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First Advance
Auto Parts SDS 200-Lap Triumph For Tomkins At Rolling Wheels Elbridge, NY — September 18, 2005 — Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series victories have become commonplace for Gary Tomkins in recent years yet the reigning overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Champion had never captured a 200-lap championship event. And until this season, Tomkins had only one tour win to his credit at Rolling Wheels Raceway. On Sunday evening the Clifton Springs speedster not only scored his second straight Super DIRT Series triumph at Rolling Wheels, his fourth extra-distance victory in 2005 was his first-ever in a double-century grind. Tomkins' first career win in the Paine Motorsports National 200 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series showdown to close out the 19th Dynomax World Series of DIRT Track Racing Weekend was worth $12,000 and improved his season win total to a DIRT-best 14. "We had a fast car right from the start today and the crew just did an awesome job on the pit stop," said Tomkins, who won the Petrocci Memorial at Rolling Wheels on Labor Day. "We went into the pits fifth and came out first, after that I didn't really have to make any passes. Just keep my nose clean and stay out of trouble." Tomkins was certainly fast right off the truck, hitting the track first for time trials and coming away with the fastest single lap clocking of 23.310 seconds for an average speed of 100.852 mph. Pat Ward came out third and was second quickest while Steve Paine went out fifth and was third fastest among the 36 cars entered. Traditionally a top timer whenever he shows up, perennial favorite Brett Hearn missed time trials completely. His Page Trucking mount was pushed off the track during warm-ups and a coil replaced, but after the car failed to refire the decision was made to install a new MSD box. While Tomkins rallied to take the lead from Billy Decker on lap 86 en route to capturing the Petrocci Memorial 100 two weeks earlier, on Sunday he overtook frontrunner Steve Hulsizer just as Decker spun to bring out a yellow flag on lap 84 and led the remaining 116 circuits to post his 11th career Advance Auto Parts SDS victory in convincing fashion. "Saving tires is definitely something that's always on your mind in these kinds of races," said Tomkins, who stayed with a soft compound tread for the duration. "Last year the track took down rubber and this time the sun was in and out of the clouds all day and you really didn't know what to expect. Two weeks ago the track was rough in spots but you could see all the way around. Today, the surface came apart and it was a blind run going into turn one every lap." Early race dust problems were the direct cause of a half-dozen caution periods during the initial 30 laps that kept passing to minimum during the early stages. Last place starter Sean Beardsley was the first to spin on the opening lap as by the time he reached turn one the 29 cars in front of him had produced a big enough cloud to eliminate any visibility. Back of the field starters Ronnie Johnson and Pierre Dagenais suffered the same consequences on the ensuing restart and officials immediately ordered all drivers to fall into single file for safety purposes during the remainder of the event. Outside pole-sitter Billy Decker jumped ahead from the drop of the first green flag and remained out front through the early mishaps. Justin Haers, Jimmy Phelps, Brett Hearn and Tomkins were nestled in behind the no. 91 Gypsum Wholesalers-Stadium International/Bicknell entry as everyone continued to battle the elements. Dagenais looped for a second time in turn one on lap 17 and was involved in a first turn tangle yet again 13 laps later. In between, Eldon Payne,Jr. and Beardsley were caught up in the turn one trauma to send the yellow lights flashing across the speedway. Racers finally enjoyed a long stretch of green flag action and with 50 laps complete Decker retained the point still chased by Haers, Phelps, Hearn and Tomkins with Tim Fuller and Pat Ward maintaining their distance near the front. Three laps later, Decker passed 21st running Alan Johnson while Haers pulled alongside to challenge for the lead. The most dramatic move of the race pitted Haers with the lapped cars of Danny Johnson and Vic Coffey as the trio jammed together in turn three just behind Decker, who was also maneuvering through heavy traffic. When the dust cleared Hears emerged as the new leader on lap 65 and the next time around the yellow reappeared for the seventh time. At this juncture two-thirds of the pack elected to make mandatory pit