Barton and Chrysler Claim Wins in Late Model/358 Doubleheader at Little Valley

By Dave Sully

(Little Valley, NY) Veteran Dick Barton drove to a second straight win in the Super Late Model division at Little Valley Speedway on Saturday, September 17th, while Randy Chrysler won the 358 Modified Feature at Little Valley Speedway’s final show of the season on Saturday, September 17th before a large crowd. Barton, from Asheville, also annexed the track championship, breaking a tie with David Scott, who finished second in the race and the point chase. For Chrysler, from the Tuscarora Nation in Lewiston, who has been racing part time for the last few years, it was his first win in a long while.

Starting on the outside pole, courtesy of the redraw, Barton, driving the John Lacki-owned car for the second time in a row, jumped to the lead at the drop of the green in the 30 lap feature, beating polesitter Chad Valone to the first turn. From there he drew out to a commanding lead, while Scott, who started eighth gamely tried to catch up. The lone caution of the race, for a spin on lap six, saw Scott up to third following the restart.

While Barton distanced himself from the field, Scott battled his teammate and car owner, Valone for second. That became the best race on the track. As the two vied for position, Dutch Davies entered the fray as well. Scott finally was able to wrest second place from Valone, on lap 20, using a lap car for a pick, but it was too little, too late, as Barton was long gone. At the line it was Barton, Scott, and Davies, followed by Valone and Jeff Hoffman to round out the top five.

Barton, as is his wont, gave most of the credit to others, noting, “The credit goes to the Lacki brothers Charlie and John, who allowed my guys to adjust on the car and, as always, it’s a total team effort. All my job to do is turn left, and tonight that job was very easy because this race car was on the money.” Barton picked up $3,000 for the win, plus an extra $2,000 for winning the six race championship chase.

The Modified event drew a field of 27 cars, with the preponderance being from Woodhull, Merrittville, and Ransomville. Robbie Krull started on the pole in the 25 lap feature and set a blistering pace, while opening up a big lead. While this was going on, Billy Van Pelt was on the charge, claiming third on lap two, after starting seventh, and taking second a lap later.

From there he began to reel in Krull, when a caution on lap nine erased what was left of the lead. Krull held him off on the restart, but a caution on lap 11, when Todd Gordon lost a wheel, put Van Pelt in position to take the lead, going around the outside in turn two, from where he motored out to a big advantage.

Meanwhile, a battle for second developed between Krull and Travis Braun, which was interrupted by a caution on lap 20. The restart showed, Van Pelt, Krull, Braun, and now Chrysler, who had literally battled his way up from twelfth, now the principals.

Van Pelt took off once again, but the battle for second became intense, with Chrysler claiming third on lap 22 and easing past Krull on lap 24. It turned out to be the pivotal move of the race. At the line, it was Van Pelt far ahead, followed by Chrysler, Krull, Braun and Ryan Susice, who made a gallant charge from 15th. Following the race, Van Pelt was found to be using an illegal carburetor, giving the well-deserved win to Chrysler, and moving everyone else up a spot, with Curt Van Pelt now completing the top five.
The win was worth $2,000, but to Chrysler, it was the win that was most important.

The 20 lap BRP Can Am 360 Late Model Feature was won by Bruce Miller, from Wellsville, who triumphed an a bruising battle that saw seven cautions, many of them grinding, including three in the first five laps, before the issue was settled. Miller, who started fourth, took the lead from Greg Galligan on a lap two restart, driving around the outside in turn two.

Miller then moved out to a big lead, only to lose it on the five remaining cautions, with Galligan staying within haling distance each time they restarted. The final caution, on lap 16, saw only 16 cars left from the 24 car starting field. Miller was able to hold sway over the final four laps to take the victory, his second at Little Valley this season. Galligan finished second, followed by the hard charger of the race, Jeff Chesebro, who went off fourteenth, John Waters, and Bob Close, to complete the top five.

Miller, who banked $1,000 for his effort, noted, “It was like a marathon there. I was hoping we could go green at least the last eight laps, but we were able to hang on through all those restarts. I could see him (Galligan) underneath me on the restarts. On one restart I messed up and got the car pushing through one and two and he was all the way under me. I knew I couldn’t relax with him behind me.”

The track championship went to Jeremy Wonderling, who had a commanding lead in the standings over Brian Knowles going into the event and finished ahead of him in the race.

