DIRTcar Sportsman Series Triple Header Weekend Recap
WEEDSPORT, NY—A huge three-race weekend at three-different tracks for the DIRTcar Sportsman Series saw three different drivers grace victory lane.
The hectic weekend started off at Ransomville Speedway, with 29-cars entering the Friday night event. Jipp Ortiz led the first 23-laps before ultimately being passed by veteran Kevin Wills, who charged from the fourth starting position.
Don Spatorico would be able to move around Ortiz for second, and did everything he could to make a run at Wills. Despite a bevy of caution flags, Wills had no problem holding on to the lead en route to the 50-lap feature win.
The Ray Huhn-owned sportman modified of Wills failed post-race inspection. Wills was able to keep the victory, but fined points and money. Spatorico held on for second, as Ortiz, Justin Wright, and Cody McPherson rounding out the top-5.
Saturday the DIRTcar Sportsman Series headed north of the border, into St. Catharines, Ontario for a 50-lap feature at Merrittville Speedway.
Track champion Brad Rouse took the early lead on the field, but it was B.J. Willard and Cody McPherson who appeared to have the cars to beat in the early stages.
Willard was able to catch and take the race lead from Rouse on lap 27, with McPherson passing Rouse for second on lap 30. McPherson immediately applied pressure to the race leader, and completed the pass for the lead on lap 32, and immediately set sail on the field.
McPherson’s monstrous lead was erased on a lap-45 caution flag for a spin towards the back of the pack. On the ensuing double-file restart, McPherson chose the to start on the outside of Rouse, who had reclaimed second position.
Contact between the leaders sent McPherson spinning in turn 1. Officials chose to penalize Rouse, sending him to the tail of the field. The development placed Greg Panunte at the front of the field, with defending DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion Tim Sears Jr lining up on the outside.
A clean restart saw Panunte maintain his lead over Sears until the final turn of the final lap. Sears drove into turn 3 hard on the outside, with Panunte running the low-line. As Panunte’s car drifted up off of turn 4, Sears pulled the cross-over move, shooting to the inside to get the run off of the turn, and win the drag race to the checkered. Panunte finished second, with Rob Knapp, Darrell Farraway, and Dave Macuccilli rounding out the top-5.
The weekend ended at Humberstone Speedway with 29-cars filling the pit area. Josh Van Brocklin would lead the starting-field to the green and be the early leader.
Tyler McPherson would be a man on a mission early, as looked to have the quickest car on the track, taking the lead on lap 13.
McPherson opened his lead up to more than a straight away by the time brother Cody McPherson moved into the runner up spot on lap 20. Tyler held a comfortable lead on Cody until a lap 38 tangle brought out the caution flag.
The restart saw Cody finally able to get a run on brother Tyler, as the McPherson brothers thrilled the crowd with a dual for the race lead. Tyler was able to fend off Cody’s challenges, and appeared to be headed towards the victory until the engine expired with just 6 laps to go.
From there, Cody McPherson would go on unchallenged, picking up the Series victory. Nick Cupolo would finish second, with Mattiew DesJardins, Adam Hilton, and Tim Sears Jr rounding out the top-5.
After the 3-race weekend, Tim Sears Jr., on the strength of a win, a 5th, and a 6th, has opened up his points lead over Josh Van Brocklin and Cody McPherson. Full points are available at DIRTcar.com.
Next up, the DIRTcar Sportsman Series invades Mohawk International Raceway for race #7 on the 2011 season, only 5-races remain on the 2011 schedule.
SEPTEMBER 9, RANSOMVILLE SPEEDWAY DIRTCAR SPORTSMAN SERIES FEATURE FINISH – KEVIN WILLS, Don Spatorico, Jipp Ortiz, Justin Wright, Cody McPherson, Tim Sears Jr., Greg Martin, Dave Marcuccelli, Sandy Pembleton, Shane Pecore, Adam Leslie, Adam Hilton, Josh Van Brocklin, Dick Park, Gary Lindburg, Allan Wills, Mike Williams, Rich Legace, Brent Kelsey, Tom Keyes, Jessica Power, Scott Krull, BJ Willard, Dave Conant, Gordon Hermanson, Brad Rouse, Greg Panunte, Steve Miller, Jenna David, James Henry, Mathiew Desjardins.
SEPTEMBER 10, MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY DIRTCAR SPORTSMAN SERIES FEATURE FINISH- TIM SEARS JR, Greg Panunte, Rob Knapp, Darrell Farraway, Dave Marcuccilli, BJ Willard, Brent Begolo, Gary Lindberg, Mathiew Desjardins, Josh Van Brocklin, Adam Leslie, Adam Hilton, Jason Moore, Justin Wright, Cody McPherson, Len Dignard, Brent Kelsey, George Bosse, Larry Czinege Jr, Paul Williamson, Shane Pecore, Jenna David, Jessica Power, Robbie Rouse, David Flannigan, Jesse Penner, Ray Hockridge, Ron MacAulay, Tyler McPherson
SEPTEMBER 11, HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY DIRTCAR SPORTSMAN SERIES FEATURE FINISH- CODY MCPHERSON, Nick Cupolo, Mathiew DesJardins, Adam Hilton, Tim Sears, Adam Leslie, Darrell Farraway,Brent Begolo, Brent Kelsey, Larry Czinege, Josh Van Brocklin, ShanePecore, Kevin Sharpe, Bill Gill, B. J. Willard, Jessica Parker, DaveFlannigan, Jessie Penner, Ray Hockridge, Jenna David, Justin Wright,Gary Lindberg, Tyler McPherson, Greg Panunte, Paul Williamson, PatSonnenberg, Len Dignard, Jeff Leggett, Dave Marcuccelli.
DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners; including Hoosier Racing Tire; VP Racing Fuels; GM Performance Parts, Nationwide Insurance and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio and Chizmark & Larson Insurance. Contingency sponsors are ASI; Bert Transmissions; Bicknell Racing Products; Bilstein Shocks; Brodix; ButlerBuilt; Comp Cams; Intercomp; JE Pistons; KSE Racing Products; Motorsports Safety Systems; MSD Ignition; Penske Shocks; Racing Electronics; R2C; Super Flow; Vicci Racing Apparel; WIX Filters; Wrisco Industries; Xtreme Lubricants and Extreme Mufflers.
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