Dusty Waters Won The Battle / John Waters
Won The War
.Dusty's First Win / John Dart Challenge Champ.
Little Valley, NY.Sun Sep 4.The Waters brothers provided the story
lines for the final event of the 2011 Dart BRP CanAm Late Model
Challenge. Dusty Waters won his first ever BRP CanAm late model A-Main
(the battle) while older brother John claimed the 2011 Dart BRP CanAm
Late Challenge Championship (the war).
The Battle.Dusty Waters is a true rookie on the 2011 stock car scene.
Prior to this year his only racing experience was some off-road four
wheeling fun racing and two starts in John's BRP CanAm car at Woodhull
last year while John was off on assignment with his under water
construction work. During the off season John bought a new CRS Camaro
and Dusty freshened John's old CRS Impala.
Dusty has been good all year with four top five finishes including a
great second place finish in A-Mains at Woodhull and a heat race win at
Black Rock highlighting his season until last night.
Last night the 28 year old National Grid linemen from Whitesville, NY
found his line on the bottom of Little Valley's fast half mile and with
that his first ever A-Main win. Dusty drew the number two chip and did
not even look to see who had the number one chip. His car was good,
his starting position was good, and he was feeling good about his
chances on the big fast Little Valley track. After all if you can get
around Woodhull successfully you have proven that you can race anywhere.
Dusty lead all 20 laps of the final race of the 2011 Dart BRP CanAm
Late Model Challenge. Lead them all, but never had more than a car
length advantage over whoever raced in second. First it was pole
starter Quinn Sutherland who gave the kid room, but was very strong
while looking for his first ever win at Little Valley. Next to take up
the chase for the lead was Bryce Davis. Davis and his Hot Rod Lincoln
were back in winning form last night, but unless Dusty made a mistake
Davis did not have enough to climb to the top. In the final laps Davis
had to shift from offense to defense as Jeremy Wonderling came from
another zip code to third and even got around Davis on lap 19. Davis
then really got up on the wheel and rebounded on the outside to claim
second at John Powell's flying double checkered flags. All of this and
so much more all going on behind the rookie from Whitesville - Dustin
Waters a first time Little Valley winner, a first time anywhere BRP
CanAm late model race winner.
A-main finish.DUSTY WATERS, Bryce Davis, Jeremy Wonderling, Quinn
Sutherland, Brian Knowles, Bob Close, JJ Mazur, Dave DuBois, Mike
Wonderling, Buck Payne, Jared Hill, Steve LaBarron, DJ Krug, John
Waters, Bob Babbitt, Larry Knowles, Sam Conti, Carl Cleveland, Wally
Wade, Brian Hoffman, Mikey Wonderling, Ron Wilkins, Alan Wais
The War.The six event Dart BRP CanAm Late Model Challenge started at
Black Rock in June when John Waters claimed his first ever A-Main win
at the Dundee, NY track. The following week the Challenge moved to
Little Valley Speedway where Jeremy Wonderling claimed the $1000
winner's check. Events three and four were held in July with Bruce
Miller winning at Little Valley and Jason Knowles claiming the winner's
trophy and the biggest check at Black Rock. Last week John Waters
repeated with a victory in event number five at Black Rock. The final
race of the 2011 Challenge belonged to Dusty Waters with big brother
John squeezing out enough points to earn the Championship over Jeremy
Wonderling.
John Waters entered the night with a 34 point advantage over Jason
Knowles and a 47 point advantage over Jeremy Wonderling. Knowles lost
laps early and was not a factor for the championship. Jeremy (Mr.
Excitement) was another story. Jeremy made a stop during a mid-race
caution to replace a flat tire. He joined the field at the rear and
started a determined and exciting drive to the front. While Jeremy was
moving forward John Waters was slipping backwards and the point margin
was shrinking. When the scorers sorted out the finish Wonderling was
third to earn 90 points. John Waters was 14th to earn 54 points. The
final margin was 11 points. 11, John Waters' car number and the 2011
Dart BRP CanAm Challenge champion's trophy will go to the Whitesville
House.
The Dart BRP CanAm Late Model Challenge is a cooperative effort with
Dart Machinery of Troy, Michigan, Bicknell Racing Products of St.
Catharines, Ontario, Canada and the participating track operators (John
Charlesworth of Little Valley Speedway and Dean Hoag of Black Rock
Speedway).
Dart BRPCanAm Challenge point standings (final top 10 of 38 after 6 of
6 events): 1. John Waters - 485, 2. Jeremy Wonderling - 474, 3. Jason
Knowles - 445, 4. Brian Knowles - 439, 5. Mike Wonderling - 407, 6.
Jared Hill - 399, 7. Quinn Sutherland - 396, 8. Dave DuBois - 378, 9.
Mikey Wonderling - 377, 10. Buck Payne - 356
The top ten point earners will share the $7000 point fund which
includes $3000 cash and drawings for a Dart Block ($2500 value) and a
set of Dart heads ($1500 value).
