By JAY SHIMEL – EVANS MILLS, NY – The first official weekend of summer brought temperatures nearing 90 degrees to the Evans Mills Raceway Park. Race fans were treated to exciting features from the start, including the return of the New York Super Stocks.
The first feature of the evening saw 19 cars take the green flag in the Napa Auto Parts Sport Compacts and Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks. From the start the drivers were making bold and exciting moves as they raced 3 and 4 wide multiple times in the early laps. Joe Pettinelli would quickly find the top spot from his 13th starting position by lap 3. Pettinelli would pace the field as Chuck Powelczyk started his climb to the front. By lap 11, Pettinelli and Powelczyk would run first and second. Pettinelli would get held up by lap traffic as Powelczyk would power by on the outside on lap 16. Pettinelli would fight back on the outside and take the lead on the next lap, although it turned out to be short lived. Powelczyk reclaimed the lead on the next lap as Pettinelli would lose grip on the outside lane of turn as they took the 2 lap to go signal. Powelczyk would go on to take his second win of the season. Pettinelli took home second place and Russell Bulger Jr. finished in third. Joe Orvis battled Justin Burns for laps, side by side for the top spot in the Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks. Orvis would finally clear Burns with 4 laps to go to win his 6th feature of the year.
The 50 lap New York Super Stocks took to the track next, which were led to the green flag by Jake Christman and Jacob Gustafson. Christman would take the early lead as Garrett Zacharias moved into the second position by lap 3. The race was slowed by a lengthy caution from a broken driveshaft on Brandon Ultra’s car on lap 8. On the restart Zacharias would put heavy pressure on Christman, trying both lanes to get by the 48X of Christman. After multiple restarts during mid race, Chirstman and Zacharias would race side by side for laps. Things would change after a lap 32 restart. Chirstman would take the lead, but Zacharias would get the nose of his 71 under Christman exiting turn 4 and eventually take the lead as the two exited turn 2. Zacharias would lead the final laps, taking home the checkered flag. Christman settled for second, followed by Brian Hallett, Barrett Schenk and Gustafson.
The Excess Storage Pro Late Models took to the track next, led by Cole Perry and Rylee Gill. Perry took the early lead as Sid Harmer moved into the second position. Perry relinquished the lead to Harmer as Perry got too low on the track and climbed the curb. Harmer would set the pace as Gill recovered from a slow start. Harmer and Gill raced hard, swapping the lead several times before Gill eventually took over the top spot on lap 10. Gill crossed the line first, for the third time this season. Harmer finished second and Tyler Papin completed the top 3.
John Ramsey and Anthony Pettinelli led the Caskinette Ford Modifieds to the green flag for their 35-lap feature. Andre Roggie would power by Ramsey on the outside of turn 3 to take the early lead on lap 2. Roggie would maintain his lead through 2 early cautions. By the third caution flag, Dylan Bancroft had worked his way up to the second position. On a lap 7 restart, Bancroft used the high side to get by Roggie and take over the top position. Current points leader Bryan Sherwood had methodically worked his way to the 4th position, from his 11th place starting position by lap 7. Two restarts and 7 laps later, Sherwood found himself challenging Bancroft for the lead. Sherwood would try multiple lanes to get by Bancroft for several laps. Bancroft would hold his line on the bottom and hold off Sherwood time after time. Bancroft would go on to win his second feature of the year. Sherwood would settle for second and Roggie finished in the third position.
The Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends concluded the features for the evening. Kyle Hart took the lead from the start. Devin Thornton would be the man on the move, as he started 7th and was challenging for the lead by lap 6. On the next lap, Thornton drove by Hart on the outside of turn 2. However, 2 laps later, Thornton’s fortune would change. As he entered turn 3, he ran out of room as he worked to put a slower car down a lap, he would spin, causing enough damage to end his night. Hart rebounded from his early spin and reclaimed the lead on a lap 11 restart. Brayton Malbeuf would challenge Hart in the closing laps for the win. Hart was too strong as he crossed the finish line first, picking up his first win of the season. Bryton Malbeuf finished second and Chris Malbeuf finished third.
The 2Xtreme Monster Trucks return to the Evans Mills Raceway Park for an epic 2 Day Show! Bounty Hunter, Scarlet Bandit and more return on July 30 and 31 at 3pm each day. You can pre order tickets at evansmillsracewaypark.com or 2xtremeracingseries.com. Tickets start at just $15.
Next weekend, Evans Mills Raceway Park celebrates the July 4th Weekend. The Caskinette Ford Modifieds, Excess Storage Pro Late Models, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, Napa Auto Parts Sport Compact/Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks will be back in action. Pit gates open at 3pm, General Admission at 5pm and racing starts at 6:30pm. Pit pass $35, Adults $15, Military $13, Children 10-17 $10 and under 9 free with paid Adult.