The $500 to win 15 lap Street Stock Feature went to recently crowned track champion, Andy Michael, from Allegany, who took the lead from Critter Hemphill on a lap two restart and was never challenged. Earlier, Michael was dumped on the first lap by Kevin Hill, who was black flagged for the indiscretion, but was returned to his running position (third) for the restart. Rich Wojtowicz, one of the few who could run consistently with Michael all season, came up from seventh to keep him honest. At the line it was Michael, with Wojtowicz and Hemphill the top three.

NOTES: The popular Barton, who has won Little Valley titles and many others in the area in his lengthy career and is one of the classiest men in the sport, is still enjoying himself, even his fifties. “It is fun,” he declared, “We still have that drive, all of our team. Once you lose it, it’s time to get out of the sport. Right now, I can’t be happier, not only for myself, but for the Lacki brothers. These cars cost forty or fifty thousand dollars. They allow me to sit in it and go racing………..Ninety-one cars were in the pits for the event, including 16 Super Late Models, 27 Modifieds, 28 BRP Can Am Late Models, and 20 Street Stocks…………. Van Pelt gave an early indication that his car might be extraordinary when he started ninth in his heat and not only won it, but was pulling away at the end. The carburetor issue had been addressed at the driver’s meeting, and drivers were advised they would be under scrutiny after the race.

Results:

Super Late Models: (30 laps) 1. Dick Barton, 2. David Scott, 3. Dutch Davies, 4. Chad Valone, 5. Jeff Hoffman, 6. Mike Knight, 7. Jason Dupont, 8. Bump Hedman, 9. Boom Briggs, 10. Greg Oakes, 11. Chris Hackett, 12. Brent Rhebergen, 13. Paul Grigsby, 14. Derek Frank, 15. Jeff Dayman, 16. Terry Porter. Heat winners were Scott and Davies.

358 Modifieds: (25 laps) 1. Randy Chrysler, 2. Robbie Krull, 3. Travis Braun, 4. Ryan Susice, 5. Curt Van Pelt, 6. Todd Burley, 7. Chad Chevalier, 8. Ron Cartwright, 9. Mat Williamson, 10. Lee Bills, 11. Frank Dunning, 12. Mike Bills, 13. Ron White, 14. Dale Welty, 15. Casey Pavelick, 16. Joe Digien, 17. Scott Boudinet, 18. Joe Kubiniec, 19. Ray Dunn, 20. Brian Doolittle, 21. Dylan Dewart, 22. Todd Gordon, 23. Justin Sharp, 24. Ray Bliss, 25. Bryan Terwilliger. DQ: Billy Van Pelt. Heat winners were Cartwright, Billy Van Pelt, and Burley.

360 Late models: (20 laps) 1. Bruce Miller, 2. Greg Galligan, 3. Jeff Chesebro, 4. John Waters, 5. Bob Close, 6. Jason Knowles, 7. Mike Wonderling, 8. Glen Whritenour, 9. Brian Hoffman, 10. Jeremy Wonderling, 11. Brian Knowles, 12. Cecil LaBarren, 13. Larry Knowles, 14. Barry Payne, 15. DJ Krug, 16. Bob Babbitt, 17. Brad LaBarren, 18. Dusty Waters, 19. Quinn Sutherland, 20. Jon Rivers, 21. Jared Hill, 22. Bryce Davis, 23. Mikey Wonderling, 24. Alan Wais. DNS: Dave Dubois. Heat winners were Miller, Mike Wonderling, Jeremy Wonderling, and John Waters. Consi winner was Hoffman. DNQ: Steve LaBarren, and Carl Cleveland.

Street Stocks: (15 laps) 1.Andy Michael, 2. Rich Wotjowicz, 3. Critter Hemphill, 4. Ted Mascho, 5. Sam Conti, 6. Kane Stebbins, 7. Butch Talbot, 8. Randy Taylor, 9. Steve Sklar, 10. Allison Pierce, 11. Tim Bruce, 12. Bruno Mowery, 13. Chris Austin, 14. Charles Rugg, 15. Kurt Stebbins, 16. John Gagner, 17. Mark Loveland. Black Flag- Kevin Hill. Heat winners were Gagner, Wojtowicz, and Kurt Stebbins. DNS- Nick Mohawk and Tracy Dunn.

The management and staff at Little Valley Speedway would like to thank all of the race teams, the loyal fans, and the generous sponsors for another successful season in 2011. Congratulations to our champions: Dick Barton in the Super Late Models, Jeremy Wonderling in the 360 Late Models, Rich Michael in the E-Mods, and Andy Michael in the Street Stocks. We look forward to another great season in 2012.