By JAY SHIMEL – EVANS MILLS, NY – The final points paying weekend was held on Saturday as Evans Mills Raceway Park crowned their champions in five different classes.
The racing community also came together to support the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County.
Race fans donated diapers, wipes and other personal hygiene items to help fill a need, due to a lack of funding. We would like to thank everyone who donated items to help keep our community strong.
Starting the features on the evening was the NAPA Auto Parts Sports Compacts and Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks. Tim Greenfield and David Paige started on the front row, with Paige leading laps 1 through 5. Joe Pettenelli would take over the lead on lap 6 with Justin Coachman trailing behind him in second. On lap 15, Coachman would get into the back of Pettinelli as they exited turn 2. This allowed Billy Matteson to inherit the lead. Matteson would lead the final laps and win his second feature of the season. Chuck Powelczyk would finish second and Coachman recovered to finish third. Joe Pettinelli would take home the track championship in the 2022 NAPA Auto Parts Sport Compacts behind his 6 wins.
Kevin Greenfield would get by Paige to take the lead in the Thunderstocks as Paige encountered mechanical issues. Greenfield would win his first feature of the season after returning from an ankle injury. Joe Orvis finished second followed by David Liscum. The 2022 Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks Track Champion would be Joe Orvis behind his track leading 11 wins on the season.
The Excess Storage Pro Late Models ran their 15-lap feature caution free as Cole Perry and Chuck Meyer made up the front row. Meyer would lead the first fours lap before Tyler Papin would get by on the high side of the track. Papin would set the pace as Rylee Gill began making his charge to the front. By lap 12, Gill had found himself in second behind Papin. He would try muliplte times to get by Papin, but each proved unsuccessful. Coming out of the final corners on the final lap, Gill would make one last push and beat Papin to the finish line by .043 seconds. Papin settled for second, followed by Meyer in third. Rylee Gill earned the 2022 Excess Storage Pro Late Models Track Championship with his 8 wins and 15 top 3 finishes.
The closet points battle was in the Caskinette Ford Modifieds between Bryan Sherwood and Kreig Heroth. The two would start 6th and 7th respectively. Joe Papin would be the early leader before the first caution flew on lap 7. Taylor Caprara would take the lead on the restart followed by Papin and Heroth. Heroth would set the fastest lap time of the evening and quickly move into second place. Heroth would pressure Caprara on the next 3 restarts but could not get by. Caprara would be able to hold off Heroth in the closing laps to win his 4th feature of the year. Heroth would finish second followed by Papin, Tony Pettinelli and Sherwood in fifth. Sherwood would be able to hold onto his points lead and become the 2022 Caskinette Ford Sportsman Modified Champion. Sherwood earned 3 wins and 16 top 5 finishes out of 17 races.
The final features of the evening were the Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, which were led to the green flag by Devin Thornton and Kyle Hart. On the start it was all Kyle Hart, as he raced to a large lead. Chris Malbeuf quickly moved up the second spot and began to run down Hart. Malbeuf would try multiple lanes to take the lead. However, each time Hart would slam the door shut and maintaining his lead. Hart would lead from green to checker, winning his 6th feature of the season. Malbeuf finished second and Thornton finished third. Chris Malbeuf would be crowned the 2022 Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends Track Champion. Malbeuf picked up 6 wins and 16 top 3 finishes.
Racing returns to the Evans Mills Raceway Park on September 17th, for the 3rd Annual John Burr Classic. The main event of the evening will be a 75 Caskinette Ford Sportsman Modified Race. Also on the card will be the Excess Storage Pro Late Model, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, NAPA Auto Parts Sport Compacts, Next Level Excavation Thunderstocks and the return of the Jake’s Automotive Small Block Supermodified Championship Series. Pit gates open at 2pm, General Admission at 4 pm and racing starts at 5:30pm. Pit pass $40, Adults $20, Military $18, Children 10-17 $15 and under 9 free with paid Adult.