stops, leaving Steve Hulsizer as the newest leader for the 68th trip around. While frontrunners Hulsizer and Tom Sears, Jr. remained trackside to pace the field, crafty pit work by Tomkins' veteran infield crew sent him back out on the track in third yet first among those that chose to change tires and refuel. Following Tomkins off of pit row in order were Ward, Hearn, Fuller, Haers, Ryan Phelps, Jimmy Phelps, Chad Brachmann and previous leader Decker. When Sears' mount went up in smoke on lap 77, Tomkins was comfortably in position aboard the no. 1 Elaine James Motorsports-Pillsbury Collectibles/Bicknell ride to take over the runner-up spot. Decker looped his machine between turns one and two seven laps later just as Tomkins forged the final lead exchange. The midway point came and Ward remained in second to contend with Tomkins while Fuller led the parade in third followed by Hulsizer, Haers, Jimmy Phelps and Decker. Danny Johnson brought the no. 74 Smith Bros. Concrete/TEO car to a stop in turn four and during this lap 104 yellow Hulsizer made his lone trip to the infield pits. Upon his return only 13 cars were scored on the lead lap, led by Tomkins with Ward and Fuller breathing down his tailpipe. Yellow lights flashed for a 12th time on lap 120 and Tomkins' 15 car-length lead was just as quickly wiped out. Ward, Fuller, Haers and Decker lurked in the shadows and only a late-race charge by Brett Hearn was able to shake up that near air-tight order. With 150 laps scored the front-five remained intact while Steve Paine, Brachmann, Hulsizer, Chuck Bower and Hearn wrestled for position among the top-10. On lap 162 Hearn slipped past Brachmann for seventh and 10 more times around leader Tomkins lapped 12th-place runner Stewart Friesen. The 14th and final yellow flag waved on lap 182 when Friesen suffered a shredded right-rear tire to keep him off the pace for good. As the laps dwindled only Hearn was able to improve his position; first getting by Paine for sixth on lap 172 then sliding under Decker for fifth on lap 179. Nine laps later Hearn edged past Haers as the pair crossed the line and that was as high as he could go before the laps ran out. With no traffic in front of him for the final dozen circuits, Tomkins was able to open up another 15-car advantage over Ward with Fuller settling for third-place ahead of Hearn, Haers and Decker, who raced the last 135 laps despite missing a left rear shock. "I'm not rooting for anything bad to happen, but we'll definitely need some luck to catch Tim and Brett in the points," added Tomkins, who also earned his second straight Rolling Wheels Modified season championship. Tomkins totaled 254 points followed by Fuller (248) and Decker (246). "We've got a couple more races to run and anything can happen so we'll just keep our fingers crossed." "I actually pushed Gary out of the pits when we made that stop, but he definitely had a good set-up for the track tonight," said Ward, after securing his second runner-up finish at RWR this season. "I went with hard tires and had to run the bottom to have any chance while Gary could run pretty good in the middle. A couple times I got a little bit closer but I could only really catch up when Gary got into traffic. Still finishing on all fours is better than what we did yesterday, all I got out of it was a headache," added Ward, who rolled John Wight's no. 42p small-block car in the feature on Saturday after catching the berm on lap 57. Fuller's top-three tally kept him ahead of Hearn by 44 points in the 2005 Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Championship, with more than 100 markers standing between third-place Tomkins. "Third-place was all I had out there today," said Fuller, a two-time overall 358-Modified titlist, who remains in search of his first Mr. DIRT big-block Modified crown steering the no. m1 MBF Racing-B&F General Machine/TEO machine.The Edwards, N.Y. pilot was looking to sweep the weekend after claiming the 100-lap small-block tour event the previous night in Elbridge. "Track position is so important out there, the crew did a good job in the pits and I was able to ride around and stay out of trouble. Right now when you can't win you just gotta keep racking up top-5s. We kinda just did our own deal today and came away with another good finish, something that can't hurt you when it's all over." Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series – Rolling Wheels Raceway, September 18, 2005 Paine Motorsports National 200 Event Summary [*Official box score posted on www.dirtmotorsports.com by selecting DIRT NorthEast then choosing either the 358-Modified SDS, Sportsman SDS or Pro Stock SDS before clicking the 'Advance' logo top left on homepage] FEATURE FIN STR CAR# DRIVER QUALIFYING FAST AVE TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER OVERALL HOOSIER-SUNOCO MR. DIRT MODIFIED POINT
