Big Winners and Champions of 2009

Here's a list of track champions, touring series champions, mini series champions, and 5-digit race winners from the 2009 racing season.

Big Block Modified Track Champions
Delaware International Speedway- H.J. Bunting
New Egypt Speedway- Rick Laubach
Bridgeport Speedway- Wade Hendrickson
Penn Can Speedway- Jeff Rudalavage
Mahoning Valley Speedway- Randy Thomas
Sharon Speedway- Rob Curtis
Lernerville Speedway- Jeremiah Shingledecker
Tri City Speedway- Jeremiah Shingledecker
Albany Saratoga Speedway- Kenny Tremont
Devils Bowl Speedway- Kenny Tremont
Redline Raceway- Brian Malcolm
Accord Speedway- Jerry Higbie
Brewerton Speedway- Matt Sheppard
Fulton Speedway- Billy Decker
Fonda Speedway- Bobby Varin
Utica Rome Speedway- Pat Ward
Cayuga County Fair Speedway- Alan Johnson
Can Am Motorsports Park- Billy Dunn
Lebanon Valley Speedway- Andy Bachetti
Canandaigua Speedway- Matt Sheppard
Orange County Fair Speedway- (TIE) Chuck McKee/Jerry Higbie
Glen Ridge Motorsports Park- Jeff Brownell
Five Mile Point Speedway- Brian Weaver

Small Block Modified Track Champions
Grandview Speedway- Jeff Strunk
Big Diamond Raceway- Duane Howard
Mercer Raceway Park- Frank Guidance
Mohawk International Raceway- Roy Tarbell
Autodrome Edelweiss- Pierre DaGenais
Autodrome Granby- David Hebert
Autodrome Drummond- Mario Clair
Airborne Speedway- Martin Roy
Brockville Ontario Speedway- Danny O'Brien
Cornwall Motor Speedway- Kyle Dingwall
Merrittville Speedway- Larry Lampman
Ransomville Speedway- Todd Burley
Humberstone Speedway- Pete Bicknell
Woodhull Raceway- Billy Van Pelt
Lebanon Valley Speedway- Andy Bachetti
Orange County Fair Speedway- Chuck McKee
Can Am Motorsports Park- Lance Willix

Big and Small Block Modified Touring Series Champions
Super Dirt Series (Big Blocks)- Brett Hearn
RoC Dirt Tour (Big Blocks)- Pat Ward
BRP Modified Tour (Big Blocks)- Rex King
Thunder on the Tru-way Series (Big Blocks)- Bobby Varin
Tri-Track Series (Big Blocks)- Rick Laubach
358 Dirt Series (Small Blocks)- Dale Planck
Lucas Oil West Tour (Small Blocks)- Pete Bicknell
Lucas Oil North Tour (Small Blocks)- David Hebert

Big and Small Block Modified Mini-Series Champions
Florida Dirt Tour (Volusia County Speedway)- Pat Ward
Thunder on the Hill Series (Grandview Speedway)- Jeff Strunk
American Revolution Series (Mohawk Int. Speedway)- Roy Tarbell
King of the Valley Series (Lebanon Valley Speedway)- Eddie Marshall

Crown Jewel Race Winners
Rite-Aid 200 (NY State Fairgrounds)- Matt Sheppard ($50,000)
Freedom 76er (Grandview Speedway)- MeMe DeSantis ($20,000)
All-Star 100 (Cayuga County Fair Speedway)- Ryan Phelps ($20,000)
SUNY Cantun 200 (Fulton Speedway)- Billy Decker ($20,000)
Eastern States 200 (Orange County Fair Speedway)- Jerry Higbie ($20,000)
Salute to the Troops 150 (NY State Fairgrounds)- Billy Decker ($20,000)
Mr. Dirt Track USA (Lebanon Valley Speedway)- Billy Decker ($17,500)
Victoria 200 (Utica Rome Speedway)- Gary Tomkins ($10,000)
New Yorkers 200 (Utica Rome Speedway)- Steve Paine ($10,000)
Coalcracker 100 (Big Diamond Raceway)- Ryan Godown ($10,000)
Forrest Rogers Memorial (Grandview Speedway)- Ryan Godown ($10,000)
Octoberfest Big Blocks (Hagerstown Speedway)- Brett Hearn ($10,000)
Octoberfest Small Blocks (Hagerstown Speedway)- Tim McCreadie ($10,000)
Friends of Mike (New Egypt Speedway)- Billy Pauch ($10,000)
Granby 150 (Autodrome Granby)- Billy Decker ($10,000)
Drummondville 150 (Autodrome Drummond)- Jimmy Phelps ($10,000)

