TEN DIFFERENT DRIVERS VISIT BETHEL VICTORY LANE SATURDAY NIGHT

August 22, Bethel, NY--- As the weeks wind down on the 2010 season at Bethel Motor Speedway, action has been heating up. This past weekend, fans were once again treated to a total of ten feature events, which included the second and final 2010 visit from the ATQMRA Midgets.

Seventeen-year-old Bryanna Hurban gave an attention-grabbing performance in the Alcaro & Alcaro Plating Sportsman division. The young driver, who was the 2009 “Rookie of the Year”, held off some tough competition to score her second win of the season.

Hurban started the race on the front row, outside of Roy Crespo. She shot out to the lead when the green flag waved, relegating Crespo back to the second spot. By lap six, veteran competitor Jerry Curry had made his way to second and then he and Hurban engaged in a heated battle for the lead. Curry was able to take the lead for a single lap, but Hurban powered her way back into the top spot. She then faced the difficult task of keeping the veteran behind her as plenty of position-swapping was taking place further back in the field. When the checkered flag flew, Hurban was the winner, and Curry had to be content with second. Dave Gorbatuk came back from his involvement in an early-race incident to take third in the final rundown. Mike Houghtaling and Rich Coons completed the top five.

Norman Barnes took down his first win of the season in the Sam’s Towing Pro Stock division, as the top two points contenders both had tough nights. Polesitter Ken Hopkins Jr. got out to the lead at the start of the race, but he was overtaken by Jim Helt on the second lap. Over the next ten laps, Helt paced the field, with his hands full of Barnes. Helt, who headed into the race sitting second in season points, spun into the infield on the same lap that point leader Bobby Policastro brushed the turn three wall in an unrelated incident. Barnes inherited the lead as a result. During the second half of the race, Barnes was chased by John Hager while the previous week’s winner, Ed Butler, made his way to third. Barnes was able to keep both Hager and Butler behind him as he grabbed the win.

History was made at Bethel during the JTR Enterprises Bandolero feature, as the youngest known competitor in the speedway’s history – eight-year-old Max Evans – led the race from green to checker to grab his first career win. Evans started the race fourth, but made his way to the front of the field before a single lap was complete. His job was far from over once he took the lead, however, as he had to face the challenges of multi-time feature winner Mikey Policastro for the entire duration of the event. Rookie Alex McCollum made his way to third with just three laps in the books. The top three ran in that order for the remainder of the race, while the rest of the field fought for position behind them. When the checkered flag waved, Evans had secured his place in the track’s history, while Policastro and McCollum were second and third, respectively.

Fans have become accustomed to watching on-track battles between Kevin Skelly and Charlie Houghtaling in the Shakelton Auto & Truck Centers Street Stock division. For the second week in a row, that particular battle for the lead came down to the final laps of the race. Also for the second week in a row, Skelly came out on top as the laps wound down. Rookie Larry O’Donnell took off from the pole and led the early laps, but Houghtaling passed him on the fourth lap. Houghtaling then worked on distancing himself from the field while Skelly was still coming through traffic. Skelly made his way to the second spot just prior to the halfway point of the event, and then he quickly reeled in Houghtaling, leaving plenty of time for the duo to excite fans with their fight for the top spot. With just three laps to go, Skelly was able to pull ahead of Houghtaling, and Skelly grabbed his eighth feature win of the season. Houghtaling was second, and Gary VanOrden Jr. finished third.

It was a busy night for the BMS Modified class, with both a holdover feature and a regular feature on the slate. When the night was complete, the class saw one driver collect his first 2010 win, while another collected his sixth, as Charlie Howe Sr. and John Cote split the two wins between them.

In the holdover race, which resulted from a June rainout, Skip LaPolt got out to the early lead, with Howe Sr. hot on his heels in second. The two battled it out for the lead before Howe Sr. took over the spot on lap five. Cote worked his way past LaPolt for second two laps later, and then LaPolt’s race was cut short when his car lost power and he required the assistance of a tow truck to get it off the track. When the race resumed, Cote looked to take the lead from Howe Sr., but had to settle for second as Howe Sr. was first under the checkered flag. Gary VanOrden Sr. finished third.