More Battles and the bigger War.The 2011 Dart Challenge is over. Other
than Little Valley track championships have been decided. Now the BRP
CanAm Series tour event schedule heats up with events at Merrittville
Speedway on Friday and Woodhull on Saturday later this week. A return
engagement is scheduled at Little Valley on Saturday September 17. The
2011 BRP CanAm Late Model Series will conclude with the ISKY Cams
Championship at Black Rock on Saturday October 22. Leading contenders
for the 2011 BRP CanAm Series championship - Jeremy Wonderling and John
Waters!
Dart Machinery information @ www.DartHeads.com
Bicknell Racing Products information @ www.BicknellRacingProducts.com
BRP CanAm Late Model Series information @ www.BRPCanAmSeries.com
Merrittville Speedway information @ www.MerrittvilleSpeedway.com
Woodhull Raceway information @ www.WoodhullRaceway.com
Barton and Chrysler Claim Wins in Late
Model/358 Doubleheader at Little Valley
By Dave Sully
(Little Valley, NY) Veteran Dick Barton drove to a second straight win in the
Super Late Model division at Little Valley Speedway on Saturday, September 17th,
while Randy Chrysler won the 358 Modified Feature at Little Valley Speedway’s
final show of the season on Saturday, September 17th before a large crowd.
Barton, from Asheville, also annexed the track championship, breaking a tie with
David Scott, who finished second in the race and the point chase. For Chrysler,
from the Tuscarora Nation in Lewiston, who has been racing part time for the
last few years, it was his first win in a long while.
Starting on the outside pole, courtesy of the redraw, Barton, driving the John
Lacki-owned car for the second time in a row, jumped to the lead at the drop of
the green in the 30 lap feature, beating polesitter Chad Valone to the first
turn. From there he drew out to a commanding lead, while Scott, who started
eighth gamely tried to catch up. The lone caution of the race, for a spin on lap
six, saw Scott up to third following the restart.
While Barton distanced himself from the field, Scott battled his teammate and
car owner, Valone for second. That became the best race on the track. As the two
vied for position, Dutch Davies entered the fray as well. Scott finally was able
to wrest second place from Valone, on lap 20, using a lap car for a pick, but it
was too little, too late, as Barton was long gone. At the line it was Barton,
Scott, and Davies, followed by Valone and Jeff Hoffman to round out the top
five.
Barton, as is his wont, gave most of the credit to others, noting, “The credit
goes to the Lacki brothers Charlie and John, who allowed my guys to adjust on
the car and, as always, it’s a total team effort. All my job to do is turn left,
and tonight that job was very easy because this race car was on the money.”
Barton picked up $3,000 for the win, plus an extra $2,000 for winning the six
race championship chase.
The Modified event drew a field of 27 cars, with the preponderance being from
Woodhull, Merrittville, and Ransomville. Robbie Krull started on the pole in the
25 lap feature and set a blistering pace, while opening up a big lead. While
this was going on, Billy Van Pelt was on the charge, claiming third on lap two,
after starting seventh, and taking second a lap later.
From there he began to reel in Krull, when a caution on lap nine erased what was
left of the lead. Krull held him off on the restart, but a caution on lap 11,
when Todd Gordon lost a wheel, put Van Pelt in position to take the lead, going
around the outside in turn two, from where he motored out to a big advantage.
Meanwhile, a battle for second developed between Krull and Travis Braun, which
was interrupted by a caution on lap 20. The restart showed, Van Pelt, Krull,
Braun, and now Chrysler, who had literally battled his way up from twelfth, now
the principals.
Van Pelt took off once again, but the battle for second became intense, with
Chrysler claiming third on lap 22 and easing past Krull on lap 24. It turned out
to be the pivotal move of the race. At the line, it was Van Pelt far ahead,
followed by Chrysler, Krull, Braun and Ryan Susice, who made a gallant charge
from 15th. Following the race, Van Pelt was found to be using an illegal
carburetor, giving the well-deserved win to Chrysler, and moving everyone else
up a spot, with Curt Van Pelt now completing the top five.
The win was worth $2,000, but to Chrysler, it was the win that was most
important.
The 20 lap BRP Can Am 360 Late Model Feature was won by Bruce Miller, from
Wellsville, who triumphed an a bruising battle that saw seven cautions, many of
them grinding, including three in the first five laps, before the issue was
settled. Miller, who started fourth, took the lead from Greg Galligan on a lap
two restart, driving around the outside in turn two.
Miller then moved out to a big lead, only to lose it on the five remaining
cautions, with Galligan staying within haling distance each time they restarted.
The final caution, on lap 16, saw only 16 cars left from the 24 car starting
field. Miller was able to hold sway over the final four laps to take the
victory, his second at Little Valley this season. Galligan finished second,
followed by the hard charger of the race, Jeff Chesebro, who went off
fourteenth, John Waters, and Bob Close, to complete the top five.
Miller, who banked $1,000 for his effort, noted, “It was like a marathon there.
