EVANS MILLS, NY – Racing returned to The Mills on top of the North Country Saturday night for Valvoline Global Family Autograph Night on August 9th. After a week off from racing for the 2X Monster Trucks Live Tour invasion of Evans Mills, all weekly divisions and the Classic Asphalt Modifieds Series were prepared to put on a show. Hundreds of first-time racing visitors were in attendance including friends from our Monster Truck show and teams and families participating in the annual Joel Davis Baseball Camp and Tournament down the road in Philadelphia, NY
The night kicked off with Joe Papin, Kinney Drugs Modified competitor, and newlywed running his hot laps in old-school fashion with a “Just Married” sign on the bag of his car, and strings of cans dangling off the back of his speeding car.
Following the Pastor Bob Sly’s touching prayer and tribute to track announcer Keith Zehr, a motorcycle parade took place on the track in remembrance of Ronald “Ronnie” England a local man that passed away recently. The participants were friends of Ronnie and revved their motorcycles as they passed the grandstands.
Crash Test Carter from Parts Well Known got the full crowd into the night with his first live stunt, jumping his bike over shark infested water. The crowd urged him to take the leap as they got louder. Carter stuck the landing, and full of confidence grabbed his mini Lightning McQueen bike and went for round 2. As his legs cranked on the little pedals he approached the launch and fell short landing into the pool of danger. The Evan Mills Raceway Park immediately jumped into action to stretcher Carter away and tow his bike off the track so we could proceed with racing action.
After heat races conclude, fans were invited onto the track to mingle with their favorite drivers and get all the autographs they could manager!
The Classic Asphalt Modified Series paid their second visit to The Mills and put on a heck of a show. Erik Gall would continue his momentum from his heat race and lead early but it would be Tony Pettinelli in the actual Richie Evans modified, but painted as a #79 that showed the power behind his tour-modified and passed Gall to take the win.
Classic Asphalt Modified Series Feature Results: 1) Tony Pettinelli, 2) Erik Gall, 3) Andy Fera, 4) Tim Janes, 5)Pierre Gervais, 6) Lee Sanders, 7) Tim Byrnes, 8) Norman Gervais
C.A.M.S. Heat Race Winner: Erik Gall
The field for the Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends saw the return of Rochester, NY’s Josh Marchese after many years away from The Mills. Brayton Malbeuf would se sail with the lead early on until Malbeuf and Dalton Rombough would tangle allowing Joel Hall to inherit the lead. On the next restart Josh Oomen would try his best to take the lead from the outside but would sping pushing his car over the limit. Landen Herring would eventually find himself in the second spot on a restart with Damian Goodnough and Breanne Gilligan running a strong race behind them. Hall, a veteran would prove to be too quick this time for Herring.
Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends Feature Results: 1) Joel Hall, 2) Landen Herring, 3) Josh Marchese, 4) Breanne Gilligan, 5) Dalton Rombough, 6) Damian Goodnough, 7) Brayton Malbeuf, 8) Aaron Wilmot, 9) Jayden Hall, 10) Ian Siebert, 11) Devin Thornton, 12) Josh Oomen, 13) Zach Christman, 14) Carrie Carr, 15) Brianna Berry, 16) Ray Davis
IL Heat Race Winners: Joel Hall, Brayton Malbeuf
Tony Pettinelli would manage the lead well with Jeff Pringle and Dylan Bancroft each taking turns trying to find their way past the 2NY. As the race progressed a group of four cars would make an advance towards the front following Kaden Rogers. Pringle would keep testing the outside around Pringle and eventual found his way past while Kaden jumped into the second spot. Pringle would lead the rest of the way.
Kinney Drugs Modifieds Feature Results: 1) Jeff Pringle, 2) Kaden Rogers, 3) Tony Pettinelli, 4) Andre Roggie, 5) Dylan Bancroft, 6) Joe Papin, 7) Taylor Caprara, 8) Kyle Hart, 9) Eli Petzoldt, 10) Tyler Stevenson, 11) Joey Clark, 12) Kevin Warren
MOD Heat Race Winners: Tony Pettinelli, Kaden Rogers
It’s no surprise that the four-cylinder division are capable of being the bell of the ball at The Mills. Tonight Anthony St. Mary Jr. would lead the way while Mike Greenfield worked his way through traffic up the second spot behind him. In the meantime, Chuck Powelczyk, and Mike Cole would stick to the bottom chasing the front, and Kevin Greenfield would give the outside lane all he had. Kevin Greenfield, the 2024 Track Champion would find his way to the front in only his second race of the season.
Stewart’s Shops Sport Compacts Feature Results: 1) Kevin Greenfield, 2) Anthony St. Mary Jr., 3) Mike Greenfield, 4) Chuck Powelczyk, 5) Mike Cole, 6) Tony Frezzo, 7) Angela Pettinelli, 8) Sam Curcie, 9) Tim Greenfield, 10) Amy Seeley, 11) Ariana Greenfield, 12) Anthony St. Mary Sr.
SC Heat Race Winners: Tim Greenfield, Mike Greenfield
Mike Marcinko in his newly Mystery Machine themed Saturn would have a strong start to the race but it would take no time for Justin Burns and Colby Goodale to tail Marcinko. Burns would get by and Goodale would try his hardest in the closing laps to make the outside lane work. Burns would hold strong on the bottom and return to the Thousand Island Bait Store Victory Lane
Thunderstocks Feature Results: 1) Justin Burns, 2) Colby Goodale, 3) Tony Frezzo, 4) Mike Marcinko, 5) Levi Goodale, 6) Jared Gilson, 7) David Paige, 8) Bill Gardner Jr., 9) Blake Briggs, 10) Christopher Wilson
TS Heat Race Winners: Mike Marcinko, Colby Goodale
Chuck Meyer and Rylee Gill had their best battle of the year to this point, but Meyer would lengthen his lead as laps clicked away. Tyle Papin made a great effort for the second spot but missed Gill by just a bit as they crossed the TI Bait Store Start Fishin’ Line
Excess Storage Pro Late Models Feature Results: 1) Chuck Meyer, 2) Rylee Gill, 3) Tyler Papin, 4) Matt Larrivee, 5) Mike Fairbanks
PLM Heat Race Winner: Rylee Gill
Next Saturday, August 16th is our annual Nicole Berry-Garnsey Health & Wellness Night plus Bike Night with added fun throughout the night. We are also excited to welcome the Carthage School District to the event. The night includes the first ever BG Fab Pit Crew Showdown for Kinney Drugs Modifieds competitors. The Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour will return to the Mills to join the Kinney Drugs Modifieds, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, Stewart’s Shops Sport Compacts, and Thunderstocks.
For more information contact the Evans Mills Raceway Park at (315) 323-6033 or emrpgm@yahoo.com