By JAY SHIMEL – EVANS MILLS, NY – The halfway point of the 2022 racing season was reached on Saturday night at the Evans Mills Raceway Park. Another picture-perfect night welcomed race fans for the Summer Sizzler as the points races are heating up heading into the final weeks of competition.
The first feature of the evening was the NAPA Auto Parts Sport Compacts and the Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks. David Liscum started on the pole and would lead lap 1, but David Paige would find the fast line around Liscum on the outside of the track and control the race by lap 2. The Sport Compacts were quickly making their way up through the field. Chuck Powelczyk, who started tenth, had taken over the top spot by lap 5 when the first caution flag flew. The second and final caution of the feature came on the next lap. Powelczyk got a great started and cleared the second-place car of Jock Symonds by the entrance to turn 1. Symonds would try to run down the leader, but Powelczyk was too strong and led the final 14 laps, winning his third feature of the year. Symonds settled for a season best second place and Justin Coachman finished third. Joe Orvis was able to get by David Paige on the second restart and claim the victory in the Thunderstock class.
The Caskinette Ford Modifieds made their way onto the speedway next, led by Scott Dinzler and Jerry Dineen. Dineen would grab the early lead, but it would be short lived. The fastest car on the track through the heats and features would be Kreig Heroth. After starting sixth, Heroth would find himself contending for the lead by lap 6. Dineen would get high on the exit of turn 4 and Heroth would power by on the low lane to take the lead entering turn 1. The only caution flew on lap 15, which was brought out by Dineen, who was dropping fluid on the track. On the restart, Bryan Sherwood, who was running fourth at the time of the caution, choose the outside of row 1. This would set up a restart of the top two drivers in the points standing. Sherwood tried to stay with Heroth, but it was to no avail. Heroth was too strong and pulled away from Sherwood. Heroth went on to win his second feature of the season. Sherwood settled for second, followed by John Ramsey, Andre Roggie and Tony Pettinelli.
The Excess Storage Pro Late Model were next on the card for the evening. The feature would be caution free as Cole Perry took the lead on lap 2. Perry would have little trouble getting away from the rest of the field. Rylee Gill would have trouble getting by the cars between him and Perry in the early laps. By lap 7, Gill found himself in the second position. He would track down Perry to get within 2-3 car lengths. However, Perry would maintain his pace on the bottom side of the track and take home his fourth checkered flag of the season. Gill would finish second and Tyler Papin would finish third.
The Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends wrapped up the evening as Evan Thomas and Camdin Cook made up the front row. An early caution flew on lap 1 as Cook was able to get by Thomas on the start. However, Kyle Hart would get by Cook on the restart. Cook would not let him get away. Cook would follow in Hart’s tire tracks lap after lap. Another caution flew on lap 9 and 16 slowing the field. On the restart on lap 16, Breanne Gilligan would get by Cook to take over the second spot. Cook would fight back as the two would enter turns 3 & 4. Cook pass Gilligan on the bottom side. Gilligan would try to fight back with a cross over move but would lose traction and spin in turn 4. Devin Thornton had no place to go and collided with Gilligan, making heavy contact. Both drivers would be ok, but their cars suffered too much damage to continue. On the final restart, Hart would get the best of Cook and go on to win his second feature of the year. Cook crossed the line second followed by Chris Malbeuf.
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 Christmas In July! 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. Also on the card will be the second and final edition of Spectator Racing. 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.