EVANS MILLS, NY – The first Saturday of June brought great temperatures paired with a great crowd to the Evans Mills Raceway Park for the weekly racing action. Another strong car count filled the pits, which kicked off a busy month at the track.
The Excess Storage Pro Late Models started the features off for the night. Josh Verne Jr (#1V) and Rylee Gill (#57) made up the front row. Verne would have mechanical troubles before taking the green flag. This allowed Joel Hargrave (#71) to move up to the front row. On the start, Hargrave was able to get the jump on Gill and take control of the race. Hargrave would go on to lead all 15 laps and pick up his second win of the season. Gill and Chuck Meyer (#3) would battle side by side for several laps, with Gill trying multiple times on the high side of turn four. Meyer would be able to hold off Gill for second and Gill would finish third.
The Sport Compacts/Thunderstocks were the next feature with 18 cars being called to the starting grid. Amanda Defoe (#61) and Justin Coachman (#7) brought the field to the green flag. Defoe would lead the early laps, but would find pressure from Trevor Halladay (#23T). Halladay would make multiple attempts to get by Defoe, however Defoe would be able to hold Halladay off. The two leaders would work through lap traffic, putting on a great show of driving ability for the fans. Multiple times they would go 3-wide, splitting lap traffic and still battling side by side for the lead. A caution would fly on lap 9 for a spinning AJ St. Mary (111J) in turn 3. Halladay would be able gain the lead on the restart and go on to earn his fourth win of the year. Defoe would finish second and Joe Pettinelli (#5) would finish third. Kevin Greenfield (#11A) would win his first Thunderstock feature of the year.
21 Caskinette Ford Modifieds started their 30 lap feature which was brought to the green flag by Andre Roggie (#03) and Tony Pettinelli (#2NY). Roggie would lead the first six laps until he was involved in a 6 car caution on lap 6. That would allow Pettinelli and Chris Finocchario (#81) to start on the front row. Finocchario would beat Pettinelli exiting turn 2 and control the race heading down the backstretch. Another caution flew on lap 14 for a spinning Brad Winters (#92) in the infield. On the restart, Pettinelli would get loose, allowing Mike Ramos (#09) and Taylor Caprara (#21) to get around him. Ramos would put pressure on Finocchario for the remaining 16 laps and the two remaining 2 restarts. Finocchario would hold his line on the bottom of the track, which proved to be enough to pick up his second win of the year. Ramos would finish second, Caprara would protect his points lead finishing third. Pettinelli and Levi Arthur (#65) would finish fourth and fifth respectively, each earning their first top fives of the year.
The Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends provided the surprise of the night. Dalton Rombough (#33) was in control of the race, but was getting pressure from Coleby Felber (#14) for much of the race. By the closing laps, it was a three car race between Rombough, Felber and Breanne Gilligan (#9). A caution flew with 2 laps to go. Rombough elected to start on the inside as did Felber and Gilligan chose the outside pole. On the final lap, Felber made contact with Rombough, collecting him, Rombough and Gilligan. Tyler Christman (#27) would inherit the lead. He would go on to earn his first win of the year, followed by the Jason Christman (#92) and Felber recovered to finish third.
The 4-Cylinder Trucks finished the features for the evening. Brandon Clemons (#3) and Scott Lampson (6-11) made up the front row. Lampson got the jump on the start. Within 3 laps, Bob Schroy (#33) and Pete Willsie (#01) would work up to second and third and pressure Lampson for the lead. Lampson would be able to hold them off and go on to take the checkered flag. Brodie Davis (#9D) made a strong run exiting turn 4 to finish second and Schroy would finish in third.
The Ted Appleton Memorial 81 Lap Modified Race, originally scheduled for next week, unfortunately has been postponed. The team at EMRP is having difficulties sourcing tires for our drivers. We are working to reschedule to a date later this season and will be posting updates.
Next week, Saturday June 12th, Intrepid Fallen Hero’s Fund with NAPA Auto Parts presents Caskinette Ford Modifieds, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, Excess Storage Pro Late Models, Sport Compacts/Thunderstocks/4-Cylinder Trucks. Pit Gates open at 3pm, General Admission at 5pm, Racing starts at 6:30pm. Pit Pass $30, General Admission $12, Military $10, Children 10-17 $6, Under 9 Free!