Tomkins Wins first SDS Race of the Year, Varin Fonda Champ; Some Saturday winners

opeCraig Hanson and Matt DeLorenzo split the twin big block features at Fonda on Saturday night, but the big winner was Bobby Varin who completed his big week. Earlier this week Varin announced plans to re-unite with former part time owner Jody Gable for a Super Dirt Week assault, and tonight, Bobby Varin locked up his 3rd career Fonda Speedway big block championship. Along with fighting off the tough weekly field at Fonda, racing for the championship against names like Matt DeLorenzo, Pat Ward, Dave Camara, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Johnson, Ryan Odasz, and Jimmy Davis, Varin also had to win the title with lots of distractions involved. Varin started the season off with Jake Spraker Racing, but track owner Ric Lucia and Spraker got into heated arguments on a handful of nights, eventually leading Spraker to stop attending Fonda weekly (although he did return once with A.J. Romano driving, and once with Bobby Varin driving since then) and leaving Varin without a ride. Varin's Utica-Rome owner, Dave Cruickshank, stepped up to the plate and bought some big block equipment off of Spraker and gave Varin a ride the rest of the year, and tonight it all pays off. Congratulations to Bobby Varin and the entire Dover Brakes Racing Team.

Gary Tomkins notched off his first Super Dirt Series win of the year at his 2007 home-track CanAm Speedway. Tomkins earned $6,000 for the win. Other Saturday night notes; Tom Umbenhauer picked up his first win of the year with a win at Grandview, Danny O'Brien helped out his track championship hopes with a win at Brockville, big-time Wago supporter Dom Buffalino ended his streak of bad luck with his 2nd win of the year at New Egypt, Steve Bottcher drove into victory lane at Bridgeport, Kevin Chilson picked up his first career modified win Saturday at Woodhull, Scott Wood and Pete Bicknell split Merrittville's small block twin features, Mike Kolka won his 2nd career feature in the big block division at Orange County while Jerry Higibie gave himself a comfortable points cushion with a win in the 358 division.

CVRA Going Big Blocks

The CVRA tracks, Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and Devil's Bowl Speedway, have announced that starting 1 week Yesterday, big blocks will be legal at their events. Big blocks will be allowed to run with the small blocks the rest of the year, and for all of 2009 in hopes of helping with car counts. Albany is the only of the 2 to have a big block race this year, the CVRA vs. The World 100 which drew around 50 modifieds.

Decker Does it Again on the SDS; Friday Winners

Billy Decker picked up his 19th win of the year in the Super Dirt Series race at Brewerton Speedway that landed him $6,000. More importantly, he passed Dale Planck for the win, who is one of the few drivers in striking distance of the Dirt Series championship.

Other Friday night winners include; Dale Hartz who picked up his first career modified win in the small block feature at Big Diamond, Pete Bicknell stayed in the title hunt with a win at Ransomville, Del Rougeux picked up his 2nd win of the year at Lernerville, Dan Vauter repeated at Penn Can, and Ronnie Johnson picked up the win at Albany. Mother nature again was the big winner on Friday night.

Kenny Brightbill News

Kenny Brightbill will now NOT be attending Super Dirt Week, his sponsorship from Heavy Business has fallen through yet again. Heavy Business hasn't helped Kenny so far this year, as Chad Sinon has helped Kenny get to the only races Kenny ran this year. However, Brightbill has recieved sponsorship for the Coalcracker 100 at Big Diamond and the Freedom 76er. Kenny will be running Big Diamond tonight to shake down the car.

Former owner returns for Big Block assault on SDW; New Website Launches

Jody Gable and Gable Motorsports has been out of action since 2006, but the team will return for an all-out big block assault on the Syracuse mile for Super Dirt Week. The driver of the car will be current Fonda points leader Bobby Varin. Varin and Gable teamed up in 2006 at Syracuse and at a couple of late races at Lebanon Valley. Brett Hearn has by far had the most success with the Gable team as they dominated the Valley for a handful of years. Rich Ricci Jr also had some goods seasons with Gable. Bobby Varin has yet to win the big one at Syracuse, but sat on the pole in 1998, and came close to winning and finished in the top 5 in 2005. In 2006 when Varin and Gable teamed up, Varin set 7th fastest time during time trials but dropped out of the 200. Gable is looking at a possible full-time return in 2009.

