By JAY SHIMEL – EVANS MILLS, NY – As the summer begins to wind down, the string of perfect racing weather continues at Evans Mills Raceway Park. This Saturday was the fan favorite Family Autograph Night presented by Watertown Savings Bank.
Race teams and drivers brought their cars to the frontstretch during intermission to meet the crowd. Race fans young and old were able to take pictures, talk with the drivers and get autographs from their favorite drivers. EMRP would like to extend a big “Thank You” to all the teams participating in Autograph Night this year.
The Excess Stroage Pro Late Models started the features off for the evening, which were led to the green flag by Cole Perry and Tyler Papin. Papin would lead the first lap, but last week’s winner Chuck Meyer would make it 3 wide on the fronstretch and dart to bottom of the track in turn one took take the lead from Papin. It was short lived as Rylee Gill would get by Meyer on the outside two laps later. Only one caution flag slowed the field on lap 6. Gill would maintain his lead on the restart and lead the remaining laps to earn his 5th feature win of the season. Meyer would finish second, followed by Papin in third.
Camdin Cook and Brayton Malbeuf made up the front row for the Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends feature. Cook would get a terrific start and lead the opening laps. Brayton Malbeuf would keep constant pressure on Cook, trying multiple lanes to take the lead. Each time, Cook would be able to maintain his lead. Chris Malbeuf would work his way around Brayton on lap 9 and then pressure Cook for the lead. On lap 10, Cook and Chris Malbeuf would be side by side as they entered turn 1. The two would touch and Cook would go over the front of Malbeuf and take a scary flip in the middle of turns 1 and 2. Cook would be safe as he exited under his own power to a round of applause from the crowd. Kyle Hart would claim the lead on the restart and not look back. He would lead the final 5 laps to win his 4th feature of the season. Brayton Malbeuf finished second and Chris Malbeuf finished third.
The Classic Asphalt Modified Series made their final stop at the Raceway as Tom Guiler and Tim Janes were the pole sitters. However, it was Andy Fera who would lead the first lap in his #50 Pinto. Fera would lead until halfway, when John Smith, from Florida would get by on the outside to take the lead. Two laps later, Fera would spin as he exited turn 4, as he tried a crossover over move on a lapped car. Smith would lead the final laps and take home the checkered flag. Yvon Perron finished second and Fera recovered to finish third.
Twenty Caskinette Ford Modifieds took the green flag as Geoff Sharkey and Kaden Rogers were the pole sitters. Jeff Pringle would get by both Sharkey and Rogers to lead the first lap. Pringle would set the pace early as Dylan Bancroft worked his way up to second. By lap 16, Bancroft would get to the inside of the track and pass Pringle for the lead. Bancroft would hold off Pringle on two restarts on laps 20 and 27. The final caution flew on lap 31 for a 3 car pile up in turn 2. On the restart, Pringle would keep pace with Bancroft on the outside, but would eventually lose the top spot. Bancroft would go on to win his third feature of the season. Pringle would tie his season best win a second place. Kreig Heroth would pass John Ramsey for third in the final laps. Ramsey finished fourth and Bryan Sherwood rounded out the top five.
The Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks would have their stand alone feature as Justin Burns and David Liscum started on the front row. On the start it was Liscum who would take the lead as the field entered turn 1. By the second lap, Joe Orvis had found his way to the second spot with newcomer Justin Pope in third. Pope would try multiple times to get by Orvis but could not take over second place. As Orvis and Pope battled for second, Liscum had checked out on the rest of the field. The feature would be caution free as it would be David Liscum’s night. He would go on to win his first career feature in the Thunderstocks division. Orvis would finish second, followed by Pope.
The Napa Auto Parts Sport Compacts were the final feature of the evening. Mike Cole and Jock Symonds led the field to the green flag. Symonds would take the lead on the start. Joe Pettinelli would find his way to second quickly and start to work on the leader. The only caution came on lap 5 for a slowed Sam Curcie. Symonds would maintain his top spot on the restart as he was getting pressure from Pettinelli and Billy Matteson. It would be Symonds’ night as he led from green to checkers and win his second feature of the season. Pettinelli would finish second followed by Matteson.
Next weekend, Evans Mills Raceway Park celebrates our truckers with CDL Night sponsored by Christman Fuel Service. 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.