Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races) Super DIRT Week, Part 2

www.rickattheraces.com

PIC 1  Gilles Godard (Center) and his crew

PIC 2   Miss Motorsports

PIC 3  Matt Billings SPORTSMAN # 74

PIC  4  A wreck in the SPORTSMAN race at Syracuse

PIC  5 Mike Perrotte # 35 in the small block race

PIC 6    358 action

PIC 7  Damaged Andy Bachetti 358 Mod

PIC  8 Billy Decker wins the 358 race at the Mike

PIC  9  Steve Kinser's Sprit at Rolling Wheels

PIC 10  Kinser and Lasoski at the Wheels

PIC  11  Chad Brachman wins the Mod race at the Wheels

PIC  12  Ryan Susice wins the Sportsman race at the Wheels

PIC  13  Donny Schatz at the Wheels

PIC  14  WoO winner at the Wheels Tim Shaffer

PIC  15  Gilles Godard winner of the first Pro Stock qualifier

PIC  16  Cory Wheeler wins the second Pro Stock qualifier

PIC 17  Don Carlson goes wide

PIC  18  Pete Stefanski wins the big race for Pro Stocks

PIC 19  Jimmy Horton in the Rite Aid 200

PIC  20 Matt Sheppard wins the Rite Aid 200, second Tim McCreadie (L) and third Tim Fuller (R)

- 10 Oct NYS Fairgrounds , Syracuse, NY

- 10 Oct Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, Elbridge, NY

- 11 Oct NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY

After Friday's (9 Oct) races were completely wiped out by wet weather I awoke Saturday morning with high hopes. The forecast was for a dry and sunny day. By mid morning, the previous nights rain had petered out and before noon the cars were out on the 'Moody Mile' at Syracuse. By 12-30 the sun was shining just in time for the AARN photo shoot of Miss Motorsports beside the # 66 Gerry Higbie car. As always there were plenty of male photographers swarming the area to take some snaps.

The big race of the day, the 'Salute to the Troops' 150 lap 358 SUPER DIRT Series race started slightly late due to the track preparation needed following the previous days rain. Billy Decker won this one after taking over the lead from Quebec's Martin Roy on lap 100. Brett Hearn came home second with Kenny Tremont third. By the time the checkers fell, time was marching on, and if I wanted to be at Rolling Wheels for the evening show, I had to be on my way. I decided to give the following 50 lap Sportsman race a miss and head for Elbridge. Unfortunately by doing so , I missed one of my local guys, Matt Billings of Brockville taking a surprise victory.

By the time I reached the 'Wheels' the place was already packed with fans and I found it difficult to park. The big attraction was the appearance of the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars. In all the years I've attended the "Wheels', this was the fullest I've seen it. Standing room only !

Joining the Sprint Cars were the Big Block Mods for their last chance 'win and you're in' qualifier for the Rite Aid 200 plus a Series race for Sportsman that had been rain delayed from two weeks previous. I'm not a big fan of Sprint Car racing, but I always enjoy watching the World of Outlaws in action , they are so quick ! It was good to see the likes of Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski and Jac Haudenschild again. Winners that night were Tim Shaffer (WoO Sprint Cars) , Chad Brachman (Mods) and Ryan Susice (Sportsman). It was a great night of racing and past mid night by the time I got out of there.

Even though there was more partying done back at the Fairgrounds, I still managed to be up early on Sunday morning for a 9-00am Photographers meeting called by DIRTCAR. This was held mainly to give any new guys who were there for the first time, a guide to where it was safer to shoot from.

It was a nice dry day with no rain, but the temperature had dropped and I needed to wear my ice racing toque.

There was a lot of racing that had to be crammed into the program, including the Pro Stocks Qualifiers. These poor guys had still not put a wheel on the track. Fridays rain followed by the subsequent delay on Saturday kept them waiting in limbo to find out if they would get any track time. This never materialized so Sunday became their first appearance. I'm pleased to say that both Qualifiers were won by my local drivers. My buddy Gilles Godard took the first race and Cory Wheeler the second. The 30 Lap Feature was dominated from start to Finish by Pete Stefanski, with his main opposition, Joey Ladouceur succumbing to tire failure early in the race. The left rear let go on the first lap then the right rear a few laps later.

After the Pro Stocks main event it was time for the headlining 200 lap RITE AID 200. Dale Planck and Tim Fuller occuppied the front row as I took up my favorite shooting position on the fourth turn. Fuller took the early lead which was taken over by Gary Tomkins on lap 73. After a while I decided to move from turn four and take wander around. 200 laps on a mile circuit is a long race and I have to admit that events of this duration never maintain my full 100% attention. I visited the infield restaurant for a snack then watched the live televised showing of the race going out in the media center. It was warm and confortable in there, and I wasn't the only one with the same idea.

I watched as Jimmy Phelps took over the lead from Tomkins on lap 122 only to loose it to Matt Sheppard on lap 190. 'Super Matt' then went on to take the checkers in this years RITE AID 200.

After taking some Victory Lane photos, I was soon out of the gate and heading back up Interstate 81. and by 8-00pm I was pulling in to the Ponderosa Buffett in Watertown for a late supper. It seamed to be a popular choice, as it was full with other Canadian race fans who'd decided to finish their SUPER DIRT WEEK with a feast.

I avoided any possible delays at the 1000 Island border and drove to the Ogdensburg crossing. There was no line up and I went straight through with no hassle, getting home to Cornwall, Ontario at 10-40pm.