EVANS MILLS, NY – Evans Mills Raceway Park hit the double jackpot with the race program on Superior Propane and Griffith Oil night, July 28, 2019. First the track had its largest crowd of the season – on a regular night of racing, no less – and second, the racing action was some of the best all year. Fans streamed into the track on a beautiful summer night and they weren’t disappointed. It was also driver appreciation night, all CDL holders were admitted for free. Gilco Trucking had a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia with a 2016 Heil tanker attached on display. First student had a bus with great giveaways, Doug Fetterly had 2 beautiful tractor trailers and Cargil employees enjoyed a night at Evans Mills raceway Park with food and refreshments.
An added feature was one on one spectator racing during intermission between seven contestants. The spirited competition showcased different cars and trucks battling one lap at a time between two drivers with the winner moving on to the next round. At the end of the event it was Chris Rombough in victory lane with his 2006 Subaru STI.
The feature order was changed slightly as the Fidelis Care INEX Legends took to the track for feature #1. Heat winner Chris Malbeuf pulled the #3 stick for a three car inversion. Unfortunately attrition would rear it’s ugly head one more time for the Legends as only three of the six cars finished the race. Brianne Gilligan in her newly repaired #33 led most of the way over Chris Malbeuf in the #10 and Josh Marchese in the #31. There was considerable distance between the top three cars with just a handful of laps to go, when a spin in the back of the field brought out the first caution. The race totally changed after that point. On the restart both Malbeuf and Marchese got by Gilligan when the caution flew again. This time on the restart, Marchese and Malbeuf got together going into turn one and Gilligan, Zach Anderson, and Cole Perry all got looped around in the turn. Only Anderson and Perry could continue behind Marchese. At the end, it was Josh Marchese winning his third feature in a row, with Zach Anderson in second and Cole Perry third, the best finish of the year for both young drivers.
The largest field this year for the Caskinette Ford Modifieds was next with 16 cars roaring out of turn four for Brad Berry’s green flag. Corey Trombley in the #006 held the lead early, but when Steve Fuchs in the #4 chose the outside lane on a restart, the heat was on. Lap after lap went by with Trombley and Fuchs side by side, neither giving an inch. Fuchs was faster into turn three and would pull ahead only to see Trombley regain grip out of turn four and keep the lead. Another caution produced a sizzling restart with several cars now running side by side for several laps. First heat winner Larry Welling Jr. drew the #6 for the inversion which set him back to the sixth place starting spot, but he began to move forward. A big shuffle took place when Welling got by Fuchs and then passed Trombley on the outside for the lead. Mike Ramos in the #09 followed him through and the remainder of the race featured a cliffhanger between Welling and Ramos. On a restart with two laps to go, Ramos chose the outside lane, but Welling got out of turn two a bit quicker to hold on for the win. Ramos was second followed by Trombley in the #006, Steve Fuchs in the #4, and Chad Blair sneaking in for the fifth spot in the #6.
The night’s final feature was between the Sport Compact and Serve Pro Thunderstock competitors. Craig Caskinette in the #19 and Chuck Powelczyk in the #17 were bumper to bumper the entire race, with Powelczyk sneaking into the bottom lane several times but could not get by Caskinette. At the end Caskinette prevailed again for the Sport Compacts, as Josh Verne Jr. picked up another feature win in the Serve Pro Thunderstocks with Josh Verne Sr. right behind him.
The buzzing crowd left the track conversing with one another about the amazing night of racing they had just witnessed. Asphalt racing is being revived in a big way at Evans Mills Raceway Park. Saturday Aug. 3 is the big Monster Truck show in the afternoon. Fans are reminded to take care when parking in rows as there will be a very large crowd for this event. There will not be a racing program Saturday evening Aug. 3. The next race night is Saturday Aug. 10, Family Autograph night sponsored by Watertown Savings Bank. So bring the family for hot, fresh food, reasonably priced, clean, friendly facility. Evans Mills Raceway Park has hit it’s stride and hopes to see race fans back again at the races!
Caskinette Ford Sportsman Modifieds:
| 1 | 48 | Larry Welling | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 2 | 9 | Michael Ramos | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 3 | 6 | Corey Trombley | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 4 | 4 | Steve Fuchs | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 5 | 6 | Chad Blair | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 6 | 66 | Geoff Sharkey | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 7 | 6B | Jason Blair | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 8 | 18R | Erick Ruffell | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 9 | 2NY | Tony Pettinelli | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 10 | 18M | Jacob Matzel | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 11 | 126 | Zach Aubertine | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 12 | 84 | Josh Schoonmaker | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 13 | 2X | Terry Gardner | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 14 | 30 | Mason Spencer | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 15 | NY1 | Casey Sykes | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
| 16 | 25A | Levi Arthur | Caskinette Ford Modifieds |
INEX Legends:
| 1 | 31 | Joshua Marchese | INEX Legends |
| 2 | 46 | Zach Anderson | INEX Legends |
| 3 | 23 | Cole Perry | INEX Legends |
| 4 | 33 | Breanne Gilligan | INEX Legends |
| 5 | 10 | Chris Malbeuf | INEX Legends |
| 6 | 97 | Kyle Hafemann | INEX Legends |
Sport Compact / Serv-Pro Thunder Stock:
| 1 | 19 | Craig Caskinette | Sport Compact |
| 2 | 17 | Chuck Powelyh | Sport Compact |
| 3 | 1v | Josh Verne Jr | Serv Pro Thunder Stocks |
| 4 | X | Josh Verne | Serv Pro Thunder Stocks |
| 5 | 11 | Tim Verne | Sport Compact |
| 6 | 4 | Jess Brenden | Serv Pro Thunder Stocks |
| 7 | 96T | Tim Dunn | Sport Compact |