STANDINGS Skidmarks: * With his first RWR National 200 title in the record books, Gary Tomkins becomes the 13th different winner, with six of those drivers repeating their victory lane appearance. 'Barefoot' Bob McCreadie leads all open-wheel competitors with six victories followed by Alan Johnson (4), Jack Johnson (3), Brett Hearn (3), Will Cagle (2) and Dave Lape (2). Cagle was the first driver to cop two checkered flags, capturing the inaugural event in 1979 and returning to the podium in 1981. Alan Johnson was the first to score consecutive wins and added a third between 1982-84, only to be matched by Bob McCreadie's string of three in a row from 1990-92). Jack Johnson is the only other driver to claim two successive 200-lappers (1995-96). Wins by Bob McCreadie (1992), Jack Johnson (1996) and Kenny Tremont (1998) were rain-delayed until October, each time run the weekend prior to Super DIRT Week. In the past 26 years, Rolling Wheels' annual big-block Modified finale has never been cancelled due to rain or even shortened due to seasonal precipitation. * For the second straight Advance Auto Parts SDS stop, Alan Johnson was recognized aboard the no. 14j NativePoker.com-WPC Associates/Bicknell big-block entry fielded by owner Jeff Rudalavage. His primary ride throughout the series has been the Sherlock Motorsports #Ten CRC Community Rental/TEO machine, the same team he scored a dominating win with at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway's 100-lapper in June. "Before the Valley, Randy (Sherlock) said he wouldn't be making the trip to Lebanon and maybe some other races after that and I haven't talked with anyone since," said Johnson, DIRT MotorSports' all-time big-block Modified win leader. He finished 22nd at Rolling Wheels in his last effort aboard the Sherlock car and ended up 30th after ignition failure in the no. 14j Rudalavage machine's initial attempt. Mechanical failure relegated Johnson to 20th at Rolling Wheels with 138 laps complete. "The motor in the ten car was just rebuilt but we were disappointed with its performance. We should be alright with Jeff's car, its the same one we've won with a half-dozen times this season at Brewerton and Fulton. And Jeff's a perfect 2-for-2 at Weedsport with wins in both big-block and small-block cars." * Returning to the track Sunday afternoon "a little sore with a headache," Pat Ward was generally okay after Saturday's small-block roll that totaled the no. 42p Gypsum Express. The Genoa, N.Y. open-wheel veteran caught the turn three berm and got sideways then turned over before being nipped by New Jersey 358 tour regular Richie Pratt, Jr. The impact pushed the front shock towers back a foot. * The top-15 finishers in the 'Coors 200' at Lebanon Valley Speedway were at the head of the line to share in the unique $3,000 Winner's Circle fund that has been set aside to be divided among the highest finishing drivers at each event. The distribution of this special $3,000 fund is based on the feature race finishing order: drivers placing in positions 1-5 each earn $100, 6th – 10th-place finishers receive $200 and 11th – 15th pocket $300. Competitors are required to attend and attempt to qualify for the next Advance Auto Parts SDS event to collect payment of the Winner's Circle bonus. By racing at Rolling Wheels, Brett Hearn, Andy Bachetti and Tim Fuller received $100, Matt Sheppard and Stewart Friesen earned $200, while Justin Haers, Pat Ward and Tom Sears, Jr. pocketed $300. Wayne Jelley, J.R. Heffner, Eddie Marshall, Donnie Corellis, Russ Reckner, Rick Laubach and Steve Hough were no shows. Upon attempting to qualify next Saturday at New Egypt's 'Legends of the Fall' rematch, Gary Tomkins, Ward, Fuller, Hearn and Haers will collect $100 each, Billy Decker, Steve Paine, Chad Brachmann, Jimmy Phelps and Chuck Bower will receive $200, with Steve Hulsizer, Sean Beardsley, Friesen, Randy Chrysler and Pierre Dagenais in line for $300 bonuses. * Super DIRT Series action returns to New Egypt on September 24 for "Legends of the Fall" season finale. A raindate of Sun., Sept. 25 has been listed on the track schedule. Another reminder to all teams planning their return to New Jersey for competition at either New Egypt on Sept. 24 or Bridgeport Speedway on Oct. 22-23. Even though the 2005 Official DIRT MotorSports NorthEast Rule Book recommends use of a five-point seat belt no older than five years, New Jersey State law mandates that no safety harness may be used that is older than