More Retirements

Two more drivers have announced they will be sitting out 2010 in the modified ranks. Pennsylvania small block driver Shawn Fitzpatrick is done racing modifieds. Fitzpatrick points to family and education being the reason for him hanging up his helmet. Also, New Egypt Speedway regular Mike Krachum will be retiring to focus on the driving efforts of his son.

HP Motorsports, per Brett Deyo, is done fielding a 358 modified. The team fielded a small block for driver Ryan Watt for weekly competition at Big Diamond Raceway, but financial reasons have forced the team to park the cars.

Also, Brett Deyo reports, Glenn Hyneman Motorsports may not be done as I thought. Look for the team to make some sort of announcement in the not-so-distant future.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe, and enjoy your turkey!

Hendrickson Closes Out 2009 Season; Laubach Claims Title; Tomkins Out?

The final race of 2009 was run on this afternoon (November 22nd) and saw Wade Hendrickson pick up the feature win in the Tri-Track Series finale. Hendrickson dominated the race, Richie Pratt, Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, and Rick Laubach rounded out the top 5. Rick Laubach did what he needed to do to claim his second consecutive Tri-Track Series title. Congratulations to Laubach and his team.

Also, according to Dirt Track Digest, Gary Tomkins is out of a ride. Apparently car owner Doug Dullen is selling out. Dullen owns the #84 big block modified team that Tomkins has piloted on the Super Dirt Series since splitting with Jim Beachy a few years ago. Dullen also fielded cars for Danny Johnson this season in the Fulton SUNY 200 and the Rite-Aid 200. Tomkins also pilots the Mike Payne owned #7z that he drove to a win at Utica Rome Speedway for the Victoria 200 in early May. No word on what Tomkins will do for next season.

Ryan Godown Update-Splits with Rea

After reporting about a week ago that reports are stating Ryan Godown could be teaming with Norm Hansell Motorsports, we've now recieved confirmation via Brett Deyo in the Reading Eagle that Godown has split with car-owner Johnny Rea. Godown and Rea partnered up over the past 2 seasons, and in that time have collected two huge wins (both came in 2009) by winning the Coalcracker 100 and the Forrest Rogers Memorial, each paid $10,000 to win. There have been no new reports on where Godown will end up next season, but don't be surprised to see him back at New Egypt Speedway in 2010, and if reports we heard earlier were true, in the Norm Hansell 357 at Big Diamond on Fridays. No word on who will pilot the Johnny Rea #R1 next season either.

Also, a few other random things. I added John Willman's new website to the links page. Albany Saratoga Speedway had a tire test with Mike Bruno the lone dirt modified driver taking part, tire wear is much, much better with the new asphalt surface compared to what they used when Matt DeLorenzo won in late October. Also, Bridgeport Speedway has the dirt modified race of the 2009 season coming up on Sunday, November 21, which will pay $3,000 to win and will crown the 2009 Tri-Track Series champion.

Knoblock and Wink Sitting Out

It's been a rough off-season so far, we've seen PPB Racing, Sitler-Kline Racing, and Don Schaeffer Racing all announcing they were leaving the sport. We've also learned that two long-time front-runners, Curt Van Pelt and Barry Davis, are retiring. Now, we're losing two more drivers.

