RPW Column: Sportsman Triple Crown Event At Orange County Critical To Point Title Hopefuls

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The Orange County Fair Speedway Arkel Motors Sportsman racers will have plenty of chances to improve their positions in the point standings this Saturday as 97.7/97.3 The Wolf presents the Sportsman Triple Crown event.

There will be three 20 lap features, each one having full points and purse. After the 1st 20 lap feature, the winner will draw a number between 10-16 to determine the number of cars inverted for the 2nd race. This exact process will happen after the 2nd feature as the winner will again draw a number between 10-16 to determine the 3rd feature lineup.

The speedway has announced bonuses for the drivers that accumulate the most points in the 3 features. The driver with the most overall points will receive $500 with $300 for 2nd and $100 for 3rd.

Jeff Hulseapple saw his consecutive top 5 streak ended in the last Sportsman race on May 22 and his point lead over Joe Bonetti currently stands at 51. The rest of the top 5 in points, Bobby Flood, Jake Bedell and Jared LaBagh are all within striking distance of the leader. Ryan Neiger currently sits 6th with Joey Bruning 7th. Charles Loiodice and Josh Allen are tied for 8th and Joe Conklin is 10th.

With 8 Sportsman races completed this season, Brian Krummel and Bruning each have 2 wins with single wins going to Hulseapple, Allen, Grant Hilfiger, and Josh Allen.

The Precision Hydraulic and Oil Rookie Sportsman and the NAPA North East Parts Group Street Stocks will be racing along with the Sportsman this coming Saturday.

OCFS has announced a reduced admission for this weekend, $16 general admission and $12 for seniors.

The June 5 event schedule is as follows:

3:00 Pit gate opens
4:00 Grandstand and drive-in gates open
5:30 Mandatory drivers meeting at the scales
5:45-6:00 Sportsman to the staging area
6:00 Sportsman Hot laps
Rookies Hot Laps
Street Stock Hot laps
6:45 Pre race ceremonies / National Anthem
7:00 4 Sportsman Heats, 8 laps, 5 qualify
Rookies Hot laps (Round 2)
Street Stocks Hot laps (Round 2)
Sportsman “B” Main, 12 laps, 12 qualify

INTERMISSION

1st Sportsman Feature – 20 laps / 32 cars start
Victory Lane, winner only photo / draw for invert
Street Stock Feature – 15 laps
Victory Lane / top 3 podium
2nd Sportsman feature – 20 laps / 32 cars start
Victory Lane, winner only photo / draw for invert
Rookie Sportsman feature – 15 laps
Victory Lane / Top 3 podium
3rd Sportsman feature – 20 laps / 32 cars start
Victory Lane, winner only. Top 3 overall Triple Crown drivers to the podium