, Ray Bechler, DNS Clayton Koch, Jacob Dupra.