Terry Knoblock and Troy Wink, both Wago drivers, won't be on track in 2010. Knoblock has announced his retirement following the 2009 season. Knoblock has run weekly at Brewerton and Can Am in the passed, and traveled quite a bit to the New York series races, and even traveled down frequently to Hagerstown Speedway. Knoblock's #109 will be missed.

Also, Troy Wink, who had a tough season after looking very promising at the start of 2009, who ended up driving for Gary Wagner at the end of the year, won't be back in 2010. Wink has struggled recently with shoulder problems, which was damaged in a hard crash at Big Diamond Raceway in early 2006, and will sit out 2010 to heal his shoulder. Don't be surprised to see Wink back in 2011!

We wish both Wink and Knoblock the best of luck, an thank them for putting on a great show for us fans, and thank them for the memories!

Doug Hoffman is Back; Sandstedt Out

Doug Hoffman, after a disappointing stint in the Norm Hansell owned #357 in 2009, is back for 2010. He'll be teaming up with owner Chad Sinon and will be a teammate to Duane Howard as he'll drive for BPG Racing in special shows in 2010. Howard will run weekly at Grandview Speedway, and Hoffman will focus on running special shows, which Howard will also enter. Hoffman drove for Sinon at the 2007 Freedom 76er, after not racing at all that season except that one race, he ended up finishing second in that race. It appears as if Ryan Watt is out of the BPG Racing car, which he drove to a top-5 points finish at Bridgeport Speedway this season.

Lebanon Valley up-and-comer Kory Sandstedt is out of the Dwyer Racing #88 big block modified. The replacement for Sandstedt will be announced later, but look for the Dwyer team to team up with another team for 2010. Sandstedt will still pilot his family-owned 358 modified, and could end up moving that team up to the big block division in 2010.

Godown to Hansell Motorsports?

While nothing is official, sources are claiming we could see Ryan Godown end up in the Hansell Motorsports #357 modified for 2010. Godown's current owner, Johnny Rea, most seasons has only ran 1-night a week with his #R1 small block modified. Over the past 2 seasons, he's ran 2-nights a week with Godown, but has had a lot of success. The team won the Forrest Rogers Memorial at Grandview Speedway, and the Coalcracker 100 at Big Diamond Raceway, which each paid $10,000 to win. He was also a championship contender this season at Big Diamond.

Also, on the South Jersey Dirt Racing Parts Board, Ryan Godown has lots of his #26 big block equipment for sale. While it's very possible that Godown could be selling out because of the passing of his co-owner, Gregg Schatzel, who also was Godown's main sponsor, it could also be because he'll because of running in big block specials aboard the Norm Hansell car.

What I believe could happen (NOTE: what I think! Nothing official or anything like that) is that we see Ryan Godown remain in the Johnny Rea R1 at either Big Diamond Raceway weekly in 2010, and we see Godown aboard the Norm Hansell 357 at Grandview on Saturdays and in big block specials. Norm Hansell has also recently been a Grandview Speedway regular and not a Big Diamond regular, such as in 2006 and 2007 with Rick Schaffer behind the wheel of the car. Again, that's just what I think will happen, it's not official. Stay tuned!

Teams With Question Marks

We've already seen 2 teams shut down for 2010. Schaeffer Racing and PPB Racing have already announced they won't participate in 2010. Now, there are some other teams with question marks behind them.

Hyneman Racing- After a disappointing year with Billy Pauch behind the wheel, Glenn Hyneman announced in August that he and Pauch were parting ways. Since then, the team has only raced a very limited amount of races with Mike Gular behind the wheel. The team has sold a lot of equipment, and every indication points to them sitting out 2010. However, we saw Hyneman pull something similar to this a few years ago, and only lasted about 1/2 a season before he returned to the dirt modified circuit with Jeff Strunk.