The night’s regular feature for the division once again featured a one-two finish for Cote and Howe Sr., but Cote was the one in the winners’ circle. Cote started on the outside of the front row, and he put his car out front on the initial lap. Howe Sr. followed for second. Behind them, LaPolt – who had repaired his car in time to compete in the second race – wrestled with VanOrden Sr. and then Steve Conklin on his way up to the third spot. Howe Sr. and LaPolt followed Cote across the line.
 
In Jeff Bank 4 Cylinder Senior division action, Eddie Lindstadt led every lap except for the first one as he drove to his seventh win of the 2010 season. Enio Lovric grabbed the lead from his pole starting spot, but Lindstadt quickly took command of the race and put his car out front. Paul Curry, who held a one-point lead over Lindstadt in points heading into the event, came to second prior to the halfway point of the event, but found himself shuffled back during the second half of the race. Lindstadt took over the point lead with the win. In the final rundown, George VanAiken was credited with second, while Curry was third.

It was a night of twos for the Jeff Bank 4 Cylinder Junior class as, for the second week in a row, the division ran two features. At the end of the night, the races produced two different winners who each collected their second win of the season, with Amber McGibbon and Josh Mendez each taking down a win.

McGibbon started the holdover feature on the outside of the front row, and she spent the first few laps running second to polesitter Joe Smith before making her move to take over the lead on lap four. Once out front, McGibbon took advatage of the battles for position taking place behind her as she was able to pull away from the rest of the field. Smith continued to hold second for the first half of the race before being passed by Steven Schmitz for the spot. McGibbon was followed across the line by Schmitz and Smith.

In the night’s regular feature, Josh Mendez shot out front from his outside pole starting spot as soon as the green flag waved, and he led every lap of the event on his way to the win. The second spot changed hands several times, with Joe Smith, Tasha Curry, and Ivan Guerra each holding the spot before Gary Magie took it over for good at the halfway point. Magie and Kyle Welsch drove under the checkered flag behind Mendez.

The ATQMRA Midgets made their second and final scheduled appearance of the season at Bethel as well, adding excitement in the form of 12-second laps and wheel-to-wheel action that resulted in Ian Cumens grabbing his first win at the facility. Cumens started deep in the field, and was busy making his way through traffic during the first half of the race as polesitter Matt Janisch paced the field. Cumens came to second early in the second half of the race, and immediately set his sights on Janisch, who he was able to overtake using an inside pass. The battle for position then moved back to the second spot as Cumens began to pull away from the rest of the field. Janisch and Mike Tidaback wrestled for the spot, with Tidaback taking it just before Cumens passed under the checkered flag. Tidaback finished second, and Janisch held on for third.

Racing resumes at Bethel next Saturday, August 28th. On the schedule are the Alcaro & Alcaro Plating Sportsman, Sam’s Towing Pro Stock, Legends, Bandolero, Shakelton Auto & Truck Centers Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder divisions. Gates open at 3:30 pm, with hot laps at 5:30 pm and racing slated to begin at 7 pm. Grandstand admission is just $5. For a full schedule, visit www.bethelmotorspeedway.com, or call (845) 319-7908 for more information.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (20 laps): 1. Bryanna Hurban, 2. Jerry Curry, 3. Dave Gorbatuk, 4. Mike Houghtaling, 5. Rich Coons, 6. Jim Halpin, 7. Don Smith III, 8. Greg Morgan, 9. Jeff Hager, 10. Dan Conklin, 11. Roy Crespo.

PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 laps): 1. Norman Barnes, 2. John Hager, 3. Ed Butler, 4. Ken Atkins, 5. Gene Morton, 6. Ken Hopkins Jr., 7. Bobby Policastro, 8. Jim Helt, 9. Gene Palmer, 10. Charlie Howe Jr., 11. Mark Sylvester.

BANDOLERO FEATURE FINISH (12 laps); 1. Max Evans, 2. Mikey Policastro, 3. Alex McCollum, 4. Rudy Roth IV, 5. Jared Palmer, 6. Taylor Hurban, 7. Christina Policastro, 8. Christian Eckes. DNS – Courtney Lefcourt.

STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): 1. Kevin Skelly, 2. Charlie Houghtaling, 3. Gary VanOrden Jr., 4. Glenn Pallom, 5. Brent Shaddock, 6. Robert Halstead, 7. Larry O'Donnell, 8. Chris Dabreau, 9. Jonathan McGibbon.

BMS MODIFIED HOLDOVER FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): 1. Charlie Howe Sr., 2. John Cote, 3. Gary VanOrden Sr., 4. Skip LaPolt.

BMS MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): 1. John Cote, 2. Charlie Howe Sr., 3. Skip LaPolt, 4. Tom Pickerell, 5. Steve Conklin, 6. Gary VanOrden Sr., 7. Jeff Miller.

4 CYLINDER SENIOR FEATURE FINISH (15 laps); 1. Eddie Lindstadt, 2. George VanAiken, 3. Paul Curry, 4. Gary O’Donnell, 5. Tim Curry, 6. Russell Sniffen, 7. Patty Falkena, 8. George Zeininger, 9. Enio Lovric.

4 CYLINDER JUNIOR HOLDOVER FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): 1. Amber McGibbon, 2. Steven Schmitz, 3. Joe Smith, 4. Josh Wilbur, 5. Don Kuhn, 6. Josh Mendez, 7. Shawn Maloney, 8. Ivan Guerra, 9. Amber VanOrden, 10. Paige LaPolt.

4 CYLINDER JUNIOR FEATURE FINISH (15 laps): 1. Josh Mendez, 2. Gary Magie, 3. Kyle Welsch, 4. Amber McGibbon, 5. Steven Schmitz, 6. Josh Wilbur, 7. Ivan Guerra, 8. Robert Beach, 9. Paige LaPolt, 10. Justin Mapes, 11. Tasha Curry, 12. Amber VanOrden, 13. Joe Smith, 14. Vinny Lovric, 15. Shawn Maloney. DNS – Don Kuhn.

ATQMRA MIDGET FEATURE FINISH (25 laps): 1. Ian Cumens, 2. Mike Tidaback, 3. Matt Janisch, 4. Frank Fischer, 5. Jeff Kot, 6. Paul Lotier Jr., 7. Josh Darymple, 8. Alison Cumens, 9. Austin Fehr, 10. Rudy Boetticher, 11. Jeff Werner, 12. Joe Lord, 13. Lew Ingalls, 14. Daniel Lane Jr., 15. Robin Johnston, 16. J.P. Cossman, 17. Jon Gambuti, 18. Howard Boss.

BETHEL DRIVER HEADED TO TEXAS FOR BANDOLERO NATIONALS

August 17, Bethel, NY---  Walking through the pit area at Bethel Motor Speedway on any given Saturday night, one can't help but take notice of the growing Bandolero division, which has drawn in competitors of varying ages, some as young as nine. Among those who compete in the division is Joseph Graf Jr., a 12-year-old driver from New Jersey who is nothing short of a role model for his fellow competitors.

The young driver, who is preparing to start sixth grade, is a Bandit division competitor who captured four feature event wins at the quarter-mile asphalt oval in 2009, and he was the highest-finishing driver in the division. So far in the 2010 season, he has visited Victory Lane three times, and he is a force to reckon with every time he hits the track. In addition to racing, Graf Jr. also plays football and has taken up the saxophone.

Graf Jr. has been an integral part of Bethel Motor Speedway's Young Racers program, which is designed to help younger and less experienced racers make the most of their introduction to competition. In the program, beginning drivers are mentored by more experienced drivers, and are given access to information ranging from basic safety and setup to race team promotion as they strive to reach individual goals on the track. To help foster growth within both the Bandolero division and the Young Racers program, Bethel has waived the entry fee for Bandolero drivers for the 2010 season.

This week, Graf Jr. will expand his horizons by heading to Texas to compete in the Bandolero Nationals. He will take with him the experience of racing at such tracks as Bethel Motor Speedway, Orlando Speedworld (FL), and - most recently - Charlotte Motor Speedway (NC).

The Bandolero Nationals will run from August 19th through the 21st at Texas Motor Speedway, and will pit some of the country's top talent wheel-to-wheel against one another in pursuit of one of the most prestigious titles these young drivers can attain.

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