two years. While the significance of this matter was stressed by a number of law enforcement agents at the last New Egypt race, the same individuals noted that direct action will be taken against any teams failing to take heed of this particular warning. Call Me Mr. DIRT, Please: Rolling Wheels once again served to showcase the top-three contenders for the 2005 overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Championship. Current points leader Tim Fuller placed third, runner-up Brett Hearn settled for fourth while third-place points getter Gary Tomkins earned the decisive victory. These same three drivers are the only ones to reach Rolling Wheels winner's circle this season with Fuller and Tomkins each taking two checkered flags and Hearn copping the May opener. Tomkins is the defending Mr. DIRT champion and Hearn has received DIRT MotorSports NorthEast's highest honor five times while Fuller is on the brink of wearing the coveted big-block crown for the very first time. Each commented on what it means to gain distinction as a Mr. DIRT title-holder. "The biggest thing right now would probably be the $20,000 cut that's in it for me, the championship is really for the owners," said Fuller, who drives for Bob and Michele Faust and they would be the ones to divide the expected $50,000 overall winner's share. Fuller already earned $20,000 for BMF Racing when he captured Mr. DIRT 358-Modified high-point honors in 2003. "The Mr. DIRT title only takes care of so many bills, you have to keep on winning and you can never do that too much. But the championship is one of the biggest around, this is it, what's at the top of the Modified world. I guess it would be nice to look back someday and say that you won it. Right now, if you win it you want to try and win it again after that another time." "The Mr. DIRT Championship is what we gear our whole program for from day one," said Hearn, who trails only six-time Mr. DIRT champion Jack Johnson on the list that began with DIRT's creation in 1976. "When you get it into this game and strive to be the best, being recognized as Mr. DIRT means you've made it to the top. There's a lot of elements to deal with throughout the year and that's where experience can really pay off. Being around the circuit so long you have to stay focused and know that every race counts. It's a long season, a lot of good can happen and sometimes some bad. If you don't stay positive when things aren't going your way it's easy to go backwards and sometimes harder to the turn it back around." "Winning back to back titles would mean more than skipping a year and then getting another one," said Tomkins, who accomplished one goal by securing his second straight season championship at Rolling Wheels. He's hoping to keep the team's streak alive as Beachy Motorsports has won the last three Mr. DIRT Championships, in 2002-03 with Alan Johnson. "Still, if you could win 10 titles the last one would probably be as good as the first. Last year was a playoff deal and this time every race counts. So you have to be at your best in every race for the entire season. And that's been our problem all year, we've had a good car almost every race but haven't finished as consistently as we'd like. This thing gets harder and harder to win with the competition getting tighter every year. Hopefully, things will go our way in the upcoming weeks and we can the trophy in the house." * With RACEceiver now recognized as the Official Driver Communicator of DIRT MotorSports™ in 2005, fans, as well as the competing drivers, were able to hear first hand everything that was happening throughout the entire Rolling Wheels show. A compact radio receiver that conveniently fits into a driver’s pocket, a RACEceiver allows each driver to hear directions from series officials, which greatly enhances the safety and timeliness of events. A similar version available to fans allows RACEceiver users to hear what information series officials are relaying to the drivers. For more information about RACEceiver, visit www.raceceiver.com, call 866/301-7223, or look for their sales trailers at various events. 2005 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SUPER DIRT SERIES
SCHEDULE ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SERIES SPONSORS The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Advance Auto Parts, Dynomax Performance Exhaust, Hoosier Racing Tire and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promotional Partners include Stacker 2®, AMB i.t., RACEceiver and Zippo Lighters and the contingency sponsors are DART Machinery, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, MSD Ignitions and Wrisco Industries. |