Dave Thompson Racing- Talk about a roller-coaster ride. The team came from nowhere in 2006 to following the Super Dirt Series tour with Dale Planck and Stewart Friesen. Within the next few years, the team then went through Dale and Friesen, and Alan Jacobs, and ended up with Danny Johnson at the end of 2006. Rumors swirled that the team was running low on funds and were going to fold, then, they end 2006 by winning the Fulton 200, sweeping Super Dirt Week, sweeping the 1/4 Mile Nationals at Five Mile Point, and winning the big block portion of Octoberfest. The team stayed high and stayed strong for 2007, until the end of the season when the rumors of the team being out of money started again. We saw Danny Johnson run the final Super Dirt Series race for JIR and saw Dave Thompson sell a lot of his equipment to Carey Terrance. Then 2008 comes around, and the team is back again, with Frankie Caprara. After a championship at Can Am, the team split at the end of 2008, Thompson hired Alan Johnson to drive the car for 2009, but the sponsors leave Thompson to stay with Frankie Caprara. In the end, Alan Johnson is let go before even running a race with the team, and Caprara starts the year in 2009, and runs and hires Danny Johnson making it a 2-car team in the middle of 2009. Then, we hear that Thompson has the cars parked a few weeks later, and both Caprara and Johnson are out of rides. Once again, Thompson survives and finishes the year running part-time with Johnson. Now, here we are again, it looks like Dave Thompson Motorsports may be dead, but it's looked that way before.

Norm Hansell Motorsports- Norm Hansell Motorsports isn't selling out or folding, but they have some major question marks for 2010 with who'll be behind the wheel. After starting the year with Doug Hoffman, Hansell and Hoffman parted-ways mid-2009. Rick Laubach and Tom Umbenhauer ended up racing the cars full-time at Big Diamond (Laubach) and Grandview (Umbenhauer) weekly to finish out the year. Now, for 2010, it's possible neither driver will be back. Laubach could end up running the Super Dirt Series, and wants to travel with the #7 big block team he ran at Super Dirt Week with. Norm Hansell wants to win, and he's not one who'll like a driver possibly missing some races. Umbenhauer on the other hand, seemed to be a part-time fix. Umbenhauer struggled in the 357, and seemed to run better with his own #19 small block modified. Umbenhauer is a solid driver, who's won races at multiple tracks, but he's not the "big name start" the Norm Hansell typically puts behind the wheels of his cars (Strunk, Howard, Friesen, Horton, DeSantis, Laubach, Hoffman over the past few season).

Brian Weaver Out of Masagarus Racing 93

Brian Weaver has parted ways with the Masagarus Racing #93 big block modified team he ran weekly with at Utica Rome Speedway. Weaver will continue to drive the 1a modified he drove at Five Mile Point and Penn Can, and also drove on most of the RoC Tour for 2010, but it looking for other options. The duo teamed up to finish 10th in points at Utica Rome.

Masagarus Racing has had a few drivers in the car over the past few years, along with Weaver, Danny Varin, Bobby Varin, Tim Clemons, and Jack Johnson are just some of the drivers who have been in that car. No word on who will take Weaver's place, but look for the team to return to Fonda Speedway for 2010, and according to sources, are looking for a young driver to put in the car.

Jeff Sheeler Wins Fantasy League; YouTube Videos

Congratulations to Jeff Sheeler for winning the 2009 Club Wago Crown Jewel Fantasy League! By winning, he'll receive a free season pass for 2010 to the track of his choice (donated by Zach Aubertine Motorsports.) He'll also receive a P.J. Oliver racing shirt. He is already a subscriber to Area Auto Racing News (donate by Jeff Withey and the Area Auto Racing News staff), so that prize will move down to second place finisher Corinne Schaffer, and she'll also receive an Addison Meitzler t-shirt. The top 3 finishers will also receive a free Club Wago t-shirt.