I was hoping we could go green at least the last eight laps, but we were able to
hang on through all those restarts. I could see him (Galligan) underneath me on
the restarts. On one restart I messed up and got the car pushing through one and
two and he was all the way under me. I knew I couldn’t relax with him behind
me.”
The track championship went to Jeremy Wonderling, who had a commanding lead in
the standings over Brian Knowles going into the event and finished ahead of him
in the race.
The $500 to win 15 lap Street Stock Feature went to recently crowned track
champion, Andy Michael, from Allegany, who took the lead from Critter Hemphill
on a lap two restart and was never challenged. Earlier, Michael was dumped on
the first lap by Kevin Hill, who was black flagged for the indiscretion, but was
returned to his running position (third) for the restart. Rich Wojtowicz, one of
the few who could run consistently with Michael all season, came up from seventh
to keep him honest. At the line it was Michael, with Wojtowicz and Hemphill the
top three.
NOTES: The popular Barton, who has won Little Valley titles and many others in
the area in his lengthy career and is one of the classiest men in the sport, is
still enjoying himself, even his fifties. “It is fun,” he declared, “We still
have that drive, all of our team. Once you lose it, it’s time to get out of the
sport. Right now, I can’t be happier, not only for myself, but for the Lacki
brothers. These cars cost forty or fifty thousand dollars. They allow me to sit
in it and go racing………..Ninety-one cars were in the pits for the event,
including 16 Super Late Models, 27 Modifieds, 28 BRP Can Am Late Models, and 20
Street Stocks…………. Van Pelt gave an early indication that his car might be
extraordinary when he started ninth in his heat and not only won it, but was
pulling away at the end. The carburetor issue had been addressed at the driver’s
meeting, and drivers were advised they would be under scrutiny after the race.
Results:
Super Late Models: (30 laps) 1. Dick Barton, 2. David Scott, 3. Dutch
Davies, 4. Chad Valone, 5. Jeff Hoffman, 6. Mike Knight, 7. Jason Dupont, 8.
Bump Hedman, 9. Boom Briggs, 10. Greg Oakes, 11. Chris Hackett, 12. Brent
Rhebergen, 13. Paul Grigsby, 14. Derek Frank, 15. Jeff Dayman, 16. Terry Porter.
Heat winners were Scott and Davies.
358 Modifieds: (25 laps) 1. Randy Chrysler, 2. Robbie Krull, 3. Travis
Braun, 4. Ryan Susice, 5. Curt Van Pelt, 6. Todd Burley, 7. Chad Chevalier, 8.
Ron Cartwright, 9. Mat Williamson, 10. Lee Bills, 11. Frank Dunning, 12. Mike
Bills, 13. Ron White, 14. Dale Welty, 15. Casey Pavelick, 16. Joe Digien, 17.
Scott Boudinet, 18. Joe Kubiniec, 19. Ray Dunn, 20. Brian Doolittle, 21. Dylan
Dewart, 22. Todd Gordon, 23. Justin Sharp, 24. Ray Bliss, 25. Bryan Terwilliger.
DQ: Billy Van Pelt. Heat winners were Cartwright, Billy Van Pelt, and Burley.
360 Late models: (20 laps) 1. Bruce Miller, 2. Greg Galligan, 3. Jeff
Chesebro, 4. John Waters, 5. Bob Close, 6. Jason Knowles, 7. Mike Wonderling, 8.
Glen Whritenour, 9. Brian Hoffman, 10. Jeremy Wonderling, 11. Brian Knowles, 12.
Cecil LaBarren, 13. Larry Knowles, 14. Barry Payne, 15. DJ Krug, 16. Bob
Babbitt, 17. Brad LaBarren, 18. Dusty Waters, 19. Quinn Sutherland, 20. Jon
Rivers, 21. Jared Hill, 22. Bryce Davis, 23. Mikey Wonderling, 24. Alan Wais.
DNS: Dave Dubois. Heat winners were Miller, Mike Wonderling, Jeremy Wonderling,
and John Waters. Consi winner was Hoffman. DNQ: Steve LaBarren, and Carl
Cleveland.
Street Stocks: (15 laps) 1.Andy Michael, 2. Rich Wotjowicz, 3. Critter
Hemphill, 4. Ted Mascho, 5. Sam Conti, 6. Kane Stebbins, 7. Butch Talbot, 8.
Randy Taylor, 9. Steve Sklar, 10. Allison Pierce, 11. Tim Bruce, 12. Bruno
Mowery, 13. Chris Austin, 14. Charles Rugg, 15. Kurt Stebbins, 16. John Gagner,
17. Mark Loveland. Black Flag- Kevin Hill. Heat winners were Gagner, Wojtowicz,
and Kurt Stebbins. DNS- Nick Mohawk and Tracy Dunn.
The management and staff at Little Valley
Speedway would like to thank all of the race teams, the loyal fans, and the
generous sponsors for another successful season in 2011. Congratulations to our
champions: Dick Barton in the Super Late Models, Jeremy Wonderling in the 360
Late Models, Rich Michael in the E-Mods, and Andy Michael in the Street Stocks.
We look forward to another great season in 2012.