In Salute to the Troops 150 news, defending Brewerton Speedway champion Willy Decker, 2007 Super Dirt Week 358 Modifieds Futures Race winner Brett Graham, and 2-time feature winner in 2008 at Glen Ridge Paul Kinney have all stated that they'll be running in the small block portion of Super Dirt Week.

Photographer, columnist, and popular fan Rick Young recently launched a website which includes pictures, columns, and blasts from the past. Be sure to check it out at http://www.rickattheraces.com/

Decker takes Specials Richie Evans Memorial RoC Dirt Tour at Utica

Billy Decker continues to rack up the wins, now picking up his first RoC Dirt Tour win of the year at Utica Rome Wednesday night. Decker started 2nd on the feature and after passing pole-sitter Billy Shantel for the lead, he never looked back. Pat Ward, who currently leads RoC Dirt Points, blew a tire while challenging for the lead around the half-way point was able to come back up through the field and finish 7th. Stewart Friesen broke, which means Pat Ward has all but clinched the RoC Dirt Tour title with 3 races remaining in the year. Jimmy Phelps finished 2nd, Alan Johnson was 3rd in Jake Spraker's #1J, Willy Decker was 4th, and Brett Hearn rounded out the top 5.

Rest In Peace John Wertz

Long time car owned on the Pennsylvania modified scene, John Wertz, lost his battle with a long-running illness Yesterday. John was also a long-time promotor at the greatly missed Penn National Speedway. John most recently has had Corey Sechrist drive his #42 at Big Diamond Raceway over the past 2 seasons. He also proudly displayed ClubWago.com on his car over that time period. Rest in peace John!

Von Dohren wins again

Craig Von Dohren took the 358 modified portion of the Thunder on the Hill 5-25's on Tuesday night. Von Dohren continues to be the hottest driver on dirt, as he has now won 6 of his last 8 races, 4 of which have been special shows including this one, the Chad Miller Memorial worth $3,500 (and the $1,000 dash for cash that he won), the $5,500 to win MS Race for a Cure big block race at Bridgeport Speedway, and the Forrest Rogers Memorial which was worth $10,000. Simply put, CVD looked to be unstoppable heading into the end of the year shows.

Specials This Week

Tonight (Tuesday) Grandview Speedway has a Thunder on the Hill 5-25's features only format, which includes URC Sprints, 358 modifieds, 600cc sprints, 600cc modifieds, and legends. On Wednesday, the RoC Dirt Tour swings into action with a 61 lap big block feature paying $6,161.61 in honor of the late great Richie Evans. On Friday the Super Dirt Series starts their three-race weekend with a 100 lap race at Brewerton Speedway paying $6,000 to win. Also on Friday Glen Ridge will have the 1st ever "Rumble at the Ridge" with heats paying to win, and the feature paying a record $1,700 to win. Then, on Saturday, the Super Dirt Series invades Can Am Speedway for another $6,000 to win 100-lapper. Also on Saturday is the final race of the King of the Valley mini-series at Lebanon Valley (Kenny Tremont currently leads over J.R. Heffner) and Fonda Speedway has their points finale (Bobby Varin currently leads over Pat Ward.) Saturday will also see twin features for the modifieds at Merrittville Speedway. Finally, on Sunday Cornwall Speedway has their $6,000 to win Super Dirt Series race. Also on Sunday Utica Rome will have twin features of the 358 modifieds.

Kellner in with Kratz

Jon Kellner Sr, who retired from modified racing 2 years ago, will return to the seat of a modified aboard the Steve Kratz owned #8 small block for weekly Grandview competition. The team may also run some end of the year shows at Big Diamond, notable the Coalcracker 100 and the Diamond Nationals, along with Grandview. Kellner is the all-time feature winner at Grandview in the late model division, and also owns 14 career small block modified wins at the track, highlighted by a $10,000 triumph in the Forrest Rogers Memorial a few years ago. Kellner had been running a late model at Grandview this year but blew a motor near the beginning of the season, since then he's been out of action. Kellner's sons, Jon Kellner Jr (modifieds) and Mike Kellner (late models) also race weekly at Grandview. Mike Gular, who had been in the Steve Kratz #8 until being fired last week, will continue to run weekly at Grandview aboard his own #53.