Also, for those of you bored at work, I've collected some YouTube videos into playlists that are all big block/small block modified videos. There's a playlist with all on-board cameras from drivers such as Bobby Varin (highly recommend his video), Dale Planck, John McClelland, Brian Weaver, Kyle Strickler, Tony Steiner, Tommy Sears, Jeff Heotzler Jr, Johnny Guarino, Bob McGannon, Mitch Gibbs, Stephane LaFrance, Ted Lamb, Mitch Gibbs, and Greg Younkin, from tracks like Sharon, Penn Can, Fulton, Can Am, Utica Rome, New Egypt, Orange County, and Delaware.

I also have a playlist with commercials for dirt modified races such as the All-Star 100, and Super Dirt Week.

There are other playlists that have entire modified races posted on YouTube (all are from Syracuse), the 1980 Schaffer 200, the 2002 Rite-Aid 200, the 2002 Sunoco 75, and the 2008 Rite-Aid 200.

I also have a bunch of highlight and wreck videos from tracks like Volusia, Devils Bowl, Lebanon Valley, Flemington, Fonda, Syracuse, Big Diamond, Grandview, New Egypt, Bridgeport, Thunder Mountain, Lernerville, Georgetown, and Virginia Motor Speedway.

The link to the playlists is here, http://www.youtube.com/user/ClubWago I'll be sure to add more videos as I find them!

Kevin Bolland Dilemma

Kevin Bolland could be done with dirt modified racing following some controversy between himself and the BRP Modified Tour. You can read the story on his website, here, http://www.kevinbolland.com/news/09_11-07.html

I know Bolland was planning on stepping up his program for 2010, and was in the process of purchasing a new stacker hauler and buying all new equipment, so the fact that his equipment is up for sale doesn't mean that he's made up his mind that he's done with modified racing.

He took the BRP Tour guarenteed starting spot for the Rite-Aid 200 after Rex King, Dave Murdick, Del Rougeux, and Jeremiah Shingledecker turned it down. Brian Swartzlander, who was the only BRP Tour driver at Super Dirt Week, was then forced to qualify the car and ended up DNQing. Bolland, who ended up not making the show, was then penalized 2 races from the BRP Tour for taking the spot and not using it at Syracuse. He then put Alan Johnson in his car for the BRP Tour finale at Lernerville Speedway, where he ultimately finished second behind Del Rougeux. While Bolland didn't go to Syracuse, he tried hard to find a ride, contacting multiple sponsors and car owners like Steve Hough, Jody Gable, and Chris Shultz trying to find a ride to race at Syracuse, so he definitely didn't take the starting spot out of spite. If I hear anything about it, I'll be sure to let you guys know!

Higbie Puts Exclaimation Mark on Season

Jerry Higbie picked up the biggest win of his career as he held on to collect the Eastern States 200 in dominating fashion. He snuck passed Michael Storms before the half way mark to take the lead for good, and go on and collect the $20,000 feature win. Chuck McKee finished second, followed by Jimmy Phelps, Andy Bachetti, and rounding out the top 5 was Rick Laubach.

Also this weekend, on Saturday, Delaware International Speedway had the small block modifieds on the card for the Delaware State Championships, it was Craig Von Dohren who dominated the race to collect the $4,500 win for the second year in a row. Black Rock Speedway also had big blocks on the card for the only time this season, former track-regular Ron Cartwright held off a charge by Larry Wight to pick up the win.

On Sunday, the big blocks were on the card at Delaware International Speedway. Jimmy Horton snuck passed Stewart Friesen early in the race to pick up the $6,500 feature win.

In other news, the Van Pelt brothers have announced plans for 2010. Curt Van Pelt, one of the all-time greats at Woodhull Raceway, has announced he'll retire from racing. Billy Van Pelt, who drove for Ted White Racing the past few seasons, will return to the Kevin Chilson Racing team, as a teammate to Kevin Dunning and Frank Dunning for weekly action at Woodhull Raceway. Ted White will take over ownership at Woodhull Raceway, so he won't field a car weekly, but look for Van Pelt to run his car once again on the RoC Dirt Tour and in other special events in 2010.

Schaeffer Racing Sitting Out; Other OCFS Notes

Don Schaeffer Racing, according to Brett Deyo, is also sitting out 2010. Schaeffer, who's owned cars in the past successfully for Ray Swinehart, Tom Mayberry, Kerry Kratz, and Terry Meitzler, has ran the past few seasons with driver Brad Missimer at Grandview Speedway. Missimer could start his own team, with Schaeffer as a sponsor, that's unclear however.

Also, I forgot about one OCFS driver for the 200 in a different ride. Kevin Duryea will be back for the consi in Mike Kolka's back up #25x big block modified. Also, I mentioned about Delaware also racing this weekend, Black Rock Speedway has big block modifieds on the card on Saturday for the first time all season long.

Weekend Tidbits

With the rescheduling of Eastern States to this weekend, and the Delaware State Championships coming up this weekend, there are some tidbits. As posted earlier, the PPB Racing Team has parked their cars, which means that Billy Pauch Jr will be running some other cars at Delaware Internsional Speedway this weekend. He'll be in the MAD Motorsports #11D small block, and the Rick Clay Racing #88c big block.

Jimmy Horton, who was scheduled to start the Eastern States 200 outside of the top 30 driving the Jerry Wildrick owned #27 big block modified, will scatch from the fiel and will run the Delaware State Championships for car owner Dick Biever in both big and small block races. No word if anyone will take over the #27.

Tim Fuller, according to Dirt Track Digest, is going to try to fly to Orange County Fair Speedway to run the Eastern States 200. Fuller is the pole sitter for the race, but has the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Lowes this weekend.

Danny Johnson will return to the seat of the Randy Sherlock Racing #10 big block modified, the team blew an engine in qualifying and will have to come from deep in the consi. Also, Bruce Kline will return to run the consi in David Van Horn's back up #71.

Despite some rumors, Pat Ward will run the Eastern States 200. In the Gypsum Racing car, rumors reported that he would miss the event because of the Utica Rome banquet, but he'll be able to attend the banquet after the race. Also, look for Larry Wight to tack onto the back of the consi.

The Vinnie Salerno team will also be back at Eastern States, with their first big block modified since the theft of their hauler, and lots of their equipment earlier this year. Storms qualified for the 200 with a 358, but will run the big block on Saturday.

PPB Racing Sitting out For 2010

PPB Racing car owner Bob Greene has announced, through a press release released by Brett Deyo, that the team will sit out 2010. The team recently announced that Craig Von Dohren would join Billy Pauch Jr at Grandview and Biamond, as well as big block specials throughout the east coast, however, plans have changed. Greene will focus on his business, Pioneer Pole Building, hopefully for just 2010, however, it's not for certain that the team will return in 2011.

Look for Von Dohren to return to Mike Harvey Racing next year, to what scale is unclear. No word on where Pauch Jr will end up. Pauch Jr will race this weekend at Delaware International for the Delaware State Championships, he'll drive the MAD Motorsports 11D small block, whom with he's won with before, and will drive the Rick Clay Racing #88c big block. We wish Bob Greene the best of luck and hope to see his team back on track in 2011.

Friesen Wins Battle; Ward Takes the War

The RoC Dirt Tour had their season finale pushed back one day (Mahoning Valley and Bridgeport also had their races rained out Saturday) to Sunday afternoon. Stewart Friesen took the lead around the 1/2 point in the 100 lap Southern Tier 100 feature event for the big block modifieds, and proceeded to dominate the second half of the event, to collect the $6,555 win. Danny Johnson picked up a ride in Joey Grammes' second modified, and drove it to a second place finish, Tim McCreadie, Joey Grammes, and Pat Ward rounded out the top 5. Brett Hearn faded late in the race, as he fell back to 8th in the final finishing order, it allowed Pat Ward to secure his second RoC Dirt Tour title in as many years, giving him his 3rd championship of 2009, he also picked up the Florida Dirt Tour Title back in February, and won the Utica Rome Speedway track championship.